Nicole Kidman's glossy newest series has arrived on Netflix and has leapt to the number one spot on the Netflix Top 10 Shows list since its premiere on September 5

The new show is based on the novel of the same name by Erin Hilderbrand and takes us to the picturesque island of Nantucket for a sunny, soapy drama The drama follows a very rich family as they prepare for this season's wedding, only to have the big event ruined when a dead body is discovered on a nearby beach just hours before the ceremony

Even if “The Perfect Couple” is very popular with subscribers, it may not join Netflix's list of best shows anytime soon, judging by critics' comments about the series Including why I think “The Perfect Couple” is actually a fairly successful miniseries

In order to discuss the take, we need to establish exactly what is being said Currently, the series holds a 54% critic rating and 57% viewer rating on the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes

And while “The Perfect Couple” has received a very positive response, this piece will focus more on the negative reaction to Netflix's new hit The Independent's 2/5 review of the film criticized it as “a run-of-the-mill Netflix pulp movie” and “as superficial and unfulfilling as the family it depicts”

Christina Escobar, writing for RogerEbertcom, said the show was “derivative” and “far from ideal viewing,” despite the caveat that “it's not bad for a genre show to be a hit”

Reactions from viewers at both ends of the spectrum point to similar criticisms While some viewers were enthusiastic, others were unreserved Looking through the viewer reviews, one can see criticisms of the “improbable plot,” the lack of innovation, the fact that “The Perfect Couple” boasts more “ludicrous plot elements” than the book, or that it is a “script written with a sledgehammer”

So what is the problem? Well, I think the series is deliberately leaning toward being a more specific, sort of trashy, genre project than some of the negative reactions might suggest It's a kind of disposable, beach-read kind of piece, which I think will be really useful to fans of the soapy murder mystery genre

John Anderson's description of The Perfect Couple as “a beach read brought to life” in the Wall Street Journal was spot on for me This is a series designed to bing from the beginning in this day and age of six-episode sink reads

Now, to be clear, “beach reading” should not be viewed as a pejorative term Like any other catch-all, summer reading has a complete purpose and often serves its audience very well

Often they do so by providing a thrill ride, but usually they are a mixture of soapy, pulpy drama, designed to be devoured while lounging somewhere on vacation Frankly, I think the production team behind “The Perfect Couple” did a solid job of turning Hilderbrand's novel into an engaging limited series that is perfect for a leisurely weekend viewing That's probably why it jumped to the top of the list

“The Perfect Couple” involves us in the excesses of this ultra-rich Nantucket family The film succeeds because it involves us in the events without wasting any substantial amount of time Within minutes of pressing play, a body is found, and it is hinted that the Wimberlys' lives are not as perfect as the public has been led to believe, and the tension is not hinted at but spoken out loud

Admittedly, it is not a subtle film and the script feels somewhat clumsy Various characters are hit over the head with traits and attitudes as they are interrogated, but all of this set-up feels deliberate

I don't think the series was necessarily intended to be a scathing satire on the upper class (if it ever was) Rather, the settings are all there as dangling threads designed to suck us in as much as possible And at least everything is put together with enough flair that I'm sure many viewers will be immediately drawn in if they give it a shot

“The Perfect Couple” is sort of a B-grade, vulgar “White Lotus,” if you will A group of unlikeable characters get caught up in a drama (in this case, a murder mystery set in a beautiful corner of the world) And in the age of binge-watching, I think it's a perfectly acceptable pitch for a new summery show worth streaming at the turn of the season

Curious If you haven't checked it out yet, you can stream “The Perfect Couple” right now on Netflix