This episode should've been called "Bad Decisions" because everyone is making them. Let's start with the obvious. Becka (Eve Hewson) shows up to see Matt Claffin's (Daryl McCormack) band, Exile in Ballymun. Who shows up? Houlihan (Thaddea Graham), who once again shows no subtlety in her investigating skills. Maybe she would be getting more guidance if Fergal (Barry Ward) wasn't preoccupied by his custody dispute. This is a bad decision waiting to happen.
During an exchange with Matt, while Becka is getting sick, Matt reiterates that he can't cover for her this time (good decision, but not believable). She's definitely pregnant and has one more secret to keep.
Becka goes home to Joe (Peter Claffey), who's sleeping. He awakens to tell her two things he loves about her, but he is too sleepy to say a third. Poor Joe; he's in over his head.
The sisters are meeting in a steam room by the sea but see Anjelica (Fiona Shaw) cleaning up trash on the beach. Eva (Sharon Horgan) tries to start the conversation off in a civil way. Anjelica once again says that Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) told her "everything". Eva calls BS, saying Grace was too cautious to tell her secrets all over town. Becka gets in a good jab by calling Anjelica a "stage-five clinger." Anjelica volleys back by accusing the sisters of letting Grace hold on to guilt and shame, causing her death. She knows that each of the Garvey sisters feels guilt about Grace's death and calls Becka a little time bomb. They are still working under the assumption that Anjelica was blackmailing Grace, which ultimately led to Grace's death.
Becka has the idea of looking in Anjelica's house for money. They want to link Anjelica directly to the blackmailing, and a plan comes together to break into the house while Anjelica is at church with Roger (Michael Smiley) practicing with the choir. Ursula (Eve Birthistle) continues to be conflicted, remembering Grace's beautiful voice but also lamenting the introduction of another lunatic into their lives. This show does a lovely job of showing the conflicting feelings of guilt.
Becka realizes she shouldn't be in the sauna and opens the door. Eva tries to be the voice of reason to stop the crazy plan of adding breaking and entering into the mix. Bibi (Sarah Greene) is in and another bad decision takes shape.
Knowing she's outnumbered, Eva goes into planning mode and starts the checklist for a break-in: full phone battery, binoculars, and chiding Bibi and Becka for being dressed all in black. But Eva remembers that Blanaid's (Saise Quinn) match is at the same time, so the other sisters are on their own for the next part of the plan, and you just know it's going to go all kinds of wrong, especially with Eva's parting wisdom, "Leave no trace."
At the camogie match, Anjelica creeps up on Bla again, presenting her with a new helmet before the match. She notices Ian greeting Eva with a hug, disapproval all over her face.
“Person of Interest”- BAD SISTERS, Pictured: Sharon Horgan as Eva and Owen McDonnell as Ian. Photo: Apple TV+ © 2024. All Rights Reserved
During the match, Blanaid is all aggression—her grief, anger, and confusion come out on the field. All it takes is a mean remark from the opposing team to start the fight. Another parent comments on the "Fecking Garveys. All the same." And just like that, I'm in if they want to do a Bad Sisters prologue show. Blanaid's cousin, Molly (Kate Higgins), tries to comfort Bla but gets a stick to the mouth instead. The kids are not alright.
This show excels when it works in dark humor, and this episode really highlights that. Bibi and Becka attempt to break into Anjelica's house, but not before Becka has a "nervous wee." Ursula plays lookout and provides the sisters with a play-by-play until creepy Roger comes over and asks Ursula out. Wait. What? Is he going to make his way through all of the sisters? Bad decision, Roger. Ursula is saved when her ex-husband calls her to share the news about Molly.
Becka and Bibi are looking through Anjelica's house for clues and come across a prayer card for Anjelica's deceased husband, Edward Collins, who died at age 57, and discover an obit that confirms Edward left Anjelica for another woman. That's when they hear something in the closet and are surprised to find an adorable rabbit. Bibi and Becka muse about what Anjelica could be using the rabbit for. The sisters find the room that Anjelica decorated for Blanaid and see Bla's school jacket. Becka picks the wrong time to get sick and is in the bathroom when Anjelica comes home. Bibi has already snuck out, and Becka is left to find a way out and take the most direct route by pushing Anjelica aside and running out the front. Becka's screwed, and Bibi took the bunny as a hostage, but it gets free.
"Person of Interest”- BAD SISTERS, Pictured: Sarah Greene as Bibi and Eve Hewson as Becka. Photo: Apple TV+ © 2024. All Rights Reserved
Back at Garvey Central, Bibi and Becka give an overview of the break-in and the room they found for Blaniad in front of Ian (Owen McDonnell). Who brought him into the circle of trust? On cue, Fergal and Houlihan arrive to arrest Becka for the break-in at Anjelica's. They'll finally get the opportunity to question Becka.
Anjelica is playing up the assault (complete with her own neck brace) and laments to Roger that she doesn't know what she did to deserve this. Roger defends the Garveys and ends up sharing the secret of JP raping Eva. The look on Anjelica's face is unclear. Is she remembering something from her past, or filing this piece of information away for use later?
Houlihan and Fergal start their interrogation, and their hypothesis is off, but Becka gets so angry that they are still investigating JP's death instead of focusing on what happened to Grace; she shares the information about the bank withdrawals.
The sisters, with Becka's freedom on the line, invite Anjelica over to appeal to her sense of family to try to get the charges dropped. That's a no. Money? Nope. Anjelica wants to scatter Grace's ashes. What an oddly intimate request, but they agree, and Becka is released.
Eva is there to pick up Becka and shares that the guards are looking into all of them as accessories to JP's murder and, oh, she's pregnant. Becka receives a text from Joe about dinner being ready and jumps out of the car, prepared to make a bad decision by visiting Matt Garvey. Joe follows her there and confronts them both. Feeling the walls closing in, Becka asks for space and walks away. Bad decision.
Continuing the theme of bad decisions, Eva turns to Ian for comfort after discovering that they are investigating the sisters for JP's murder. Eva is convinced that Anjelica still has the upper hand, knowing their secrets. Ian assures her that everything will be okay. He even promises.
The episode ends with Ian threatening Anjelica to stay away from the Garvey sisters. He's compelling and menacing. He says that Anjelica's sick in the head, but I'm thinking game recognizes game.
Is Anjelica a red herring, and is Ian the villain for this season? Why is Roger giving me the creeps? Will Fergus ever give Houlihan his full attention?
