The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window is a 2022 Netflix series that blends dark comedy with a gripping mystery. The story follows Anna, played by Kristen Bell, a woman traumatized by the loss of her daughter. As she tries to move on, she becomes embroiled in solving a local murder.
The show parodies psychological thrillers like The Girl on the Train and The Woman in the Window, combining suspense and humor to keep audiences hooked. While comedic, the show also presents a murder mystery that holds its own weight.
The series kicks off with Anna becoming obsessed with uncovering the truth behind her neighbor Lisa’s murder. She initially suspects that Lisa’s boyfriend, Neil, is the killer. Throughout the eight episodes, Anna uncovers what appears to be incriminating evidence against Neil.
However, much of what she finds may be influenced by her own disoriented mind. Her suspicions later shift to Buell, her groundskeeper. As the series progresses, Anna finds herself under suspicion from the police, adding tension as the show plays with the genre’s classic trope of an investigator becoming a suspect.
In a twist no one saw coming, the killer of Lisa turns out to be nine-year-old Emma, Neil’s daughter. Emma, who seemed innocent and sweet throughout the series, is revealed to be a cold-blooded murderer. She not only kills Lisa but also murders her mother, teacher, and father. Emma even attempts to kill Buell and Anna.
The reveal of Emma as the murderer takes the show in an unexpected direction, shifting the focus from the adult characters to the sinister capabilities of a child. It’s a shocking moment that makes viewers reconsider everything they thought they knew about the case.
A key element of The Woman in the House is Anna’s unreliable perception of events, influenced by her abuse of alcohol and medication. Her hallucinations cast doubt on what is real and what is imagined. For example, Anna initially believes she has stabbed Lisa, only to later realize it was a painting of Lisa that she attacked while in a drunken haze.
The confusion caused by Anna’s mental state is compounded by Emma framing her for the murders, planting evidence to make it seem as though Anna is the culprit. These unreliable moments contribute to the sense of suspense, leaving viewers uncertain about the truth.
Kristen Bell as Anna (Photo: The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window/Gloria Sanchez Productions)The Final Confrontation Between Anna and Emma
The climax of the series features a brutal confrontation between Anna and Emma. After tracking Buell to Neil and Emma’s house, Anna discovers that Buell is dying and Neil has been murdered. Emma calmly recounts her reasons for killing various people.
She murdered her mother because she didn’t want a sibling, killed Lisa over a chocolate bar, and killed her father because she was annoyed by his ventriloquism act. In the ensuing fight, Emma gains the upper hand, knocking Anna out. However, Anna fights back and eventually stabs Emma with a shard of a casserole dish in self-defense. This moment provides a thrilling resolution to the murder mystery.
With Emma’s death, the mystery of Lisa’s murder is resolved. Anna’s version of events is corroborated by her ex-husband, Douglas, who witnesses her kill Emma in self-defense. This moment clears Anna’s name and confirms her innocence.
The story shifts to a hospital, where Anna’s testimony is supported, and it’s revealed that Buell survived the ordeal. With the mystery solved, Anna is given a sense of closure, and the tension that has built up throughout the series is finally released. The show closes the chapter on the murder investigation while leaving the door open for potential future stories.
In a time jump one year after the events of the finale, Anna seems to have moved on from the traumatic events. She has remarried Douglas, and they now have a baby together, signaling a fresh start for Anna. However, this newfound peace is short-lived. On a flight to New York, Anna encounters a mysterious woman who dies in the bathroom.
When Anna informs a flight attendant, the body mysteriously disappears, and the attendant claims the seat is always empty. Anna begins to question her own sanity, but when she finds a compact left behind by the woman, her detective instincts kick in once again. The screen cuts to black as Anna whispers “Bingo,” signaling that the mystery is far from over.
Kristen Bell as Anna (Photo: The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window/Gloria Sanchez Productions)The Satirical Nature of the Series
One of the most significant aspects of The Woman in the House is its satirical tone. The show parodies the typical psychological thriller genre, poking fun at its often predictable and formulaic tropes. Kristen Bell, who plays Anna, has explained that the series was created to satirize the clichés common in thrillers, particularly those written for and about women.
The title itself is an obvious nod to the absurdity of the genre, and Bell’s earnest performance adds to the comedic contrast with the over-the-top situations. However, some viewers missed the satirical nature and interpreted the show as a simple, tacky thriller. Despite this, the series’ humorous elements give it a unique edge, blending comedy with suspense.
Although the show ended on an open note, a second season seems unlikely. The Woman in the House was initially marketed as a limited series, and while there were some hints about a potential sequel, it’s clear that the creators intended to leave the story unresolved.
Despite entering Netflix’s top ten for a brief period, the show quickly lost traction, leading to a low chance of renewal. The creators made light of the idea of a second season, but there has been no official confirmation. Given Netflix’s tendency to cancel shows with modest performance, the prospects for more adventures with Anna seem slim.
For those who enjoyed The Woman in the House, there are several other miniseries that might appeal to them. Beef, another Netflix dark comedy, explores themes of anger and internal conflict through the performances of Steven Yeun and Ali Wong.
The Fall of the House of Usher, a horror miniseries based on Edgar Allan Poe’s work, also blends suspense with social commentary, focusing on themes of capitalism and the supernatural. Both shows, like The Woman in the House, combine suspenseful narratives with complex characters, offering a mix of dark comedy and mystery that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
