Sharon Horgan is one of the hardest working people in television today. Whether it’s Pulling, Catastrophe, or one of the many other projects she’s written or performed in, Horgan has proven to be prolific and consistent. Her new endeavor, Bad Sisters, continues this impeccable trend as the first four episodes on Apple TV+ have been hilarious and dramatic in equal measure, providing some of the most entertaining hours of television this year. Despite the quality of the show and the attached critical acclaim, the show has been flying under the radar and not receiving the attention it deserves.
Apple TV+ is a relative newcomer to the streaming game that lacks the popularity and content libraries of other services like Netflix and Hulu. However, other programs on the platform, like Ted Lasso and Severance, have gained audiences through word-of-mouth and social media. Here’s why Bad Sisters should be considered along those shows as a reason to re-upping your subscription to yet another streaming service.
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Bad Sisters’ Witty Writing
Apple TV+
The least surprising, yet always welcome, quality of a new show from Sharon Horgan is the sharp banter between the characters. British television is known for its wit, and Horgan is among the best of the country’s talented writers, full of great comebacks and one-liners. Bad Sisters never feels overwritten either, which is something that shows from across the pond can sometimes fall victim to.
The back-and-forth between siblings, whether the Garvey sisters or the Clafin half-brothers, is consistently excellent and feels like real conversations between family members. The writing’s ability to dynamically switch between comedy and drama is impressive, as well, and necessary for a funny show that also tackles heavy subjects like abuse.
The Show’s Dual Timelines Is an Interesting Approach
Bad Sisters’ story is told in two timelines, one before the death of the prickly JP and another after. This interesting approach allows the show to have its cake and eat it, too. The show is both a murder mystery and a look at how people can get to the point where killing someone seems like the right decision. We know that JP will die, but the how and why are unclear, giving viewers a compelling reason to watch both sections. The visual effect with which the show jumps between the timelines is rather cool as well, with the camera zooming out of a filmstrip to jump to an earlier or later scene. While it’s far from the only non-linear story on TV, its clarity and enjoyability are admirable.
A Solid Cast and Superb Performances
The show also has one of the best ensemble casts in recent memory, with strong performances across the board. As stated earlier, all the siblings seem like they could be related, and the romantic couples in the show also have a great deal of chemistry. While all the actresses portraying the five sisters do a great job giving them each a unique personality, the men are also sensational.
Claes Bang, best known for his role in Ruben Östlund’s 2017 film The Square, plays the part of JP perfectly, never once letting up on being the absolute worst. Brian Gleeson is also excellent as the desperate Thomas, proving that he should be held in the same high regard as the rest of his talented family. While the show is about the five Garvey sisters, these two actors are excellent at playing the two very different antagonists standing in their way.
Bad Sisters Has a Great Soundtrack
The music in Bad Sisters is essential, often existing within the scene as a diegetic element. One subplot even revolves around a Lizzo show, with one of her songs causing a cute impromptu kitchen dance session. The fact that Sharon Horgan’s Eva listens to rock instead of Celine Dion is also used to establish her rebellious edge through some banter between Eva and a potential love interest.
The show’s soundtrack reflects its feminist underpinnings, featuring mostly female artists. The legendary PJ Harvey provided the show’s theme song and some other music from her archives. Shazam is a necessary companion for watching the show, with diverse needle drops that range from indie rock from bands like Grandmas House and Kim and the Cinders to a classic track from Nancy Sinatra along with some riot grrrl courtesy of Bikini Kill.
Bad Sisters is an incredibly entertaining and darkly comedic series that will leave viewers begging for more. All it takes is one episode to become all but obsessed with discovering what happened to JP and seeing if the Garvey sisters will get caught. At the end of the day, it’s just such a fun show to watch between its compelling story and brilliant sense of humor.
