Spoiler Alert !!!Contains spoilers from Imperfect Women Episode 3.
Apple TV+’s psychological thriller, Imperfect Women, is back this week with episode 3. Titled “Monster,” the episode continued the suspense surrounding Nancy’s death while advancing the mystery. The episode made it clear that Eleanor (Kerry Washington) did not kill Nancy (Kate Mara), but she may have made a decision that indirectly led to her death. In the first two episodes, we saw the close friendship between Eleanor, Nancy, and Mary (Elisabeth Moss), who thought they knew everything about each other, until Nancy’s death.
Nancy had an affair with a man named David, which Eleanor eventually revealed to Robert, Nancy’s husband. When Robert discovered Nancy’s affair with the artist, he became furious. His grief and anger complicated his relationship and made him a potential suspect. Eleanor struggled with guilt over her role in Nancy’s death. Her growing closeness with Robert further complicated the investigation.
Episode 3 picks up immediately after these events. The episode dives deeper into Eleanor’s guilt, her relationship with Robert, and the lingering mystery. Here’s the breakdown of Imperfect Women episode 3.
How Did Eleanor and Robert’s Brief Relationship End?
At the end of Imperfect Women episode 2, we saw Eleanor and Robert (Joel Kinnaman) get a lot closer and engage in a steamy lovemaking session. In episode 3, their relationship reached its peak and collapsed within the same episode. Eleanor found the letter in Nancy’s diary in the previous episode, which confirmed that Robert knew about Nancy’s affair.
He admitted confronting Nancy and losing his temper, but Robert insisted he never hurt her. He claims that he loved his wife and would never cross that line. Despite how suspicious this sounds, Eleanor chose to believe him.
Eleanor has clearly had feelings for Robert for a long time, and now that she finally has him, she does not want to let go. She convinces herself that their relationship is not entirely wrong because Nancy had also been unfaithful. However, this justification feels unreasonable. It is clear that Eleanor is trying to cope with guilt rather than confront it.
She knew dating the husband of her dead best friend was a bad idea, but she still found herself at Robert’s door in Ojai. They had another steamy romantic moment. But when they were getting cozy at the pool, Robert’s daughter, Cora, and her friend arrived at the house. She immediately doubted something was wrong and asked them if they were sleeping together. Robert explained that there were no affairs between the two.
The situation escalated quickly when Cora posted a TikTok video online exposing the relationship. Although she didn’t reveal her name, Eleanor’s personal life became public overnight. Her professional reputation suffered immediately, just a day after receiving an award. She found herself at the center of a scandal she could not control.
Meanwhile, Detective Bethany Ganz has informed Eleanor that investigators have found out her whereabouts the night Nancy died from Jordan, Eleanor’s casual affair partner. The detective explained that her timeline of that night is suspicious; however, Eleanor refused to say anything without her lawyer.
After that, she made a stop at Mary’s house. She was hoping for Mary’s sympathy or, at the very least, understanding. Mary is blindsided not just by the affair but by Eleanor’s willingness to protect Robert despite everything pointing toward his guilt. When Eleanor brought up the letter, Mary suggested they could take it to the cops as evidence. But Eleanor refused to hand it over as she still believes that Robert is innocent. Mary called out to Eleanor, saying that whatever she thought she had with Robert wasn’t real, and Robert was using her. Mary was disappointed and asked her to leave.
The real betrayal came when Eleanor sought support from Robert. His house is already in damage-control mode, with his sister, Kit, and the legal team. Kit was annoyed to see Eleanor at the house, but Robert sided with her for a talk. When Elenaor asked him to issue a joint statement denying the allegations, Robert was hesitant. She emphasized that it would give them some time before going public with their relationship.
However, Robert, who was initially too eager to be with Eleanor, said that his attorneys had asked him to cut all communication with Eleanor. Mary was absolutely right that Robert was using her, and at this moment, Eleanor must have realized it too. Robert reduced their relationship to a temporary reaction to his grief after his wife’s death. Robert also asked her to return the letter. But there’s no way Eleanor would return such important evidence, and she stormed out of Robert’s house.
Where Was Eleanor the Night Nancy Died?
Kerry Washington in Imperfect Women | Credit: Apple TV+
Thankfully, Eleanor’s brother, Donovan, came to her rescue. Donovan always knew Robert and his influential family very well; he might have expected that it was coming. As coming from an influential family, too, he has gathered their attorneys.
Imperfect Women Episode 3 finally addressed Eleanor’s missing hours on the night of Nancy’s death. Eleanor told the attorneys that, after the party with her two best friends, between 10 PM and 1 AM, she was helping Marcus, Mary’s son. He had owed some money and gotten into trouble at a bookie’s den. Marcus needed immediate help, and Eleanor stepped in to assist him. She chose not to share this earlier because Marcus is on probation, and exposing the situation could have serious consequences for him.
At 1 AM, she went to Jordan’s place. She, too, revealed that Jordan is her subordinate at the office and that they had a casual affair. They have broken up. Her attorneys promised to keep Marcus’ details a secret. Soon, we learned that Eleanor hadn’t revealed everything from that night.
It came through a flashback that showed Eleanor’s final interaction with Nancy. Before going to help Marcus, Nancy asked Eleanor for help in ending her affair with a man named David. She was clearly distressed and afraid. She insisted that the situation was more serious than Eleanor understood and that she needed support.
Eleanor refused to listen to Nancy’s concerns and criticized her for cheating, even though she had a husband. She called her out that if she had no courage to confront him, she shouldn’t have fallen for it in the first place. Nancy was hurt, but she repeatedly asked her to help. Eleanor refused and asked her to leave her car. It is a tragic moment because Eleanor allowed her feelings to override her judgment. Had she helped her that day, Nancy would have been alive.
Imperfect Women Episode 3: Who is David?
Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington in Imperfect Women | Credit: Apple TV+
The mystery surrounding David becomes more complex in this episode. Nancy’s fear hints that he was not just a casual partner. She wanted to end the relationship but felt unable to do so alone, suggesting that he may have been threatening.
At the same time, a new clue emerged through Nancy’s belongings. In the diary, Mary discovers a sketch of a man in Nancy’s notebook. It’s the same diary that Robert claimed that the cops said wasn’t helpful enough, and the same diary where Eleanor found the letter. There was a drawing of a man’s face, intense in expression. Mary believes that Nancy was afraid of this person and that he could be connected to her death.
Mary suspects that the man in the sketch might be Scott, Nancy’s stepfather, although this is not confirmed. Eleanor also recalled seeing someone similar at the funeral, which adds even more suspicion. The episode ended with Mary knocking at Eleanor’s door. When Eleanor opened it, Mady revealed she had found out who David is.
There’s a possibility that the man in the sketch and David could be the same person or entirely different individuals. It is also possible that David is not even his real name, and that Nancy was deliberately hiding his identity.
The episode does not provide clear answers, but it strengthens the overall mystery. Eleanor’s guilt feels real and grounded. She is not presented as a villain, but as someone who made a critical mistake. Meanwhile, Robert’s character was less interesting as his actions raise questions about his intentions, but as of now, that certainly works in the story’s favor.
Show Name Imperfect WomenNo. of Seasons1Creator Annie Weisman CastElisabeth MossKerry WashingtonJoel KinnamanCorey StollKate MaraIMDb (as of March 25, 2026)5.5/10Rotten Tomatoes (as of March 25, 2026)41%
Have you watched Imperfect Women episode 3 yet? What do you think of the episode? Let us know.
Imperfect Women Episodes 1-3 are available to watch on Apple TV+ (US).
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