Silverstone, Suvari in dramatic return

Beverly Hills, 1975.

Bonnie Nolan (Alicia Silverstone, pictured) wants to throw her husband Steve (James Tupper) a birthday party to remember.

But societal conventions and his strict control of the finances are throwing her plans into disarray. The mother of two daughters can’t even get his present, a watch, engraved without it going onto his account and spoiling the surprise, Bonnie says to her friends as they lunch by the pool.

However, Kathleen (Mena Suvari) and Diana (Jennifer Bartels) have problems of their own.

While the former sees her funding of her new boyfriend’s casting studio as an ‘‘investment’’ both financially and in their relationship, the others aren’t so sure of his motives. And although Diana seems to have a successful career, the truth is she’s overworked and underpaid, especially compared to her male counterparts.

Events, though, come to a head when Steve calls home one evening to say he’s stuck at work. Already suspicious because he’s changed his long-standing aftershave, his ‘‘excuse’’ of a ‘‘real estate emergency’’ just doesn’t sit right with her.

Packing the girls into the car, she heads down to his office and is relieved to spy the lights on and him in discussion with one of his colleagues. That thought immediately turns to horror, though, as she witnesses him hurriedly leave armed with a bunch of flowers. Before she can confront him, though, she and her children are accosted by some criminals with nefarious motives of their own. However, Bonnie is in no mood to be intimidated. ‘‘I’m going to grab the tyre iron from my car and make friends with the side of your face,’’ she warns them, to their immense shock.

‘‘Let that be a lesson to you girls,’’ she then tells her daughters, ‘‘always stand up for yourself.’’

Still steaming after driving home, Bonnie then launches into her dalliant husband when he tries to sneak in undetected. ‘‘I assume you not only sold the house – you built it,’’ she spits, before sharing what she knows about his nocturnal activities. ‘‘I always put you first, but I won’t do this – I won’t be shamed by you,’’ Bonnie adds, before handing him the birthday watch. ‘‘It works, but the inscription [which reads My Love Forever, Bonnie] doesn’t.’’

However, as she is about to discover, disentangling her life from Steve and making her own way financially, in 1970s Los Angeles, is no small matter.

Apparently inspired by Little House on the Prairie and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards’ childhood, John Riggi’s (The Comeback, 30 Rock) 12-part dramedy American Woman (which debuts on Lightbox on August 24) doubles as a terrific comeback showcase for seemingly lost 1990s icons Silverstone (Clueless) and Suvari (American Beauty, American Pie). The former in particular shines as a woman forced to wrestle back control of her own life and destiny.

While it lacks the insightful dramatics or compelling characters of similarly themed period shows like Masters of Sex and The Deuce, the period detail is impressive and it feels timely given the events in Hollywood and the wider world during the past year.

For those missing their once-weekly dose of Mad Men or Desperate Housewives .– James Croot