Warning: The conclusion of AppleTV+’s “Bad Sisters” is discussed below. Also, HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country” finale is revealed as well. If you haven’t watched this series, that’s on you.

Owen McDonnell, one of the stars of “Bad Sisters,” is having an impressive 2024 playing some of the worst characters on television.

The 50-year-old Irish actor kicked off the year as a murderous scientist in HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country” and later took on the role of Ian Reilly in Season 2 of AppleTV+’s “Bad Sisters.” Initially, Ian appears to be a kind-hearted individual who gains the affection of the five Garvey sisters from Dublin in this dark comedy, only to be unmasked as the most nefarious villain during last week’s pivotal Episode 7.

No one can interfere with the beloved Garvey sisters in this Emmy-nominated show without facing dire repercussions. “I watched the episode with my wife, and afterward, she said, ‘I can’t even look at you; I don’t want to talk to you,'” shares McDonnell. “The mothers at my kids’ school used to smile and wave at me, but now they seem less friendly.”

As “Bad Sisters” concludes its second season with the finale titled “Cliffhanger” (now available for streaming), McDonnell shares his thoughts with YSL News.

McDonnell’s chilling portrayal as a killer in ‘True Detective’

McDonnell’s unsettling year on television began in January with his significant role in HBO’s “True Detective,” where he played Raymond Clark, a scientist at the Tsalal Arctic Research Center. Clark witnessed the horror as colleagues murdered his Native American girlfriend Annie Kowtok, who unearthed the center’s grim secrets. In a tragic twist, he ultimately suffocated her in what he believed was an act of mercy.

“He ends up killing the woman he loves, thinking he’s doing it out of mercy,” McDonnell explains. “But he then becomes part of the cover-up.”

Investigators Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) delve into the spooky and unusual frozen fatalities of six scientists, horrifyingly found grouped together as “corpsicles.” Though Clark initially evaded this frigid fate, he ultimately succumbed in a similar manner.

“It’s unfortunate I wasn’t part of the corpsicle,” McDonnell jokes, “But Raymond did have his own moment related to freezing in ‘True Detective.’

Ian ingratiates himself with the Garvey sisters in ‘Bad Sisters’

In the first season of “Bad Sisters,” the four Garvey siblings — portrayed by Eve Hewson, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and co-creator Sharon Horgan — plotted to eliminate their abusive brother-in-law, John Paul (Claes Bang). The conclusion of Season 1 revealed John Paul meeting a deservedly grim fate.

In Season 2, Grace begins her new life after marrying the seemingly ideal Ian (McDonnell) in a bereavement group. Ian blends seamlessly into the lively family dynamic. However, after Grace’s sudden and mysterious car accident death, everything changes. Ian’s darkness and true nature come to light in the episode titled “How to Pick a Prick.” His real identity is revealed to be Cormac Sweeney, a married and disgraced former cop who preys on vulnerable individuals like Grace in bereavement groups.

Ian threatens to expose deadly family secrets unless he is compensated and left alone by the Garveys. “Ian is actually more despicable than John Paul,” McDonnell reflects. “While John Paul was upfront about his wickedness, Ian is a master manipulator without a shred of empathy. He knows how to exploit what’s lacking in people’s lives.”

What occurs with Ian in ‘Bad Sisters’?

Even nosy neighbor Angelica (Fiona Shaw) can sense that Ian is not to be trusted. During an intense argument with the sisters, Ian insults Grace, prompting Angelica to appear and strike him on the head with a bat. The sisters, thinking he is nearly dead, toss Ian into the trunk of their car, intending to discard him in the dark waters of a nearby cliff. Ian surprisingly revives when the sisters are momentarily distracted but then dizzily tumbles off the high ledge onto a lower rock ledge.

Eventually, after a heated discussion, the sisters call for emergency services but leave Ian, now lifeless and stranded. McDonnell recounts, “I spent three hours basically chained to a rock with the Irish sea crashing around me while the girls did their scenes up on the cliff top. I was bundled in thermal wear and a dry suit, and it was oddly tranquil on that rock at 4 a.m.”

Remarkably, Ian survives yet again and makes it to the hospital. However, he’s coerced into not bringing any legal actions against the Garveys or disclosing their secrets to safeguard his own wrongdoings. He’s also required to repay the money he tricked from the family.

“Before we began shooting, I assumed Ian would end up dead,” McDonnell shares. “But later, the producers revealed, ‘Oh no, you’ll survive and face your reckoning in the hospital.’ I was thrilled. Perhaps Ian will return to haunt the sisters once more.”

Should “Bad Sisters” continue into Season 3, it’s likely Ian won’t be a part of the Garvey family drama. McDonnell is more than content, reveling in the excitement surrounding the popular series and the large WhatsApp group where cast and crew share updates and photos. He plans to wait until after the holidays to secure his next role.

“There are a few opportunities surfacing,” McDonnell mentions. “But moving forward, I might try to avoid roles as killers.”