Bad Sisters Season 2 Episode 1, “Good Sisters,” reunites us with the Garveys as they try to move on from “The Prick” two years later. Naturally, the skeletons in their collective closet burst forth as the authorities find what’s left of George Williams in a suitcase at the bottom of a pond. Of course, we know John Paul killed him and hid him in said suitcase. But now, Ian knows Grace’s secret, and Roger is resolved to tell the guards everything. It’s murder and mayhem wrapped in a darkly comedic, beautifully shot and well-acted package.
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Bad Sisters, “Good Sisters”
We open with Eva (Sharon Horgan), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene) and Becka (Eve Hewson) driving along a cliffside at night. Eva, who’s behind the wheel, parks the vehicle near the edge. Becka boasts a pretty gnarly facial wound and a bloody eye. The Garvey sisters barrel out of the car, looking down at the waters below. Eva isn’t ready for what comes next. Ursula insists they have a solid plan in place.
Next, the gals prepare to retrieve a mysterious something from the trunk — most likely a body. Initially, the lid only opens a crack until it unexpectedly flies open, scaring our quartet. Then, we rewind time to a sexy moment with Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) and Niko Polastri Ian (Owen McDonnell). However, the sexiness takes a turn for the murderous when Grace starts choking Ian (in a decidedly unsexy manner). We see Grace is stuck in Dream Land as she begins choking a sleeping Ian.
Meeting the Wagon
After Ian wakes Grace in a panic, he jokes that he’ll still marry her. Later, Grace shows up at the derby with her sisters. They’re celebrating her upcoming nuptials with a bachelorette party (or a hen do since we’re in Ireland). They bust out the champers and loaded hot dogs (which Bibi shelled out 48 euros for). Eva and Becka discuss the lingering sense of unease regarding Grace getting remarried. To be fair, she was married to an abusive prick before.
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Then, Roger (Michael Smiley) introduces the Garvey sisters to his sister, Carolyn Martens Angelica (Fiona Shaw). I love the mini Killing Eve reunion on this episode. Angelica used to be Grace’s good friend. Grace apologizes for the radio silence. Angelica expresses her surprise that Grace and Ian are getting married. She also throws Roger under the bus by airing out his perpetual crush on Grace. I mean, Roger did help Grace stage John Paul’s murder to make it look like a suicide.
Next, everyone prepares to place their bets on Hurry Stiles, which is a great name for a horse. Angelica plans to “put a few quid” on said horse. After she leaves, Grace asks Roger why he sold his house and moved in with his sister. Roger claims there were too many bad memories in that house. Methinks JP had a lot to do with that. Grace invites Roger to her wedding ceremony.
Hurry Stiles and a Suitcase
Meanwhile, Angelica puts 15 quid on Stiles. Fortunately, Stiles wins, so the Garvey sisters walk away with two grand. That means Angelica won as well. However, she lies to Roger, telling him she didn’t place a bet at all. We see she’s known as “Angelica the Wagon.” The Garveys celebrate.
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Later, we return to the Williams residence, where Minna and George died. The forensic unit unearths the suitcase containing the severed and severely decomposing corpse of George, JP’s father. Detective Inspector Fergal Loftus (Barry Ward) is, as usual, on the golf course. He’s planning his retirement party. Detective Una Houlihan (Thaddea Graham) interrupts his round of golf to reveal they’ve found a body in a suitcase. Houlihan is a newly promoted detective.
Loftus and Houlihan arrive at the house to examine George’s decaying corpse. Houlihan asks if it was a sex thing, perhaps. Having one’s feet removed to get off is pretty hardcore. Loftus learns that the home initially belonged to the Williams family. Loftus recalls exhuming JP’s body to investigate his mysterious death, which was ruled an accident. (FYI: the events of Season 1 took place two years ago.) This gave Loftus the moniker “Snatcher.”
A New Investigation
Next, we see the Garveys prepare for Grace’s big day. There’s lots of smoked salmon. Blanaid (Saise Quinn), our flower girl, informs the sisters that Grace is ready for them. Bibi shouts for Becka, who’s asleep in bed with Joe (Peter Claffey). Joe wonders if Becka’s sisters like him. Well, he did ask Bibi if lesbians have periods, but besides that, they don’t seem to mind him.
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Meanwhile, Detective Superintendent Howlett (Lorcan Cranitch) is furious with Loftus for leaving a haunted house of horrors in the wake of the Williams case. It’s also costly to exhume a corpse. He wants Loftus to solve the severed body case with Houlihan at his side. Loftus protests this, citing that babysitting a young detective isn’t his job. Howlett reminds him that it’s part of his job description.
