A young couple falls in love in the competitive financial world, but a promotion not only puts their engagement in check but their entire universe. Fair Play, Netflix‘s suspense drama, decides to add an element of tension to what is, unfortunately, a reality for so many couples today.

Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) are partners, in love, young and ambitious, but due to company rules, they need to keep their engagement a secret. The fear of discovery doesn’t even compare to when there is a misunderstanding. Emily understands that Luke will be chosen for a promotion, which she is also eligible for. The two make an agreement, as it is just a rumor and root for each other. At least they thought they were rooting for it because when Emily is chosen for the position, the whole dynamic between them changes. Any woman knows exactly how the story will end, but still suffers throughout the narrative.

Fair Play deals with several themes at the same time, and obviously has a female perspective, thanks to writer and director Chloe Domont. Obviously, Emily was sincere in her support for Luke, but he deals with the limits of a sexist culture of which he is a member. He is frustrated by what he understood to have been “stolen” from him, without imagining that Emily actually heard the fact that they planned to fire him. As they immediately fall out of tune, everything she tries to do to help goes wrong. Under pressure to be taken seriously, for being morally (and even sexually) harassed, Emily is unable to reconnect with Luke, and the spiral gains speed which, we won’t reveal spoilers, puts them in opposition. Violence also escalates – psychological and physical – until its inevitable conclusion.

It’s suffocating, it’s unnerving and it’s very real. More than Phoebe, it is Alden who brings nuances to the story, with a sad and realistic evolution in a patriarchal culture. It is important to highlight the problem that is still present in all cultures and that still diminishes women. If Luke had been promoted, he wouldn’t have seen any problems and Emily would certainly overcome her frustration. Why isn’t it the other way around? There is nothing fair about this game.

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