Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness never visited Tranquillum. A high-end wellness retreat that, let’s be honest, looks ideal (the series was filmed in Byron Bay, though it’s set in California), it’s the perfect escape from pretty much everything for those wealthy enough to afford a 10-day stay.
Or so it seems from the outside: any place that takes your mobile phone away before they’ll let you in can’t be all good, and that’s not counting all the slightly suspect shots of fruit going into blenders. Smoothies have never looked so sinister.
Nine Perfect Strangers is something of a reunion, as it brings back together the team behind hit Big Little Lies: Nicole Kidman, producer David E Kelly and author Liane Moriarty. Based on Moriarty’s 2018 best-seller, it tackles the wellness industry in a fresh take on the (mostly) unhappy lives of the (mostly) rich. Only this time, nobody’s been murdered (yet).
Nicole Kidman as Masha Dmitrichenko in ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’. (Photo by Vince Valitutti.) Source: Hulu
Actually, that’s not strictly true. As part of the guests’ orientation, founder of Tranquillum Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman) reveals her origin. She was once a corporate high flyer, operating at the top of the business world… until she was shot in a parking garage. Technically, she died. Emergency medic Yao (Manny Jacinto), who’s now one of her assistants at Tranquillum, brought her back. Now she uses her insights – which seem to have a slightly worrying focus on suffering – to help others.
While her methods might be unclear, it seems obvious that the nine people booked in for her latest idyllic escape all have something to escape from. For the working class Marconi family – Napoleon (Michael Shannon), wife Heather (Asher Keddie) and daughter Zoe (Grace Van Patten) – there’s a dark cloud hanging over the weekend, even if they scored a big discount on the resort’s usual rate. The clearly cashed-up and comfortable couple Ben (Melvin Gregg) and Jessica Chandler (Samara Weaving) aren’t so stressed, but they have issues beyond the fact she’s an influencer and he’s not quite sure why they’re there.
In session at Tranquillum. (Photo by Vince Valitutti.) Source: Hulu
Then there’s those arriving on their own. Frances Welty (Melissa McCarthy) is a novelist in a career slump; former football star Tony Hogburn (Bobby Cannavale) has the usual post-fame problems. Whatever the opposite of a meet-cute is, they have it on the way to Tranquillum – and of course, neither knows they’re both going to the same place. Awkward.
Fellow single Carmel Schneider (Regina Hall) isn’t taking well to being newly single, while Lars Lee (Luke Evans) doesn’t seem to believe in the whole “wellness” thing at all. They’re at opposite ends of the excitement spectrum regarding Tranquillum: she’s clearly a massive fan of the whole operation, he seems to largely be a fan of himself.
Asher Keddie as retreat participant, Heather Marconi. (Photo by Vince Valitutti.) Source: Hulu
Ruling over all is Masha, the queen bee of Tranquillum. All white robes and Soviet-adjacent accent, she’s the kind of self-help guru that says things like “life is suffering until you die”. Judging by the extremely luxe resort she’s running, she’s definitely doing something right – but is that “something” actually helping those who come to her for help, or a more sinister agenda?
Masha herself is mysterious enough as the centre of the series; giving a steep discount to the Marconi family feels like more than simple charity. But Nine Perfect Strangers is just getting started. For one, who exactly are these people? Everyone here is memorable right from the start, but just because they make a strong impression doesn’t mean we know what’s going on with them. Some of them are just cagey about why they’re here, while others seem to have a definite agenda.
Bobby Cannavale as Tony Hogburn. (Photo by Vince Valitutti.) Source: Hulu
And while the characters might be holding back, the actors playing them are going all in. When you have a cast this strong (possibly a trip to Byron Bay at the height of the pandemic might have had something to do with getting them on board), letting them do what they do best is definitely the right move. Michael Shannon is having a great time here as a little too excited dad, while Melissa McCarthy gives a bit more nuance to her usual exasperated performance and Bobby Cannavale is always fun to watch.
Everyone is a bit extra: even Yao and co-worker and partner Delilah (Tiffany Boone) comment on how nobody seems to be getting along. But this is a series about (mostly) rich white people who’ve come to a place where they can’t use their wealth and privilege to hide who they really are. Whatever might have brought them to the resort, and whatever twists and turns lie ahead, we know they’re going to be put through the wringer during their stay at Tranquillum.
Regina Hall as Carmel Schneider. (Photo by Vince Valitutti.) Source: Hulu
Because rest assured, whatever it is they’re not telling us, Masha is definitely going to use it against them.
Nine Perfect Strangers premieres with a double episode at 8.35pm on SBS and SBS On Demand, Wednesday 5 October. Episodes continue weekly on SBS at 9.25pm. Episodes will be available at SBS On Demand after they air (but only for 30 days so make sure you catch them when they're there).
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