The Garvey-Reilly ceremony goes off without a hitch, and now everyone’s taken to the dance floor for the reception. Roger and Angelica make their appearances. We learn that Bibi and Nora (Yasmine Akram) are going the IVF route to have another baby.
Suspicions
Eva introduces Angelica to her menopause coach, Eileen (Justine Mitchell), which sends Angelica into a fit of laughter. Thankfully, the awkwardness ends when Ian makes a lovely speech. Well, until Becka vomits in a potted plant. Grace asks Ian if he’s ready for a heaping helping of the Garveys. Ian states he is. He seems like a good egg (hopefully, I won’t eat my words).
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Next, we see Houlihan at home with her mum, Sylvie (Pui Fan Lee). Her mum gives her a new coat. Before their interaction, Houlihan closely inspects photos of JP after his body was found. Was it really a suicide? At the reception, Ursula bids farewell to Donal (Jonjo O’Neill) and Ally (Deirdre Mullins), his new girlfriend. Bibi remarks that Ally is quite fit.
In a panic, Ursula heads upstairs to surreptitiously take a pill. Bibi enters the room, apologizing for calling Donal’s new squeeze attractive. Bibi admits she’s terrified of having a new child and that it took her a while to bond with Ruben. Angelica barges in, commenting that this house resembles a museum. Outside, Roger and Grace dance. Roger confesses how heavy JP’s death weighs on him (despite what JP put him through). He carries that remorse with him every day. Ian observes them as they dance.
Next of Kin
Then, the Garvey sisters and Ian decide to “rescue” Grace by having her toss her bouquet. Angelica muscles Eva out of the way — literally shoving her onto the ground — to catch it. She plays dirty. The following day, Houlihan updates Loftus on the results of the autopsy. They’ve identified the body in the suitcase as George Williams. Loftus admits he could’ve told her that. He urges her to inform the next of kin, which Houlihan reveals is Grace.
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Later, Angelica returns home from her bike ride to find a despondent Roger. She tells him about the guards swarming the Williams residence. She tried to call Grace, but the latter didn’t answer. Noticing Roger’s sullen mood, she asks if he knows anything about the Williams situation. “Why would I?” Roger responds. Angelica remains suspicious.
Elsewhere, Grace gets a call from Roger, which she ignores. Loftus and Houlihan pay her a visit. They inform her about George being found in the suitcase — his corpse hacked into pieces so it would fit in said suitcase. They ask her about the last time she saw George. Grace repeats the lie John Paul told her, that George walked out on Minna years ago. She asks the detectives if this is an open murder investigation.
The Truth
However, Ian and Blanaid arrive, so the detectives take their leave. Before they drive away, though, Loftus and Houlihan ask Grace about the insurance claim. What came of it? Grace reveals she retracted the claim after learning that JP died by suicide. After this, Houlihan drops Loftus off at The Gravedigger’s, a local pub. She reveals she doesn’t believe Grace regarding the insurance claim.
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Inside the pub, Loftus leaves a voicemail for Thomas Claffin and his “lanky brother.” He has questions about the Garvey-Williams claim. That evening, Roger lurks outside Grace, Ian and Blanaid’s home. He informs Grace of his intention to go to the guards. He’s going to tell them everything. Roger refuses to have this on his conscience any longer. Grace pleads with him to reconsider — think about Blanaid. Ian watches their interaction from afar.
Then, Ian asks Grace to tell him what’s wrong. Grace tearfully reveals that JP abused her and raped Eva. So, she killed him. Ian looks stunned. Ian tells her he needs space. Grace begs him not to leave. She pounds on his back with her fists. He whirls around. We don’t see what happens next; we only hear Grace’s sobs as Blanaid lies upstairs in her room, putting a pillow over her head. Side note: Anne-Marie Duff is a force of nature here. She’s so good.
He’s Gone
Next, the following morning, we see Blanaid run across the beach in her school uniform. Eva is staying home for a virtual work meeting, multitasking by running on the treadmill and eating at the same time. Ursula, Becka and Joe tell her they’re about to leave because they’ve finished off the salmon. Blanaid runs inside and embraces Eva, revealing that Ian’s gone and Grace won’t stop crying.
Bad Sisters drops new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+.
Apple Renews CRIMINAL RECORD for Season 2
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
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