How Nicole Kidman became stuck as a sad wife

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses how Nicole Kidman has become known for playing a specific type of character in prestige television - the "sad wife" who is beautiful, wealthy, and harboring dark secrets. It examines how Kidman has repeatedly taken on roles that fit this mold, from "Big Little Lies" to her latest Netflix project "The Perfect Couple." The article also explores how this niche has become a common trope in TV, with commissioners seemingly more interested in replicating successful formulas rather than exploring new stories and perspectives.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Nicole Kidman's TV Roles

1. What are the common characteristics of the female protagonist in Nicole Kidman's recent TV shows?

• She is a beautiful, wealthy woman living in a multi-million dollar home
• She is likely harboring a dark secret
• She often stares pensively at the sunset, cityscape, or ocean while pondering her secret
• She is married to a handsome man whose charm is becoming more fragile
• Despite her psychological distress, her hair still looks great

2. How do these roles compare to Kidman's more varied film work?

• Kidman's film work is described as "thrillingly eclectic," with her taking on diverse and challenging roles like a singing showgirl, Virginia Woolf, a terrifying Viking queen, and a high-powered CEO in an erotic thriller.
• In contrast, her TV work has become "trapped in a constricted mold" of playing similar "sad wife" characters.

3. Why does the author think Kidman has become typecast in these "sad wife" roles on TV?

• The author suggests Kidman may simply enjoy the perks of these roles, like "spending time in beautiful locations, wearing beautiful clothes, making beautiful but not all-that-taxing miniseries."
• However, the author also sees it as a broader issue with TV, where successful formulas are replicated rather than exploring new stories and perspectives.

[02] The Trend of "Sad Wife" TV Shows

1. What are some examples of other TV shows that follow a similar "sad wife" formula as Kidman's roles?

• "Big Little Lies" - Kidman's breakout "sad wife" role
• "The Undoing" - Kidman played a rich New York psychologist whose life is upended by a murder
• "Nine Perfect Strangers" - Kidman played a bonkers wellness guru with her own trauma
• "Expats" - Kidman starred as an affluent woman dealing with her child's disappearance

2. How does the author view the quality and purpose of these types of "sad wife" TV shows?

• The author feels the better shows in this sub-genre are "enjoyable, cliffhanger-laden fluff," but the more formulaic ones are a "squandering of Kidman's talent."
• The author argues these shows focus too much on the characters' wealth and opulent lifestyles without providing meaningful insights, making it seem like "women's stories are only notable if the protagonists are beautiful, slightly haughty and almost comically well-coiffed."

3. What does the author see as the underlying issue driving the proliferation of these "sad wife" TV shows?

• The author believes TV commissioners are more interested in replicating successful formulas rather than exploring new stories and perspectives.
• Instead of understanding the elements that made a show like "Big Little Lies" a hit, commissioners seem to think a "knock-off version of the same plot will suffice."