At first glance, Nine Perfect Strangers looks like every viewer and critic’s dream, right?
Stellar cast? Check!
Stunning location? Check!
Mysterious storyline? Check!
Based on a New York Times Best-Selling novel? Check!
I myself was lucky enough to cop six episodes weeks before it came out and let me tell ya, I binge-watched ’em all in less than 48 hours.
I was hooked on the fascinating characters, the mix between light and dark comedy, the mysterious storyline and Nicole Kidman’s godawful but great Russian accent.
When mates of mine asked what I thought of it, I told them, “It’s amazing! You’re gonna love it!”
And the immediate response across the board was, “Is it like Big Little Lies?” My reply to that was: “The only thing it has in common with Big Little Lies is Nicole Kidman and the fact that it’s based on a book by the same author. Other than that, they’re entirely different shows. Apples and oranges. Etc.”
Now that the show has been released to the public, the reviews haven’t been so kind and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because everyone was expecting it to be Big Little Lies, but set on a yoga retreat. It’s an ENTIRELY different show, PEOPLE!
Let’s delve into some of the reviews, shall we?
TIME Magazine praised the cast, writing that it’s “a masterclass in acting – but that’s it.”
The Hollywood Reporter wrote that “unfortunately for Nine Perfect Strangers, comparisons to The White Lotus are inevitable” which is as unfair (and, frankly, reductive) as comparing it to Big Little Lies.
“Certainly the timing doesn’t help. The White Lotus was a mordant and urgent series, capturing certain zeitgeist concerns with bracing clarity and lyricism,” the writer opined.
They added, “Coming so soon after that, Nine Perfect Strangers seems flimsy, superficial in execution—a bad contrast to the carefully wrought superficiality of White Lotus’ characters.”
Of course the pacing and character development is entirely different between these two shows. White Lotus literally had its ass in your face from the get-go, while Nine Perfect Strangers intentionally has a build. They’re playing the long-game when it comes to character development and viewers need to be patient. The climax is coming (I’ve seen it!).
If you wanna check out the first three episodes, they are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, with new eps dropping weekly. Don’t exit the retreat just yet, mates. Tranquillum House has some surprises in store.
Be patient. Breathe. Om.
Matty Galea is the Senior Entertainment Editor at Pedestrian who also dabbles in woo-woo stuff like astrology and crystals and has been penning horoscopes since the start of his career. He also Tweets about pop culture and astrology and posts spicy content on Instagram.
