Imperfect Women: Season 1 Episode 3 – Recap and Review

As you learn to accept what Imperfect Women is, as opposed to what you may want it to be, you begin to enjoy the messiness of Eleanor and the almost swift consequences delivered onto her.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 3 “Monster” Recap and Details

  • Director(s): Nzingha Stewart
  • Writer(s): Kay Oyegun
  • Public Release Date (Apple TV Plus): March 25, 2026
  • Check out more of our “Imperfect Women” coverage.
  • Images © of Apple TV+

Well, This Is Damning: Cora, Robert, Eleanor, Zoe, Mary

When it comes to Robert, Eleanor’s rose colored view of him are contacts more than glasses. There is no peripheral view where she could see clearly. So, despite a damning letter of apology, she doesn’t take it as seriously as she should. Though it should be noted, Robert’s family are not only good liars when it comes to others, but also themselves. So, how would Eleanor know Robert didn’t kill Nancy for so boldly telling him she was having an affair?

But, in Eleanor’s defense, she did have an interview with Legacy Magazine and was winning the 2026 Global Influence Award the following day. So, maybe she didn’t have the capacity to analyze whether Robert was telling her the truth or not. Plus, going by her right hand, Zoe, this was an important interview.

Speeding through the day, things go well – for the most part. Mary comes to the event, starts to talk about Nancy’s case, and while Eleanor doesn’t want to hear it, Mary pulls a picture from Nancy’s things, which looks like Scott. Scott is Nancy’s stepfather, the man Eleanor believes she saw at the church, and this gives Mary a lead. But, no sooner than Mary’s wheels begin turning again, Donovan shows up. It’s damn near when Eleanor is about to leave, and maybe it is because of that disappointment from her brother, Eleanor ends up at Robert’s. The two have sex again, and while sharing some non-sexual intimacy, in the pool, Cora walks in with a friend.

Immediately, she senses they are having sex, and before the night is over, she makes a TikTok about it, especially since Robert and Eleanor lie about what they are doing. It spreads like wildfire. In fact, by the next day, Zoe is upset because it is messing with the reputation and finances of the business, and Eleanor is getting a ton of calls as the news and police pick up what happened.

We’re Not Cool Like That: Eleanor, Mary

Overwhelmed and needing to talk to someone who she hopes won’t judge her, Eleanor goes to Mary of all people. Things start constructively with Robert’s letter, and seemingly, Eleanor is planting a seed in Mary’s head to get her to go after Robert, as a backup plan. However, things go left as Eleanor confesses about sleeping with Robert, and when Mary starts to get testy, Eleanor reminds Mary that her own marriage began with an affair.

As you can imagine, this isn’t taken well. Mary has Howard interviewing in Ohio on her mind, and perhaps having to uproot her family. Nancy’s killer is no closer to being found, and now, between Robert, maybe Eleanor, and Scott as well, she has three possible suspects. But, with burning bridges with the cops, who knows how seriously they will take her.

All of this stress, with Eleanor dropping the final straw, leads to Mary telling Eleanor to get out of her house. But, as you can imagine, with this friendship seemingly built on Nancy keeping them together, Mary perhaps was waiting for a reason to break off her connection to Eleanor. But, luckily for her, Eleanor isn’t petty, and it doesn’t seem, yet, that Marcus may end up collateral damage.

As Real As It Could Get: Robert, Donovan, Eleanor, Nancy, Detective Ganz, Marcus

Things progressively get worse for Eleanor – admittedly due to her own actions. She goes to Robert’s house, and Detective Ganz makes it clear that Jordan’s alibi for Eleanor doesn’t cut it. There is an hour between when Nancy was killed and Jordan and Eleanor messing around, so she is a suspect. So, now Eleanor knows she needs to lawyer up. What doesn’t help is that Robert’s family is in full crisis mode, and he firmly breaks it off with Eleanor as it becomes clear that their being together hurts his case far more than it helps it.

Luckily, Donovan, despite his initial reaction, which included a threat of their mom flying in, is closer to what Eleanor needs when they reconnect that night. She shows him Robert’s letter, speaks about how much Robert has meant to her, and despite their mom putting down the idea of crying, he comforts her as she sheds tears.

