The television series that survived a major network cancellation

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When Showtime declined to air the completed series in early 2023, many thought the project was dead. Instead, a high-profile network battle ensued, eventually bringing this intense exploration of female intimacy and trauma to a global audience.

The television adaptation of Lisa Taddeo’s 2019 book, Three Women, underwent a dramatic production journey. Originally slated for Showtime, the series was abruptly dropped by the network on January 30, 2023. This decision occurred during a period of reorganization at parent company Paramount Global and a broader review of Showtime's programming slate. However, the series found a new home just one week later when Starz picked up the project. The rights to the adaptation were originally secured by Showtime in July 2019, with Taddeo herself set to serve as an executive producer and writer.

The narrative follows a writer attempting to document sex in America. Rather than following the conventional advice to study married men, she focuses on three women in middle America navigating profound life transitions. The characters include Lina, trapped in a sexless marriage within a deeply religious community; Sloane, who navigates a successful but open marriage; and Maggie, who struggles with the trauma of a past relationship with her high school English teacher. The central figure of the series is a writer who purposefully ignores suggestions to focus her research on married men, choosing instead to capture the experiences of women undergoing radical life changes.

While the series achieved a global release, critical reception has been mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds a 31% positive rating from 16 critics, with a consensus noting that while Betty Gilpin's performance shines, the series can feel didactic. Critics from The Sydney Morning Herald described the ten-episode structure as feeling bloated, though they found the stories of Maggie and Lina to be compelling. The production itself was filmed across New York, including locations in Long Island and Schenectady. The ensemble cast features several notable actors, including Shailene Woodley, DeWanda Wise, and Ravi Patel. Principal photography for the project commenced in October 2021, with filming locations spanning Long Island and Schenectady, New York.

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