‘Bad Sisters’ Creator Sharon Horgan on the True Villain of Season 2 and Season 3 Possibilities

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As a seasoned gamer of dark comedies and mystery series, I can confidently say that Bad Sisters has managed to captivate me with its intricate plot twists and well-developed characters. The second season has taken the narrative to new heights, delving deeper into the lives of the Garvey sisters while also exploring the complexities of abusive relationships and the corrupt nature of the police system.

[This narrative reveals significant plot twists from the first season and finale of Bad Sisters, so beware if you haven’t finished watching both seasons yet]

Creator of “Bad Sisters”, Sharon Horgan, conceived a concept that she referred to as a “germ of an idea” for the subsequent season of the Apple+ series during the filming of the first season.

The central theme of the second season’s latter episodes, it turns out, centered on Ian Reilly, ex-spouse of Grace, and the notion that despite Grace finding some joy after murdering her abusive first husband, she was unable to free herself from her own tragic pattern.

Essentially, during the filming of the first season, the idea of experiencing similar circumstances again came up, as well as the understanding that women who have been through abusive relationships may not immediately find themselves in a healthy one. Instead, they might remain open and susceptible to exploitation by others. Horgan shares this insight with The Hollywood Reporter.

In the last episode of the series, it’s unveiled the mysterious events that occurred between Grace and Ian following her admission of murdering her first spouse. Meanwhile, Reilly disappears, during which period Grace learns he has a different wife, family, and identity. Later, he comes back attempting to extort Grace for hiding this secret.

Nevertheless, Grace declines to give up the money and instead leaves the scene, reaching out to Eva (portrayed by Horgan) for assistance with her predicament. Unfortunately, just after this call, Grace becomes involved in a tragic car crash that proved fatal.

Duff remarked, ‘What a poignant moment of drama! She’s discovered some hidden strength and morality for the first time since the murder. This determination, though, isn’t for any wrongdoing, but to do what’s right. Unfortunately, it comes too late.’

In this scenario, when the sisters challenge Reilly about his misdeeds, his true nature – a deceitful ex-cop and swindler – is exposed, as he stubbornly refuses to return the money he’d taken from Blainaid. As he attempts to depart, Angelica strikes him, claiming she disapproves of his disparaging remarks about Grace. It seems that Angelica has fatally wounded him.

At that point in time, I found myself unexpectedly on the same side as Angelica, played by Fiona Shaw – even though I had previously perceived her as an adversary due to some misunderstanding. However, dealing with the consequences of her… well, let’s just say, her presence was a bit of a hassle.

Horan stated, “They had a mental breakdown, they lost their sibling, yet they searched in all the wrong places. Throughout, they sought solace for their pain, and unfortunately, they found it there. Additionally, she is likened to a wagon.

In order to bring Angelica’s character to life, Horgan and executive producer Dearbhla Walsh found inspiration in their childhood aunts, neighbors, self-styled helpers, and people who seem to always carry a large bunch of keys.

Shaw considers Angelica as someone who is excessively self-centered, claims proprietorship over friendships, and generally embodies the antithesis of what’s considered cool. Initially, Angelica appears to be the antagonist, even going so far as to questionably extort Ursula for funds to repair a community center window. However, Shaw believes that Angelica is both a victim and a wrongdoer, as she was subjected to cruel treatment by the Garvey sisters.

Shaw stated that the situation for Angelica becomes challenging when she befriends someone who isn’t interested, only for something unfortunate to happen to them. This leaves Angelica trying to connect with their family who don’t want to engage, resulting in a lot of rejection. This repeated rejection may make Angelica increasingly upset.

Angelica served as a distraction for the true culprit, Reilly, according to Horgan. However, the greater antagonist that the series was confronting was the corrupt police system itself. This is demonstrated in the season as it reveals how this system has consistently shielded wrongdoings by officers like Reilly, who has a history of abusing women and believes he will receive support from the police, as well as Detective Inspector Fergal Loftus (Barry Ward), whose methods during his investigation into the sisters were dubious.

Given that those responsible for our safety repeatedly fail us, how can we have faith in them? This is the core idea that Horgan presents for Season 2.

Following their delivery of Reilly’s unconscious form to the cliffs as a means to discard him, the sisters discover that he’s miraculously still alive. In the moment, Bibi (Sarah Greene) contemplates ending his life, but Eva steps in, reminding them, “We aren’t killers.” This statement serves as a crucial reminder for the audience, given the central theme of the series. Instead of taking matters into their own hands, Eva summons emergency services, and Reilly is transported to the hospital, where he survives but vows to press charges against the sisters.

Detective Una Houlihan, the younger and more reliable officer, eventually chooses to aid the sisters and accompanies Loftus to visit Reilly in the hospital. There, Loftus pressures Reilly to return the money to Blanaid (Saise Quinn) and threatens to hide evidence and contradict any statements from Reilly. Consequently, the sisters manage to evade most of the consequences, despite still having to face the aftermath of losing Grace.

Horgan stated, ‘They exhibit some emotional behavior, but not entirely so.’ However, due to a touch of corrupt practices within the police force, they certainly do.

Regarding a potential third season, Horgan mentioned that it might present some challenges due to the unique structure of the series.

Horan stated, ‘Shows such as White Lotus and Beef allow for a fresh cast each time, making it easier to tell new stories. However, with these sisters, we must convince the audience that they could find themselves in similar circumstances again. The appeal of the series lies in its relatability, and since the events of the first season have lasting consequences, we can explore what happens next.’

“How many more people could we kill?” Walsh joked. 

Horgan went on to say, ‘I’m constantly pondering, so we’ll see how it unfolds.’ However, he added, ‘The challenge lies in fully believing that this situation could occur to these women once more.’

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2024-12-24 19:26