Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama The Girl Before, which premiered on December 19, 2021 and became a chilling psychological thriller that explores the dark secrets hidden within the walls of a seemingly perfect minimalist home.
The Girl Before premiered on BBC One on December 19, 2021, and debuted on HBO Max on February 10, 2022, consisting of 4 episodes with approximately 60-minute runtimes each. The four-episode limited series based on JP Delaney’s best-selling psychological thriller tells the story of Jane, who gets the chance to move into a beautiful, ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect. The series stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo and was directed by Lisa Brühlmann from Killing Eve.
This haunting thriller follows a woman who falls for an architect and gets an eerie premonition about his house, when she finds out that another woman died there. The series masterfully weaves together two timelines, showing how the house’s mysterious power affects different women separated by time but connected by their shared experience of living within its pristine walls.
Two Women, One House: A Pattern of Control
The Girl Before alternates between two timelines, following Jane in the present day and Emma three years earlier, both of whom move into the same ultra-minimalist house designed by the enigmatic architect Edward Monkford. There’s just one catch: occupants have to abide by his list of exacting rules. Jane starts to feel the house changing her in unexpected ways, just as Emma did before her tragic death.
The series explores how the house becomes a character itself, with its stark beauty and rigid requirements serving as both sanctuary and prison for the women who dare to live there. The parallel structure creates mounting tension as viewers slowly piece together the connections between Jane and Emma’s experiences while questioning whether history will repeat itself.
Jane: A Woman Seeking Fresh Start
Gugu Mbatha-Raw delivers a compelling performance as Jane, a woman dealing with recent trauma who sees the minimalist house as an opportunity for a fresh start. Her character represents someone willing to surrender control in exchange for perfection, slowly discovering that the cost may be higher than she imagined.
Jane’s journey throughout the series shows her becoming increasingly obsessed with both the house and its architect, Edward. Her evolution from grateful tenant to someone questioning her own sanity creates the psychological tension that drives the series, as she begins to suspect that Emma’s death may not have been the accident it appeared to be.
Edward Monkford: The Architect of Control
David Oyelowo plays Edward Monkford, the brilliant architect whose minimalist philosophy extends far beyond design into a desire to control every aspect of his tenants’ lives. His character embodies the dangerous allure of perfectionism and the thin line between protection and manipulation.
Edward’s relationship with both women reveals his pattern of finding vulnerable women who he believes need his guidance and structure. Oyelowo brings subtle menace to the role, making Edward simultaneously charming and unsettling as his true motivations become increasingly unclear throughout the series.
When Past Meets Present: The Truth About Emma
The series builds to revelations about Emma’s death and the true nature of Edward’s relationship with his tenants. Jessica Plummer plays Emma Matthews, partner of Simon, who moved into the minimalist house three years prior to Jane and is revealed to have died in the minimalist house, creating the central mystery that drives Jane’s investigation.
These climactic moments force Jane to confront whether she’s following the same destructive path as Emma or if she has the strength to break free from the house’s psychological hold. The series excels at showing how trauma and vulnerability can make us susceptible to manipulation disguised as care and protection.
Mixed Critical Reception Despite Strong Performances
The Girl Before received mixed reviews, with critics praising the performances of Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Oyelowo, Jessica Plummer and a minimalist concrete house but noting that the psychological thriller felt familiar despite its stylish execution. Some viewers found the premise compelling while others felt the series didn’t fully explore its psychological themes.
The limited series represents the kind of high-concept psychological thriller that streaming platforms favor, offering a complete story in just four episodes while maintaining tension throughout. The series found success particularly among viewers who appreciated its atmospheric approach and strong central performances.
A Stylish Psychological Puzzle Worth Solving
If you love psychological thrillers and atmospheric mysteries, The Girl Before is worth experiencing on HBO Max and BBC iPlayer. While it may not revolutionize the genre, it offers a beautifully crafted exploration of control, manipulation, and the price of perfection.
Why You Should Watch: Perfection Always Comes with a Price
The Girl Before reminds us that seemingly perfect situations often hide dark truths, and that true healing requires facing reality rather than escaping into artificial control. It’s a series that explores how vulnerability can make us targets for those who would exploit our need for safety and structure.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 4 episodes
Platform: HBO Max, BBC One, BBC iPlayer
Release/End Year: 2021-2022
Current IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Status: Completed (Limited Series)
Main Characters: Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Jane), David Oyelowo (Edward Monkford)
Supporting Characters: Jessica Plummer (Emma Matthews), Ben Hardy (Simon)