Bad Sisters, Apple TV+’s hit dark comedy-thriller created by Sharon Horgan, centers on five Irish sisters who, after enduring years of abuse and hostage-like loyalty to their brother-in-law John Paul, eventually plot his death. With its sharp writing, dark humor, and emotionally real moments, viewers often find themselves asking: “Is this story true?”
Nope, It’s Fiction—But Strongly Inspired
No, Bad Sisters is not based on a true story. The series is actually an adaptation of the Belgian show Clan (also known as The Out-Laws), created by Malin-Sarah Gozin . This means everything—characters, plot arcs, events—is fictional.
However, Sharon Horgan infused the script with emotional authenticity drawn from her own life. She drew inspiration from her experience as one of five siblings in a close-knit family, echoing the bonds between the Garvey sisters. Horgan has also shared that she incorporated aspects of her personal journey—such as her 2019 divorce—into the characters, enriching the emotional resonance.
From Belgian Dark Comedy to Irish Drama
The original Belgian series followed a similar premise: sisters pushed to the edge by an abusive husband, leading to schemes and eventual consequences. Horgan and her team relocated the narrative to 1990s Dublin, choosing real locales like Sandycove, Howth, and the Forty Foot as atmospheric backdrops. They balanced crime-drama thriller elements with gallows humor rooted in Irish sibling culture and social critique.
Season 2, developed by Horgan herself after the first season’s success, explores new trauma and consequences for abusive relationships, once again drawing on her life experiences to ensure emotional honesty.
Why It Hits so Hard
Despite being fictional, Bad Sisters feels so real because:
- Sisterhood dynamics are rooted in Horgan’s familial bonds and personal stories.
- Abuse and resilience are portrayed with authentic emotional power, influenced by Horgan’s observations and life.
- The balance of dark comedy and thriller tone stems from Horgan’s storytelling expertise in Catastrophe, mixed with influences from works like Succession and psychological horror underpinnings.
Final Verdict
To sum up: Bad Sisters is not based on a true story, but its heart and authenticity come from real emotional experiences, strong familial bonds, and clever adaptation of an original Belgian series. The characters, plot, and crimes are fictional, but the series’ emotional core—about loyalty, trauma, empowerment, and revenge—rings disturbingly true.
So, no real Garvey family or real attempt to kill a brother-in-law happened here. But if emotional truth counts, Bad Sisters delivers it in spades.
