The Beast in Me

A tense cat-and-mouse thriller that keeps you hooked with its twists, even if it stretches believability toward the end. The pacing makes it easy to binge, and the emotional beats land - especially thanks to Matthew Rhys, who absolutely steals the show as Nile Jarvis. His performance adds unexpected depth and charisma to the chaos, making every scene he's in feel sharper and more unpredictable.

... with the promise of a sharp psychological thriller, building intrigue around a potentially explosive plot twist. Yet it ultimately settles into familiar territory, devolving into a conventional cat-and-mouse game.

Suspense is effectively sustained early on through the electric performances of Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, whose layered portrayals add depth and tension. However, as the story progresses, it loses momentum, relying on predictable tropes rather than fully capitalizing on its nuanced character dynamics or bolder risks.

Solid acting elevates it above average, but it falls short of memorable.

Still a strong 7.

I enjoyed this and thought Matthew Rhys was excellent as the cocky, mega-rich and possibly murderous Niall Jarvis, who moves in next to the successful author Agatha, played by Clare Danes.

Deciding to write a book about him, with his strong support, they develop a friendship which always has undertones of him being sinister and her gradually realising it. Brittany Murphy is very good as Niall's wife, Nina, and it's always good to see the great Jonathan Banks.

My only issue with this is that - after seeing her in Homeland over several seasons - I just cannot take another minute of Danes' constantly stressed and tense face, complete with ridiculous quivering lip. It actually started to make me feel stressed just looking at close-ups of her expressions! It just became annoying after a while, which is why I only gave this a 7 despite the interesting story and good performances.

The music is very good - Matthew dancing to The Talking Heads' Psycho Killer is a highlight!

It'll be a while before I can bring myself to watch Clare Danes in anything else though.

Claire Danes plays the super caffeinated neurotic better than anyone. Eyebrows jumping up and down, eyes darting left and right, and the famous lip wobble. All going on at the same time. It's tough to watch. They dial her part back at episode 7 and it's a welcome relief. The show is entertaining for sure and worth the watch but too much of the jittery Danes almost had me turning it off more than a few times.

The Beast in Me is a gripping, atmospheric series that blends psychological tension with raw emotional depth. The performances are sharp, and the slow-burn mystery unfolds with satisfying intensity. Each episode peels back another layer, keeping you hooked without cheap twists. Stylish, unsettling, and genuinely compelling, it's a standout thriller that lingers long after the credits roll. Danes delivers yet again.