There are few things in life I’m sure of, but one of the things I know for sure is that my female friendships have saved my life more times than I can count. Dramatic, I know, but it’s true. My female friends have shown up for me consistently, even when their world was being blown up (and I like to believe I’ve done the same for them). Even when we disagree, their love and support are always there. This dynamic is why I was so drawn to Prime Video’s new show, Ride or Die, an action-comedy featuring Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer. They’re polar-opposite besties who are each other’s, well, ride or die.
Debbie Claybourne (Spencer) is a retired lawyer and wife to a British member of parliament. She handles her family, her marriage, her husband’s career, and her bestie’s love of antiques like her life depends on it. Her best friend, Judith Burton (Waddingham), is a seemingly boring and bland “forensic accountant” (read, assassin) who has kept the true nature of her job, as well as a few other things – including the very reason they became friends to begin with, a secret from her bestie for over twenty years.
Judith’s last job before a forced retirement goes wrong and Debbie ends up implicated. So Judith has to come clean and face the consequences of her lies and double life. The two must finally be honest with each other – and themselves – while running across Europe trying to escape Interpol, the Albanian mafia, and a dangerous person from Judith’s past.
Octavia Spencer, who’s also an executive producer on the show, told People she was “sold” on series creator Tessa Coates’ pitch as soon as she heard it: “I did the thing you’re not supposed to do. I got married on the first date. It was such an amazing pitch… I loved that it was centered around two women – two women of a certain age, two brilliant, highly capable women – doing action and comedy. And the show had a lot of heart.”
After only a few episodes, it’s easy to see why Spencer fell in love with the idea so quickly. The women’s journey as individuals and friends is a pleasure to watch – making it almost impossible not to binge all 8 episodes in one sitting.
Part of why it works so well is the difference between the two friends. Debbie has to figure out who she is, not as a mother, wife, lawyer, or friend, but as herself. She’s been busy checking off the boxes on her to-do list, and once that’s done, her real adventure of self-discovery begins. In contrast, Judith has to face her past – her mistakes, her reluctance to create emotional ties, and the consequences of devoting her life to a job that discards her as soon as she starts aging.
Waddingham and Spencer’s on-screen chemistry translates beautifully, and it’s no wonder they ended up becoming such good friends off-screen after shooting the show. Secrets and lies of omission create the tension by testing their bond. Yet, the love inherent in blindly trusting a female friend, even when things seem murky, is palpable through the screen.
Ride or Die only creates a real-life friendship between its co-stars, while also tackling tired and the age-old “women of a certain age” trope. Our society seems determined to embrace and admire women while we’re young, productive, fertile, and beautiful. But as soon as we inevitably “fail” in one of these categories, as every human is biologically programmed to do, we’re discarded in favor of the next girl. It’s an unfair system (built by men, of course) designed to assign women value for our labor – be it as an assassin or the puppet master of a spineless member of parliament’s entire political career — and not for who we are as people.
Ride or Die has a bit of everything: emotionally charged scenes, tearful and tender moments, massive action sequences in the most random of places, fashion moments, (grown-up) girl power, much-needed comedic relief, and the rebuilding of a friendship that saves both Debbie’s and Judith’s lives. The pair, a modern-day Thelma and Louise, not only proves that (again) female friendships save lives, but that “women of a certain age” are still badasses who can save the day and be valuable members of society, government, assassin organizations – and most importantly to themselves and their friends.
