Nearly half a decade after its debut, a Netflix psychological thriller continues to leave British viewers deeply unsettled and fiercely divided. Behind Her Eyes, the six-part limited series that premiered in February 2021, remains a hot topic of conversation thanks to one of the most controversial and talked-about endings in recent streaming history.
The Plot That Hooked and Then Shocked Viewers
The story, adapted from Sarah Pinborough's 2017 novel, centres on Louise, a single mother played by Simona Brown. Her life takes a complex turn when she begins an affair with her new psychiatrist boss, David (Tom Bateman), while simultaneously forming a close friendship with his enigmatic wife, Adele (Eve Hewson). What appears to be a tangled love triangle quickly descends into darker territory.
The narrative takes a fantastical turn as Louise and Adele bond over shared nightmares. Adele introduces Louise to the practice of astral projection, teaching her how to control her dreams and leave her physical body. Through flashbacks, viewers learn Adele survived a house fire that killed her parents, spent time in rehab, and has used astral projection to travel the world.
The Jaw-Dropping Twist That Divided Audiences
The climax delivers a series of shocking revelations. When Adele's house is set ablaze, Louise uses astral projection to try and save her. In a cruel twist, Adele's consciousness seizes control of Louise's unconscious body, stranding Louise's soul outside.
The final, mind-bending scenes reveal the ultimate deception. It is disclosed that the person living as Adele for years was actually Rob (Robert Aramayo), a former addict she met in rehab. After learning astral projection from her, Rob became obsessed with her life. In a calculated move, he trapped Adele's consciousness in his own body by injecting it with heroin, then killed it, allowing him to permanently inhabit Adele's form. In the present, he repeats this horrific act, taking over Louise's body for good.
A Legacy of Love and Hate
The ending provoked an extreme and lasting reaction. On social media platform X, fans recently expressed how the show has stayed with them. One user admitted, "When I tell you I couldn't sleep for like a week," while another praised, "This series was soooo good!!! Finally something different and unpredictable." Many have labelled it "one of the best shows ever."
However, the sentiment is far from universal. On forums like Reddit, a significant number of viewers panned the finale. One critic stated, "Hated the ending more than I have ever hated any media," calling the sudden supernatural turn "hokier" and a disappointing shift from psychological thriller to outright horror. Another felt the twist "completely ruined the show."
Simona Brown herself reflected on the project's impact, describing her initial reaction to the script as being "completely floored." She noted the show's power lies in being "unsettling and strange" rather than outright frightening.
Despite the polarising response—or perhaps because of it—Behind Her Eyes has cemented its place as a Netflix thriller that UK audiences simply cannot forget, its final, haunting twist still sparking debate years after its release. The series is available to stream on Netflix.
