It began, as all good mysteries do, with a stranger and a secret. The Stranger
, a Netflix original miniseries based on Harlan Coben’s bestselling novel, premiered in January 2020 and quickly earned acclaim for its tightly woven plot and suspenseful pacing. Starring Richard Armitage and Siobhan Finneran, the psychological thriller unraveled secrets in a seemingly quiet suburban life, capturing viewers with its dark twists and haunting score. Even if the buzz has quieted, the reasons to watch remain undeniable.
The Stranger
may be overlooked by many, three compelling reasons are enough to revive your curiosity and draw you back in.
1. A plot that unravels like a loaded trap
A stranger walks up to Adam Price at his son’s soccer game and tells him his wife faked a pregnancy, yes, within five minutes of the pilot. That one sentence detonates his life. From fake identities to blackmail rings and murders hiding in plain sight, The Stranger
spins a web where even the dog walker could be hiding a felony. It is less a mystery and more a collapse, and it is thrilling.
If anyone needs a new show to binge on Netflix, watch “The Stranger.” So intense. pic.twitter.com/XFNcDqmr8J
— ur fave (@amandaapleaseex) February 7, 2020
2. Performances that leave no room for doubt
Richard Armitage does not play Adam Price, he disintegrates into him. His slow spiral from smug husband to emotionally shredded human feels painfully real. Meanwhile, Siobhan Finneran as Detective Johanna Griffin grounds the chaos with every sarcastic remark and deadpan observation. Jennifer Saunders also shows up, yes, that Jennifer Saunders, as Griffin’s terminally ill best friend, delivering emotional gut punches when you least expect them. This cast was not playing around.
3. The thrill is in the chaos, and the calm
What makes The Stranger
truly unsettling is how it weaponizes stillness. A character reads a text, pauses, and you feel it in your spine. It is not just the murders and betrayals, it is the silent glances, the mysterious black alpaca hat, or a scene where a boy walks into the woods and never returns. The show thrives on unease hiding in the mundane, turning school pickups and coffee chats into powder kegs.
Y’all. This is The Stranger, S1 E1, on Netflix. You have to watch this clip. #OneDirection pic.twitter.com/9SrlvXDlZE
— Caroline ×͜×🏠🐇💙💚 (@All_The_Love_28) April 29, 2023
The Stranger
remains a standout among Netflix’s suspense offerings, delivering a meticulous blend of tension, character depth, and moral ambiguity. While it may not have dominated headlines upon release, its intricate plot and sharp performances continue to resonate. As Netflix expands its thriller catalogue with titles such as Ziam
, a Thai zombie thriller, viewers seeking high-stakes narratives will find The Stranger
a worthwhile experience that proves old secrets die hard, especially when strangers are involved.
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Has The Stranger earned a spot on your watchlist? Tell us what you think in the comments below.