Apple TV+ Review: ‘Bad Sisters’ Returns for a Solid Season 2

It’s a tall order to top the sheer entertainment value and sophisticated storytelling of the first season of the Apple TV+ series Bad Sisters, which is based on the Flemish series Clan. Starting with one woman’s horrible husband dead and the possibility four sisters may have killed him – and certainly tried – was a phenomenal premise, and it fully delivered on it throughout ten twisty and darkly funny episodes. Making more of a great thing is an obvious draw, and though this show’s sophomore season can’t possibly be as good as the first, it still offers a wickedly clever story that demonstrates an ability to adapt to changing circumstances that still keep these sisters at arm’s length from criminal activity.

Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) has moved on after JP’s death and is now getting married again to Ian (Owen McDonnell), who treats her much better. The influence of Angelica (Fiona Shaw), the brother of her friend Roger (Michael Smiley), one of JP’s previous targets, becomes overbearing, and prevents her from being able to truly be happy. Stepping in once again to help their sister, Eva (Sharon Horgan), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson) do what they do they (not so) best and scheme while trying to stay one step ahead of the law.

Not having JP around this season is a serious demerit since his cruel energy was a huge driving force of the show. But the addition of Angelica is a smart calculation because it changes the dynamic, with her irritating character pushing in a much kinder if equally manipulative way, not nearly as unmistakably villainous. She’s still detestable enough for audiences to root against her, but not in the same way as with the irredeemable JP, adding a layer of moral complication to the Garvey sisters’ endeavors since they can’t be totally excused for their actions given that they may no longer be the heroes in this story.

Three-time Emmy nominee Shaw, most recently seen in True Detective: Night Country and Andor, is a formidable asset fully worthy of this show. She doesn’t overplay Angelica and instead makes her just enough of a nuisance to go under the radar, very much aware of how she comes off to people and happy to use that to her advantage. Her scenes with Duff are memorable but it’s the antagonistic chemistry she has with the other sisters that’s most fun to watch. She’s also well-paired with Smiley, as Roger is mildly more capable of standing up for himself since, unlike with JP, he’s the one person Angelica will be sure not to harm.

This season takes a little while to warm up and show that it’s just as capable of delivering crackling chemistry and suspense as in its first iteration, but where it truly shines is when later episodes allow for a closer examination of the sisters’ personal lives separate from each other. Its best scenes are always when at least three of the Garvey sisters are together, but seeing them in their elements away from their siblings is also very much worthwhile. Though her role feels overall diminished, Hewson continues to be a standout as Becka while Greene and her eyepatch steal any scene in which Bibi appears. Another praiseworthy player is Thaddea Graham as Una, a detective with great intuition far too often ignored by her colleagues.

What season two of Bad Sisters proves is that these characters are more than sufficient as the protagonists of any future story arcs and not dependent on the people they hate – and try to kill – to make them worth following. Co-creator Horgan has a clear vision for the show that doesn’t put any one sister in a more important role than any of the others, wisely depending on an extraordinary ensemble that should deservedly return for many more antics to come. Season two follows an incomparably excellent season one and does about as good a job as can be expected at trying to match its quality and appeal, full of unexpected and formidable twists that make watching to the very end an absolute necessity.

Season Rating: 8/10

Awards Buzz: The first season underperformed at the Emmy Awards, earning just four nominations, for lead actress Horgan, directing, writing, and casting. It could repeat those bids and maybe even crack the Best Drama Series lineup, but nominations, however merited, for its other stars feel less likely unless voters really catch on to the show after sleeping on it in season one.