Season 2 of Christina Applegate) unlikely friendship is further tested by more secrets and lies. With the events from season 1 far from resolved, this twosome continues to be drawn together not just by the ever-increasing crimes they commit, but by their shared pain, grief and understanding of one another.
The complexities and intimate nature of female friendships are the driving forces behind the series. At the heart of this dark comedy are two very flawed women who — when it comes to doing the right thing — are bested by their worst impulses or just bad luck. Free-spirited, frittata-loving Judy isn't all sweetness and light. Here's a reminder of some of this doe-eyed artist's worst misdeeds.
Commits A Hit-And-Run
Judy hitting Ted with her car is the catalyst for her friendship with Jen and all of the chaos that follows. The act of mowing down Jen's husband is an accident, but Judy's decision to leave him for dead on the side of the road is the real crime. Her actions are never justifiable, but as season 1 progresses, it becomes clear that Steve (James Marsden) bullied her into fleeing the scene. Judy's toxic relationship aside, she continues to cover her tracks, fearing the repercussions of not doing the right thing in the first place.
Stalks Jen
Curious to learn how the consequences of her actions are affecting Ted's family, Judy makes the calculated decision to track Jen down and insert herself into the widow's life. Judy misguidedly believes she can try to make it up to Jen, although there's no way she could foresee that they would forge a genuine connection. The more intertwined their lives become, the more dire the consequences.
If Judy had simply stayed away, Jen would have never learned the truth, and it fails to bring her the closure she desperately needs. Her rage, amplified by Judy's betrayal, puts Jen on a collision course with Steve, turning her life further upside down. On the karmic scoreboard, every point Judy accumulates helping Jen is deducted by her duplicity.
Lies About Having A Dead Fiancé
Judy needs a reason to show up at a grief group, so she concocts the lie that her fiancé died. This elicits sympathy from Jen, who otherwise would have likely kept her distance. Judy's fib lays the groundwork for her friendship with Jen, and even though they forge a bond built on deeper issues, it's a violation of Jen's trust.
Judy doesn't even have to fabricate a reason for her presence since she has suffered legitimate losses, but she's fearful to divulge something so intimate, revealing as little as she has to to find common ground with Jen.
Disposes Of Evidence
As season 1 progresses, Judy's fear of being caught has less to do with the legal ramifications than the possibility of losing Jen, Charlie (Sam McCarthy) and Henry (Luke Roessler). Also influencing Judy's choices is Steve, whose only concern is distancing himself from the entire ordeal. As Judy and Steve dismantle the key piece of evidence tying them to the crime, their attitudes are surprisingly upbeat. Meanwhile, after seeing photos of her dead husband, Jen loses her mind and her job after screaming at a client.
Jen reaches out to Judy repeatedly, but Judy's too busy walking down memory lane with Steve to take her calls. Not only is she covering her tracks, but she's also MIA when her new bestie needs her.
Fills In The Details Of Ted's Affair
When Jen learns about Ted's affair, she and Judy seek out the woman who they only know as "Bambi." It's hard to miss the wheels spinning in Judy's head as she realizes Ted wasn't the nicest guy. The more Jen hates her husband, the easier it is for Judy to come to with what she's done.
It's Judy who learns that Ted told his mistress that Jen died of breast cancer. This is a double whammy since not only did he kill Jen off, but he gave her the illness that took her mother's life. Seeing as how Judy doesn't traffic in honesty, she could have withheld these hurtful details.
Dates A Cop To Influence An Investigation
When Judy meets Nick (Brandon Scott), they have immediate chemistry. She quickly learns he's a cop, but instead of ending the relationship, she uses it to her advantage. Judy has someone on the inside, feeding her information and giving her a heads up so she can cover her tracks. Nick's involvement ultimately blows up in her face, but nobody can say she doesn't have it coming.
Not only does Judy use Nick for information, but she cheats on him with Steve. Nick is grieving over the death of his partner, his career is on a downward trajectory, and just when he its Judy's bringing him out of his funk, she dumps him.
Turns In Her Ex For Money Laundering
Judy isn't just guilty of allowing Steve to bully her into not stopping to help Ted, but she's also complicit in his shady business dealings. She knows where all the bodies are buried (pun intended), from how the money is laundered to where Steve stupidly keeps his records. The only reason she turns on her ex is that he's involved with someone else, and Judy's butt is on the line. In the end, she makes a bad situation even worse.
Helps Cover Up Steve's Murder
During season 2, the heat shifts from Judy to Jen, but Judy's dragged into another cover-up. It's not like she has much choice given all of the horrible things she's done to Jen. The real problem is that Judy is a horrible liar, which she proves over and over again. She even goes so far as to name Jen as one of the last people to see Steve alive, and gives her a motive for killing him. Judy is as easily swayed by Jen's arguments to do the wrong thing as she is by Steve's.
Doesn't Come Clean With Michelle
Judy's love interest during season 2, Michelle (Natalie Morales), is almost perfect. The only problem is her roommate happens to be the cop investigating Judy for multiple crimes. Judy tries breaking things off, but she can't stay away. Her choice to stay with Michelle is selfish because she's lying, and if she confesses, Michelle becomes an accessory. .
Moves In With Jen
Judy lying about Steve's death should have been enough of a red flag for Jen to cut ties for good. But after Judy reveals her miscarriages during season 1 and Jen discovers her living situation, she invites Judy to move into the guest house. Judy's decision to take Jen up on the offer is nothing short of parasitic. She takes advantage of Jen's kindness, and Judy believes that cooking and playing the role of caretaker in some small way absolves her of all her crimes.