I don't think that there has ever been a more aptly titled opening episode in a tv series than ‘The Prick' in Bad Sisters. It perfectly sums up the entire reason for the show in two words, and oh boy, are they accurate.
If you're looking for a brilliantly written, acted, produced, and directed dark comedy, then you absolutely have to check out this Apple TV+ show.
Created and produced by Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, and Brett Baer, Bad Sisters is set in Dublin and is based on the Flemish series Clan, which was created by Malin-Sarah Gozin.
What Is Bad Sisters About?
The show follows the five tight knit Garvey sisters. There is Eva (Sharon Horgan), Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene) and Becka (Eve Hewson).
Tragically, they lost their parents in an accident years earlier and have grown to depend fully on each other for everything.
The problem is that Grace is married to John Paul Williams, aka The Prick. And he is a monster.
An abusive, controlling, misogynistic, racist homophobe who is vicious, vile and obsessed with bringing down the Garvey women one by one.
Every single thing about John Paul (Claes Bang) is despicable, and yet Grace can't seem to see it. Ever the dutiful wife and mother, she truly believes that he loves her. At least enough to overlook his many, many faults.
Fortunately for Grace, her sisters are about to come to her rescue. Having had enough of their brother in law, Bibi decides that he has to die. Eva is soon on board and as the episodes progress, so too are Becka and Ursula. But how will they kill him?
From the first episode, we already know that he is dead. We just don't know how or who did it. And so begins Bad Sisters, ten episodes that chart the downfall of John Paul Willams in this riotously funny murder mystery.
The only thing stopping the Garvey Sisters from getting off scot-free is the Claffin Brothers, the life insurers who are trying to avoid paying out on the policy. They suspect foul play, but can they figure out what happened?
Bad Sisters Official Trailer
Is Bad Sisters Worth Watching?
There is soooooo much to love about this show. So here goes.
Firstly, the chemistry between the sisters is second to none. Their mannerisms, the way they speak to each other, the banter, the arguments – every bit of it is pulled straight from a normal everyday family.
Secondly, the way the story unfolds. Bad Sisters doesn't throw everything at you all at once. How each sister is marginalised and abused by Williams is drip-fed over the episodes, and even then, the dark secrets continue right until the end.
Thirdly, Claes Bang as John Paul Williams. What a character. He perfectly demonstrates the insidious way that abusers coerce and manipulate everybody around them, and all with a smile on his face. It's gaslighting at its absolute finest and Bang is amazing at it.
Fourthly, none of us knows until the final episode how he actually died or who killed him. So as whodunnits go, this is one that keeps you hooked throughout.
Lastly, the comedy. It's hard to make a comedy about such an awful situation, but Bad Sisters has enough dark humour to offset the vile Williams. There's almost joy in watching his demise.
That comedy is helped along by the hapless Claffin brothers, who, for their own reasons, can't afford to pay out the insurance policy.
If there is one criticism of Bad Sisters, it's that it might be two episodes too long. The first four or five lay all the groundwork. The next three or four just reiterate everything we know without really moving the story along. And then we have the superb ending, which ties everything together.
That's a minor problem in an otherwise excellent tv series that is definitely worth watching. Clever, sharp and relatable, Sharon Horgan has knocked it out of the park again.
Where Do They Swim In Bad Sisters?
Where the Garvey sisters take their annual swim is called the Forty Foot. It is on the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, in Dublin, Ireland.
It's an incredibly popular spot from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for some 250 years. No matter how cold it is!
Bad Sisters Season 2
On the back of a hugely successful first season on such a global platform, Apple TV+ has renewed Bad Sisters for a second season.
That decision was made in November 2022 so as of yet, there are no details about the plot or release date, but we do expect it sometime in 2023.
Here at Nextflicks.tv we couldn't be more excited to see this gifted ensemble return to our screens, especially with star Sharon Horgan's penchant for creating incredible characters and stories.
Bad Sisters Cast
Produced by Horgan, Dave Finkel, Brett Baer, Faye Dorn, Clelia Mountford, Dearbhla Walsh, Bert Hamelinck, Michael Sagol and Malin-Sarah Gozin, Bad Sisters is a masterclass in writing and production.
But you also need an amazing cast to bring it all to life…
Sharon Horgan as Eva Garvey, the eldest of the Garvey sisters.
Anne-Marie Duff as Grace Williams, the second eldest sister of the Garvey family, John Paul's wife, and Blánaid's mother.
Eva Birthistle as Ursula Flynn, the middle sister of the Garvey family, Donal's wife and mother of three children.
Sarah Greene as Bibi Garvey, second youngest sister of the Garvey family, wife of Nora and mother to an adopted son.
Eve Hewson (Behind Her Eyes) as Becka Garvey, youngest of the Garvey sisters. She is a massage therapist with aspirations to open her own studio.
Brian Gleeson as Thomas Claffin, insurance agent who takes over his family's business and comes to suspect the Garvey sisters of murder.
Daryl McCormack as Matthew Claffin, brother of Thomas. He is a musician who joins his brother to work at Claffin & Sons after his father's death.
Assaad Bouab as Gabriel, Eva and John Paul's co-worker.
Claes Bang as John Paul Williams, Grace's husband and Blánaid's father.
Saise Quinn as Blánaid Williams, Grace and John Paul's teenage daughter.
