‘Why Women Kill’ is Delightful
Ginnifer Goodwin in Why Women Kill | Credit: Paramount+
In the first season of Why Women Kill, we are introduced to three different women in three different decades living in the same house. We get to see the infidelities, the betrayals, and the difficulties that led up to murders being committed in that house — decades apart from one another.
The first season of this show is a ton of fun! All of the characters have colorful personalities that lead to some really interesting moments throughout the season.
In the 60s, Beth Ann (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a very sweet housewife on the surface. Over the course of the season, we learn there’s more to her than meets the eye. Though she appears to be doe-eyed and naive, she has been through some difficult circumstances and is a survivor. It’s fascinating to watch her regain her agency and take control of her life in sometimes logical and other times bonkers ways.
In the 80s, we meet Simone (Lucy Liu). She has been married multiple times and has a taste for the finer things in life. She has come from very little and has made a name for herself. Simone is very wealthy and loves to gossip and flaunt her perfect life to those around her. But we also learn that there’s more to her. She’s actually very thoughtful and tender to those that she cares about.
At first, I was certain that I was not going to like Simone at all, but she really grew on me throughout the season. Also, Lucy Liu appears to be having an absolute blast in this, which is always nice to see.
Finally, in 2019, Taylor (Kirby) is a successful lawyer who is in an open marriage. When she brings one of her hookups into the house, everything goes off the rails. Taylor is very put together and likes to do things by the book; she is a lawyer, after all. She is organized and intentional. But we also learn about the pressure she feels to make more money to pay for their mansion and keep their household running.
Taylor was the character that I was rooting for the most. She’s very likable as she has to navigate through some incredibly trying situations. But, like the other women in the series, she is a survivor who is willing to fight for herself and those she loves.
Jack Davenport and Lucy Liu in Why Women Kill | Credit: Paramount+
What impresses me most about Why Women Kill is the writing. Anthology series like this that span multiple characters over multiple decades are fascinating to me because they require so much work! Three different worlds with all of the supporting characters have to be crafted. Though the city and the house are the same, nothing about these different decades is the same.
Plus, each episode features some level of intersection between storylines. For example, in one episode, a character fakes an illness to get sympathy, while in another timeline, another character is hiding their illness from a loved one. A different character has resumed doing drugs, while in another timeline, a mother is worried that her son is dealing drugs.
In addition to some of the events overlapping between timelines, there are common themes that are threaded through these three storylines. Each episode is intentionally written in order to create a cohesive story for us to take in.
This show is so strategically paced. We know from the title that women are going to kill someone, but we don’t know any of the details. The season opens by letting us know that three murders happened in three decades. This really sets the scene for all of the drama and fun that we encounter over the course of the season.
As infidelities, betrayals, and secrets were revealed, I was constantly trying to predict who was going to kill who, with what, and why. It was like I was playing my own personal game of Clue, which I think is a blast!
Why Women Kill is really intentional in giving you important clues along the way and complicating the story as it goes on. You may think that you have it figured out when the show will throw a wrench into what you thought was going to happen. This show is very smartly written and really keeps you on your toes while watching.
Alexandra Daddario, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Reid Scott in Why Women Kill | Paramount+
Why Women Kill flew under the radar for me, but I’m glad I watched the first season. It’s very thoughtfully written in every area — pacing, themes, characters, and dialogue. It’s one that can reel you in and keep you interested as you unravel all of the various threads in this comedic whodunit.
If you are a fan of murder mysteries with colorful characters and ridiculous moments, Why Women Kill could be a great watch.