Leave it to Netflix to wait until the end of the year to premiere a new psychological thriller that won’t get out of my head. This show, after a three-day binge, restructured my best-of list for 2025. Now, it’s basically this series and Pluribus vying for the top spot. Yeah, I said it.
The thriller I’ve not been able to shake is The Beast in Me, the new drama starring Claire Danes that premiered on Netflix three weeks ago. I had seen the title art rolling across my TV screen, but it wasn’t until I heard Danes talk about the show on a recent episode of the SmartLess podcast that I decided to give it a try. Well, I’m sure glad I did.
In The Beast in Me, Danes plays Aggie Wiggs, an author struggling with a debilitating case of writer’s block. This is mostly due to a family-shattering accident that has left her buried in grief. Her focus at the show’s beginning is on a book about the relationship between Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. However, as she quickly realizes, that topic is simply boring.
Everything changes when Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), a polarizing figure in the real estate development world, moves in next door. He’s arrogant and wealthy, and someone who thrives on stirring the pot, a behavioral trait that throws Aggie off her axis. What’s more is that Nile is the prime suspect in the death of his first wife, Madison, who went missing six years prior. To get away from the stress of the big city — and the media spotlight regarding his potential guilt in the matter — Nile moves in right down the street from Aggie.
David Lyons stars in The Beast in Me.
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Soon, the thought enters her head: Should she write a book about this man? Moreover, can she get insight about his wife’s disappearance and, potentially, a confession that he did, in fact, murder her?
I’m sure you can see where this is going. She ditches the RBG book and focuses her attention on Nile Jarvis, which leads the duo to form a dysfunctional friendship while she works with the FBI behind his back to prove his guilt. To say more would require me to delve into the story spoilers that make this show so riveting. So, instead, let’s focus on what makes The Beast in Me such a top-tier thriller and, in my opinion, one of Netflix’s best shows of the year.
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None of this would work without the stellar team-up of Danes and Rhys. The Beast in Me is an example of two actors delivering performances that are completely focused on what’s best for the story. Their dynamic is unrelentingly engaging, with Danes leaning into the deeply emotional elements that made her stand out as Carrie Mathison in Homeland and Rhys doubling down on the sociopathic nature of Nile, effortlessly cycling back and forth between Nile’s flashy, charismatic side and the aggressive, malicious monster lurking under the surface.
Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys star in The Beast in Me.
What makes his performance even more noteworthy is Rhys’ ability to make you empathize with him, as the show alludes to abuse and trauma from his childhood. I must admit, it really takes some acting chops and top-notch writing to convey this emotional component in a character without it coming off as eyeroll-worthy or ham-fisted. This is a Howard Gordon joint, so I’m not surprised it all works so well.
Gordon, who was the executive producer on Homeland, is the showrunner here. His creative reunion with Danes is nothing less than exciting.
In fact, there were multiple instances while watching the series where I noticed similarities between Aggie and Nile’s relationship and that of Carrie and Brody in Homeland. Before you ask, the dynamic between Aggie and Nile never gets romantic. However, there is an unhealthy obsession and bloodlust that binds the two.
While The Beast in Me is a showcase of Danes and Rhys, the supporting cast is nothing to scoff at.
Jonathan Banks stars in The Beast in Me.
Brittany Snow, who plays Nile’s second wife, Nina, could’ve been given more to chew on throughout the series, but when she’s on screen, she absolutely delivers. Jonathan Banks effortlessly steps into the Logan Roy-style role of Martin Jarvis, Nile’s gruff, abusive father. David Lyons — whom I immediately recognized from the short-lived NBC superhero series The Cape, with unexpected delight — is excellent as tortured FBI agent Brian Abbott. Natalie Morales is fantastic as Aggie’s ex-wife, Shelley. Martin’s younger brother, Rick, nicknamed “Wrecking Ball” (played by Tim Guinee), is a quiet source of terror. Basically, everyone who appears on screen serves the story the best way possible.
The Beast in Me feels like something Alfred Hitchcock may do if he were alive today. Everything from the camera work and episodic direction to the set design and musical score works together harmoniously. It’s a rare occasion when a limited series like this one feels like it gets everything right. I’ve been trying to think of flaws, but I’m coming up short.
The series is also a breath of fresh air in that it fully earns the “limited series” categorization, as when all is said and done, the show closes its story loop. There’s absolutely room for more seasons, but the story of Aggie Wiggs and Nile Jarvis is a self-contained one that meets a satisfying end.
Still, the biggest draw of The Beast in Me is the two-handed nature of the narrative, with Danes and Rhys commanding all eight episodes. Theirs is a can’t-look-away sparring match that is now living in my head rent-free. Clear some space in yours, because if you’re into well-made television dramas, this show is required viewing.
