Summary

Nine Perfect Strangers was panned by critics at 53% on Rotten Tomatoes and didn't deserve a season 2.
The show's lackluster characters and absence of significant twists make it unimpressive.
Compared to Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing is a more captivating thriller worth watching.

Nicole Kidman is a talented star who has had an impressive career, but her Hulu series isn't one of her best projects, and it's strange that it was given a second season. While she's known for hit movies like Practical Magic, Kidman's most compelling roles have been on TV shows ranging from the twist-filled mystery Big Little Lies to Nantucket-set Netflix miniseries The Perfect Couple.

However, while Kidman gives every character her all, she appeared in a mystery TV series that is certified Rotten and not very impressive. Although fans and critics didn't enjoy season 1, it somehow got a season 2, which is confusing.

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By Aya Tsintziras

Nicole Kidman's Hulu Series Nine Perfect Strangers Didn't Deserve A Season 2

Nine Perfect Strangers was panned by critics and has a low Rotten Tomatoes rating of 53%, and it's surprising that it was given a second season. The show had a lot going for it: a promising premise, a star-studded cast, and a mysterious tone. However, the execution was poor, and none of this translated into a gripping series.

Based on the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, Nine Perfect Strangers season 1 tells the story of Masha Dmitrichenko (Kidman), who runs a health and wellness retreat center called Tranquillum House. The strangers in question include the rich Ben Chandler (Melvin Gregg) and his influencer wife Jessica (Samara Weaving) and a young woman named Zoe Marconi going through a hard time (Grave Van Patten). Melissa McCarthy also plays a writer named Frances Welty.

Since the show was meant to be a miniseries, season 1 at least told a complete story. It was also entertaining watching the usually hilarious McCarthy in a more serious role. However, season 2 repeats season 1's biggest problem: boring characters. Also, since the truth about Masha is revealed in season 1, that means there's no big, notable twist in season 2. Although the first season wasn't great, it would have made sense if Nine Perfect Strangers had only one season, like several Hulu shows. It was barely any fun watching Masha the first time around, and she's not a strong enough protagonist to warrant more episodes.

Fan response to Nine Perfect Strangers hasn't been positive, either. Redditor @InfamousOli6871 asked if others had watched all of season 2 and wrote:

"Stellar cast, but I'm toggling between being bored, mildly intrigued, and generally confused."

Another Redditor replied:

"First season was terrible, so I have no idea why they made another."

There are plenty of other streaming series that have a mysterious, compelling premise and feature wealthy characters in a beautiful location, such as Sirens and Apple Cider Vinegar on Netflix. Instead of watching the lackluster series starring Kidman, it's a smarter idea to watch those other two shows as they're more entertaining and thought-provoking series. While there are many great anthology series that feature compelling new characters every season, Nine Perfect Strangers isn't one of them.

Nicole Kidman's 2020 HBO Thriller The Undoing Is A Much Better Show Than Nine Perfect Strangers

Grace (Nicole Kidman) and Jonathan Fraser (Hugh Grant) in The Undoing

Nicole Kidman fans looking for a good thriller to binge-watch should check out The Undoing, which had 10 episodes and premiered on HBO in October 2020. It has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score of 75% and was adapted from the novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz.

The story follows Grace Fraser (Kidman), whose husband Jonathan (Hugh Grant) disappears when a young woman is killed. Grant is just as impressive as he is in the 2025 horror movie Heretic. In both projects, Grant plays a character who is charming and likable but also sinister and creepy.

Unlike Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing has two fascinating main characters, plenty of twists, and a perfect execution of its smart premise. While the series made a splash at the time, it's not talked about much anymore, which is too bad. It deserves as much attention as other HBO shows like The Last of Us, and if anyone was disappointed by Nine Perfect Strangers, they would definitely like The Undoing.