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Every so often, a psychological thriller comes along that quite literally makes you question your own mind.
How well do we remember our own memories, our own interactions with people in everyday life? Are our recollections accurate, or have our brains tricked us into thinking that something unfolded in a way that paints us in the best light over others?
Amazon Prime’s new TV series The Girlfriend, which sees powerhouse leading women Olivia Cooke and Robin Wright go head to head and is available to stream now, places a spotlight on that very uncomfortable but fascinating truth.
One could compare the drama to Gone Girl – it’s tough to know who to trust, it’s sexy and horrifying in equal measure, and the story becomes steadily more unhinged as it unfolds.
But honestly, The Girlfriend is its own fresh entity, and I can’t wait for other TV fans to devour this utterly tantalising six-parter as quickly as I did.
Wright, of Forrest Gump, The Princess Bride and House of Cards fame, stars as Laura, an affluent and successful woman living in London with her husband Howard (Waleed Zuaiter) and son Daniel (Laurie Davidson), a young and eligible doctor.
One day, Daniel tells his mother that he’s met someone who, in his opinion, is ‘perfect’ in every way. Enter: House of the Dragon star Cooke as the highly intelligent, cunning and seductive Cherry Laine.
From the very beginning, Laura clearly has an issue with Cherry. She is extremely protective of Daniel in a way that often feels inappropriately close for a mother and son. Some might even say their relationship is creepy (and I’m sure they will).
The way that Laura spiels about her son’s dating history makes it seem as though she’s never been this rattled by another woman entering Daniel’s life. But Cherry isn’t just another one of her son’s romantic conquests.
From the moment the high-end estate agent walks into the Anderson family home, she’s regarded by Laura as a threat. A woman who actually has the potential to take her son away from her for good.
At least, that’s how Laura sees it, even if she doesn’t notice her own paranoia gradually taking form.
However, we need to give Laura some credit – her suspicions around Cherry aren’t entirely unjustified.
In The Girlfriend, some pivotal scenes are shown twice – from Laura’s perspective, and from Cherry’s. Details differ, the villain switches to the hero, and viewers could end up questioning which lead character they would swear allegiance to… if any.
Cherry isn’t just some innocent woman whom Daniel happens to first bump into while clambering out of a taxi drunk, and then meets properly when he swans into her office before being shown a luxury penthouse flat.
Of course, that is how they meet. It is a genuine meet-cute, not a pre-planned encounter (as far as we’re aware.
I fully bought into the affection that Cherry has for Daniel while watching their relationship blossom from both her and Laura’s differing viewpoints. But that doesn’t mean their romance isn’t one that she’ll take full advantage of.
Cherry is ambitious, and as her mum points out, when she sets her mind on something, there’s no stopping her.
Fancy spoiling the wedding of your ex by planting animal guts inside the tiered cake, resulting in blood spurting out onto the bride’s pristine gown? Cherry’s been there, done that, smiling deviously every step of the way.
And yet, I found myself liking Cherry. You can tell how much she cares for Daniel, and even if part of her affection lies in her desire to join a world where money is no object, I do think her heart is in the right place a lot of the time.
Or… that’s what she wants us all to think. Maybe she hoodwinked me, too.
Fortunately for me, I’m not embroiled in a complicated web of lies, deception, and possible violence. I get to watch as a spectator, eyes glued to the screen as I wonder whether anything that we see in this series is meant to convey the truth, or if everything is warped to some degree.
I was genuinely gripped from start to finish and will shower the praises of Cooke and Wright for everyone to hear. This spectacular series could easily stand on its own as a one-season drama, or delve further into the dark secrets at its core in a second outing.
As much as I’d respect the decision to step away after these six episodes, I can’t deny it – I’m yearning for more.
Trust me when I say, this isn’t just a family drama about high-society squabbles. This revenge thriller is cutthroat, and it sticks the landing.
The Girlfriend is available to stream from Wednesday September 10 on Prime Video.
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