Why Women Kill
Why Women Kill is an American dark comedy anthology series created by Marc Cherry, which depicts the events leading to deaths caused by women.
The first season, which premiered on August 15, 2019, on CBS All Access, consists of 10 episodes and is set in multiple periods. The second season, containing 10 episodes, premiered on June 3, 2021, on Paramount+ and focuses on a single time period. In December 2021, the series was renewed for a third season. However, in July 2022, the third season was scrapped before production could begin.
Plot
The first season of Why Women Kill follows three women, each from a different recent era, who reside in the same mansion in Pasadena. All three learn of their respective husband's infidelity during their time in the house:- Beth Ann Stanton's story begins in 1963 where she is content to serve as a charming, sweet and polite housewife, but learning of her husband Rob's unfaithfulness complicates their already-strained relationship, which holds a dark secret. She moved into the house in 1962 and left in 1974/75.
- In 1984, socialite Simone Grove discovers her third husband of ten years, Karl, is gay, and seeks some release via her best friend's son Tommy, who has just turned eighteen. It begins soon after she learns of his attraction to her. She moved into the house in 1974/75, and left in 2017.
- Attorney Taylor Harding moved into the house in 2017, and her story takes place in 2019. She is bisexual and enjoys an open marriage, but this sparks tension when she and her husband Eli become attracted to the same woman, Jade. She leaves the house in 2019, a few weeks after her storyline finishes, then a new couple moves in after her.
Each storyline reaches a turning point when the woman decides murder is a justifiable course of action.
Cast and characters
Season 1
1963
Main
- Ginnifer Goodwin as Beth Ann Stanton, Rob's subservient wife.
- * Hartlyn Hilsman as a young Beth Ann.
- Sam Jaeger as Rob Stanton, an aerospace engineer married to Beth Ann
- Sadie Calvano as April Warner, a waitress having an affair with Rob
Recurring
- Alicia Coppola as Sheila Mosconi, Rob and Beth Ann's neighbor and Leo's wife who befriends Beth Ann
- Adam Ferrara as Leo Mosconi, Rob and Beth Ann's neighbor and Sheila's husband
- Lindsey Kraft as Claire, Rob's secretary.
Guest
- Spencer Garrett as Hal Burke, Rob's boss
- Peri Gilpin as Vivian Burke, Hal's wife
- Lio Tipton as Mary Vlasin, Rob and Beth Ann's neighbor and Ralph's abused wife
- Scott Porter as Ralph Vlasin, Rob and Beth Ann's neighbor and Mary's abusive husband
- Ava Scarola as Emily Stanton, Rob and Beth Ann's deceased daughter
- Catherine Curry as Elsie Warner, April and Rob's daughter who is under the care of Beth Ann
1984
Main
- Lucy Liu as Simone Grove, a twice-divorced socialite married to Karl
- * Harmonie He as a young Simone Grove
- Jack Davenport as Karl Grove, Simone's third husband who is using their relationship to hide that he is gay
Recurring
- Katie Finneran as Naomi Harte, a wealthy friend of Simone, and Tommy's widowed mother
- Leo Howard as Tommy Harte, Naomi's son who harbors romantic feelings for Simone
- Li Jun Li as Amy Lin, Simone's daughter from her first marriage
Guest
- Charlie DePew as Brad Jenkins, Amy's fiancé
- Ken Garito as the police officer who mistakes Simone for a prostitute
- Christine Estabrook as Joyce Dubner, a hypochondriac neighbor of Simone
- Philip Anthony-Rodriguez as Hector, Simone's former hairdresser and Karl's lover
- Dale Dickey as Ruby Jenkins, Brad's mother
- Robert Craighead as Dwight Jenkins, Brad's father
- Hayley Hasselhoff as Patty Jenkins, Brad's lesbian sister
2019
Main
- Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Taylor Harding, a bisexual, feminist attorney in an open marriage with Eli
- * Kendall Denise Clark as a young Taylor Harding
- Reid Scott as Eli Cohen, a screenwriter in an open marriage with Taylor
- Alexandra Daddario as Jade/Irene, the bisexual lover of Taylor, and then Eli
Recurring
- Kevin Daniels as Lamar, Eli's agent
- Kevin McNamara as Duke, Jade's ex-boyfriend
Guest
- Saidha Arrika Ekulona as Taylor's sister
- Christina Anthony as Velma, Taylor's sister
- Odelya Halevi as Willow, an Instagram model working with Mischa and a friend of Jade
- Kevin William Paul as Mischa, Willow's fellow Instagram model, who is friends with Jade
Season 2
Main
- Allison Tolman as Alma Fillcot, a housewife in 1949 who is desperate to join the local exclusive Elysian Park Garden Club
- * Rachel Redleaf as young Alma
- Lana Parrilla as Rita Castillo, the president of the club and the gold-digging wife of Carlo
- B. K. Cannon as Dee Fillcot, Alma's daughter
- Jordane Christie as Vern Loomis, a private investigator
- Matthew Daddario as Scooter, a struggling actor and Rita's paramour
- Verónica Falcón as Catherine Castillo, Rita's stepdaughter and Carlo's spinster daughter
- Nick Frost as Bertram Fillcot, Alma's husband and a veterinarian
Recurring
- Rachel Bay Jones as Maisie
- Daniel Zacapa as Carlo Castillo, Rita's elderly husband and Catherine's father
- Eileen Galindo as Isabel, Rita's maid who is secretly her accomplice and cousin
- Rondi Reed as Mrs. Carol Yost, the Fillcot's grouchy, judgmental next door neighbor who expresses disbelief for Alma getting into the club
- Virginia Williams as Grace, a member of the club
- Jessica Phillips as Joan, another member of the club
- Kerry O'Malley as Mavis, another member of the club
- Cynthia Quiles as Brenda, another member of the club
- Jack Davenport as The Narrator
- Warren Kole as Detective Rohbin
Guest
- Ryan McPartlin as Tom Madison
- Andrew Leeds as Dr. Gibson
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2019)
Season 2 (2021)
Production
Development
On September 24, 2018, it was announced that CBS All Access had given the production a straight-to-series order. The series was created by Marc Cherry who was also expected to executive produce alongside Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, Michael Hanel, and Mindy Schultheis. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Imagine Entertainment and CBS Television Studios. On December 10, 2018, it was reported that the series would receive $8.4 million in tax credits from the state of California.Cherry stated at the 2019 Television Critics Association that there will be "three deaths at the end of the series, and they will all be committed by women. But it's not necessarily the three women on this stage. The victims are not necessarily the men on this stage, and interesting enough, not one person will be killed because of infidelity. Infidelity is just the starting point for these journeys of self‑discovery."
On October 16, 2019, the day before the season 1 finale, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season that would focus on a new set of characters. Julie McNamara, CBS All Access' EVP of Original Content, stated that, "Under the creative direction of Marc Cherry and the incredible performances of the cast, the series has become one of our most streamed original series. We look forward to bringing fans even more of this wonderfully soapy dramedy in its second season and can't wait to see what themes Marc explores next."
On November 11, 2020, it was reported that the second season had been suspended production after positive COVID-19 tests of production team members. On December 15, 2021, Paramount+ renewed the series for a third season. On July 1, 2022, the third season was reported scrapped just before production was set to begin.