The Hub’s Entertainment Watch List: First Wives Club
Every marriage is different and no marriage is perfect, but having the right support system to get you through difficult times is needed. Being a resource of support is a common theme that appears within the BET+ adaptation of the 1996 film, The First Wives Club. The series recently released its third season on the streaming platform last month.
The original film and the series have similarities, such as centering the story on three married women, balancing turbulent marriages and being a good friend to those in your sister circle. However, the creators of the television series – which includes popular executive producer Tracy Oliver – have put a variety of twists on the classic story to keep viewers tuning in each season.
The First Wives Club series stars Jill Scott, Michelle Buteau, Michelle Mitchenor, RonReaco Lee, and Mark Tallman. Jill Scott plays the role of Hazel, who is a former music powerhouse and divorcee. She is joined by Michelle Buteau who stars as the character Bree and is married to RonReaco’s character, Gary. Throughout the series, the couple navigates through separations, careers, children and keeping their romance alive.
Season one’s third gal-pal, Ari Montgomery, was played by actress Ryan Michelle Bathe. Ari and David (played by Tallman) seem to be trapped in a marriage that lacks sexual chemistry but the actual love that they share appears to withstand their hurdles. Although the couple was a fan favorite during the first season, Bathe’s character only appears as a feature in the following seasons rather than as a series regular. For seasons two and three, viewers are introduced to Jayla (Mitchenor), who fills the void of Bathe’s character. Jayla is a high-powered attorney trying to strike the perfect balance between her personal needs and career ambitions.
Despite being strong women separately, when they all join together, their strength multiplies. They’ve faced divorces, infidelities, makeups and job shifts but managed to survive it all with the help of the collective. In addition to the star power of the cast, viewers can also expect to see talents such as Terri J. Vaughn, Tasha Smith, Deborah Cox and Essence Atkins make appearances in the show during season three.
