Bad Sisters Christian Review
There’s a peculiar alchemy that happens when you mix dark humor with sharp writing and a good dose of human dysfunction. That’s the magic recipe in Bad Sisters, a show that walks a tightrope between the absurd and the poignant. It’s the kind of series that makes you laugh one moment and furrow your brow the next, forcing you to grapple with moral questions that are both timeless and deeply relevant.
For Christians, watching a show centered on murder and revenge comes with a certain amount of tension. But Bad Sisters doesn’t hand you a neatly wrapped package of moral clarity. Instead, it offers a messy exploration of family, justice, and loyalty—and it’s in that mess that we find lessons worth pondering.
The Fierce, Flawed Bond of the Garvey Sisters
At the heart of Bad Sisters are the Garvey sisters, a quintet of women who feel both larger-than-life and deeply relatable. They’re funny, loyal, flawed, and so tightly bound to each other that it’s almost claustrophobic. They love fiercely and fight just as fiercely, a dynamic that feels achingly familiar to anyone with siblings.
Their relationship is the kind of love we all want: unconditional, unshakable, and resilient. But it’s not perfect. They make mistakes. Big ones. And in those mistakes, there’s a lesson for all of us. As Christians, we’re called to love one another as Christ loves us, but that love doesn’t always come neatly packaged. It’s messy and complicated, just like the Garveys themselves.
When they band together to protect their sister Grace from her abusive husband, John Paul, it’s an act of love—but it’s also an act that takes them down a dark and dangerous path. That tension between love and morality is where the show finds its most compelling moments.
A Villain You Love to Hate
Let’s talk about John Paul for a moment, because his character is central to everything that unfolds. Claes Bang delivers a chilling performance as a man who is equal parts charming and repulsive. He’s the kind of villain you don’t just dislike—you actively want to see him taken down.
For the Garvey sisters, John Paul represents everything they’re fighting against: cruelty, control, and the erosion of their sister Grace’s spirit. But for viewers, he’s also a reminder of the real-world consequences of abuse. The show doesn’t shy away from the devastating impact of John Paul’s actions, and that’s important.
From a Christian perspective, it’s tempting to see John Paul as irredeemable. But we’re reminded, time and again, that even the worst among us are made in the image of God. That’s a hard truth to sit with when faced with someone as vile as John Paul, but it’s a truth worth holding onto.
Wrestling with Justice and Morality
Here’s the thing about Bad Sisters: it doesn’t make it easy for you. It presents you with a scenario that feels black-and-white on the surface—an abusive husband who needs to be stopped—but quickly reveals just how murky things can get when you take justice into your own hands.
The Garveys’ plot to kill John Paul is born out of love, but it’s also deeply flawed. Watching them wrestle with guilt, doubt, and the consequences of their actions feels uncomfortably real. It’s a reminder that even the best intentions can lead us down dangerous paths.
As Christians, we’re called to seek justice, but we’re also called to trust in God’s ultimate judgment. That tension is palpable throughout Bad Sisters. The show doesn’t offer easy answers, and that’s part of what makes it so compelling. It forces us to sit with the discomfort, to wrestle with what it means to love, to protect, and to forgive.
Humor as a Balm
One of the most surprising things about Bad Sisters is how funny it is. The humor is dark, yes, but it’s also sharp and incisive. It cuts through the tension, offering moments of levity that feel like a much-needed exhale.
The Garvey sisters are masters of wit, and their banter is a delight to watch. It’s in these moments of humor that we see their humanity most clearly. They’re not just characters plotting a murder; they’re sisters navigating the messy, complicated terrain of family life.
There’s a biblical truth here, too. Proverbs 17:22 tells us that “a cheerful heart is good medicine.” Humor has a way of lightening our burdens, of reminding us that even in the darkest moments, there’s still room for joy.
The Dark and the Light
What makes Bad Sisters so compelling is its ability to balance darkness and light. The show delves into some heavy territory—abuse, trauma, and the lengths we go to for the people we love—but it never feels weighed down. There’s a sense of hope that runs through it, even in its bleakest moments.
This balance mirrors the reality of life in a fallen world. As Christians, we know that sin and brokenness are a part of the human experience, but we also believe in the power of grace and redemption. Bad Sisters doesn’t offer a redemptive arc in the traditional sense, but it does celebrate the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of familial love.
Performances That Shine
The cast of Bad Sisters is nothing short of phenomenal. Each of the Garvey sisters brings something unique to the table, and their chemistry is electric. Whether they’re bickering over minor annoyances or banding together in the face of adversity, their interactions feel genuine and deeply layered.
Sharon Horgan, who also co-created the series, deserves special praise for her writing. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is tight, and the balance between humor and suspense is masterful. Even in its darkest moments, the show never loses sight of the humanity at its core.
Lessons in Love and Justice
For Christians, watching Bad Sisters isn’t about endorsing the characters’ choices—it’s about engaging with the themes the show raises. Loyalty, justice, forgiveness, and the consequences of sin are all central to the story, and they’re worth reflecting on.
What does it mean to love someone unconditionally, even when their actions are deeply flawed? How do we respond to injustice in a way that honors God’s call to mercy and grace? These are difficult questions, but they’re also deeply important ones.
Final Thoughts
Bad Sisters isn’t a show for everyone. Its dark humor and morally complex storyline may be a turn-off for some Christian viewers. But for those willing to engage with its themes, it offers a thought-provoking look at the complexities of love, justice, and the human condition.
For its compelling performances, sharp writing, and willingness to tackle difficult themes, Bad Sisters earns a 7/10. It’s not perfect, but it’s a show that challenges you to think—and that’s always worth something.
