Why Women Kill‘s second season has been deliciously soapy since its first episode, improving on the first season in almost all areas. Season 2 Episode 5 puts the pedal to the metal, accelerating the plot to 100 mph.
The opening scenes with Bertram are quite good, revealing that Bertram’s first victim was his own mother…at age 6. The later scenes with Bertram going to the priest who helped him as a child are both hilarious and great character work. Side note, Jeff Doucette just always seems to play the priest in Marc Cherry shows, doesn’t he? But his comedic timing is great here, making these scenes as funny as they are good character work for Bertram.
Scooter is hard at work seducing Katherine — a plot that gets only more interesting with the reminder that Carlo knows Scooter is Rita’s lover. The bits of drama are woven in really well here, with Rita destroying the scrabble board where he reveals their affair before Katherine can catch on. This plot right here is pure soap opera, and Why Women Kill is great at taking the whacky antics of soaps and infusing some dark comedy into it, much like Desperate Housewives was.
Alma finally believes she’s gotten into the Elysium Park Garden Club, only for it to be revealed that Rita planned to humiliate her after discovering Dee was her daughter. This episode positions Rita as a unique character for Cherry, who has always excelled at writing “bitch” type characters in his shows. The difference is, Gabrielle Solis or Edie Britt might be rude, but they’re also extremely lovable — his characters always have a heart beneath even the most materialistic surfaces. Rita is another story, however.
After Alma threatens Rita, Rita pulls the rug under her right back, proving she’s not one to be messed with. And to make matters worse, after humiliating her in public and private, Rita destroys her garden and threatens her family. This is a character with no redeeming qualities, unlike Genevieve Delatour from Devious Maids or even Simone Grove from Why Women Kill‘s first season. Rita is a joy to watch because of her antics — which are admittedly funny at times — but she’s also a stone-cold vixen first and foremost.
Image: CBS All Access
Dee and Vern’s relationship should come as no shock since the first few episodes set him up to be the guy who treated her right, unlike Scooter. And the two are very sweet together, probably giving the easiest to root for ship in the show to date.
Seeing all the plots interweave and come together so neatly like this is what makes Why Women Kill Season 2 work so well and Cherry and co. have mastered the art of the soap opera dramedy. Episode 5 is another strong entry in an already thrilling sophomore season of television, promising more surprises and excitement along the way.
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