But, then it is time to get to work, and between Donovan and the lawyers, we learn Eleanor’s alibi is that she was getting Marcus out of a situation with bookies he owed money to. This answers what trouble he is in, but there is more to the story. We also learn, three hours before Nancy’s death, Nancy tried to convince Eleanor to come with her to break things off with her mystery man. As you can imagine, envious of Nancy’s marriage, Eleanor didn’t want any part of this, so she forced Nancy to go on her own. A decision that still continues to haunt her.

New Characters in Episode 3

Zoe (Sherri Saum)

Zoe (Sherri Saum) – Imperfect Women Season 1 Episode 3
  • Character Summary: Zoe is Eleanor’s right hand regarding running her non-profit, and while not friends like she is with Mary and Nancy, she is probably the closest non-sexual relationship she has, outside of those two.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

Moving Beyond The Affair, Things Get Interesting [82/100]

It’s the little tidbits we get that aren’t treated as a big deal, which are far more interesting than the main mystery. Yes, we learn Eleanor abandoned Nancy before she went to meet with “David,” but Nancy’s death, or her stepfather being involved, isn’t that intriguing. What is, would be Mary’s marriage, born from an affair. Then there is Marcus having a gambling issue, and the question of whether Mary isn’t his biological mom, and if she isn’t, what is Marcus’ birth mom like? Never mind, is Marcus the reason Howard is unemployed?

On top of that, we have the role Jordan can play in all this. He may have tried to be there for Eleanor, as an alibi, but with her breaking things off, will he stay that way? Heck, will he expect something in return? He doesn’t seem possessive, but I would say he does come off like the type who thinks persistence should be rewarded, mainly since it has been for him in the past.

Now, could it be said that by building out Eleanor and Mary’s life outside of Nancy, maybe it will help you understand why they needed and wanted her in their life so much? Maybe. But, as of now, it’s everything that barely deals with Nancy that holds the most value.

Wanting To Meet Eleanor’s Mom [84/100]

Every time Donovan and Eleanor speak of her mother, it feels like they are hyping her up far more than they are about revealing or finding Nancy’s killer. I am seeing a Janet Hubert type right now, based on how they speak, but it isn’t clear yet who may play the role.

All I know is, they will set the standard for notable reveals in my mind, for if they can’t deliver a good payoff regarding her, the reveal of Nancy’s killer doesn’t stand a chance.

Mary – A Dog With A Bone [81/100]

A part of me was left wondering if Eleanor knew what she was doing by presenting evidence that works against Robert to Mary. In my mind, Eleanor knows Mary is as obsessed with Nancy as she is with Robert. So by giving her something to think about, she could get Mary to do the work a full-time PI couldn’t, wouldn’t, or would cost an exorbitant amount to do.

Take note, Mary seems like she is surviving more than thriving, so as saddened as she is by Nancy’s death, the thrill of taking on this case and potentially solving it drives her. It gives her something outside the routine that, clearly, doesn’t serve or fulfill her. Which isn’t to downplay how she feels about being a mother, but it does seem, based on her pushback against Eleanor comparing their lives, that Mary isn’t happy. I wouldn’t even say she is satisfied. If anything, she is trying to deal with the cards she has been dealt, and this wildcard may not be an out, but it at least makes her feel more in control of the game.

Robert’s 180 [80/100]

Donovan warned Eleanor about Robert’s family in episode 2. So, him showing who he truly is, even if under duress, creates the type of friction the show needed. Eleanor is now without the would-be love of her life, one of her closest friends, and has tarnished her relationship with Cora. Then, to really complicate things, her alibi relies on Marcus, who is on probation, and if the truth gets out, that means he may possibly go to jail – further burning her relationship with Mary.

Though if I could be honest, I’m mainly happy about Robert’s 180, for it pushes Eleanor, and Kerry Washington, for that matter, away from the Scandal comparisons. It means this character can now really forge their own path with less need to have her past work put side by side with what she is trying to do with Imperfect Women.

But, let’s be real, this show likes being messy too much for these two not to end up together.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [81/100]

Episode three gets better as you come to accept what Imperfect Women is meant to be. It’s dramatic, shows passionate but unstable relationships, and there is a dose of envy, if not jealousy, which binds it all together. Leaving you with a show that knows what it is but needs you to accept it may not be what you want it to be.

What To Check Out Next

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.