The Apple TV series Imperfect Women will likely draw comparisons to Big Little Lies; both are shows about female friendships that are torn apart by loss. But a better parallel is to Apple’s own thriller Surface—both are brooding dramas led by exceptional performances. Imperfect Women isn’t as twisty as Surface, yet it’s just as satisfying to watch unravel.

Imperfect Women, based on the novel by Araminta Hall, introduces the audience to three friends: busy career woman Eleanor (played by Kerry Washington), family woman Mary (Elisabeth Moss) and high society maven Nancy (Kate Mara). The full spectrum of female characters lies within this trio; all have different relationship statuses and goals. The only commonality is their 25-year friendship, which naturally plays out in flashbacks as the premiere immediately reveals who is no longer in the picture. What follows is as expected: a whodunit mixed with a metric ton of relationship drama. But even knowing that, Imperfect Women is such a delicious watch because everyone involved is so good at portraying the emotional chaos that unfolds.

Washington is at the center of the action, and there’s no better choice to play Eleanor. Viewers of Scandal know that she can play the powerful, brassy woman in charge, but she’s at her best when delving into all of Eleanor’s conflicting emotions. That balancing act between vulnerability and confidence is something Washington has mastered and that sets the tone for the rest of Imperfect Women. She’s pushing for answers, but then has no answers to the questions in her own life, such as how to handle Nancy’s blue-blooded husband Robert (a perfectly stoic until he isn’t Joel Kinnaman, who between this and For All Mankind, can’t catch a break when it comes to TV marriages).

Moss has a little bit less to do as Mary, but after all those grueling seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale, it’s nice to see her get a chance to provide some deadpan comic relief. She provides an attitude to a character who could have easily been passive. Moss, Washington and Mara are all evenly matched, which makes it easier to buy into their characters’ ride-or-die friendship. Jill Wagner (Lioness) also seems to be having a lot of fun as Robert’s obnoxious sister Kit, landing some lines that are hilarious because of how tone-deaf they are.

Most importantly, Imperfect Women doesn’t sideline its men or treat them as second-level characters. The scene in which the show first catches fire is when Robert loses control, which simultaneously makes him terrifying and more sympathetic. Godfather of Harlem‘s Rome Flynn and Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. make effective foils to Eleanor in two totally different ways. And it’s an absolute pleasure to see All Rise star Wilson Bethel in a role that plays to his strengths as an actor; together with Kinnaman, he brings a lot of heart to the production. That helps Imperfect Women feel much more well-rounded, because everyone has a perspective, and that makes the mystery aspect that much more fun to sink one’s teeth into. Viewers’ opinions on characters get to change as the show goes on—always a sign of an effective thriller.

The Surface comparison also comes from the fact that Imperfect Women is slow to get going. Apple TV is smart to release the first two episodes together, as the premiere spends much more time painting the canvas than providing clues. Viewers watching for the mystery plot will need to be patient, and they’ll also need to be proactive; the show plays too coy on occasion. But those who come for the recognizable actors or the personal drama won’t be disappointed. It’s not just that there are plenty of known names here; these are actors who play well off one another. And there are plenty of secrets and lies to unpack in this group of friends and lovers. Every episode has at least one thing that the audience will have an opinion about—whether good, bad or incredulous.

Anyone who enjoyed Big Little Lies or Desperate Housewives will be entertained by Imperfect Women. That extra time spent building the world means there’s plenty of room for a potential second season, as the actors draw the viewer into every character beyond whether or not they’re involved in the core dilemma. Sometimes the pace does lag, particularly at the start, and there are occasionally lines that stick out as things that people would only say in a TV show. But these bits of melodrama can be overlooked because the series delivers what the audience wants: messy interpersonal drama that keeps everyone guessing, with a top-notch cast nailing every jaw-dropping moment.

Imperfect Women premieres March 18, 2026 on Apple TV. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV.

Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.