If you’ve watched the Starz drama, you were probably blown away by how well showrunner Laura Eason adapted Lisa Taddeo’s novel. I love book-to-screen adaptations, and Three Women was one of the best I’ve watched.
While Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin headlined the series, DeWanda Wise and Gabrielle Creevy also gave powerful performances.
Since its beginning, Three Women has kept viewers engrossed with Lina, Sloane, Maggie, and Gia’s relationship journeys and sexual awakenings. This series features quality writing, impressive acting, and beautiful cinematography.
It was challenging to create this report card because so much of the season was well done. However, after careful consideration, I’m happy with these results.
Best Episode — “Three Women” — Three Women Season 1 Episode 1
While I enjoyed some of the centrics better, Three Women Season 1 Episode 1 laid a fantastic foundation and introduced us to all four complicated women.
Most viewers were intrigued by the end and wanted to learn more about these three women because of the emotional storytelling.
There had never been a series about their needs and desires from the female perspective.
While Lina’s experience of being in a loveless marriage was the most relatable, all of these women needed to be free and take back their power, something many others resonated with.
It was the only one of three episodes that included all of the women’s journeys and featured them the best.
Worst Episode — “Climax” — Three Women Season 1 Episode 6
Since the episodes were well-written, worst doesn’t necessarily mean bad. The content was some of the best in Three Women Season 1 Episode 6.
Sloane and Will’s relationship heated up, leaving her torn, and Lina finally felt cherished after being with Aidan.
The problem was the pacing.
While showing parallel scenes sometimes works, in this case, it felt awkward and choppy, and it didn’t allow viewers to get emotionally invested in the emotional connection or the hot sex scene before jumping back to another couple.
Maggie’s arc didn’t fit with the other two women who experienced hot orgasms. There was nothing sexy about Maggie’s teacher giving her an orgasm.
This might have worked better if it had been shown in 20-minute increments of each woman’s story, as the series did in Three Women Season 1 Episode 1.
Best Cinematography — “Sex on Drugs” — Three Women Season 1 Episode 9
Sloane’s scenes often had the best cinematography. While the glistening snowy hill in Three Women Season 1 Episode 6 looked like a magical winter wonderland, nothing topped the sex scenes on shrooms later in the season.
Seeing the foursome high on mushrooms in Three Women, Season 1 Episode 9, turned Lily’s greenhouse into the Garden of Eden.
The plants looked even greener, and Richard and Will appeared to be almost flying through the air at one point.
It was difficult to discern which scenes were natural and which were imagined, of the sexy dancing, passionate kissing, and exploding orgasms.
Tripping on mushrooms will make you see weird things, and they portrayed that perfectly through blurred images and different perspectives.
Best Character Arc — Maggie’s Taking Back Her Voice After Her Sexual Grooming
Maggie’s character arc was strong and essential, and Gabrielle Creevy was so talented. It’s disheartening that many sexual grooming and statutory rape cases still blame the victim and if they flirted with the adult.
Mr. Knodel was the adult. He should have stayed professional and never admitted he had feelings for a student, let alone let it get physical.
It was heartbreaking that everyone believed him and even gave him his job back with back pay. So many people acted like Maggie ruined his life instead.
She wanted to tell Gia her side and get the truth without variances. Maggie was brave and bold and needed other survivors to stand up for themselves. She felt she couldn’t work in social work unless she took a stand.
Most Disappointing Character Arc — Gia Kept Running Away
In many ways, Gia dealt with the most trauma, and I understood that, but she needed to allow herself to be loved.
It was frustrating that she ran from Jack every time she learned something, usually that she feared about her health.
She never liked hearing the brutal, honest advice that Lina or Sloane offered, and by the end of the series, it was unclear if either was still talking to her.
While I never liked that she left Jack, I never approved of his calling her crazy. She needed time to adapt to her new normal.
Gia commented that she tried her best, but her storyline arc had the most loose ends. Did she conquer cancer and live to raise her daughter?
Worst Scene — Sloane Degrades Herself and Begs in Three Women Season 1 Episode 10
Sloane messed up by sleeping with Will and should make amends for it, but no woman should get on her knees and beg for forgiveness, and seeing her beg in Three Women Season 1 Episode 10 still bothers me.
It’s degrading, and that scene bothered me. There were other ways to win Richard back.
Sloane was a goddess, and DeWanda Wise portrayed her beautifully. I was relieved when she stood up for herself, reminding him she wasn’t a slut, and used her feminine wiles to win her husband back.
While I believed Sloane needed her freedom to fly, I’m also happy she worked things out with Richard. Hopefully, he truly forgave her and doesn’t hold the affair over her head.
Best Sexy Couple — Sloane and Will
Sloane came alive when she met Will in Three Women Season 1 Episode 1. Neither did well in proper atmospheres, even though Sloane tried to act in that mold.
She longed to be free, so Will appealed to her. Blair Redford often portrays sexy bad boys, and Will wasn’t even a rebellious character. He was just a hard-working oysterman and boatman and not the elite.
He was off-limits, and there was something sexy about their affair. Those kisses were hot, and their smoldering glances were full of longing.
Every so often, they’d share a meaningful conversation, and you’d wonder if Sloane would throw away years of marriage for this illicit affair.
It seemed like Will almost gave up Lily for Sloane. Until the sex on mushrooms night, it was difficult to discern if it was heading somewhere real or if it was an addiction.
Best Performance –Shailene Woodley in “Gia” — Three Women Season 1 Episode 5
Shailene Woodley deserves an Emmy for her work as Gia, who loses the baby she never knew she wanted. Gia has never been good in relationships and has lost everyone she loves, so she feared getting attached to Jack and the baby.
Woodley broke our hearts as Gia broke down on the hotel bathroom floor as she lost the baby in Three Women Season 1 Episode 5.
While the miscarriage scene was brutal, watching Gia discard the bloody linens and leave again was powerful.
It was also meaningful that Gia appeared strong, but she broke down when confiding in Lina. Gia was the closest to Lina, and it often seemed that Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin shared a genuine connection.
It was the first time Gia felt hopeful that someone she loved might survive.
Honorable Mention — Betty Gilpin in “Lina — Three Women Season 1 Episode 2
Betty Gilpin lit up the screen in Three Women Season 1 Episode 2, giving a layered performance as a dutiful wife torn between breaking her vows and thinking of herself for the first time.
Lina needed to feel confident again, and seeing the waiter join her instead of laughing at her increased her confidence enough to take the plunge with Aidan.
After being in a loveless and nearly celibate marriage, Lina longed for passion, and with Aidan, she finally got raw, honest, and sensual lovemaking.
Betty Gilpin showed such an emotional range as she tried to leave her biblical values behind and leap towards happiness. However, she chose a married man, and that came with complications.
What was your favorite part of Three Women? Do you think they adapted Lisa Taddeo’s book well?
Are you satisfied with the limited series, or do you want any of the journeys explored further?
Let us know in the comments below.