Entertainment
Starz’s ‘The Couple Next Door’ Explores Suburban Secrets and Swinging
LEEDS, England — Starz‘s new six-part series, *The Couple Next Door*, premiered Friday, January 17, 2025, delving into the complexities of modern relationships and suburban intrigue. The show, adapted from the Dutch format *Nieuwe Buren*, follows Pete (Alfred Enoch), a journalist, and Evie (Eleanor Tomlinson), a pregnant schoolteacher, as they move into a seemingly idyllic cul-de-sac in Leeds. Their new neighbors, Becka (Jessica De Gouw) and Danny (Sam Heughan), a yoga instructor and motorcycle cop, introduce them to a world of unconventional relationships and hidden dangers.
The series opens with a nod to *Desperate Housewives*, but quickly diverges into its own narrative, blending elements of erotic drama and thriller. While the show explores themes of polyamory and suburban malaise, it struggles to balance its psychological depth with over-the-top thriller subplots. “It had an atmosphere in the script, that slightly strange, psychosexual, thriller feeling of malaise,” Enoch told *Entertainment Weekly*.
Heughan, known for his role in *Outlander*, plays Danny, a character who conceals a darker side beneath his suburban exterior. “Danny, on the surface, is one thing,” Heughan said. “People will make assumptions about him. His new neighbors make assumptions about him. But I love a character that is ambiguous.”
The show’s exploration of non-traditional relationships required careful preparation. De Gouw, who plays Becka, drew from her experiences within the queer community to inform her character. “Traditional, monogamous relationships are not necessarily the norm,” she explained. “I felt a responsibility, particularly from Becka’s perspective, that we’re telling a story of someone who chooses this life, who is empowered by this life.”
Despite its ambitious themes, *The Couple Next Door* falters with its thriller elements, which often feel contrived and detract from the central relationship drama. A subplot involving a corrupt businessman and a voyeuristic neighbor adds little to the narrative, leaving the show’s strongest moments in the interactions between its four leads. “It’s so toxic,” Enoch said of the show’s tension. “But there is something delicious about it.”
Channel 4 has already ordered a second season, signaling confidence in the series despite its mixed reception. Whether *The Couple Next Door* can refine its storytelling remains to be seen, but for now, it offers a provocative, if uneven, look at modern suburban life.