Season 2 of “Bad Sisters” falls into a dangerous storytelling trap

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Season 2 of Bad SistersIn recent years, several television programs have been criticized for relying on shock value to keep their viewers on their toes. Series like Grey’s Anatomy, The walking dead, game of Thronesand almost every episode of American horror storyused shocking and tragic plot points or deaths in ways that didn’t always feel satisfying. In fact, many of these jaw-dropping events seemed more focused on water cooler moments and social media hype than on advancing storytelling in an authentic way. Now in its second season on Apple TV+, the star series Bad sisters seems like it could fall into that trap too.

The twists in Bad Sisters Season 1 felt earned

In Season 1, the series follows the Garvey sisters in two timelines. A timeline takes place in the present as they deal with the death of their brother-in-law John Paul (Claes Bang) – not so affectionately called “The Idiot” – and the other timeline are flashbacks to all the times they unsuccessfully tried to assassinate him. In each episode, the sisters’ efforts to take him down fail and then attempt to cover up their failure (to hide from the insurance adjusters investigating his death). Every twist in the story is part of the wonderfully dark journey. Although it’s clear from the first episode what fate ultimately awaits John Paul, it’s still a wild ride to find out exactly how he’ll face his death.

Related

Sharon Horgan on what it would take to make the third season of ‘Bad Sisters’ happen

“You have to tell the story you think is right for eight hours,” says Horgan, to build on the success of the first season.

There are two major twists at the end of the first season that advance the plot and raise major mysteries about the sister’s life. First, it is revealed that John Paul raped Eva (Sharon Horgan), which gives her character so much meaningful backstory, and secondly, that his wife Grace (Anne Marie Duff) is actually the one who insulted John Paul in the end. Each storyline in the story is intertwined to illustrate the far-reaching effects of a truly toxic man. But the second season may deviate a little from this masterful storytelling.

Season 2 of “Bad Sisters” relies on shock value

When the second season of the series begins, several years have passed. Each of the sisters tries to move on (in their own way), and Grace remarries in Episode 1. But the sisters soon find themselves in the middle of a tangled web of secrets. In Episode 2, Grace dies in a car accident. The death is unexpected, truly tragic, and is the catalyst for much of the second season’s plot. Although death is a tremendous shock, there are ways to effectively demonstrate loss the long-lasting effects of domestic violence and how grief manifests itself in a family. But then in episode 5, Angelica (Fiona Shaw), the sisters’ new enemy, is shockingly involved in an accident when Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene) and Becka (Eve Hewson) are traveling with her on a boat. In the middle of a tense argument, the sailboat’s boom swings around and hits Angelica square in the face. She falls overboard and the sisters cannot find her (despite valiant efforts to save her).

We don’t have any confirmation yet that Angelica is actually dead (although that accident was pretty brutal, so things aren’t looking good for her). But the accident alone is another troubling plot point. Viewers still suffering from Grace’s death are now (again) witnessing some sort of violent and horrific event. While Angelica has definitely served as a villain so far, the fun part of season two has been seeing how her manipulations play out. Instead of the twists manifesting themselves in an organic way, The series’ action feels more like a chump change. This style of storytelling is rooted not so much in the development and growth of the characters, but rather in the series trying to provide twists that will captivate the viewer and recapture the magic that was so naturally evident in Season 1.

Bad sisters is such a cleverly written show (led by Horgan’s brilliant contributions). Hopefully, in the remaining episodes of season two, the series can continue to find intriguing ways to follow these characters without unnecessary sensationalism. It feels pointless when terrible events happen just to elicit a strong emotional reaction from the audience, especially when we’re already so attached to these characters. Horgan hasn’t ruled out a third season, so there’s still a chance the series can avoid such unnecessary and all-too-common tragic events in the future. With the Garveys, there are plenty of stories to explore (and options for dramatic twists) without relying on shock value.

New episodes of Bad sisters can be watched every Wednesday on Apple TV+ in the US

Watch on Apple TV+

Your changes have been saved

Bad sisters

Release date

August 19, 2022

Main genre

comedy

Seasons

2