Behind Her Eyes (Spoilers)

Pinch myself and say “I am awake.” once an hour. Look at my hands, count my fingers, look at a clock or a watch. Look away and back. Stay calm and focused. Think of a door.

My boss suggested this series to me and thought that I would like the ending. That was a little suspicious but since it was just 6, 47-minute episodes I decided to watch. I would have quit watching after episode one if it hadn’t been for her statements.

It is prolonged and really not that interesting at first. As the episodes proceed there is a tiny bit of reason to watch the next episode presented at the end of each. This increases with episodes four and five, but six is the most exciting and informational, solving the mystery at the end. It’s kind of a four-hour and 58-minute movie. If that was decreased to 2 hours it would have been great. “Behind Her Eyes” was primarily filmed in various locations in and around London, England. The production team utilized both real-life settings and soundstage sets to bring the story to life.

The exterior shots of the office building where Louise Barnsley (played by Simona Brown) works were filmed at 120 New Cavendish Street in London. This location served as the backdrop for the clinic where Louise’s boss, David Ferguson (played by Tom Bateman), practices as a psychiatrist.

The series features several key locations, including the picturesque town of Hampstead. Louise’s apartment, where she resides with her young son, was filmed at Aubert Court in Highbury, a mid-century development with distinctive semi-circular terraces that would make most Londoners very happy.

David and Louise first meet at Clerkenwell Grind on Old Street, EC1, a café and cocktail bar housed in a handsome former warehouse. Adele and Louise bump into each other outside Rewild Florist on Hazellville Road, on the border of Crouch End, then have a coffee at Fink’s Salt and Sweet on Mountgrove Road – not quite round the corner, but still just about in the neighborhood.

For Episode 2’s gym scenes, we’re back near Old Street at Ironmonger Row Baths, one of the capital’s oldest Turkish baths, while Londoners will spot familiar streets and landmarks throughout the series, from King Square Gardens in Islington to Holborn Police Station on Lamb’s Conduit Street. The beautiful grand house belonging to David and Adele Ferguson (played by Eve Hewson) was filmed at several locations.

The interior shots were primarily filmed on a soundstage, while the exterior shots were captured at two different properties. The daytime shots of the house were filmed at a private residence called Wyldes Farm in Aldbury, Hertfordshire. The nighttime shots, however, were filmed at a different location—Greenwich, London. The show’s most dramatic location is Adele’s family home in Scotland, seen in flashback scenes throughout the series. This is Ardkinglas House, a fantastical turreted mansion on the shores of Loch Fyne in Argyll.

Built in 1907 to a design by architect Sir Robert Lorimer[1], a grandee of Gothic Revival, it’s a family home but is rented out for events and filming – previous shoots include the movie The Water Horse and the TV mini-series The Crow Road.

As well as the arched entrance and the impressive crested fireplace, we see much of the grounds, which cover 4,800 hectares of woodlands and gardens.

Eve Hewson (Adele) is actually Irish and currently lives in Brooklyn, USA. She is the daughter of U2 frontman Bono. She often references her father as her Kris Jenner, a ‘‘crazy stage mother.’’

From all the flashbacks I felt that Rob was really important to the story and it bothered me that Adele had his notebook with no explanation. A very horrific scene from the book was cut. It was the killing of Marianne’scat Charlie. I was shocked that Adelle hadn’t killed him and surprised that she did in the book.

Many of the scenes of David and Louise were shot from about. Now we know that it was from Adele’s orbs’ angle that she was spying on them. Astral projection is also hinted at throughout the series. It also explains the scene when Rob-Adele tours Louise’s flat; she needs to memorize the space to return there in her dreams. And in one of her flashbacks, Adele even hints, “Sleep is different for me.” Even the poster is a clue with the blue orb going from Rob, at the bottom, right into Louise’s eye.

Astral projection, also known as astral travel or out-of-body experience (OBE), refers to the phenomenon in which an individual’s consciousness or spirit appears to separate from their physical body and travel or explore the non-physical realm, often described as the astral plane. During an astral projection, individuals may feel as if they are floating, flying, or moving through different dimensions or realms.

The concept of astral projection has been present in various cultures and spiritual traditions throughout history. It is often associated with metaphysical and esoteric beliefs, including the idea that human consciousness is not limited to the physical body but can transcend into other realms or dimensions. While some people consider astral projection to be a purely subjective experience related to the mind and consciousness, others believe it has objective existence and can provide access to higher levels of consciousness, spiritual insights, or even communication with non-physical entities.

