<> “Bad Sisters.” “The Staircase.”

“Bad Sisters” (Apple TV+) Irish black comedy. Story revolves around five sisters who live in present-day Dublin. After a sister’s abusive, controlling husband dies unexpectedly, the sisters find themselves at the center of a life insurance investigation. Unlike “The Staircase,” which we already know what’s up later, “Bad Sisters,” we don’t know. Or we did, but did we? 

       Based on the Flemish series “Clan,” the miniseries is bedecked, or littered, with multiple characters but I never got lost, confused, or bored. The five Garvey sisters—Eva, Grace, Ursula, Bibi, and Becka—are not stereotypes of what they seem to represent (as women?) and “bad bro in law” (to the four) JP, a taunting wimp but not the classic baddie hubby, more of a juvenile ass inside a grown-up’s Halloween costume, if you know what I mean. Portrayed by Claes Bang, indeed it is a quiet bang. 

       The chemistry of the siblings, ably melded by Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson (daughter of Bono, uh huh) held the series together from slipping in tedious predictability or slapstick hysterics. Ms Horgan as Eva, the eldest sis, received an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination in the upcoming 75th Primetime Emmy Awards (the series got 3 more nods). Yet I was hoping Ms Duff, JP’s self-sacrificing wife, should have gotten a nomination, too. 

Meanwhile, what about Mr Bang and Brian Gleeson as Tom Claffin, the older insurance dude, who was all-serious yet all-funny to me. 

       “Bad Sisters” is all about the performance more than the show’s not-so new plotline. Who cares? If you are as old as I am or a movie/TV hound who hasn’t lost his cinema addiction, what else is new as storyline? But it is always very entertaining to watch actors and actresses take us for a ride. Joyride. Not so bad, these bad sisters. 🎥📺📹

“The Staircase” (HBO Max via Amazon) biographical drama, based on the 2004 true crime docuseries of the same name created by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Deals with Michael Peterson, a writer convicted of murdering his wife Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their home. 

      Question: What if crime stays as is, tried and convicted, done? Of course, you say what if the guilty wasn’t guilty? Or guilty but, uhh, it’s complicated, you know? Yes, it’s complicated, convoluted, and confused or confusing. Especially when a celebrated “true crime” is set on the widescreen for the world to see, and spliced and structured and manipulated per cinema’s multi-dimensional angles. 

       Let’s cut to the chase. On February 24, 2017, Michael Peterson entered an Alford plea (a guilty plea entered because sufficient evidence exists to convict him of the offense, but the defendant asserts innocence) to the voluntary manslaughter of Kathleen. “Alford Plea” is when a guilty plea is entered because sufficient evidence exists to convict him of the offense, but the defendant asserts innocence. Uhh. Yes, I am confused. 

       Let’s continue: The judge sentenced Mr Peterson to a maximum of 86 months in prison, with credit for time previously served. Because Peterson had already served more time than the sentence (98.5 months), he did not face additional prison time. Released. 

       Anyhow, I would suggest that you watch the miniseries and judge for yourself. Still, this ride pins you to your seat although the outcome is pretty “settled,” since I bet you’d already googled the real story or how it all went down before you sat and watched. But no need to argue later. Michael killed Kathleen, intentional or accidental, but still he killed him. Manslaughter or murder matters in the court of law per sentencing but the victim is dead, that’s it. The dude may not be “guilty” as he claimed because, I guess, he didn’t mean to kill his wife, but come on, Law is whacked, okay? 

       Done. 

       Ensemble performance is stellar. What do you expect? Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Juliette Binoche, and our favorite bad dude, Michael Stuhlbarg. Awesome. Crisp, tight, and edgy scripting keep you in suspense although, as I said, you already know what’d go down here. And that is the mark of a good show: When the plot is predictable (because it is “true crime” story which is real) but you still wanna go the mile and watch the process. 🎥📺📹