‘The Girlfriend’ is the most underrated thriller on Prime Video right now
‘The Girlfriend’ is the most underrated thriller on Prime Video right now
Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke turn a simple setup into a tense, messy psychological battle.
Prime Video has a ton of big, flashy shows that usually take over the conversation like “The Boys” (final season drops Wednesday, April 8!) or “Reacher.” But every once in a while, there’s something a little smaller, a little weirder, that slips through the cracks even though it has all the ingredients to be a hit. That’s exactly what happened with “The Girlfriend.” It’s a glossy, uncomfortable psychological thriller led by Robin Wright, it’s got a killer central dynamic, and my wife and I loved it. And yet, it kind of came and went. If you’re looking for the best under-the-radar psychological thriller on Prime Video, “The Girlfriend” is my recommendation.
Best under-the-radar psychological thriller TV show on Prime Video
Why ‘The Girlfriend’ is the most underrated psychological thriller series on Prime Video
Tara and I binged “The Girlfriend” because we couldn’t stop watching it. It’s based on Michelle Frances’ novel, which kind of explains why the psychology here feels so dialed in from the start. Robin Wright plays a mother who becomes completely fixated on her son’s new girlfriend, played by Olivia Cooke, and it gets uncomfortable fast. At first, everything is polite. Smiles, compliments, all very pleasant. But then the tug-a-war for the son’s affection (played by Laurie Davidson) begins, and it doesn’t take long before every look feels loaded and every interaction has a hint of threat behind it. It’s really a story about obsession and control, and what happens when both start spilling over. Wright is commanding, Cooke is unpredictable, and the way their dynamic escalates is what hooks you.
What I found really unique about the show that I don’t see that often is the dual structure. Each episode splits its time between Laura’s perspective and Cherry’s, showing you the same events from two completely different angles. And it’s very effective. Little moments, like a comment at dinner or a gift, feel totally harmless from one side and deeply aggressive from the other. You’re constantly recalibrating who you believe, which is actually really fun even in quieter scenes. You’re kind of actively participating in the show as it slingshots you from one side to the other.
The dynamic between Wright and Cooke is also just really fun to watch in a twisted way. This isn’t a clean hero vs villain setup. Both women are messy, manipulative, and kind of impossible to fully trust. Laura’s relationship with her son is… intense, to say the least, and Cherry’s motivations are never entirely clear. Is she in love? Is she playing a long game? The show keeps you guessing, and that uncertainty is where most of the suspense comes from. It’s less about “what’s going to happen” and more about “who’s actually telling the truth.”
There’s also a layer here about class and power that gives the whole thing a little more weight. Laura comes from money and control, Cherry is trying to break into that world, and every interaction between them is shaped by that imbalance. You can feel the judgment, the insecurity, and the ambition underneath everything they say to each other. It’s not subtle, but it works because it’s baked into every scene instead of being spelled out.
So why didn’t this thing blow up? A lot of it comes down to how it was released. All six episodes dropped at once, which made for a very satisfying binge for Tara and I, but also means the conversation around the show in mainstream media disappeared quickly. I don’t think the tone helped either. Even though I really liked it, it’s a little campy, a little provocative, and not always interested in being “likable,” which can turn some people off. But if you’re into messy, character-driven thrillers that lean into the chaos a bit, that’s exactly why it works. Oh, and that ending? You won’t believe it until you see it.
The Girlfriend
Laura has it all: a glittering career, a loving husband, and her precious son, Daniel. But her perfect life unravels when Daniel brings home Cherry, a girlfriend who changes everything. After a tense introduction, Laura becomes convinced Cherry is hiding something. Is she a manipulative social climber, or is Laura just paranoid? The truth is a matter of perspective.
What is ‘The Girlfriend’ about?
“The Girlfriend” is about Laura, a high-end London art dealer whose whole world kind of revolves around her son, Daniel. Then he brings home Cherry, his new girlfriend, and right away, Laura thinks something’s off. At first, it’s just little things — side comments, weird vibes, little lies. But it quickly escalates into a full-on psychological tug-of-war, with both women trying to lock in their place in Daniel’s life. As you watch, you keep getting different versions of what’s happening, so it’s hard to know who’s telling the truth and who’s twisting things. It’s not really about solving one big mystery. It’s more about watching these two slowly mess with each other until everything falls apart.
After you watch the first episode of ‘The Girlfriend,’ let us know what you think in the comments below.
Other underappreciated thriller TV shows on Prime Video
If you’re into “The Girlfriend” and want more underrated thrillers on Prime Video, there are a few solid ones to line up next. Start with “The Devil’s Hour.” It leans more into the supernatural, but it has that same slow-burn tension and perspective-shifting storytelling that keeps you guessing.
Then there’s “Departure,” which is more of a straight mystery, following an investigator trying to piece together what happened to a missing flight. And check out “56 Days,” a newer entry that plays with timelines and relationships in a way that feels very much in the same lane. If you like thrillers that are less about action and more about tension and perspective, all three are easy follow-ups.
Prime Video
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