Bad Sisters Needed That Brutal Twist
As a lifelong connoisseur of dark comedies and a devoted fan of the Irish wit, I must say that the opening episodes of Bad Sisters Season 2 have left me absolutely stunned – and not just because of the box of tissues I needed to keep nearby! The sudden demise of Grace, the sweetest yet deadliest of the Garvey sisters, is a masterstroke by showrunner Sharon Horgan. It’s as if she took the lessons from Big Little Lies and The White Lotus and crafted her very own cliffhanger twist that no one could have seen coming.
This article discusses, in detail, Episodes 1 and 2 of Bad Sisters Season 2.
Should you have recently completed viewing the initial episodes 1 and 2 of Bad Sisters Season 2, I extend my heartfelt sympathy to you. (For those yet to watch, consider this a double caution to abstain until you’ve caught up—it would be wise to have a box of tissues at your side.) The tenderest and most vulnerable, but equally lethal, among the five Garvey sisters has met her demise. Following two years since she choked her psychopathic spouse, JP “The Prick” Williams, and mere days into her second marriage, to a man who does not abuse or demean her siblings, unfortunate Grace suffered a tragic fate. She was crushed beneath the wreckage of a burning, overturned vehicle that she used to escape from an urgent predicament. This heart-wrenching conclusion marks the culmination of the season premiere’s two-part opening. By deciding to take the life of such a relatable character, showrunner and star Sharon Horgan opted for violence—a choice that proved to be incredibly shrewd.
Initially planned as a short-lived series, Apple TV+ chose to continue Bad Sisters following its successful premiere. By the end of its first season, it seemed to have come to a definite conclusion. The main mystery was unraveled: Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) was exposed as JP’s (Claes Bang) murderer, despite her sisters’ numerous attempts to harm him. When she abandoned her life insurance claim, the employee at the struggling company that handled it—Matt (Daryl McCormack), who was also dating the youngest Garvey, Becka (Eve Hewson)—destroyed JP’s questionable death records. With this revelation, the sisters could enjoy each other’s company without worrying about JP, and viewers were left with the impression that everyone, except The Prick, lived contentedly ever after.
If Horgan didn’t want to solely depend on the appeal and dynamics of the characters and their stylish knitwear in Season 2, he would need to introduce new elements of intrigue. Shows less engaging might have resorted to unresolved plot points from the previous season, as Big Little Lies did in its underwhelming second run, or simply positioned the Garveys against another antagonist akin to JP. In anticipation of Grace’s demise, however, Bad Sisters takes a dual approach. The remorse Roger (Michael Smiley) feels over his role in concealing the murder and his obvious jealousy towards Grace’s new partner, coupled with the unearthing of a waterlogged suitcase containing George’s (Paul Bentall) body, allow the series to explore some lingering storylines effectively.
Apart from introducing the Garveys to a fresh antagonist in Roger’s sister, Angelica, portrayed brilliantly by Fiona Shaw, her character is skillfully crafted to send shivers down your spine. (For a BLL comparison: Casting Shaw among your female-centric cast for a crucial second season is much like recruiting Meryl Streep.) Nicknamed “The Wagon” (an Irish slang term for a bitch), she’s a solitary, rigid, manipulative churchgoer who evidently resents the Garvey sisters’ bond and yearns to insert herself into Grace’s life. In her debut scene, she publicly humiliates Roger by mentioning his crush on Grace in front of all five Garveys. After gatecrashing Grace’s wedding, she pushes Eva (Horgan) to the ground in a bid to catch the bouquet—behavior that borders on deranged. However, unlike JP who was purely malevolent, Angelica comes across as dangerously pitiful instead. At this point, we know very little about her past.
If I had wagered on who might perish at the end of this season, my money would’ve been on Angelica. This unexpected turn of events in Grace’s accident is quite intriguing. The show Bad Sisters was characterized by its blend of mystery and dark humor, with the affection, concern, and wit that the Garvey sisters displayed towards each other serving as a stark contrast to the grim disclosures about JP. It was almost unimaginable to think that Horgan would disrupt her cherished sister act, let alone write off the most compassionate sibling so early in Season 2, especially after such a well-deserved wedding. This feels reminiscent of The White Lotus creator Mike White’s choice to eliminate Jennifer Coolidge’s beloved character at the end of the second season – another twist that was well-justified by the plot but came as a surprise because Coolidge seemed so central to the show. A daring series that aims to stay fresh and avoid becoming overly sentimental in later seasons sometimes needs to deviate from audience expectations.
Apart from Grace’s death, there are many intriguing mysteries unfolding. It remains unclear where she was headed when her car crashed or why a large sum of money was found with her. While Ian (Owen McDonnell) appears to be an upstanding man, we know as much about him as we do about Angelica. The confrontation between Grace and Ian in the series premiere ends off-screen; we only learn that he’s gone by the next day, leaving Grace devastated. A hidden phone found in Grace’s bathroom and a bloodstained garment from her laundry suggest that Ian may not have just walked away. Grace’s daughter Blanaid is also in the dark about the truth. Of those who know what transpired between Grace and Ian, one is missing and the other is deceased.
In parallel with the layout of the season, having Angelica present and her intentions shrouded in mystery seems fitting. Unlike Season 1, which alternated between the consequences of JP’s murder and the lead-up events – characterized by an exceptionally evil performance from Bang – Season 2 focuses on the current timeline. To maintain the show’s effectiveness, the Garveys require a truly despicable adversary to unite against. Removing Angelica early would only leave them with the mostly compassionate antagonists: the detectives, Loftus (Barry Ward) and his determined partner, Houlihan (Thaddea Graham). If we had relied solely on the game of cat-and-mouse between them and the Garveys, it would have resulted in relatively low emotional intensity.
Indeed, go ahead and fill a generously sized glass with wine for Grace, who was mourned prematurely by her grumpy sister Bibi (Sarah Greene), as “the finest person any of us will ever encounter.” However, take solace in the fact that she passed away so the series Bad Sisters could thrive.
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2024-11-13 20:06