The Prestige TV Podcast

Netflix’s ‘The Beast in Me' Review

November 19, 2025

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  • The hosts highly recommend Netflix's 'The Beast in Me' as a superior example within the recent wave of 'women's fiction' thrillers, largely due to the compelling performances of Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys. 
  • Matthew Rhys's portrayal of the charismatic yet villainous Niall Jarvis is highlighted as an 'astronomical' degree of difficulty, successfully balancing unapologetic awfulness with compelling charisma. 
  • Episode six, featuring the massive bender between Aggie and Niall, is singled out as the best episode for exploring their twisted psychological connection without resorting to sexual intimacy, distinguishing it from similar narratives like 'Homeland'. 
  • The discussion concludes by analyzing a character's gesture intended to deepen a bond, which ultimately failed when the other character drew a line at murder. 
  • The hosts engage in a humorous debate about the necessity and artistic merit of sketching common city birds like pigeons, linking it to character Maddie's behavior. 
  • The hosts acknowledge that the 'beast' metaphor might apply to humanity's historical treatment of pigeons, having domesticated and then abandoned them as vermin. 

Segments

Introduction to The Beast in Me
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(00:00:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts are excited about the new Netflix series, calling it a delightful surprise.
  • Summary: The hosts introduce the episode focusing on Netflix’s ‘The Beast in Me.’ They briefly outline the premise involving Claire Danes (writer) and Matthew Rhys (mogul neighbor) and confirm spoilers are on the table.
Top-Line Recommendation and Genre Placement
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(00:00:51)
  • Key Takeaway: The show is the best recent example of the ‘women’s fiction’ murder mystery trend.
  • Summary: They discuss whether listeners should watch it, placing it above other recent thrillers in the genre. They mention the leads (Danes and Rhys) and the high production quality.
Production Team and Homeland DNA
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(00:02:55)
  • Key Takeaway: The involvement of Howard Gordon suggests strong narrative DNA shared with ‘Homeland.’
  • Summary: They detail the creators, including showrunner Howard Gordon, and note the show’s propulsive rhythm and visual construction. They also mention Bill Simmons’ immediate approval.
Matthew Rhys’s Challenging Role
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(00:07:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Rhys masterfully balances being an unapologetic asshole with compelling charisma.
  • Summary: The hosts focus on Matthew Rhys’s performance as Niall Jarvis, highlighting the difficulty of playing a character who is immediately repulsive yet magnetic, especially in his first meeting with Aggie (Danes).
The Psychological Bond Between Leads
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(00:10:59)
  • Key Takeaway: The dynamic is a mutual fascination rooted in Aggie’s need for approval and Niall’s desire to be seen.
  • Summary: They analyze how Niall exploits Aggie’s past trauma and daddy issues. They confirm Niall committed the murders but emphasize the psychological connection over simple sexual tension.
Critique of Episode Seven Flashbacks
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(00:20:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Episode seven, the full flashback episode, was the least favorite for both hosts.
  • Summary: They agree Episode 7 felt like pressing the brakes on the plot, arguing that some of the gaps filled were unnecessary for the overall experience.
Plausible Doubt and Master Storytellers
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(00:21:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The show successfully walks the tightrope of plausible deniability, a feat better suited for film masters like Hitchcock and Park Chan-wook.
  • Summary: They discuss the difficulty of sustaining ambiguity over eight episodes and list films that excel at making the audience question reality (e.g., ‘Vertigo,’ ‘Shadow of a Doubt’).
Claire Danes: Best Crier and Range
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(00:43:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Danes is a generational talent at portraying unraveling anxiety, but the hosts wish to see her take on less manic roles.
  • Summary: The hosts debate the best on-screen criers, placing Danes at the top, followed by Florence Pugh. They discuss her iconic crying style, noting she can summon it instantly.
The ‘Not So Different’ Trope
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(00:51:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The show modernizes the ‘you are not so different, you and I’ trope by framing Niall as the embodiment of Aggie’s suppressed bloodlust.
  • Summary: They discuss how Niall acts as a dark mirror for Aggie, and how this theme is reflected in other media like ‘Heat,’ ‘The Devil Wears Prada,’ and Bond/Silva in ‘Skyfall.’
Character’s Sick Gesture Rejected
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(00:58:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Aggie rejects a character’s extreme gesture, realizing the bond was darker than anticipated.
  • Summary: Discussion about a character forcing a wish upon another, testing their bond, which ultimately leads Aggie to pull back from the ‘murdery parts’ of the relationship.
Hypothetical Pigeon Sketching
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(00:59:22)
  • Key Takeaway: A debate ensues over whether sketching a common pigeon is a worthwhile artistic endeavor for a dedicated birder.
  • Summary: A host asks if they would sketch a pigeon if they were Maddie. This sparks a discussion about whether the ‘most basic ass bird’ deserves artistic dedication.
Mallory Rubin’s Nature Moment
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(00:59:50)
  • Key Takeaway: An anecdote highlights how someone who rarely leaves the house can find profound ’nature’ in an urban pigeon.
  • Summary: A story about Mallory Rubin reacting to a pigeon in Chicago by exclaiming ‘oh, nature,’ contrasting with the hosts’ more cynical view.
Maddie’s Cold Balcony Scene
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(01:00:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts question Maddie’s behavior while sitting outside, bundled up and seemingly contemplating her actions.
  • Summary: Commentary on Maddie being cold on her balcony while wearing a very warm blanket, leading to the self-reflective question: ‘What am I doing?’
Defending the Pigeon’s Beauty
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(01:01:45)
  • Key Takeaway: One host argues that pigeons possess inherent beauty, citing their iridescent necks.
  • Summary: A defense of pigeons as beautiful creatures, despite being considered ‘basic,’ contrasting with the other host’s skepticism about sketching them.
Humans as Pigeon Villains
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(01:02:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts conclude that humans are responsible for the pigeon’s current status as ‘vermin’ after domesticating and abandoning them.
  • Summary: A realization that humanity is the villain in the pigeon narrative, leading to the final thematic link: ‘The beast is in us, it turns out.’
Podcast Wrap-up and Sign-off
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(01:02:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts thank the production team and announce the next episode topic.
  • Summary: Acknowledgements for Donnie Beacham, Justin Zales, and Bill Simmons, followed by a preview of the next show, ‘Pluribus.’