Bad Sisters
Available on: Apple TV+ (U.S. and U.K.)
Apple TV+’s Bad Sisters came out of nowhere. The first season of the series is rambunctious Irish-flavored whodunnit, every bit as funny as it is intense, that slowly wins us over with its sharp-tongued protagonists, spectacular views of Ireland, and the impenetrable bond of sisterhood. From the start, the show had the feel of a miniseries with a well-thought-out narrative and an ending that brought closure to nearly every subplot and character arc. We learned who killed the insufferable husband (Claes Bang) and how they got away with it, minimizing the consequences.
But given its popularity and success, the creators just couldn’t leave it alone — and Apple TV+ was more than willing to keep the series alive. It’s too bad there was almost nothing to go on. For season 2, the writers fabricated a contrived plot out of thin air to mirror the murder mystery structure of season 1 but lost nearly everything else that made the show unique in the process. The witty writing turned stale and illogical, the characters we loved became obnoxious and unbearable, and the delicious black humor that was a sort of trademark diminished exponentially. Bad Sisters is simply bad now, and according to co-creator Sharon Horgan, things are far from over.
Squid Game
Available on: Netflix (U.S. and U.K.)
I wish Netflix’s South Korean sensation wasn’t on this list. But let’s be honest, we all felt a sense of trepidation as we arrived at that final cliffhanger in season 1. We were worried (if also excited) because it didn’t make much sense to continue a story that was so spectacularly told and wrapped up leaving nothing but one, somewhat forced, loose end for a potential follow-up. How could they repeat or extend upon a story that crackled with suspense, unpredictably brutal twists, and complex characters (most of which have been killed) for a second time without losing any of that frenetic impact? They couldn’t.
Season 2 of Squid Game is a shallow rehash of what we’ve seen before (filled with repetition) and half as captivating as the first time around. To put it bluntly: it’s a cash grab. It adds almost nothing to the original premise and even less to its central theme of social commentary on class, inequality, and capitalism. The only positive is that its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, likely got what he deserved in terms of financial compensation for how much he suffered during the making of the first season, which didn’t exactly make him rich. Initially, he didn’t even want to continue the show. That’s undoubtedly palpable in season 2, and it’s hard to imagine the third and final season would be any different whatsoever.
