Apple TV’s new psychological thriller Imperfect Women dropped its first two episodes on March 18, and audiences are already hooked on the drama. The series, starring Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss, and Kate Mara, follows three lifelong friends whose lives fall apart after one of them is murdered. But it is the second episode’s shocking moment that has become the main topic of conversation among viewers.
The show’s creator Annie Weisman recently opened up about the decision to have Eleanor (Washington) sleep with Robert (Joel Kinnaman), her murdered best friend’s husband, so early in the series. The choice was not made lightly.
The Risky Decision That Sparked Long Talks in the Writers Room
The second episode, titled “Crush,” ends with Eleanor and Robert crossing a line that many shows might have saved for later in the season. Eleanor, who has carried feelings for Robert for nearly two decades, gives in to those emotions during a trip to the family’s Ojai house. The morning after, she finds a letter Robert wrote to Nancy, revealing he knew about his wife’s affair long before she died—proving he lied to Eleanor all along.
Weisman told The Hollywood Reporter that the writers debated the timing of this moment.
“It was a big conversation. When does that happen? How do we earn it? This is a terrible thing for her to do. But everyone on this team is really drawn to it. It’s right there in the title. These are imperfect women. They’re making bad choices sometimes. We all do.”
The creative team focused on making sure audiences could still connect with Eleanor despite her questionable actions. Weisman added that having an actress like Kerry Washington in the role helped.
“How do we still love this character and how do we understand her and go along for the ride with her, even though she’s doing something pretty inexcusable? It was about earning that choice and that moment. And then you have an actress like Kerry Washington inhabiting it. It’s pretty easy to go along the ride with her.”
What Actually Happens in Episode 2
The episode reveals that Eleanor actually met Robert first, years before Nancy entered the picture. She introduced them and then lied when Nancy asked if she had feelings for Robert. That lie set off a chain of events that now, after Nancy’s death, has Eleanor questioning everything.
Donovan (Leslie Odom Jr.), Eleanor’s brother, warns her that Robert’s family is dangerous. He shows her surveillance photos of her with Robert, pointing out that Robert’s wealthy family hired a crisis PR firm to smear Nancy’s reputation after her death.
Meanwhile, Mary (Moss) is falling apart. She gets herself arrested after repeatedly requesting public records from the police department about Nancy’s case. When Eleanor bails her out, the two track down Davide, Nancy’s lover, looking for answers. He turns the question back on them, asking why neither was there for Nancy when she was struggling.
How the Show Differs from the Original Book
The series is based on Araminta Hall’s novel of the same name, but Weisman made several changes for the TV version. The biggest shift is the setting. The book takes place in England, but the show is set in Southern California.
Weisman explained that Kerry Washington pushed to shoot in Los Angeles. As a California native, Weisman welcomed the change.
“When Kerry Washington joined the team, she was really adamant about shooting here in Los Angeles, so we pivoted. And that was really exciting because she felt so strongly about it. She really got us on board and had the clout to make that happen.”
Another major addition is Donovan, Eleanor’s brother, who does not exist in the book. Weisman said they created the character to give viewers a window into Eleanor’s past.
“In a book, you get access to the interior life of a character. But in cinematic storytelling, you want to have relationships that allow you to get to know people better. Having a character from her past and something connected to that character as a family member was a way to do that.”
Kerry Washington and Elisabeth Moss on What Comes Next
Washington described the episode 2 ending as just the start of the show’s twists. She told Shadow and Act that each episode ends with a revelation that changes how viewers see the story.
“At the end of every episode, there is a jaw-dropping cliffhanger of a revelation where you just don’t know what to believe, what to think, who to trust. And it starts in two, and it does not stop. This train, once it leaves the station, it does not stop.”
Moss teased that her character’s full story will not come out until later in the season. The show shifts perspectives between the three women, and Mary’s turn happens in episodes six and seven.
“Mary is very difficult to speak about, because her story is really revealed in episodes six and seven. So that’s when we switch point of views for the third time, and we get to hear Mary’s story. It gets wild.”
Moss said Mary’s motivation is simple but painful: she loved Nancy and cannot accept living without knowing who killed her friend.
“I cannot imagine what that would feel like ultimately. How can I live with the fact that my best friend died and I don’t know why, and we don’t know what happened to her, and we don’t know who did it?”
Viewer Response to the First Episodes
Social media reactions to the show’s debut have been strong. One viewer posted, “My kind of drama & shenanigans. Just Scandalous. OMG. I am hooked.” Another wrote, “It’s so good, was hooked off the 1st episode.”
Some critics have noted that the show leans heavily on familiar territory. A review from Wherever I Look pointed out that Imperfect Women still relies on the star power of its lead actresses rather than fully developed characters. The review gave the show a 77 out of 100, noting that while the drama is engaging, it has not yet found its own identity.
Other outlets compared the series to Big Little Lies, calling it a glossy, character-driven mystery that delivers exactly what fans of the genre expect.
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Release Schedule and Where to Watch
Imperfect Women is streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. The first two episodes arrived on March 18. New episodes release every Wednesday, with the season finale scheduled for April 29. The series has eight episodes total.
For viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India, new episodes become available on Apple TV+ at midnight Pacific Time each Wednesday.
The show’s cast also includes Joel Kinnaman as Robert, Leslie Odom Jr. as Donovan, Ana Ortiz as Detective Bethany Ganz, and Rome Flynn as Jordan.
The third episode arrives this Wednesday, continuing the story with Eleanor now holding proof that Robert was not honest with her. The letter she found changes everything she thought she knew about him and about the night Nancy died.
Also Read: Nobody Wants This Season 3 Filming Has Started, Netflix Confirms with Set Photos
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