The Dramedy’s Final Season Is Also Its Weakest

None of that is to say season 3 is a complete wash. Once again, the show’s stars, Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, are the real draw. The two actors work so well together, playing unlikely besties with plenty of secrets. Indeed, the only thing that really kept me watching this third season (other than, ya know, my job reviewing it) was the continued chemistry between Applegate and Cardellini, and the enjoyment of their characters’ unique, strange friendship. I’d like the pair to work together again on some other project because they’re a killer duo.

In case you need a refresher, “Dead to Me” follows Jen (Applegate) and Judy (Cardellini), two women who were thrust into each other’s lives via tragedy. Judy was in the car that struck and killed Jen’s husband in a hit-and-run. The driver? Judy’s abusive boyfriend Steve (James Marsden). Judy entered Jen’s life under false pretenses in order to make amends. Eventually, Jen learned the truth, and just to further complicate things, ended up killing Steve during a confrontation. The women covered up the murder, but of course, that doesn’t magically solve their problems. And oh yeah, Steve’s twin brother Ben (also Marsden) is around, too, just to make this all the messier.

“Dead to Me” season 2 ended with yet another hit-and-run. This time, Jen and Judy were the victims, struck in their car by someone who fled the scene. That someone? Ben, who is wracked with guilt about the whole affair (although not enough to turn himself in). The hit-and-run is the least of Jen and Judy’s problems as they stumble into another series of unfortunate events. I’ll be vague to avoid spoilers, but let’s just say the women once again find themselves constantly in over their heads and on the verge of a nervous breakdown.