Imperfect Women (S1, Ep. 1-2) "Eleanor"/"Crush" Series Premiere

​In Apple TV’s thriller, a brutal murder unravels a lifelong bond among three friends, exposing secrets of infidelity and obsession. Here's my recap of episodes 1-2 of Imperfect Women.

​The series premiere, "Eleanor," quickly dives into trauma, with Eleanor (Kerry Washington) called by the police to identify her best friend Nancy's (Kate Mara) body. Through tense flashbacks, it shows a birthday dinner for Mary (Elisabeth Moss), three hours earlier, where Nancy, distracted by her phone, confides in Eleanor about her toxic affair with Davide. Nancy's attempts to end the relationship lead to threats, and her husband Robert (Joel Kinnaman) later contacts Eleanor, panicked over her disappearance.

In the second episode, "Crush," Eleanor and Mary investigate Nancy’s lover, artist Davide Boyette, at his gallery. He describes a deep connection, saying Nancy wanted him to capture "all of her, even the scars" from an accident. He questions their understanding of Nancy’s pain and accuses them of being blind to it. Despite pressure from Robert’s influential family leading to Davide’s arrest, Eleanor doubts the simple story. With Davide's defense, Robert's volatile behavior, and suspicious reactions, the list of suspects remains open.

​Imperfect Women’s first two installments provide a stylish, familiar entry into the crowded "prestige mystery" genre. Its strength is in its lead trio, Washington, Moss, and Mara, who bring depth to their friendship, intensifying the central tragedy. The art-gallery aesthetic in the second episode adds a haunting visual layer to Nancy’s double life, elevating the show beyond a standard police procedural.

​The series struggles to surpass shows like Big Little Lies or The Undoing. While performances are excellent, the "dark secrets behind a perfect life" trope feels common now. In 'Crush,' pacing lagged as characters chased leads that stalled the story, and dialogue sometimes became melodramatic. Also, the "amateur sleuth' trope, friends confronting a potential killer publicly without police, strains the thriller's internal logic.

​Overall, I give the first two episodes a 6.8/10.

​Have you seen the first two episodes of Imperfect Women? What did you think? As Robert acts more suspicious, do you think the "mystery man" is a red herring, or is Eleanor’s distrust of Nancy’s husband just her own guilt projection? Leave a comment. 

You can catch new episodes of Imperfect Women on Wednesdays on Apple TV.