The matter of abuse has been a heated debate in the last two years given the pandemic that has forced families across the world into an isolation. However, is the world ready to witness cases of domestic violence and verbal abuse on television and cinema screens? The subject has been touched by some movies like A Star is Born, but it becomes dicey when the abuser is made right through the lens of a camera. The most recent release of Apple TV+, Bad Sisters, fights back against and reclaims victimhood through five sisters taking revenge on one sister’s husband.The genre of Bad Sisters falls within such previous works as Big Little Lies which links five women’s lives by way of one murder. In addition, Big Little Lies also depicts instances of abuse on screen.
Sharon Horgan who featured in Pulling and Catastrophe for British television created Bad Sisters. Divorce was also done by Horgan featuring Sarah Jessica Parker on HBO.As planned initially, this was going to be written, acted out and produce for Apple TV+ by Horgan with an earlier name Emerald. This show was based on a Flemish series called Clan where Malin-Sarah Gozin, creator executive-produced this series. The show began filming in Ireland in 2021; with its entire cast announced early 2022 just a few months before it premiered on streaming platform
This programme is mostly about its five stars who perform as five sisters. These are portrayed by Sharon Horgan, Anna-Marie Duff (Sex Education, On Chesil Beach), Eva Birthistle (Brooklyn, The Last Kingdom), Sarah Greene and Eve Hewson (The Knick, Behind Her Eyes). Claes Bang (Dracula, The Square) plays alongside them as one sister’s husband who serves as the main antagonist for this program. While Brian Gleeson,Daryl McCormack,and Assad Bouab make up supporting cast., There’s no doubt that acting is excellent throughout the series and no wonder, considering how talented this European cast is.
Bad Girls starts off with a death, but it may not become clear what the story is about at its beginning except for some traditional indications. The deceased’s name was John-Paul Williams who was highly respected by his community. Falling under the eyes of two life insurance brokers, he was a businessman and loving husband whose death cannot go unnoticed as there are considerable doubts. Even if it’s just the beginning, there are several immediate suspects: Williams’ many sisters-in-law.Onward to the next scene where sisters were in their bedroom waking up from sleep when they heard that JP had taken his last breath. As many people as possible had come to pay homage to Williams but only few truly knew him as a person. At his funeral none of them really shed tears for him; one sister even sneering when JP was referred to as “a great guy”.
As the plot goes back and forth between past and present, it quickly becomes clear why this is so. The story unfolds in the present with two insurance agents, named Tom and Matt probing into the death of Williams. Meanwhile, in the past, the sisters are moaning about how terrible a person John-Paul Williams is. But to his immediate family, he is a wife beater and an abusive man who does not think twice before raising his hand on them even after appearing as a shining beacon to his community. Many people already know that abuse gets more dangerous both psychologically and physically as it escalates during COVID-19 pandemic (Ebola). Bad Sisters is a textbook example of what happens when someone is constantly exposed to this kind of situation, like Sophie who has been worn down to also behave inhumanely.
In Williams’ portrayal by Claes Bang he really seems nasty; all through this performance he insults his wife desperately attacking anyone from around him , however Grace can only take so much . There are four other sisters who will always be there for her along her journey: Eva, Ursula, Bibi and Becka. The sisters became orphans since their parents died long ago before the events depicted in this series occurred. They have no one else apart from each other; hence they unite when one sister feels threatened at any point in her life. She goes through denial first despite being felt judged by other sisters but as things get worse she seems left with only one option.
Black comedy themes introduced in episode one are developed further within London and Dublin throughout the show. With music scores that sound distinctively American folk songs, this scene sets up an Irish-set show with its own unique spin on things . All over it there’s lots of dry humour which is characteristic of the area where this show takes place . This could be considered as one of its most defining aspects as it tends to get lost somewhere amid whodunnit and more of how John Paul died. However, they were the people who had been closest to him through his wife. No matter whether one is a viewer as well, this man deserves to die after what he has done in such repugnant, brutal and misogynistic way.
The story of Bad Sisters has a split timeline from its beginning. The show therefore goes into areas that do not add much to the main story as the insurance agents try to separate facts from fiction surrounding John-Paul’s death. This does not cause any mystery about what really happened there; instead, it is revealed that real story is between the sisters themselves. These relationships and storylines would become less clear if she drops her camera away from them (Lustigman 88).For instance, when scenes change back to these agents from a funeral scene this seems like it is stretching out the plot further just so that it fits within ten episodes but actually serves as a subplot. John-Paul Williams holds together readers and viewers under an umbrella against their common enemy which creates chills on your skin.
Bad Sisters’ might be the best of all so far; thus, Bad Sisters would just be Sharon Horgan’s most successful creation yet. Though this may seem a daunting task to achieve, bringing together five lead characters each with their own distinctiveness, but Bad Sisters achieves it. Each of the Garvey sisters has her own personality and history that make them easily distinguishable from one another as well as highlighting their places in the narrative. Even if they are not essential parts of the story as auxiliary roles such as insurance agents, they also have been developed and do not become background fixtures as opposed to static characters. This is impressive for both the writing process and its implementation when every person matters.
The limited series is fast-paced making it impossible not to notice any weaknesses while it darts through scenes and timelines accumulating slowly into a show that could be among Apple TV+’s top releases till date. It is everything someone might desire from this type of show: murder, comedy, jokes that should never stick at particular instances, and an absurdist approach to life and spirituality that is somewhat absurd itself. The viewers may not understand exactly what everyone on screen is going through at any given time, but once they have seen it they can easily sympathize.
Bad Sisters does not ask for much thought because there isn’t much you can think about regarding Bad Sisters actually. In fact, when more information comes out about this story later on one can easily guess how this will end up going; nevertheless, this show is largely concerned with how things get there. The crux of the matter lies in Grace’s abusive relationship in which she was forced to live through; therefore we painfully watch her withdraw gradually into herself before turning violent in such a way that parallels her husband’s destructiveness itself. But behind those wide shots of ocean waves washing onto sandy shores or through fields filled with beautiful clover flowers waving under gentle winds stand something uneasy. It is not a secret what that is, and still Bad Sisters remains enjoyable or else quite good while it lasts. With Bang’s JP as the most recognizable then, its cast does an amazing job of portraying their roles. Every time we have to spend with him becomes awkward thereby making every step towards seeing the series through even more triumphant from one episode to another.
Watch free movies on Fmovies
