Netflix’s Hit 8-Part Psychological Thriller Miniseries Is Almost Perfect

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Netflix’s new horror miniseries, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, really excels at building suspense and creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere. The show doesn’t rely on jump scares; instead, the horror comes from the characters and the unsettling environment, particularly the growing sense of dread Rachel feels before her wedding and the strange nature of Nicky’s family. It’s scary without being excessive.

The show skillfully mixed its dark and suspenseful atmosphere with relatable and engaging characters who continued to surprise viewers with their depth. Rachel, in particular, was charming and down-to-earth, relying on her instincts while remaining kind and understanding. Her connection with Nicky felt genuine and resilient, making their relationship something worth rooting for even amidst increasingly strange circumstances.

The show stood out for both its unusual story and memorable characters. The plot constantly surprised viewers with unexpected twists, and the origin of the horror kept changing. Initially, it seemed like Nicky’s family was the source of the trouble, but the revelation that Victoria had a serious brain tumor transformed the show from a simple horror story into a more nuanced and emotionally driven drama.

The Cunninghams’ initial, strange actions – often expressed as dismissive apologies – unexpectedly became the key to connecting their family to the same curse that had haunted Rachel’s ancestors for generations.

As a huge fan of the Duffer Brothers’ work, especially Stranger Things, I was really excited for their first project after that show. Everything seemed to be going perfectly with Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, but honestly, it just didn’t quite deliver the satisfying ending I was hoping for – kind of like some people are worried about with Stranger Things 5. It just didn’t quite stick the landing.

Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen Got Greedy With Its Ending

By the second-to-last episode, the show revealed the full story behind the family curse: Rachel needs to marry her soulmate before sunset on her wedding day. If she marries the wrong person, she’ll suffer the same fate as her mother and other ancestors. If she doesn’t marry at all, the curse will be passed on to her brother, Nicky, and all of his descendants.

Any of these conclusions would have worked well for Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, and the finale, “I Do,” initially appeared to select the most pleasing one.

When Nicky decided to leave the ceremony, a surprising vulnerability came to light. He appeared fragile and unable to stand on his own, always relying on others like his mother or Rachel. Rachel noticed this, and rather than finish the ceremony, she let it end prematurely, resulting in half of the hundred attendees dying.

Everything should have wrapped up after the reception. The lively scene that followed actually felt like a perfect conclusion, showing that inviting so many guests to the wedding wasn’t just stressful for Rachel – it had a real point. It also provided a surprisingly sweet and satisfying ending for Jules and Nell, who we discovered were meant to be together all along.

Desperate to protect his family, Nicky quickly put the ring on Rachel’s finger and finished the ceremony before she could react. But it didn’t work – they weren’t meant to be soulmates. Rachel died, like the other guests, but was then brought back as the new, eternal Witness.

Honestly, the way things wrapped up felt really messy – like three different endings happening all at once, which took away from any real impact. I was really hoping Rachel would get her happy ending, especially after seeing what Nicky was really like, so it was so disappointing to see her power taken away so fast. Plus, we all already knew she and Nicky weren’t meant to be, so this big moment didn’t really feel like it had any weight to it. It just kind of… happened.

Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen Is All About Marriage, But I Still Don’t Know Where It Stands

After Nicky and Rachel got married, Rachel exclaimed that they were both now doomed, believing marriage would lead to their deaths. While the show had heavily hinted at this tragic fate, Nicky survived after Rachel’s death, and the reason for this inconsistency was never addressed.

The show hints at a definition of soulmates, but never actually clarifies what that definition is. Despite being centered around the idea of soulmates, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen doesn’t clearly explain what it means to be soulmates within its story.

By the time Rachel and Nicky got married, Rachel realized he wasn’t the one for her, and Nicky didn’t truly believe they were a good match either. He was just trying to hold his family together, which became clear when he desperately asked Jules, “You said this would work.” Interestingly, both Jules and Nell seemed genuinely surprised to be soulmates, suggesting their connection went beyond simply believing in it.

Considering everything that happened with Nicky and his father, it appeared a soulmate connection didn’t necessarily have to be mutual. However, there wasn’t time to think much about that. Rachel, now immortal, warned young Jude, “You have to be really, really, really careful who you choose to marry,” but she never clarified what to be careful of, or how to figure it out.

Rachel’s story in Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen features interesting characters and an unpredictable plot. It could have been a truly memorable book if it had clearly resolved the question of whether or not she gets married, and used that outcome to say something insightful about love.

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2026-05-14 21:49