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Why Women Kill

Why Women Kill is an American dark comedy-drama anthology television series created by Marc Cherry.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Why Women Kill is an American dark comedy-drama anthology television series created by Marc Cherry. It originally aired on CBS All Access and later Paramount+, and each season explores women in different time periods whose lives are disrupted by betrayal and infidelity.

Premise

The series examines how women’s roles have changed over time while their responses to betrayal remain similar. Its stories typically build toward murder as a possible response to personal crises.

Season 1

The first season intercuts the lives of three women in different decades who live in the same house in Pasadena. Their stories revolve around marital infidelity and escalating personal conflict.

Season 2

The second season shifts to 1949 Los Angeles and follows Alma Fillcot, who becomes involved with a Garden Club, alongside the character Rita Castillo. The season continues the anthology’s focus on social status, appearance, and murder.

Release and distribution

Why Women Kill premiered in 2019 on CBS All Access and later continued on Paramount+. The series ran for two seasons and ended in 2021.

Key facts

  • The series is an anthology, with each season focusing on a different storyline and set of characters.
  • Season 1 follows three women in 1963, 1984, and 2019 who live in the same Pasadena house and confront infidelity.
  • Season 2 is set in 1949 Los Angeles and centers on Alma Fillcot and Rita Castillo.
  • The series was created by Marc Cherry, who also created Desperate Housewives.
  • Its tone combines dark comedy, drama, and crime elements.
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Canadian context

The series was distributed in Canada on Paramount+ and was also broadcast on Canadian television through W Network, making it accessible to Canadian viewers.

Frequently asked questions

What is Why Women Kill about?
It is an anthology series about women in different eras whose lives are upended by betrayal, usually involving infidelity and, in some cases, murder.
Who created Why Women Kill?
The series was created by Marc Cherry.
How many seasons does Why Women Kill have?
It has two seasons.
When did Why Women Kill premiere?
It premiered on August 15, 2019.
What network or service did it air on?
It aired on CBS All Access and later Paramount+.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Women_Kill
    Supports: General series premise; season structure; season 2 setting and characters.
  2. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/why-women-kill/1030728488/
    Supports: Premise; 2019-2021 run; two seasons; genre; CBS All Access.
  3. Paramount+ — https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/why-women-kill/
    Supports: Creator; anthology premise; season 2 description.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/why_women_kill
    Supports: Creator; release date; genre; synopsis.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9054904/
    Supports: Anthology format; three women in different decades; series run.
  6. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Women_Kill
    Supports: Canadian distribution on W Network.