The Garvey sisters have always had a strong bond. However, in Season 2, Episode 3 of Bad Sisters, the family faces a devastating new challenge. After losing Grace (Anne-Marie Duff) in a tragic car accident, the once tight-knit group is left broken and grieving.
The episode begins with a somber atmosphere, picking up right where Episode 2 ended. Each sister is trying to process Grace’s death in her own way, but the weight of their loss is overwhelming.
The Garvey sisters—Eva (Sharon Horgan), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson)—are all mourning Grace, but true to form, they find themselves pulled into new troubles. Grace’s death has left questions unanswered, and her absence has brought lingering guilt and fears to the forefront.
Adding to their challenges is the arrival of Angelica (Fiona Shaw), a meddlesome figure who quickly establishes herself as a new antagonist.
While John Paul, the abusive husband they eliminated in Season 1, is no longer a threat, Angelica’s presence poses fresh dangers. The Garvey sisters are forced to face their grief while trying to protect themselves and their family from unraveling further.
A Somber Beginning and Lingering Questions
The opening scene shows the Garvey sisters in a heartbreaking state. Ursula sits in her car taking pills to cope with her anxiety before breaking down and collapsing into Eva’s arms. Bibi and Becka join in the emotional moment, and the four sisters share a collective grief that underscores the depth of their bond. Once a group of five, they are now reduced to four.
Eva listens to a voicemail Grace left her on the night of the accident. The sisters wonder what Grace might have needed help with and what caused her fatal car crash. They try to rationalize their earlier assumptions that Grace had harmed her husband Ian (Owen McDonnell). The group agrees it was probably “group hysteria” that made them think Grace was guilty of anything.
However, the circumstances of Grace’s accident remain suspicious. Ursula becomes increasingly anxious, knowing she had given Grace pills to help with her anxiety. She worries the medication might have impaired Grace’s driving and led to her death. Desperate to find answers, Ursula searches Grace’s house for the pills but comes up empty-handed.
When the police inform the family that someone must identify Grace’s body, Ursula steps forward. She claims her experience as a nurse makes her the best choice, but her decision also seems to be driven by guilt. Ursula asks Detective Inspector Fergal Loftus (Barry Ward) to let her know when Grace’s toxicology report is ready.
Loftus, however, dismisses her request, making it clear that their brief romantic encounter after a speed dating event won’t earn her any favors.
The Sisters Grapple with Guilt and Grief
Eva struggles with her emotions and impulsively quits her job after angrily yelling at her boss during a phone call. After hanging up, she casually remarks, “I just handed in my notice,” showing a glimpse of her dry humor amid the chaos.
Becka notices that Bibi hasn’t shed a single tear for Grace and questions her sister’s lack of emotional response. Bibi, as always, uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism.
The sisters bicker but come together to choose Grace’s final outfit. Blanaid (Saise Quinn), Grace’s teenage daughter, joins them and helps them select the perfect dress. Despite the tension, the moment allows the sisters to reflect on their memories of Grace.
Bibi laments their decision to target John Paul in Season 1, declaring, “I wish we’d never started this… never gone after The Prick.” The sisters are reminded that their actions against John Paul, though justified, have come with heavy consequences. Grace’s death feels like the ultimate price.
A Funeral Full of Drama and Surprises
Grace’s funeral brings unexpected guests and emotional confrontations. Angelica arrives at the church, visibly distraught, but her behavior rubs the sisters the wrong way. Bibi labels her a “grief thief,” accusing Angelica of turning their loss into her own drama. When Angelica tries to sit in the front row with the family, the sisters insist she move, setting the stage for further conflict.
Blanaid initially refuses to sit with her aunts, still processing her mother’s death, but eventually moves to the front to sit beside Eva. Just as the service begins, Matt Clafflin (Daryl McCormack), Grace’s insurance agent, makes an appearance. His presence raises eyebrows, particularly from Loftus and Detective Una Houlihan (Thaddea Graham), who note that it’s unusual for an insurance agent to attend a client’s funeral.
