Saagar Kote
Apple TV’s ‘Imperfect Women’ follows the lives of Eleanor (Kerry Washington), Mary (Elisabeth Moss), and Nancy Hennessey (Kate Mara), three close friends. When Nancy dies under mysterious circumstances, it turns the lives of Mary and Eleanor upside down. The psychological thriller show, based on Araminta Hall’s eponymous novel, delves deep into the secrets of the three friends and important moments from their past and present. Nancy’s widower, Robert Hennessey (Joel Kinnaman), seems to hide secrets of his own. As the story moves forward, Eleanor and Mary obsessively try to find out the truth about their dead friend, while also questioning if they really knew her.
With the cops investigating the death, intimate details from Nancy’s life emerge, leading to twists and turns. As the stakes rise and the situation becomes more puzzling, difficult choices may have to be made to solve the case. Created by Annie Weisman, the narrative is an intricate portrayal of complex characters and relationships. If you are looking for shows similar to ‘Imperfect Women,’ this list will be of interest to you.
12. Yellowjackets (2021-2026)
Showtime’s ‘Yellowjackets’ picks up in 1996, when a plane carrying the Yellowjackets, a high school girls’ soccer team from New Jersey, crashes in the Canadian wilderness while enroute to the national championships in Seattle. Jackie Taylor (Ella Purnell) and other surviving team members must now endure the harsh territory and survive at any cost. As their journey gets more difficult, they are forced to resort to cannibalism. More than two decades after the incident, the remaining survivors face traumatic memories and public speculation about their survival methods. As secrets are revealed, the narrative delves deeper into the characters’ motivations. Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, the thriller drama series is partly inspired by real events. Akin to ‘Imperfect Women,’ it deals with secrets, layers of friendship, and the cost of violence.
11. Dead to Me (2019-2022)
‘Dead to Me,’ a Netflix drama series created by Liz Feldman, centers on the unexpected friendship that blossoms between Jen Harding (Christina Applegate) and Judy Hale (Linda Cardellini) in Laguna Beach, California. Jen grapples with intense grief and anger after the tragic death of her husband in an accident. She becomes isolated and feels conflicting emotions about her former spouse. She meets Judy, a stranger who is secretly participating in a grief support group. Despite their highly distinct personalities, the two women establish a profound bond. Their determined pursuit of the facts regarding the husband’s demise leads to chaos and uncertainty. As secrets come to light, the very foundation of their friendship is threatened. The focus on female friendships, the consequences of death, and the show’s tense visual tone connect it to ‘Imperfect Women.’
10. That Night (2026)
Netflix’s ‘That Night’ or ‘Esa noche’ delves into the lives of Elena (Clara Galle), Paula (Claudia Salas), and Cris (Paula Usero), who are siblings sharing a deep bond with each other. During their trip to the Dominican Republic, the vacation takes a serious turn after Elena accidentally hits a man with her car one night. Frightened, she contacts her sisters, forcing them to confront a major moral choice regarding how to handle the situation. As police investigate, the siblings must navigate challenging circumstances to survive the ordeal and conceal any evidence that could implicate them.
Cris and Paula, the two older sisters, are determined to protect their youngest sister, Elena, from prison, especially since she is a single mother with a child who depends on her. The Jason George creation is a Spanish crime drama series based on Gillian McAllister’s novel of the same name. Like ‘Imperfect Women,’ it focuses on the intense bond between three female characters who deal with the consequences of a sudden death.
9. Mare of Easttown (2021)
HBO’s ‘Mare of Easttown’ chronicles the ups and downs in the life of Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), a police officer in the small town of Easttown in Pennsylvania. Her personal life is complicated and deeply challenging, mainly due to her complex relationships with her mother and daughter. The local community is shocked, and her career is jeopardized when a teenage girl is murdered. While investigating the puzzling case, Mare’s family situation undergoes twists and turns that unearth hidden trauma, disturbing secrets, and lies. Though she is a local hero for her past basketball success, Mare is forced to navigate various unexpected turns in the murder inquiry while confronting her own internal struggles. Created by Brad Ingelsby, the mystery drama show, akin to ‘Imperfect Women,’ is narrated from a female perspective and explores familial bonds, friendships, and themes of liberation and redemption.
8. Bad Sisters (2022-)
‘Bad Sisters’ is the fascinating account of the lives of the five Garvey sisters, who are Eva (Sharon Horgan), Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson). A significant crisis unfolds after the sudden death of Grace’s abusive husband, John Paul. The circumstances surrounding the death seem suspicious and suggest an ulterior motive. It is revealed that Grace’s sisters had secretly planned to kill John to free her from his mistreatment. As the truth gets increasingly complex, the siblings find themselves handling their relationships with each other and evading trouble simultaneously.
The Garvey siblings must unite to protect each other as the investigation deepens. The Apple TV Irish comedy-thriller series is created by Malin-Sarah Gozin, Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, and Brett Baer. Based on the Belgian series ‘Clan,’ the show complements the world and characters of ‘Imperfect Women’ through its depiction of female bonds, the cost of secrets, and marital tensions.
7. Sharp Objects (2018)
HBO’s ‘Sharp Objects,’ a psychological thriller series created by Marti Noxon, follows reporter Camille Preaker (Amy Adams) as she confronts challenging realities after being discharged from a psychiatric facility. She is sent back to her small hometown to investigate the murders of two young girls. Staying in her family’s old house, Camille must deal with her mother, Adora Crellin (Patricia Clarkson), and her estranged half-sister, Amma Crellin (Eliza Scanlen), who are both distant from her.
