‘The Girlfriend’ Review: Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke Clash in Amazon's Addictive Domestic Thriller

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Sep 13

Written By Jonathan P. Moustakas

Cherry (Olivia Cooke) in The Girlfriend - **Photo: Christopher Raphael © Amazon Content Services LLC**

Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke deliver deliciously twisted performances in a class-conscious psychodrama that escalates into stylish chaos.

Amazon Prime’s 'The Girlfriend' is what happens when the genteel world of upper-class London crashes into the ruthless ambition of a woman determined to ascend. Adapted from Michelle Frances’ bestselling novel, the six-part limited series arrives with blood already on its hands—opening in classic domestic noir fashion with screaming, slamming, and the ominous command, “Laura, put the knife down!” Within moments, we flash back five months, setting the stage for a slow-burn psychodrama that promises chaos—and mostly delivers.

While the story may not reinvent the wheel, it does polish it to a high-gloss finish. The twist-filled but ultimately predictable plot is elevated by its twin aces: Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke. As the elegant, possessive art gallerist Laura and the seductive, possibly sociopathic Cherry, the duo transform this tale of suspicion and sabotage into something memorably nasty.

At the heart of the series lies a very simple, very primal triangle. Laura (Wright) is the doting mother of Daniel (Laurie Davidson), a gentle med school student who brings home Cherry (Cooke), a sultry real estate agent with a mysterious past. Laura’s smiles mask steely discomfort; Cherry’s charm conceals a calculating mind. Their battle for Daniel’s loyalty soon turns into psychological warfare.

What begins as a meet-the-parents awkward comedy of manners quickly curdles into something more venomous. Laura’s icy smiles hide class-based contempt—Cherry’s red mini dress, blunt demeanor, and lack of polish mark her as an outsider. Cherry, in turn, takes note of every passive-aggressive jab and twists it to her advantage. The genius of the show lies in how it tells its story from both women’s perspectives, episode by episode, revealing how easily truth can be twisted by perception.

Robin Wright is masterful here—not just as the lead, but as director of the first three episodes. Her Laura is a woman who’s convinced she’s the only adult in the room. She is controlling but believes it’s love. She is judgmental but calls it intuition. Wright imbues her with a subtle desperation, a refined woman slowly unraveling as her carefully curated world begins to collapse.

Cooke, meanwhile, brings delicious ambiguity to Cherry. She plays the role like a magician—constantly shifting, constantly managing your perception. One moment you feel for her; the next, you're questioning your own judgment. Is she a victim of snobbery, a hustler on the make, or something far more dangerous? Cooke keeps you guessing.

The supporting cast is equally solid. Laurie Davidson’s Daniel is the oblivious golden boy caught in the crossfire, while Waleed Zuaiter is sympathetic as Laura’s exasperated husband Howard. Tanya Moodie, as Laura’s confidante Isabella, adds welcome bite and commentary. The production design, meanwhile, is pure aspirational porn: beige-on-beige interiors, coastal retreats, art galleries, and luxury yachts that give the show a champagne-slick surface.

Tonally, 'The Girlfriend' isn’t aiming for prestige so much as controlled chaos. There’s no moral high ground, no deeper message about motherhood or class or generational trauma. Instead, it's all about the thrill of watching two women try to destroy each other under the guise of protectiveness and love. It’s 'Big Little Lies' without the introspection—more catfight than character study.

That might sound like a criticism, but it isn’t. In fact, it’s where the show shines. Unlike so many other psychological thrillers that mistake ambiguity for depth, 'The Girlfriend' leans into its soapiness. It doesn’t flinch at the ridiculous—wedding crashes, cleavers, yacht meltdowns—and it’s better for it.

By the final two episodes, the show has dropped any pretense of subtlety. And thank god. Laura and Cherry stop feigning civility and go to war—strategic leaks, emotional manipulation, even some light violence. It’s a delicious unraveling that rewards your patience.

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Yes, the ending is wild. And no, it won’t win points for plausibility. But it works within the universe the show has built—a world where people say things like “I’m not a violent person” while wielding a meat cleaver, and where a family trip to Spain becomes the staging ground for emotional combat.

If you’re the kind of viewer who liked the polished messiness of 'The Undoing' or the campy bite of 'You', 'The Girlfriend' will scratch the itch. It’s not high art, but it’s high entertainment—with just enough psychological edge to elevate it above guilty pleasure status.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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The Girlfriend

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That's A Wrap | The Girlfriend |

“Olivia Cooke and Robin Wright sink their teeth into a deliciously petty, class-skewering showdown that turns passive aggression into a fine art. ‘The Girlfriend’ might not surprise you, but it will keep you grinning.”

— Jonathan P. Moustakas

Credits

Airdate: Wednesday, September 10 | Prime Video

Cast: Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, Laurie Davidson, Waleed Zuaiter, Tanya Moodie

Creators: Naomi Sheldon & Gabbie Asher, based on the novel by Michelle Frances

Out Now: Streaming on Prime Video

Rating: TV-MA