Lets go character by character to break down this episode.
And well start with Jane.
Shailene Woodleys Jane has been hiding a lot.
Credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/HBO
Weve gathered glimpses of her backstory through flashbacks, and we understand the toll theyve taken on her.
But lets back up a bit.
Janes moments of joy with her son are overshadowed by the memories shes trying to outrun.
She stares off into the ocean, forgetting that its time for dinner.
His outburst, in front of Madeline, finally allows Jane to tell her story for the first time!
We also learn her rapists name: Saxon Banks.
Though there is no trace of him on Google, be sure we will learn his identity.
Woodley is terrific in this part.
The damage all feels so real.
Really Perry, you love Elsa that much?
Once he backs off, she screams at him: I will leave you.
You touch me like that again and I will fucking leave you.
Its the one thing he cant hear.
NEXT: Madelines eldest daughter makes a big decision
Now lets move on to Madeline.
Witherspoons face says it all.
Yes, she pulls over on the side of the road to cry when it all gets too much.
But then she moves on.
But you dont have cancer, he says.
I would be willing to get it.
And also absurd since they are nine years apart.
Despite Vallee and Co. correcting that error, Im having trouble understanding Renatas character.
Shes both absurdly broad and quietly relatable.
When they flash to her daughters birthday party and shes dancing with Zoe Kravitzs Bonnie, I understand her.
I even understand her hyper-attention to her only daughter.
That makes sense to me.
Come on, that would never happen to a woman whos made it that far in her career.
It would diminish everything shes taken so long to earn.
She would never be so reckless.
If we could make Derns character as real as Witherspoons, this miniseries will feel fully realized.
I have faith we can get there.
