Bad Sisters – Good Sisters

The first episode of Season 2 of “Bad Sisters” takes place two years after the death of Grace’s husband, the irredeemable John Paul or as the show unlovingly nicknamed him, “The Prick.” This new season explores the Garvey family’s seemingly idyllic post-murder life, which is threatened by an old friend and a new hypervigilant foe. Maintaining the critically acclaimed series’ signature blend of dark comedy and intrigue, the series diverges from the parallel timelines of season one to adopt a more linear approach to the story. Starting from a single flashback, we follow along as the five sisters find themselves once again under scrutiny as old secrets resurface, to set the stage for another compelling whodunit?.

What’s in the Trunk?

“It’s not my car!” yells Eva (Sharon Horgan), the eldest Garvey sister, as the camera pans over the darkness of night. In the flashback we see the car perched precariously above murky waters, four sisters—Grace notably absent—are crammed inside and teetering on the edge of madness. When Eva asks if they’re ready, Becka (Eve Hewson), sporting a black eye, appears indifferent, while a visibly worried Ursula (Eva Birthistle) seems desperate to back out—of the car or even the plan itself. When Eva asks, “ready?” her nerves nearly send the car careening off the cliff. Once again, the Garvey women are up to something suspicious, sneaking around under the cover of darkness. But what could they be hiding this time? Though they’ve rid themselves of “The Prick,” they’re far from clearing their names. This latest late-night escapade is bound to raise even more eyebrows and fan the flames of suspicion.

Fast-forward two years, and we catch up with Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), who has found love again with Ian (Owen McDonnell), a man she met in a grief support group. While Grace exudes a newfound happiness, remnants of John Paul’s abuse linger as occasional triggers she actively tries to ignore. Ian, charming and supportive, has given Grace hope, as well as a newfound confidence in her romantic appeal. However, this confidence takes a hit when she runs into her former neighbor Roger (Michael Smiley) and his meddlesome and almost stalker-like sister, Angelica (Fiona Shaw) at a horse race celebrating her engagement. Roger, who helped Grace cover up J.P.’s murder, seems burdened by the weight of their shared secret. Despite his heartache over unrequited feelings for Grace, he reluctantly agrees to attend her wedding, though his odd behavior catches the attention of her sisters. Grace was always empathetic toward Roger’s awkward nature but even she begins to worry that the strain of their past is getting to him. Meanwhile, Angelica’s constant presence and relentless curiosity are anything but subtle. Her wide smiles and probing questions suggests she is determined to uncover the truth the Garvey sisters have worked so hard to conceal.

Elsewhere, the Garvey sisters have mostly moved on from “The Prick’s” deserved death. Eva has traded her drinking habit for therapy and a menopause coach, while Becka, now dating Callum (Peter Claffey), seems to have taken up where Eva left off. Bibi (Sarah Greene), the middle sister, is thriving alongside her wife Nora (Yasmine Akram), with the couple planning for a second child after choosing their egg donor. Not everyone is faring well in this post-John Paul world, though. Blanaid (Saise Quinn), Grace’s daughter, blames her mother for her father’s “suicide.” The teenager, who has long turned to Eva for maternal guidance, now harbors resentment toward Grace that has only deepened since her father’s death. Ursula is also struggling. Newly single and battling personal demons, she hides a secret about how she’s coping with the fallout from last season’s events.

A New Crime Unfolds

Following the wedding and a heartfelt speech from the groom, the celebration takes an awkward turn when a drunken Becka interrupts by vomiting into a planter. But the real story begins later, with a grim discovery at John Paul’s mother’s former house. The property’s new owners uncover a suitcase submerged in the pond—and inside is the dismembered body of George, John Paul’s father. As revealed in the first season, George was killed by his son for his sizable pension, with John Paul dumping the body in the pond to cover his tracks. For years, J.P. collected his father’s money, but this discovery reopens questions not only about his financial crimes but also the circumstances surrounding his death. Detective Loftus (Barry Ward) had long been skeptical of the details surrounding man’s death, even going so far as to exhume his body, though he failed to gather enough evidence to prove a crime took place. Now, with Grace having declined a significant life insurance payout in favor of inheriting and selling J.P’s parent’s house, suspicions around her and her family have resurfaced. Enter Detective Houlihan (Thaddea Graham), partner of Det. Loftus, who is eager to prove herself to her dismissive, sexist boss by solving the case he couldn’t. With fresh eyes and determination, she digs into the tangled web of George’s murder and its possible connection to his son’s death.

Amid this renewed scrutiny, Roger’s guilt over helping Grace cover up John Paul’s murder is reaching a boiling point. At the wedding, he cuts in to dance with Grace, revealing just how deeply his remorse and unrequited love for her are weighing on him. “Do you think about what we did?” he asks, because it seems like he can’t think of much else now that his love has married someone else. His internal struggle could not have come at a worse time but Grace seemingly has faith the man will not rat her out to the police.

Adding to the chaos is Angelica, who, true to form, brings her meddlesome energy to the wedding. She spies on Bibi’s private discussion about having another child and even hilariously hip-checks Eva to the ground in a desperate attempt at catching the bridal bouquet. Angelica’s relentless barbs and fake smiles make it clear—she doesn’t appreciate Grace’s newfound happiness and will seemingly stop at nothing to dim her shine.

Roger, weighed down by guilt and heartbreak, pays Grace a visit one night, confessing that he’s considering going to the police because, “I need to unburden myself.” A panicked Grace pleads with him to stay silent, insisting that too many things for the both of them are at stake.”It was out secret,” she begs, “it can still be ours.”Ian watches the scene unfold from behind the front door–always a bit suspicious of the former neighbor’s intentions towards his new wife. Unaware that all of the Garvey sisters are involved, Roger’s focus remains on his own part in the cover-up. However, his guilt hits the brakes when it comes to young Blanaid. The teen who just lost her father and can’t lose her mother, combined with his inability to refuse a teary-eyed Grace—is what ultimately convinces him to stay quiet. Still, his unease leaves the threat of him backtracking looming ominously.

A Rocky Start to Happily Ever After

Believing she can rely on her new husband for support, Grace decides to come clean to Ian. She reveals the full extent of John Paul’s abuse, including his raping Eva and the threats he made against all of her sisters. Ian does not take this confession well. As he attempts to leave the house to process the shocking revelations, Grace snaps. In a sudden fit of rage unlike anything viewers have seen before, she pounds on her husband’s back with her fists, terrifying him.

By the following morning, Ian is gone. Whether he left of his own accord or something more sinister and murderous transpired is unclear. A worried Blanaid sprints to her Aunt Eva’s home, revealing that her stepfather is missing and her mother is inconsolable, crying in bed. Could Grace truly be a two-time husband killer? Or did Ian simply leave to gather his thoughts? Will Roger’s fragile resolve crumble under the weight of his guilt, or will Angelica, the nosy and seemingly jealous sister, beat him to the punch in revealing the Garvey sisters’ secrets?

The season is shaping up to be another thrilling mystery, as we’re left to untangle who—or what—was in the trunk and how the pieces of this dark puzzle fit together.