As she looks into the deaths, Camille feels a strong emotional connection to the young victims and grapples with her own mental challenges. Based on Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, the show is spiritually related to ‘Imperfect Women’ through its layered navigation of difficult female relationships in the shadow of crime, secrets, and revelations.
6. Surface (2022-)
Created by Veronica West, Apple TV’s ’Surface’ begins with Sophie Ellis (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) attempting to kill herself by jumping from a San Francisco ferry. She survives the incident, but develops amnesia in the aftermath. As she tries to rebuild her life with her husband, James Ellis (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), she struggles to recall the moments and incidents from the past that led to her losing her memory. Initially, Sophie is convinced that James is stealing money from his venture capital firm.
However, as her memories slowly return, Sophie discovers she was the one who stole the funds and hid them in an account under the name Tess Caldwell. After this, she pretends to be Tess and returns to England to uncover more about her former life. However, her quest for the truth becomes complicated by the involvement of dangerous individuals. The psychological thriller series, with its portrayal of memory, trauma, marital issues, and secrets from a female character’s perspective, is connected to ‘Imperfect Women.’
5. How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (2026-)
‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast,’ a Netflix Irish comedy-thriller series, centers on three close friends named Saoirse (Roisin Gallagher), Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne). Their lives take a significant turn after learning of an old school friend’s death. This event prompts them to travel across Ireland to uncover the facts behind the death. What begins as an investigative trip quickly evolves into a complex situation of lies. The story features unexpected developments as the friends meet various strangers. Their destinies are uncertain as events from the past and the present converge. Created by Lisa McGee, the narrative, like ‘Imperfect Women,’ is a story of three women who share a deep friendship, while being tested in the shadow of crime, deception, and secrets.
4. The Hunting Wives (2025-)
Netflix’s ‘The Hunting Wives’ deals with the life of Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow), a woman who befriends a dangerous group of affluent housewives in Texas. Created by Rebecca Cutter, the show details Sophie’s challenges after she is falsely accused of murder. As the distinctions between allies and adversaries fade, the pressure on Sophie escalates. The seemingly friendly housewives gradually reveal their darker natures, leaving Sophie vulnerable. Based on the eponymous novel by May Cobb, the mystery drama series follows Sophie as she faces overwhelming odds to survive. On the lines of ‘Imperfect Women,’ the story sheds light on shocking secrets, the motivations behind alleged murder, and the complexities of female friendships.
3. The Better Sister (2025)
Created by Olivia Milch, ‘The Better Sister’ begins with the murder of Adam Macintosh (Corey Stoll), who lives a life of comfort with his wife, Chloe (Jessica Biel). This tragedy forces his former wife, Nicky (Elizabeth Banks), and Chloe to come to terms with the weight of the incident. What complicates matters further is that Chloe and Nicky are sisters who share a fragile bond. Though Chloe leads a privileged life and Nicky faces financial difficulties, the two estranged sisters are forced to team up to find the truth about Adam’s passing.
Based on Alafair Burke’s novel of the same name, Adam’s death in the Prime Video thriller-drama series puts the family in a vulnerable position as they search for the killer. The narrative shares similarities with ‘Imperfect Women,’ as a death upends the lives of the main female characters. Both stories feature similar visual tones and puzzling secrets that shape the characters’ fates.
2. Little Fires Everywhere (2020)
‘Little Fires Everywhere’ revolves around the life of Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon), who lives in a big house with her husband, Bill Richardson (Joshua Jackson), and her four children. The seemingly perfect life of the rich family undergoes a crisis when Elena invites a talented artist named Mia Warren (Kerry Washington) and her daughter, Pearl Warren (Lexi Underwood), to stay with the family in the house. However, Mia appears to be hiding deadly secrets and ulterior motives that could threaten the Richardson family’s fates.
With trust running low, internal squabbles start in Mia and Elena’s lives as both mothers grow worried about their kids. As the scenario gets more puzzling, the two women are forced to make difficult choices. Created by Liz Tigelaar, the Hulu drama series is based on Celeste Ng’s novel of the same name. The familial tensions, the female characters, difficult friendships, and the visual flavors of the series make it complementary to ‘Imperfect Women.’
1. Big Little Lies (2017-2026)
Created by David E. Kelley, HBO’s ‘Big Little Lies’ is the story of the life of single mother, Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley), and her young son, Ziggy Chapman. The mother and son arrive in a community and affect the lives of other young mothers, namely Madeline Mackenzie (Reese Witherspoon) and Celeste Wright (Nicole Kidman). Though Jane and Ziggy develop a favorable relationship with Madeline and Celeste, it unexpectedly leads to chaos and confusion. As deeper and more dangerous truths lurk in the shadows, a murder turns the situation upside down.
As the young mothers deal with the legal troubles, they must also come to terms with their own insecurities and truths. Based on Liane Moriarty’s eponymous novel, the crime drama series complements ‘Imperfect Women’ by delving into murder, the friendship between complex women, and the cost of secrets and crime. Along with these themes, the narrative flavor and the visual elements of the two shows connect them on a greater level.
Read More: Shows Like That Night