Astral Projection Methods
  • Relaxation and meditation: Achieving a deeply relaxed state and entering a meditative state is often a precursor to astral projection. This can involve techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing exercises, or guided meditation.
  • Mindful awareness: Cultivating a heightened state of awareness and detachment from the physical body can facilitate the experience of astral projection. This can be achieved through practices such as mindfulness meditation, where one observes thoughts, sensations, and emotions without attachment or judgment.
  • Visualization and intention: Visualizing oneself leaving the physical body and intending to explore the astral realm is a common technique. This can involve imagining a duplicate or energy body separate from the physical body and mentally projecting oneself into that form.
  • Sleep-induced projection: Astral projection can occur naturally during the transition between wakefulness and sleep, known as the hypnagogic state. Some individuals experience spontaneous astral projections during this period, while others may intentionally induce it using techniques such as the Wake-Induced Lucid Dream (WILD) method[2].

It is important to note that while many people claim to have had astral projection experiences, the scientific understanding and empirical evidence supporting the objective reality of astral projection remain limited. The subjective nature of the experience, its association with altered states of consciousness, and the difficulty of objectively measuring or verifying astral projection make it a topic of ongoing debate and exploration.

I’ve been asked if “Behind Her Eyes” is ok for children. The answer is no. There are nudity and sex scenes, smoking of marijuana, and injections of heroin. Characters have sex with rhythmic motions, moans, and groans; nude bodies are visible from the side and we see a man’s nude buttocks. There are lots of alcoholic drinks consumed and profanity including “f–king,” “f–ker,” “f–k off,” “s–t,” and “dick,” as well as English slang like “bloody.”

What was with Adele’s Samsung flip phone[3]? It must be a clue but I didn’t figure that one out yet. I was also suspicious of Adele’s sudden ability to cook like a master chef which was explained when we see Rob masterfully cooking for Adelle and David in the flashback. We find out that the reason that Adelle didn’t save her parents from the fire was that she was having an out-of-body experience at the time and almost burned up with them. Why was there a fire?

The Music
  • Never Forget You – Noisettes
  • She Don’t Dance – Everyone You Know
  • Nicest Thing – Kate Nash
  • Cry To Me – Solomon Burke
  • Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Eliza Shaddad
  • Golden Touch – Razorlight
  • It’s Happening Again – Agnes Obel
  • Waking Up – MJ Cole & Freya Ridings
  • Terrified (Acoustic Version-Bonus Track) – Anna Ternheim
  • Rocking Horse – Kelli Ali
  • Watch Me – Labi Siffre
  • I Know Places – Lykke Li
  • Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 – 3. Sequentia: VI. Lacrimosa – Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm &Konzertvereinigung Wieder Staatsopernchor
  • Mr. Sandman – SYML
  • Drown – Marika Hackman
  • Yatton – Break>
  • Madness – Ruelle
  • Ditch – Empara Mi
  • Bad Things – Summer Kennedy
Footnotes
  1. Sir Robert Lorimer (1864-1929) was a prominent Scottish architect known for his influential contributions to the field of architecture and design during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was renowned for his ability to seamlessly blend traditional Scottish architectural elements with modern influences, creating a distinctive style that was both timeless and innovative. Lorimer’s work ranged from grand country houses, such as the iconic Scottish castle Blair Castle, to public buildings, churches, and even war memorials. His designs emphasized craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a deep respect for the historical context of the sites he worked on. Lorimer’s legacy endures through his numerous architectural achievements and his significant impact on Scottish architecture. [Back]
  2. The Wake-Induced Lucid Dream (WILD) method is a technique used to induce lucid dreams directly from a waking state while maintaining conscious awareness during the transition to the dream state. In this method, individuals aim to enter a state of deep relaxation while staying mentally alert as they fall asleep. As the body begins to drift into sleep, they focus on maintaining awareness and observing the hypnagogic imagery and sensations that arise during the transition. By maintaining this heightened awareness, individuals can consciously enter the dream state while maintaining control and awareness of the dream environment. The WILD method requires practice and the ability to maintain focus and clarity while transitioning between waking and dreaming states. [Back]
  3. Samsung’s journey with flip phones began in the early 2000s, a period when clamshell-style mobile phones were gaining popularity. One of Samsung’s significant contributions to the flip phone market was the release of the Samsung SGH-T100 in 2001, a sleek and compact device with a flip design. This marked Samsung’s first foray into the global mobile phone market and set the stage for subsequent innovations in flip phone design. Over the years, Samsung continued to refine and improve its flip phone offerings, introducing features like color displays, built-in cameras, music players, and expandable memory. The company released a series of successful flip phone models, including the Samsung SCH-A850, Samsung SCH-V740, and the highly popular Samsung SPH-M610. Despite the shift towards touchscreen smartphones in recent years, Samsung has continued to cater to flip phone enthusiasts with modern iterations like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, featuring a foldable display. Samsung’s rich history of flip phones reflects its commitment to design versatility and meeting the evolving needs of consumers. [Back]
Further Reading
Sources

Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

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