For sports lovers, “March Madness” signals college basketball tournaments filling our TVs and devices with the latest collegiate exploits on the hard court. While I will be tuning in to watch numerous games, this year my “March Madness” includes a new roster, Imperfect Women, Apple TV+’s new series that has me guessing and on the edge of my seat, anticipating the next episode.
I’m always down for a psychological thriller full of twists and turns, and, without question, this one checks all the boxes. I love that the series is a mirror to the complexities of the human psyche, and as a complicated dude, I dig that aesthetic. It’s sharp, it’s messy, and it’s a solid reminder about the myth of perfection and watching it crumble.
Starring and executive-produced by Kerry Washington, Imperfect Women (based on Araminta Hall’s acclaimed novel) is a gripping psychological thriller that strips away the facade of “having it all.” The series also stars Kate Mara and Elizabeth Moss.
Following the brutal murder of a close friend that forever changes the lives of three closely-knit women, the decade long decades-long friendship of Eleanor (Washington), Mary (Moss), and Nancy ( Mara) begins to unravel, revealing a messy web of infidelity, professional jealousy, and long-buried resentment.
What makes Imperfect Women so indulging is that it centers on the psychological impact that occurs when women feel forced to perform roles: the perfect wife, the dedicated mother, the successful professional, roles that women are categorized into daily. And it’s done at the expense of their true selves.
It’s an ultra-thin line between the strong bonds of sisterhood and secrets that can unravel those bonds from within, a world we men aren’t always privy to. But here, I’ve got a front row seat, popcorn optional. And, if I’m being honest, some of what’s revealed isn’t as foreign as we might think.
In a recent interview with EBONY, Mara shared that her character, Nancy, struggled to make peace with her past, which led to detrimental consequences in the series.
“I think that Nancy’s biggest flaw is that she continues to run from her past. And it really gets her into a lot of trouble, Mara explained. “I think if she just chilled and just stopped trying to change and just was more true to herself, then things would go a lot better.”
Moss revealed that her character is often blinded by her own naivete, which leads her to distrust her inner resolve.
“Mary is sort of not trusting her instincts… she buries things or finds coping mechanisms that aren’t healthy,” she said. “Those are her flaws, and I but it’s extremely relatable. I don’t know anybody who hasn’t dabbled in a little bit of that.”
For Washington’s character Elenor, a lack of self-awareness leaves her trapped in a state of delusion.
“It comes down to denial. She denies her real feelings, and she tries to suppress her feelings. And I think that causes a little bit of delusion.”
Yes, this is a show that revolves around women’s issues. But as Washington pointed out, men can find parallels. “To have this perfect presentation of self. I think men feel it more than ever before. So I think that idea of having, like, a public self and a private self and a secret self is very relatable,” she told EBONY.
Moss agreed. “I think it was important to us to kind of have an ensemble that really was full of characters that everyone could relate to. And for men and women, there are incredible male characters in this show.” That cast includes Rome Flynn, Leslie Odom Jr., Joel Kinnaman, and Corey Stoll.
“Obviously, we focus on ourselves a little bit, which is great. But we do have amazing male actors,” Moss stated.
“They’re also very nice to look at as well.” I’ll take her at her word.
If I had been worried about living in an Imperfect bubble of being a lone male viewer, Washington quelled my nerves. “We’ve had a lot of men say that they couldn’t stop watching the series. They said that they’re binge-watching the show. So I think that people’s imperfections and flaws are relatable to all of us,” Washington explained.
“Although society says that women have a lot of pressure to be perfect, which is, I think, why the title of the show is really resonating for people, the reality is, in this social media era, we all feel the pressure to be perfect.”
Those real-life issues we all juggle make for some damn good television. And if you’re really paying attention, there’s just as much for men to unpack here as anyone else who’s watching.
Imperfect Women airs Wednesdays on AppleTV+.