Bad Sisters is a show which initially appears to revolve about grieving and the impact of unexpected loss amongst family; but as those themes slowly unravel over time the writers constantly showcase a more complex concept and approach by highlighting very dark, at times almost uncomfortable takes on how grief can manifest with a myriad of underlying individual emotional traits all mixing together creating high emotional response and also provides the ground work to display multiple conflicting or intertwining themes. Its far from a simple 'whodunnit’ mystery; but rather how character reactions to traumatic events shape them as people so let’s dissect all of this by approaching S2 , looking to understand their writing methods specifically using “How to pick a Prick” as sample for later evaluation of the various character archetypes and what specific story telling direction it has showcased .
Unmasking "Ian": A Deep Dive Into 'How to Pick a Prick'
Season 2 Episode 7 titled 'How to Pick a Prick" (deliberately used within that storyline to highlight all previous story beat’s failures or misgivings) goes well beyond just a ' plot progression episode’; as it reveals the true nature of ‘Ian’ as a key antagonist but at the very same time uses that revelation for different character angles. It is no longer about a single death from Season One's event but about each of the characters in that core sister group having to also question their moral codes, and inner strength whilst their vulnerabilities all come up at a more intense degree.
Not only that revelation creates a huge blow up within family ties, but each character reacts through her own specific lens: while Bibi seeks an almost military plan of retribution; Becka tries to navigate through past experiences (regarding trust ) and now with her family status and even Eva begins displaying self-blaming guilt and a desire for extreme measures. Whilst this plot-twist in ‘Ian’ is great its also a narrative device which allows a clear way to assess what drives each given member on a deeply intimate and personal aspect which normally a show wouldn't showcase at this point in production. Even some less explored parts now get far more focus that make every small plot interaction much more meaningful instead of simply creating plot progression for the viewing experience as an end goal.
There’s also the added important subplot regarding Angelica, the main objective (and possibly most under rated from viewers first impression as she wasn't 'team sister'), shows up to provide some extra external ‘good insight’ into all story timelines with this also setting in motion long-running ethical conversations throughout that specific event as if, just in those small character beats, the entire tone shifted to become far more complex by also expanding that single episode by itself into its own larger unit or 'test example' for all other aspects that would come afterwards within future productions; all while maintaining great narrative and high emotion all while not straying far from its specific set concepts.
The Tangled Web of Season 2: Guilt, Deception and Evolving Grief
What becomes really apparent is how the plot of episode 7 isn’t truly over a ‘plot development’ when comparing its impact with that singular episode into later Season 2 elements as this one seems to force all narrative themes into an immediate and very visceral reaction to all events prior as ‘Ian’ reveals himself to become an individual that was set onto deceiving and taking advantage, with an emphasis that his intentions have always been nefarious.
Eva, now more than ever begins falling into self doubt, a place she already was, her attempt in changing for the better made her much more vulnerable to his manipulations ( which creates that element that no actions, positive or negative feel fully correct within Bad Sister format); and we start seeing the show push for ethical themes beyond the main ‘revenge plot’. What happens when those that actively attempt for a positive result only bring in worse cases and scenarios upon themselves ( a clear theme regarding Beth’s overall choices). Even the normally solid and pragmatic Bibi now must battle not only their exterior enemy but an internal struggle about doing the ‘right thing’. That deliberate use of contrast between previous solid individual ideals start to create cracks into main series design.
The choices all showcase how the ripple effects from Grace’s death don't only touch upon those sisters who wanted to do right ( and failed) but those that did do ‘wrong things’ with full awareness ( as it also showcases ‘Ians’ story, as well ) and creates this amazing mirror reflection with every main character interaction being challenged into showing what really motivates their core behavior; it becomes quite important as Bad Sisters becomes not a simply ‘who done it?’ or some 'revenge tale', instead becomes a very unique take over the limitations of well intentioned plans often leading to nothing more than long standing trauma from poor decision, no matter if well or poorly intended as both approaches create nothing but self created limitations throughout series’ timeline
Unifying Themes: Grief, Vulnerability, and the Fragility of Trust
With great attention over both the one single episode with more general storyline arc a theme often comes up ( like all previous Bad Sister themes); it focuses upon broken trust. ‘Ian’ represents that core fear where previously made bonds become more of a weakness than strength ( from various characters point of view ) this includes that bond previously shown among the main sister-hood ( whose individual goals start pushing away the greater unified group for separate outcomes).
Also ‘vulnerability’ is constantly present, in all scenes; especially whenever characters must deal with outside personal threats often showing a tendency to push their individual limitations to become bigger problems both inside and outside for long term repercussions ( both Becka in love and even Eva with ‘Ian’) highlighting those flaws that may otherwise be ignored while presenting all of the cast as 'heroes’, and by that logic showing both ethical limits and also self created problems for main character archetypes. And that approach, in most stories tend to often end as main point for change or growth in a very optimistic message but for ‘Bad Sisters’ however that is nothing more than a very clear signal that more long term trauma will follow soon after as there is rarely if ever an actual and lasting form of 'happily ever after', or lasting happiness after choosing an 'ethical' path since characters often chose ( regardless what they do) to keep pushing those negative limitations even further no matter the consequences .
Conclusion: A Story of Moral Complexity, Personal Failure and Long Lasting Consequences
All the methods displayed throughout "How to Pick a Prick’," provide ‘Bad Sisters’ with greater story structure than a generic dark-comedy with twists by showcasing just how powerful character flaws can become (specially over emotional responses as the main driving engine of the cast members) because instead of simply accepting them as given attributes there’s a much deeper examination as the show never aims to make a viewer believe some 'character has improved or grown' in traditional TV style; they continue with those same errors from beginning till its end without clear indicators of changes (except the most superficial ones regarding specific character positions). This is shown to an even higher effect whenever all those problems end up compounding. That’s done by having all prior choices have impact on long term plot structures making choices into more than simply a singular event ( as previously displayed with Ian ).
With all that said, viewers can learn to appreciate more about how this show’s writing structures values by making you rethink your own choices due to the unique take over ethical dilemmas: where even good intentions might very well make everything worse for everyone involved including themselves. All that adds another viewing aspect beyond typical media experiences where those lessons normally are intended to provide optimism or inspiration. Bad Sisters has never presented that and in their format we are often reminded to simply focus upon what really moves humans in realistic terms; their flaws not their triumphs.