What happened to Ari on First Wives Club?

Since its 2019 premiere, the First Wives Club TV adaptation has amassed a steady, devoted fan base. The series, which is currently airing its third season on BET+, just debuted a fairly shocking twist that has divided fans of the show.

It appears that the remaining episodes of First Wives Club’s third season will offer viewers a lot more surprises.

Ari’s character experiences a very startling development in First Wives Club Season 3, Episode 2. So, what happened to Ari? Fans want to know. Keep reading for all the details.

First Wives Club (TV Series)

First Wives Club is an American comedy television series based on the 1996 film of the same name, written by Robert Harling. It premiered on September 19, 2019 on BET+. The series was renewed for a second season on November 26, 2019, premiering on July 15, 2021.

The third season of the show was renewed on September 8, 2021. The entire cast of the television show is African-American, in contrast to the original movie.

Set in New York City, The First Wives Club centers on three women—Ari, Bree, and Hazel—who, after their marriages fail, band together and find solace in their sisterhood and retaliation.

What happened to Ari on First Wives Club?

Ari, as portrayed by Ryan Michelle Bathe, died unexpectedly. In the second episode of Season 3 of First Wives Club, Ari Montgomery (Ryan Michelle Bathe) was killed. She died from a brain aneurysm before she made it to David’s wedding (Mark Tallman). Since she was the star of the program, many fans were shocked to learn of her death.

Jill Scott, who plays Hazel on the show, said that she was angry about the decision to kill Ari.

She felt it detracted from the show and was unnecessary. She acknowledged, however, that she was glad of the chance to depict Hazel’s sorrow in order to offer the character an alternative viewpoint.

Robert Sternberg, Darren Star, and the other show creators decided to kill Ari. They meant to write a deeply personal and shocking story. The idea that perseverance is necessary to overcome adversity was another message the filmmakers wished to convey.      

The series took a drastic turn after Ari’s passing. It forced the other characters to confront their own mortality and reflect on the meaning of life. Her absence required the other characters to continue, so the structure of the show had to change.

Even though it was debatable at the time, Ari’s passing ultimately made the show better. Clearly, the First Wives Club was prepared to take chances and have difficult conversations.

What happened to Ari on First Wives Club
Ari on First Wives Club

A more grounded aspect was added to the show by what some considered to be a bold and unexpected choice. Conversely, some others were not fond of it, saying that the most interesting storylines were dropped from the program and that this was a betrayal of the character.

Ari’s death was a shocking development and a significant loss for the show, regardless of one’s opinion of the choice. Seeing how the show develops without her will be interesting.

Why did the First Wives Club decide to murder Ari?

As mentioned earlier, Ari passed away unexpectedly during the show. Admirers want to know the reasoning behind the decision and when it was made.

In the end, Tracy Oliver and Darren Star, the show’s creators, chose to eliminate her. They said they were going to write a shocking, emotionally charged story. Additionally, they believed it was critical to demonstrate the significance of continuing forward motion despite life’s ups and downs. 

Furthermore, the series’ creators wanted to demonstrate that it was willing to take chances in the future.

As you may know, Jill Scott disagreed with the choice made regarding Ari’s unexpected death.

Bathe was a series regular in the first two seasons of the show, but by the second season, she had relocated to the West Coast and had only made two official appearances, less than Scott and Michelle Buteau.

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