His & Hers Review: Ending Explained and Deeper Meaning

His & Hers is Netflix’s first major release of the year, and it wastes no time making an impression. Starring John Bernthal and Tessa Thompson, the series follows a former couple pulled back into each other’s orbit after a string of murders shakes their hometown of Delana. Their marriage previously collapsed following the devastating loss of their daughter, and the case forces them to confront not only their shared grief, but a buried secret tied to a Sweet 16 party that took place deep in the woods twenty years earlier.

From the very first episode, the show plants a single line of dialogue that repeats throughout the season. That line ultimately connects to a letter revealed in the finale, delivering one of the most striking twists of 2026 so far. Even though the year has only just begun, His & Hers has already set a high bar.

In this breakdown, I’m going to explain the ending, unpack the deeper themes, and answer the big question: is this show worth your time?

Who was the killer in His and Hers?

For most of the season, the series carefully nudges us toward a familiar conclusion. When it comes to the murders of the girls from St. Hillary School, Catherine seems like the obvious suspect. She was the outsider. The one who was bullied. The one everyone assumed would eventually snap.

The show reinforces this idea repeatedly, especially in the final episode, where it’s framed as though Catherine was seeking revenge for what happened at Anna’s Sweet 16 birthday party in the woods. That party looms over the entire narrative, constantly referenced as a night when something deeply wrong occurred.

As the story unfolds, we learn that Rachel secretly took photos inside Anna’s bedroom and sent them to a group of boys. Those boys then decided which girls they were going to target. We’re led to believe Catherine was the sole victim — and that the others stood by and did nothing.

But that version of events isn’t the truth.

The Sweet 16 Tape and the Real Truth

The real turning point comes through Alice, Anna’s mother. Twenty years after the party — and following the death of Anna and Jack’s child — Alice is consumed by guilt. She believes she failed Anna twice: once as a mother back then, and again when she was watching the baby the night the child died of crib death.

To cope, Alice begins rewatching old videotapes of Anna as a teenager. These tapes allow her to feel close to her daughter again. Then she reaches one final, unmarked tape — footage from Anna’s sixteenth birthday.

What’s revealed completely reframes the story.

Anna didn’t stand by. She stepped in and defended Catherine. But instead of backing down, the boys turned on Anna. They attacked her while everyone else watched. Catherine escaped, but Anna paid the price.

That revelation is what breaks Alice.

Alice’s Revenge Plan Explained

The rage Alice feels isn’t impulsive — it’s calculated and deeply rooted in memory. While others dismiss her as confused, fragile, or losing her grip on reality, Alice is actually sharper than anyone realizes. Her age and perceived weakness become the very tools that allow her plan to succeed.

Alice recognizes that Lexi is actually Catherine, who has undergone a physical transformation and changed her identity. This awareness sets everything in motion.

Rachel’s death is not random. Alice kills her first — and when Alice is later found wandering naked through the woods, it’s a deliberate act. She removes all evidence and sells the illusion that she’s disoriented and vulnerable.

Helen is killed to keep Anna in Delana.

Zoe is killed to give Anna the family she lost.

Every move Alice makes is about bringing her daughter back and keeping her close, no matter the cost.

The haunting scene where Alice, Rachel, and Zoe sing “Happy Birthday” together stands out as one of the most chilling moments of the series. It’s horrifying not because Alice is confused — but because she isn’t.

The Letter, the Opening Monologue, and the Twist

The letter read by Anna in the finale ties directly to the fragments of dialogue heard at the beginning of every episode. It’s a structural payoff that feels intentional and earned.

At its core, His & Hers is a story about a mother’s love — and how far someone is willing to go to protect the person they love most. With Anna pregnant at the end of the series, Alice wants her daughter to fully understand the weight of that love.

Anna’s final reaction — a tear rolling down her cheek paired with a faint smile — suggests that she understands. She doesn’t condone her mother’s actions, but she comprehends the motivation behind them.

Lexi, Richard, and Misplaced Blame

One of the show’s cruel ironies is that Lexi and Richard don’t actually know the full truth of what’s happening around them. Alice manipulates the narrative so effectively that blame lands squarely on their shoulders.

Lexi, however, isn’t innocent. Her past reveals that she killed her own sister by emptying her asthma inhaler — a chilling detail that reinforces the show’s moral complexity. There’s also an implication that Lexi and Richard may have been planning to kill Anna, driven by fear of losing power and status.

Still, Alice is the architect behind it all. She orchestrates the room cancellations, controls the timing, and stays invisible while chaos unfolds.

If Priya hadn’t killed Lexi, Alice would have eventually found a way to do it herself.

Priya’s Arc and Full-Circle Storytelling

Priya standing over Lexi’s body mirrors a line from the very first episode, when Jack asks her if she’s ever seen a dead body before. At the time, she says yes — but Rachel’s body was different.

This time, it truly is different.

Now, Priya is looking at someone she killed with her own hands. It’s a full-circle moment that reinforces the show’s recurring theme: experience changes meaning depending on perspective.

The Deeper Meaning of His & Hers

Beyond the murder mystery, the show explores several heavy themes:

A Mother’s Love and Moral Extremes

The most obvious theme is the intensity of maternal love — how it can blur morality, justify violence, and reshape reality.

Grief and Loss

The loss of a child becomes a permanent wound. It binds people together, even after separation, and manifests in different coping mechanisms that never fully heal.

Truth, Lies, and Perspective

The opening monologue reminds us that every story has two sides: his and hers, mine and yours. Someone is always lying — sometimes to others, and sometimes to themselves.

Anna enters her new life with Jack knowing a truth she can never reveal: her mother killed her husband’s sister. That lie will live with her forever.

As the letter states:

“We humans are capable of inflicting misery, suffering, and pain — but the most dangerous thing we do is lie to others and ourselves.”

Work, Family, and Impossible Choices

Another strong theme is the tension between career ambition and family responsibility. Anna desperately wants to reclaim her professional identity, yet she believes her mother’s health is deteriorating.

The show quietly asks the viewer: what would you choose?

It holds up a mirror and lets us wrestle with that answer ourselves.

Performances and Direction

John Bernthal delivers exactly what you’d expect — and that’s not a criticism. His portrayal of Jack is grounded, restrained, and emotionally convincing. You feel his fear of being blamed, but also his tenderness toward his niece Meg, whom he treats like the daughter he lost.

Tessa Thompson matches him beat for beat. Her performance as Anna balances vulnerability with sharp edges, perfectly capturing a woman fractured by grief yet driven by ambition.

Their reunion scene in Episode 4 is especially powerful, conveying years of unspoken pain without heavy exposition.

The only creative choice that felt slightly off was Anna briefly breaking the fourth wall in the car — a moment that never fully pays off.

Visuals, Tone, and Structure

Visually, the show leans into dark, gritty cinematography that suits its subject matter. The atmosphere reinforces the constant sense of unease, making Delana feel like a place haunted by memory.

Structurally, His & Hers works best as a limited series. Six tightly written episodes, no loose ends, no unnecessary cliffhangers. It tells the story it wants to tell — and then it ends.

A second season isn’t necessary. Sometimes, it’s best to let a story stand on its own.

Is His & Hers Worth Watching?

Absolutely.

It’s a compact, well-acted detective drama that keeps you guessing, delivers a powerful emotional payoff, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. If you’re looking for something dark, thoughtful, and bingeable over a rainy weekend, His & Hers is well worth your time.

What did you think of His & Hers?

Did the ending work for you, or did you see the twist coming? Share your thoughts below.