What made Bad Sisters such a great watch in its first season was almost nowhere to be seen in season two.
The second installment of episodes lacked the satirical joy and comedy that came with the Garvey sisters plotting a murder, replacing it instead with a more potentially grounded and realistic approach to the angst that followed the aftermath of Eva, Bibi, Ursula, and Becka helping to cover up the reveal that in the end, Grace was responsible for killing her husband, John Paul. But, while season two's biggest struggles dealt with a lack of comedy, the finale, "Cliff Hanger," finally brings out the comical chaos of the Garvey family and reminds viewers what they loved about these sisters and this show in the first place. Not only is "Cliff Hanger" the best episode of the season, but it also works as the perfect series conclusion if Bad Sisters were to end with season two.
"Cliff Hanger" makes a point of it to finally reveal the truth of what really happened between Grace and Ian before Grace's untimely and tragic death. But, the heart of the series returns to the center once Angelica accidentally kills Ian upon overhearing the nasty things he has to say about Grace and their previous relationship. Angelica's actions kickstart what this show is really about: a group of sisters striving to either kill or cover up the death of an abusive man who had wronged them and Grace.
Although the plot of the season has been front and center due to the detective subplot, this is the moment that the series really picks up again, and it is just as delightful as one would hope. Eva, Becka, Ursula, and Bibi are just as chaotic about knowing that they once again have to deal with another dead body. Watching them plot and attempt to execute murder in season one was hilarious, but to watch them now have to deal with covering up the murder and hiding the body itself offers another perspective on this family's chaos.
This is where the writing and acting shine.
The Garvey sisters are distraught at Ian's death, and Angelica is in too much of a state of shock to truly process what has happened. It gives birth to the best writing and performances of the entire season, as Bibi, Becka, Ursula, and Eva must band together to get rid of Ian's body and leave him in the past. Except, it is not that easy. Bad Sisters chooses against delivering an identical fate to John Paul, and as it turns out, Angelica had not killed Ian, as he reveals himself to be still alive but with a severe head injury. Not long after showing himself to be alive, he walks himself off of a cliff, only to survive the fall.
The irony is not lost on the Garvey sisters, who portray more exasperation, annoyance, and frustration toward Ian's continued survival than relief that they were not responsible for his death. Ultimately, humanity settles in, as the sisters decide to call for an ambulance before rushing away so as not to get caught at the scene.
In the end, Ian does not die or go to prison, but he does conclude the season with injuries and without getting away with his biggest schemes of the season. However, the final conclusion is that the Garvey sisters and their niece, Blánaid, say a final goodbye to Grace. Such a conclusion is emotional but was earned by the story. It is a perfect conclusion to a narrative where season one centered on the Garvey sisters wishing to protect Grace.
In contrast, season two surrounded the sisters wanting to understand the truth about what led to Grace's death. Season two would be putting an end to Grace's presence on the show, and given how the Garvey sisters were motivated so much by Grace, to continue the show with a third season would likely mean trying to find a new, separate motivation for the sisters to rally around rather than how the show recognized their relationships with Grace as being such a center point of the storytelling.
Season two, concluding with a goodbye and without a cliffhanger or question at the end, offers the opportunity for closure. Ursula, Eva, Becka, and Bibi have been through so much, as has Grace. Although season two did not conclude with the same optimistic and hopeful ending as season one, with the Garvey sisters looking forward to a united future together, the ending it offers gives the family a sense of closure that was desperately needed given Grace's tragic death. Their family will never be the same as it had been. But, with this ending, it gives them a sense of saying goodbye and finding ways to move forward with their lives.
To continue the series after an ending like this only risks the potential of harming the closure season two offers. Season two itself hurt the happy ending of the previous season. While season two may not have held up to season one, "Cliff Hanger" is the perfect ending to the series.