Just One Look Review: An Enjoyable Harlan Coben Adaptation

Just One Look Netflix Review | Leisurebyte

Director: Marek Lechki, Monika Filipowicz

Date Created: 2025-03-05 13:30

Editor's Rating:
4

In this Polish mystery series based on the novel by Harlan Coben, a happily married woman’s life upends when she finds a picture of her husband surrounded by mysterious people she has never seen before. Pushed to investigate, she decides to stop at nothing before finding out who these people are and how her husband is connected to them.

The series has 6 episodes, each with a runtime of around 45 minutes.

Just One Look Netflix Review

The Polish series Just One Look, based on Harlan Coben’s novel, starts off proving to bring more to the table than just the wrong photo in the wrong envelope. Within the first 20 minutes, there are conspiracies thrown at audiences left and right and it’s clearly not just Jacek having a mid-life crisis. First and foremost, I loved the foreboding background score of the series, which makes us think of the worst in this Polish thriller. It’s uncomfortable to listen to and fits right into the series’ theme.

Coben’s novels have become popular over the last few years and I get why. They are simple enough to be enjoyed casually but arresting enough to not be forgettable. They strike a great balance and Just One Look fits right into the mould. The story brings forth several twisted themes that will catch viewers’ interest from the start. Of course, the image is just the start and it holds many secrets as we will come to find out soon enough and then, it’s just a run for who reaches the truth first.

The series creates a very tense atmosphere and holds on to it for most of its runtime. Just when you think you have reached the truth, there’s something more underneath that will leave most people shocked. With two young kids to look after, Greta follows the different threads that Jacek’s disappearance has left behind, while we also see several other people belonging to the same larger tapestry doing some shady things. Of course, I won’t give away too much, but I think the way the series comes together from different points and merges in the centre is pretty great and keeps the tension alive for a long time.

I think Maria Debska is fantastic as Greta. She’s afraid but resilient and doesn’t back down once she realises that there’s more to Jacek’s story than meets the eye. You would expect her to be overcome by her emotions in such a tough time, anyone would, but there’s something about her that makes you root for her. Of course, her disturbing past plays a role here and might just have something to do with whatever is happening in her present. This is a classic Coben story, with a protagonist struggling with their past and facing a horrifying reality that will change the trajectory of her life. However, it’s done well enough to not be just another Coben adaptation. Of course, my favourite is The Woods — it’s one of the best Harlan Coben adaptations, in my opinion.

Final Thoughts

Just One Look on Netflix is extremely enjoyable and entertaining. Its twists and turns are fantastic and it presents the story in such a fantastic way that you won’t be able to stop watching. All in all — a great Coben adaptation.

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