What Is The Girlfriend About?

The Girlfriend is a juicy drama about two women who find themselves on a path towards a quiet yet uncompromising war. On one side stands Laura, a mother who protects her son from the realities of adulthood so fiercely that her care gradually turns into control. On the other is Cherry — Daniel's new girlfriend: ambitious, cold-blooded, and the kind of person who, once she decides she wants something, is unlikely to let anyone stand in her way.

Daniel himself has grown up soft and spineless — a man without much backbone. In other words, the perfect ingredient for a combustible dramatic triangle. The situation feels so theatrically charged that, under slightly different circumstances, it could easily serve as the premise for a particularly melodramatic relationship show.

Laura is used to a carefully ordered life where every detail remains under her control. Her world operates by strict rules — until one day it begins to crack. Her son suddenly brings home a stranger, and not long afterwards announces that their relationship is serious. For Laura, the news lands like a punch to the gut. The prospective daughter-in-law immediately triggers an instinctive rejection. In Laura's eyes, Cherry appears frivolous, naive, and hardly the sort of person capable of building a stable family.

Cherry's arrival disrupts the established order, and Laura soon begins to perceive her as a hidden threat. The problem is that no one else seems to share her suspicions. As a result, there is no open confrontation — at least not at first. Instead, a quiet psychological duel gradually emerges between the two women: almost invisible to everyone around them, yet deeply intense and personal for both.

Two Women on a Psychological Battleground

Genre-wise, the series balances between psychological thriller, family drama, and even a touch of romantic eroticism typical of the honeymoon phase of a new relationship. At the centre of the story is the acting duet of Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke, and it is their dynamic that truly keeps the show afloat. Wright channels every fibre of Laura's desperate determination — a mother utterly convinced that she is fighting for her son's future happiness. Cooke, meanwhile, delivers a chilling portrait of a femme fatale with an almost psychopathic ability to solve problems coldly and decisively. Their on-screen chemistry works flawlessly.

The dynamic between the two characters creates a tense narrative that explores different forms of love — maternal, romantic, possessive — while also touching on themes of manipulation, class differences, control, and the quiet power.

Why the Series Keeps You Hooked

Even if the plot occasionally feels predictable, the story still manages to maintain its tension. One of the show's smartest narrative choices is the dual-perspective structure: events unfold alternately from Laura's and Cherry's points of view. This approach allows viewers to understand the motivations of both women while preserving a constant sense of intrigue.

Another advantage lies in the series' tight pacing. The story is not artificially stretched, episodes are free from unnecessary filler, and the character development unfolds in a fairly consistent manner. As a result, The Girlfriend can easily be considered one of the more compelling television releases of 2025.

An Ending That Works

Personally, I found the ending quite satisfying. This particular resolution feels like the most fitting conclusion for the story. Interestingly, the series finale differs from the ending of the original novel — and this was no accident. One of the main driving forces behind the change was Robin Wright herself, who not only plays Laura but also directed half of the episodes and served as an executive producer on the project. In one interview, Wright recalled:

"Initially, everybody thought, 'Well, this is going to be a no-brainer. Cherry kills Laura, then she wins. And I was like, 'No, let my baby kill meю'"

Wright says, calling it a twist out of a Greek tragedy.

Naturally, not all viewers will agree with this creative decision. Some may feel that the final episodes push the story slightly beyond realism. Yet when viewed in the broader context of the narrative, the plot has been steadily building towards exactly this kind of emotional climax.

Is The Girlfriend Worth Watching?

Yes. Especially if you enjoy psychological dramas about manipulation, control, and complicated family dynamics. The Girlfriend does not reinvent the genre, but it succeeds thanks to its tense atmosphere and the strong acting partnership between Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke.

The biggest advantage is how effortlessly the show watches. The series consists of six compact episodes, avoids unnecessary padding, and maintains a clear dramatic structure. With each episode, the conflict between the two protagonists intensifies, eventually culminating in an explosive conclusion.

⚠️ Spoilers: How the Book's Ending Differs

In the novel, the story concludes quite differently — with Laura ultimately emerging victorious. After Cherry receives a final refusal to reconcile, she decides to put another plan into motion. She takes advantage of a hole in the garden left after workers repaired the glass roof of the basement, intending to stage what looks like a tragic accident. Luring Laura outside, Cherry attempts to push her into the opening. But things do not go according to plan. The dog Cherry had previously bought for Daniel wakes him in the middle of the night. Unable to find Cherry at their flat, he drives to his mother's house. When he spots the two women in the garden, Daniel manages to shout. Laura grabs onto the railing — and Cherry, losing her balance, falls into the hole herself and dies.