The elderly priest officiating the service struggles to deliver his speech coherently, causing Bibi to burst into laughter. This unexpected moment of humor soon turns into genuine tears, marking the first time Bibi openly grieves. Though the sisters agreed not to give a eulogy, Grace’s admirer Roger (Michael Smiley) honors her with a heartfelt song. Bibi joins in, creating a bittersweet tribute.
As the service ends, another surprise guest arrives—Ian, Grace’s estranged husband. Ian reveals that he and Grace had an argument the night of her accident, which led him to stay with a friend. This revelation confirms that Grace hadn’t harmed him as the sisters had suspected.
When Ian confronts the sisters, he directly asks if they helped Grace kill John Paul. Eva admits, “We covered it up,” hinting at the guilt that continues to weigh on them.
Angelica’s Manipulation and Ursula’s Desperation
At the post-funeral gathering, Angelica begins her calculated interference. She approaches Ursula, offering sympathy and sharing her own experiences with loss. Believing Angelica’s intentions to be genuine, Ursula confesses her guilt about giving Grace pills and admits, “I think this is my fault.” Angelica, however, uses this confession to gain leverage.
In the days following the funeral, Ursula tries to contact Angelica, but her calls go unanswered. When she confronts Angelica at the community center where she volunteers, Angelica subtly blackmails her, claiming that repairs to a broken window would cost 200 euros. Ursula, desperate to keep Angelica quiet, pays her with an envelope labeled “For Quiet.”
Things worsen for Ursula when she learns her ex-husband’s new girlfriend, Ally (Deirdre Mullins), is conducting an audit at the hospital. The investigation is tied to missing pills—pills Ursula had stolen for personal use. Although she tries to cover her tracks, Ursula suspects Angelica is behind the report.
Ursula confesses to Ally that she started taking the pills to help her son with nightmares but continued using them herself after experiencing relief from her own stress. This revelation could cost Ursula her job, further adding to her troubles.
A New Villain Emerges
Meanwhile, Loftus and Houlihan continue their investigation into Grace’s death and other suspicious events connected to the Garvey sisters. Houlihan uncovers details about Bibi’s poker-playing past and suspects a connection between Becka and Matt.
When questioned about her interactions with Matt, Becka denies any involvement, but the detectives remain skeptical of the sisters.
Eva tries to reconnect with Blanaid, who has grown distant. Eva reminds Ian that Grace wanted her to step in as a parental figure if anything happened to her. Ian reassures Eva that he only wants what’s best for Blanaid. In a poignant moment, Ian admits, “I wish I could have saved Grace.”
While at Ian’s house, Eva discovers bank slips in one of Grace’s coats, revealing that Grace withdrew over 20,000 euros before her death. The purpose of this money remains a mystery, adding another layer of intrigue.
When the toxicology report finally arrives, the sisters learn that Grace has not taken any of the pills Ursula gave her. Overcome with relief, Ursula breaks down in tears, knowing she isn’t responsible for Grace’s accident. However, the detectives remain determined to uncover the truth, warning the sisters, “We will get to the bottom of it all.”
A Tense Conclusion
Ursula confesses to her sisters about the pills and her conversation with Angelica. Recognizing Angelica as a threat, Becka states, “We need to get one step ahead of her.”
The episode ends with a chilling twist. Blanaid secretly meets with Angelica, hinting that Angelica’s manipulation may extend to Grace’s daughter. As “Dedicated to the One I Love” by The Mamas and The Papas plays, the tension rises, leaving viewers wondering what Angelica’s next move will be.
While some questions are answered in this episode, new complications arise. The Garvey sisters may have to revisit their dark past to protect their family once again. The third episode of Bad Sisters Season 2 masterfully balances grief, guilt, and suspense as the Garvey sisters face mounting challenges.
Grace’s death leaves unanswered questions, while Angelica’s manipulative behavior introduces a dangerous new antagonist. The sisters’ bond is tested by old secrets and new threats, with Ursula’s pill-related guilt and Blanaid’s growing distance adding emotional depth.
As the toxicology report clears Grace of wrongdoing, the mystery surrounding her final days deepens. With Angelica’s schemes intensifying and the detectives closing in, the Garvey sisters must confront their past decisions to safeguard their future. The stakes have never been higher.
