Imperfect Women Episode 7 Recap & Ending Explained: Who Is Scott Reed and Is He the Killer?

Episode after episode, the Apple TV+ show Imperfect Women is continuously raising the stakes and keeping the viewers hooked. Episode 7 of Imperfect Women does the same, taking the story ahead and revealing some massive plot twists that dramatically alter the story poised for its finale. Moreover, the introduction and comeback of Scott Reed at the end of the episode further causes chaos and confusion. Is he the one who murdered Nancy?

The penultimate chapter gives viewers a lot to think about, shattering earlier assumptions, deepening the tension between weary characters, and introducing a major twist that reshapes the central mystery. At the heart of it all is Mary, whose credibility and choices are increasingly questioned as she tries to prove that her husband, Howard, is responsible for Nancy’s death. But by the end of the episode, the revelation leaves everyone gasping for more.

Why Does Mary Go Back to Howard?

Mary’s decision to return to Howard is driven less by trust and more by fear. After Artemis is admitted to the hospital in episode 6 over a possible overdose, most likely staged by Howard himself, Child Services intervene and restrict Mary’s access to her children. She knows the pills were kept out of reach from the children, and she realizes how precarious her situation has become. Howard has successfully painted her as unstable, leveraging her past behavior and alleged substance issues to weaken her credibility.

The episode brings Howard’s ability to be cold and manipulative to the forefront. He is quickly severing the ties Mary has with her close ones and portraying her as the root cause of all problems. He even manipulates the investigators by handing over items that suggest Mary had an unhealthy fixation on Nancy. This includes evidence that Mary had taken small belongings from her friend over time, proving she was a bit obsessed with her friend.

Faced with the possibility of losing her children permanently, Mary makes a devastating compromise. She chooses proximity to her family over justice, going back to Howard and agreeing to stay silent. Mary decides to play by his rules, but eventually tries to make the winning move as soon as she gets the chance. It’s not a moment of weakness, but a calculated surrender.

Further Evidence Proves Howard Could Be the Killer

Despite the growing doubt around Mary, Episode 7 still builds a strong circumstantial case against Howard. Viewers know what he is capable of and his past actions, as revealed by Jenny, further cast a shadow of doubt over his motives and intentions. A key development comes from a private investigator’s analysis of the crime scene. The theory suggests that Nancy was attacked by someone physically stronger and that her body was dragged. This suggests that Mary alone obviously could not have executed the murder. 

This detail becomes crucial because Howard is known to have a shoulder injury, aligning with the theory. Additionally, his alleged affair with Nancy provides a potential motive, especially if their relationship was charting turbulent waters.

Howard’s behavior further fuels suspicion. He consistently avoids directly denying the murder allegations and instead shifts the focus to blaming Mary. His ability to manipulate situations proves that he is capable of murder and removing anyone who hinders his path.

Yet, the episode carefully stops short of confirming his guilt, maintaining a layer of mystery that keeps the interest piquing for the final episodes. 

Imperfect Women Episode 7: Eleanor Alerts The Police About Howard

One of the turning points in the episode comes when the police suddenly arrive to question Howard. While he immediately assumes Mary betrayed him, the truth turns out to be rather shocking.

Eleanor, unwilling to accept Mary’s surrender, takes matters into her own hands. She approaches Robert, ultimately forcing his family to use their influence to involve the authorities. This leads to the police stepping in and bringing Howard in for questioning.

This moment highlights Eleanor’s role as the moral counterbalance to Mary, who seems to be more focused on keeping herself and her children safe. Eleanor, on the other hand, continues to pursue justice for Nancy, even if it means escalating the situation.

However, Howard is unaware of who’s behind his sudden involvement with the authorities, which leads him to place the blame on Mary. He does everything in his power to make Mary lose access to her children, adding fuel to the emotional fire and leaving Mary in a vulnerable position. 

Is Scott Reed the Real Killer?

If you think the episode ended here, you’re wrong. Even after everything that transpired in the episode so far, the real twist came at the end when a breaking news splashes across the television channels on the show. Scott Reed, Nancy’s stepfather, is now the prime suspect after new footage places him near the scene on the night of the murder.

This revelation changes the direction of the story completely. Viewers are quickly reminded that their past connection, along with Scott’s troubling history, makes him a plausible suspect. This fatal twist in the plot turns the situation more complicated than before, making viewers question who to trust and who to blame. 

But the show doesn’t present this as a definitive answer. Instead, it adds another layer of uncertainty, keeping everyone thinking and pondering over the real killer and their motives. Howard’s suspicious behavior, combined with the timing of this new evidence, leaves room for doubt. Is Scott being framed, or is this the truth finally coming to light?

Episode 7 ends on this cliffhanger, ensuring that the central question remains unresolved heading into the finale. The narrative now balances between two possibilities – Howard’s calculated guilt or a larger, more complicated truth involving Scott Reed.

Show Name	Imperfect Women
No. of Seasons	1
Creator	Annie Weisman
Cast	Elisabeth Moss Kerry Washington Joel Kinnaman Corey Stoll Kate Mara
IMDb (as of April 22, 2026)	5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (as of April 22, 2026)	46%|41%

Who do you think is the killer? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Imperfect Women is available to stream on Apple TV.