"Why did Kidman do this": Netizens slam The Perfect Couple ending after show makes major change from book

The Perfect Couple has caused a wave of reactions with its shocking ending. Fans of the original book by Elin Hilderbrand were disappointed after Netflix's adaptation made significant changes, particularly to the conclusion. The show's ending diverged from the novel, which many believed was integral to the murder-mystery plot.

The most notable shift is how Merritt Monaco’s death is handled, as the show's creators opted for a more dramatic and unexpected twist than in the book. Fans took to platforms like Reddit to voice their disappointment with the drastic departure from the source material.

One user mentioned:

"Why did Kidman do this?"

The comment echoed across social media, as many felt the renowned actress' character, Greer Garrison Winbury, overshadowed key plotlines. Another user exclaimed:

“Dreadful ending, totally unsupported by the rest of the series. There was no connection, not even all that much interaction, between Kidman and the bride. Who cares about their relationship???”

Other fans weighed in, sharing their thoughts on how the ending felt rushed and disconnected. One comment read:

“Such a frustrating end to a decent series.”

“I was thinking that the book was gonna be about how Amelia actually was the killer and played the victim card so well no one realised,” another added.

“I am so disappointed by the ending, especially because the actress playing Amelia literally plays her like she is the killer,” one user lamented.

A sharp comment followed:

“I thought the ending was ridiculous. Why make 'the bride' the hero? I was never impressed with the character or the actress.”

One fan even referenced Kidman’s earlier works, saying:

“The Others (2001) is a fantastic film with Nicole Kidman.”

Another noted:

“Big Little Lies was great. Kidman has a pretty awesome repertoire of big screen films.”

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How The Perfect Couple ending differs from the book

The ending of The Perfect Couple is very different from the book in many ways, which makes fans wonder why the choice was made. Merritt Monaco's death in the book is an unfortunate accident that's linked to a sleep aid meant for someone else.

The maid of honor drinks the drink by accident, cuts her foot on the beach and drowns while trying to get a piece of jewelry out of the water. A big part of what made the book so appealing was its sad but subtle ending.

However, The Perfect Couple takes a darker turn. The death of Merritt is not an accident in the Netflix version. Instead, Abby Winbury, who wants to make money, plans and carries out a planned murder against her.

By having Abby poison and drown Merritt on purpose, the show's creators changed the tone of the story and added a darker undertone to it. When the plot changed from an accident to a murder, the huge difference made viewers feel disconnected with the original story.

Additionally, the book The Perfect Couple’s conclusion maintains a more ambiguous sense of justice, as Merritt's death is classified as an accident. However, the movie's narrative concludes abruptly with Abby's arrest, which disappointed viewers, who preferred the original subtlety and were disappointed by this deviation from the book's nuanced conclusion.

As fans pointed out in their comments, the sudden focus on Kidman’s character and the dramatic shift in the ending felt disjointed and unsupported by earlier plot developments.

The decision to make Amelia Sacks the story's focal point also left viewers unimpressed, as many felt that her character lacked the depth needed to carry the final act.

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The Perfect Couple is streaming on Netflix.