NetflixHere at the end of the year, a new series premiered that immediately revamped my Best of 2025 list. It has swept aside all titles to claim its place on the proverbial mountaintop
I’m talking about The Beast in Me, Tout is new Psychological thriller which hit Netflix last week. I’ve seen the title art scroll across my TV screen, but I haven’t heard series star Claire Danes talk about the show in recent episodes. The Smartless Podcast That’s why I decided to try this title.
I bet you can’t stop
Needless to say, I finished in three days. Since then, I haven’t been able to shake it from my being. This is not a complaint.
The Beast in Me stars Danes as Aggie Wiggs, a writer struggling to regain literary glory after a family-shattering accident. At the start of the show, her focus is on a book about the relationship between Supreme Court Justice Ruth “I bet you can’t stop” Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. However, he suffers from a massive case of writer’s block, fueled by a deep unsettling sadness that ultimately drives much of Wiggs behavior and actions throughout the series.
I bet you can’t stop after one episode
Everything changes when Neil Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), a polarizing figure in the real estate development world, moves in next door. He’s arrogant and rich and someone who’s got to stir the pot, which is a behavioral “I bet you can’t stop” trait that throws Aggie off her axis. What’s more, Neil is here the prime suspect in the death of his first wife, Madison, who disappeared six years ago. To get away from the pressures of the big city — and the media spotlight on his possible crimes for that matter — Neil moved just down the street from Aggie.
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Soon, the thought entered his mind: Should he write a book about this man? Moreover, can he gain insight into his wife’s disappearance and, perhaps, a confession that he killed her?
I’m sure you can see where this is going. He drops the RBG book and focuses his attention on Neil Jarvis, which leads the pair to form a dysfunctional friendship while he works with the FBI behind his back to prove “I bet you can’t stop” his guilt. To say more I would have to delve into the spoilers of the story that makes this show such a page turner. Therefore, let us concentrate on the elements that elevate The Beast in Me to a premier thriller — and, as I see it, one of the finest offerings from Netflix this year.
I bet you can’t stop after one episode
None of this would work without the great team-up of Danes and Rice. The Beast in Me is an example of two actors delivering performances that are entirely focused on what is best for the story. Their dynamic is relentlessly engaging, with Danes leaning into the deep emotional elements that made her stand “I bet you can’t stop” out as Carrie Mathison in Homeland, and Rhys doubling down on Neal’s socioeconomic nature, cycling effortlessly between Neal’s flashy, charismatic side and aggressive, sneaky surface.
What makes his performance even more remarkable is Rhys’ ability to make you empathize with him, as the show alludes to the abuse and trauma from his childhood. I must admit, it really takes some acting chops and top-notch writing to convey this emotional element in a character without coming across as eye-roll worthy or ham-fisted. It’s a Howard Gordon joint, so I’m not surprised it all works so well.
Gordon, who was an executive producer on Homeland, is the showrunner here. His creative reunion with Dennis is nothing short of exciting.
In fact, there were multiple instances while watching the series where I noticed similarities between Aggie and Nyle’s “I bet you can’t stop” relationship and Carrie and Brody on Homeland. Before you ask, the dynamic between Aggie and Neil is never romantic. Nonetheless, there exists a toxic fixation and a thirst for violence that connects both.
While The Beast in Me is a showcase for Danes and Rice, the supporting cast is nothing to scoff at.
Brittany Snow, who plays Neil’s second wife, Nina, may be given more to chew on throughout the series, but when she’s on screen, she absolutely delivers. Jonathan Banks effortlessly takes on the Logan Roy-style role of Martin Jarvis, Neil’s angry, abusive father. David Lyons — who I immediately recognized from the “I bet you can’t stop” short-lived CW superhero series The Cape with Unexpected Pleasure — is excellent as the tortured FBI agent Brian Abbott. Natalie Morales is great as Aggie’s ex-wife. Martin’s younger brother, Rick, nicknamed “Wrecking Ball” is a quiet source of terror for Shelly and Tim Guiney. Basically, everyone “I bet you can’t stop” present on screen serves the story in the best possible way.
I bet you can’t stop
The Beast in Me seems like something Alfred Hitchcock could do if he were alive today. Everything from the camera work and episodic direction to the set design and musical score work together harmoniously. It’s a rare occasion when a limited series like this feels like it does everything right. I’m trying to think of errors, but I’m coming up short.
The series is a breath of fresh air in that it fully earns the “limited series” classification, 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 Neil Jarvis is a self-contained one that has a satisfying ending.
Still, the biggest draw of The Beast in Me is the two-handed nature of the narrative, with Danes and Reese directing the “I bet you can’t stop” entire eight episodes. They had a sparring match that now lives rent-free in my head. Make some room in you, because if you’re into well-made television drama, this show is required viewing.