The Perfect Couple Series-Premiere Recap: Welcome to Summerland

As a seasoned detective who’s seen more than my fair share of high-society weddings turned into crime scenes, let me tell you, this one takes the cake – or rather, the wedding cake. The suspect list is as long as Amelia’s veil and just as fluffy, but I got a feeling it’ll be narrowed down soon enough.


Ah, the charm of Nantucket during the summertime! Sun-worshippers lounge on the sandy beaches, while whales perform a breathtaking ballet in the vast Atlantic. Yet, an eerie discovery unfolds – corpses are appearing on the shores near multimillion-dollar mansions during extravagant weddings. A unique blend of luxury and mystery, isn’t it? This is where our tale begins in The Perfect Couple – wrapping up the summer season with a touch of elegance… and perhaps a dash of homicide. Quite entertaining!

The instant I realized “The Perfect Couple” was perfect for me was when I first saw the opening credits. The synchronized dance number to Meghan Trainor’s “Criminals” sealed the deal. With Nicole Kidman and Liev Schrieber enthusiastically participating in a line dance, it became clear that this show is all about secrets and murder – and we’re winning! Yes, Nicole Kidman may be known for her magical performances, but she’s also an Academy Award winner who gives her all. Her dedication to this lighthearted approach, where everyone is a suspect but we’re having fun, is evident. If that’s not your preferred vibe, well, maybe you should find another show

By the way, I must say this is quite a compliment – the debut of The Perfect Couple, inspired by Elin Hilderbrand’s beach read best-seller of the same name, has me feeling optimistic about the upcoming six-episode series. Not only does it promise to be an enjoyable summertime watch, but I believe it will deliver a satisfying conclusion. In just under 60 minutes, this first episode establishes the central mystery and presents a plethora of character with vibrant personalities

Today, we’ve assembled for the wedding ceremony of Amelia Sacks, a zoologist, and Benjamin “Benji” Winbury, a wealthy man whose father is renowned author Greer Garrison Winbury. His daughter-in-law describes him as a trust fund DILF, which apparently means he’s quite handsome and well-off. The Winburys are known for their lavish lifestyle and air of pretentiousness. We catch a glimpse of Amelia and Benji’s extravagant beachside rehearsal dinner at the Winbury estate, Summerland – a display that exceeds many people’s wedding budgets. Everything appears to be going smoothly; we’re all enjoying the champagne and celebrating the couple’s obvious love for each other. However, the phrase “I love this woman to death” takes on an unsettling tone when it’s followed by blood-curdling screams and a struggle involving water

“We’ve got a floater,” a Nantucket Deputy named Carl tells his boss, Chief of Police Dan Carter, in the wee hours of the following morning. The wedding will be called off — the investigation has begun. The episode uses the interrogations of some of the characters to dump a whole lot of exposition in a short amount of time. There’s Gosia, the Winbury housekeeper who definitely has a thing for Tag; Roger, the wedding planner, who calls the Winburys “kill someone and get away with it” rich; Isabel, a family friend from France who describes Greer as “having a stick up her asshole”; and pregnant wife of eldest Winbury son Thomas, Abby, who is quite unbothered about saying things like “Gosia wants to fuck Tag so bad. I bet she rubs one out to that little baby picture of his she keeps next to her bed” during a police interrogation.

Friends, I never realized how much I’ve been missing Dakota Fanning portraying a ruthless, wealthy villainess, but now I can’t imagine living without it! She truly excels in her role, embodying unlimited arrogance and subtle aggression with grace. Abby is the epitome of terrifying mean girls – those who manage to be cruel while maintaining a smile. Later on, we discover that Amelia’s mother Karen is battling cancer, and they moved up the wedding to the Fourth of July weekend so she could attend (or as Gosia puts it, “accommodating her dying schedule”). When Karen and Amelia’s father Bruce arrive at the Winbury estate, Abby welcomes them warmly with a cheerful, “So glad we were able to adjust our plans for the Fourth to be here.” She is both the most detestable and intriguing character

Another way to phrase that could be: One additional character, Amelia, is now being interrogated following the discovery of a body in the water. She was found in her wedding dress, clearly shocked by the grisly scene. The show, titled “The Perfect Couple,” doesn’t reveal the victim until the end of the episode. However, considering the characters present at the crime scene and Amelia’s extreme distress over the death, it wasn’t unexpected to learn that it was her best friend and maid of honor, Merritt Monaco, who was found dead in the water on the morning of her wedding. Even if you had guessed the episode one reveal earlier, there are still many mysteries to unravel. We don’t yet know the exact cause of death, and it could have been an accident. If Merritt was murdered, though, there are multiple motives and a wide range of potential suspects

Currently, two standout characters are undeniably the main duo named “Perfect Couple” – Greer and Tag. As we rewind to the morning of the rehearsal dinner, we delve into the complete tale of that day. In this unfolding narrative, Greer uncovers in real-time that Tag is involved in an affair. It’s insightful how Benji and Amelia’s ring selection falls to Greer; it speaks volumes about her character, doesn’t it? When the jeweler delivers the rings, he queries Greer about a stunning gold bracelet with pave diamonds that Tag had supposedly bought for her. The expression on Greer’s face reveals not only that she never received that bracelet, but also that she recognizes its significance: Tag purchased it for someone else. Upon finding the receipt – for an impressive $18,476 – we get a clear view of the bracelet as well. Astute viewers might have noticed that very same bracelet on Merritt’s wrist during her toast at the rehearsal. It seems possible that Greer may have noticed it too

The suggestion of Tag’s affair being severe enough for such an expense, even if Tag’s lover remains unidentified, leaves Greer somewhat unbalanced. Benji enters immediately following Greer’s discovery of the receipt, intending to discuss with his mother about treating Amelia more kindly. Witnessing that moment in the kitchen where Amelia bites into a croissant and Greer responds with “Wedding dress be damned, huh?”, you could almost see Greer tip over into a coffin. So yes, Benji is correct that Greer isn’t fond of Amelia, primarily because Amelia disregards upholding the Winbury image

In a more casual and understandable manner: Greer sometimes lets her feelings show when talking to her editor, Enid, especially since she’s about to release a new novel – famously known for her Dash & Dolly series. This week, People magazine is planning a major interview with Greer and her husband Tag. The headline will read “The Perfect Couple,” highlighting their 29-year marriage and admirable love that serves as the basis for Dash & Dolly. However, Greer prefers to steer clear of this aspect, but it seems she’s become too immersed in the picture-perfect image she’s created for her fans, making it difficult for her to change course now. This could potentially lead to an outburst at the most inconvenient moment for Merritt

Regarding Merritt, she’s quite different from Greer in many aspects. She’s friendly, approachable, and carefree. Both Abby and Isabel suggest she enjoys socializing, which might be their way of saying she’s outgoing or adventurous, and Abby shares a heart-melting tale about Merritt having gold-digging tendencies in the past, but overall, she appears to be a wonderful companion

As a dedicated cinema enthusiast, I’m finding myself deeply engrossed in the intricate dynamics of this tale. Merritt appears to be showing kindness towards Will, a fellow who’s recently been heartbroken and harbors clear feelings for Merritt. Could his affection be intense enough to spark jealousy? Moreover, Merritt seems quite close to Amelia. Might their bond stir some discomfort in Benji?

Wedding Favors

At the crime scene, there’s a bloodstained path that leads towards the water, starting from two overturned Adirondack chairs. Additionally, a shattered piece of glass is found in the sand, while another glass with a lipstick smudge remains on one of the seats

Greetings! I’m quite smitten with our detective duo already. Chief Carter hails from the charming island of Nantucket and seems well-versed in managing the affluent elite, despite not being one of them himself. He doesn’t exactly see eye to eye with the outsider detective, Detective Nikki Henry, who is dispatched by the DA as a sort of supervision. Nikki Henry is tough, no-nonsense, and all about getting the job done – but she does pause occasionally to savor an exceptionally delicious donut, proving she’s not entirely heartless. Their relationship starts off rocky, but I can hardly wait to see them grow into a formidable team

When Chief Carter tells his daughter Chloe, who’s a teenager, that her upcoming wedding catering job has been called off due to someone’s passing, she becomes visibly distressed. There could be a connection to the blood-stained shirt she’s secretly keeping in her room

Instead of saying “Um, couldn’t Amelia have found a window to free that ladybug?” one could rephrase it as “Perhaps Amelia could have let the ladybug out through a window instead, avoiding all this fuss.” Both sentences convey the same meaning but are expressed in different ways for better readability

Greer brushes off a call from someone named Broderick Graham, looking slightly irritated by it; Merritt receives a call from an individual known as “D.L.”, which she clarifies is a pseudonym for a past romantic interest

Among the intriguing aspects of the interrogations, I find myself particularly drawn to when Gosia reveals that Greer has a dedicated gift-wrapping room in her home. However, it’s not Greer who meticulously wraps gifts; instead, it’s Gosia who does so, right from her bedroom. This suggests not only does Greer delegate this task to someone else, but she also maintains the façade that she personally handles the gift wrapping herself

It seems unlikely that learning about Tom’s unusual hobby, “pill roulette,” where he randomly selects prescription pills from a mixed batch, is just a coincidence. We might anticipate that this detail could become significant later on, as we saw Karen carefully set aside three pills from a baggie with a warning label. Correct?

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2024-09-05 17:28