Sharp Objects

[deeconsistent]

Finally was able to watch the most recent episode last night.

*I feel like there were fewer flashbacks this episode and that they were more effective and coherent than they've been in any episode up until this one. At points in previous episodes, they've almost reached the level of pretentious film school senior project. I thought the flashbacks really served the story in the last episode.

*There were a lot of legitimately great scenes in this episode. At the same time, I am not sure the story was advanced at all, except for the final 5 or 10 minuutes. I'm sure that some of the information in earlier scenes will come into play in future episodes, but it was oddly uneventful for a limited series. I wasn't bored, though. I was fascinated by the scenes about Camille's parents, but I was also wondering if that storyline was given as much room in the book.

*Are we supposed to believe that Wind Gap buys into Amma's innocent act or do most people see through her? At first, the series seemed to set her up as being an extreme split personality and the face she showed her mother was so sweet sugar wouldn't melt in her mouth. Then at other times, it seems like there is quiet acknowledgement that she is sort of a problem child- or at least a not-so-secret mean girl. There was this weird tension between her and Vickery (which could be related to other things), but if Richard is on to her and they're acquainted enough that she taunts Richard by calling him "Dickie", then how could Vickery not be aware of what she's really like? I know the line about one of your daughter's being a danger was supposed to be cryptic in regards to how the audience interpreted it, but are we supposed to believe Vickery could have meant Amma? I get that there are supposed to be emerging parallels between Natalie and Amma. I guess I'm just hung up on it because the first two episodes presented that dichotomy in such an over-the-top way.

*One interesting moment was how they used "Dear Mama" by Tupac. It came almost immediately after the scene where Amma was being set up as the teen seductress, so I was prepared for them to go in a different direction.

[kostgard]

Aug 3, 2018 17:02:31 GMT -4 deeconsistent said:

*There were a lot of legitimately great scenes in this episode. At the same time, I am not sure the story was advanced at all, except for the final 5 or 10 minuutes. I'm sure that some of the information in earlier scenes will come into play in future episodes, but it was oddly uneventful for a limited series. I wasn't bored, though. I was fascinated by the scenes about Camille's parents, but I was also wondering if that storyline was given as much room in the book.

*Are we supposed to believe that Wind Gap buys into Amma's innocent act or do most people see through her? At first, the series seemed to set her up as being an extreme split personality and the face she showed her mother was so sweet sugar wouldn't melt in her mouth. Then at other times, it seems like there is quiet acknowledgement that she is sort of a problem child- or at least a not-so-secret mean girl. There was this weird tension between her and Vickery (which could be related to other things), but if Richard is on to her and they're acquainted enough that she taunts Richard by calling him "Dickie", then how could Vickery not be aware of what she's really like? I know the line about one of your daughter's being a danger was supposed to be cryptic in regards to how the audience interpreted it, but are we supposed to believe Vickery could have meant Amma? I get that there are supposed to be emerging parallels between Natalie and Amma. I guess I'm just hung up on it because the first two episodes presented that dichotomy in such an over-the-top way.

I agree that while this episode was more linear, it didn't really advance the plot all that much. We learned Wind Gap seems to have an abnormally high level of murders for a town that small if Camille could give Richard the "crime scene tour" of her town. We learned that something terrible happened to Camille, but that was really more of a confirmation because we'd seen plenty of flashbacks of her in the woods where it seemed like something bad happened to her. Then we got what really, really seemed like red herrings to me. I really don't think the brother did it, so his girlfriend cleaning up whatever she found under his bed seemed like a misdirect to me (and it looked too red to be dried blood to me, but maybe it was crappy props and it was supposed to be blood). I also don't get why she's so protective of him. She seems very image-oriented and probably wouldn't want to be still his current girlfriend if he's arrested for the murder. And I don't know what is going on with Adora and Alan, but I feel like that is an odd misdirect too.

And I also had the same question about Amma. It seems people under 21 know what she's really like, but no adults do. Like, do they not see her rollerskating around town all night, every night? Do the adults in this town just not go out after dark? She plays "troubled" for Adora at times, but I think it is just that. Adora craves the drama, and Amma gives it to her. Adora likes to go on about all the horrible things that have happened to her and she loves to play the victim (and blame Camille for everything), and I see Amma molding herself after Adora, which Adora digs. On some level she probably knows Amma is (literally) hell on wheels once the sun goes down, but I think she is in some serious denial about it because it doesn't fit the image she likes to present (she knew damn well that Camille wasn't the one who ruined her rosebushes. But Camille is the "bad" daughter, so she gets blamed for everything, logic be damned).

I've had aunts and a grandmother who were kinda like Adora. If you played their game, you got preferential treatment, regardless of whether you deserved it or not. If you refused to play into their ridiculous dramas (like I suspect Camille eventually did with Adora), you get the cold shoulder, regardless of whether you deserved it or not. Those people are exhausting.

But I am more convinced that ever that Amma knows something about the murders she isn't sharing. She is not the least bit scared about girls her age being murdered (I guess her girlfriends aren't either, but Amma is clearly Queen Bee and sets the tone. If she were nervous or scared, they would be too) and Camille is clearly far more worried about Amma's safety than Amma is. I don't think Amma's fearlessness is a put-on. It really feels like she knows something and she knows that she is safe.

[Babycakes]

Goddamn. Adora is one stone cold bitch.

I know they're padding the shit out of the show, but the acting is so good, I don't really mind. Once again, there wasn't any forward momentum on the mystery. Just Adora and Amma being monsters and Camille being whittled down even more. Also, I think they show is playing up the suspicions of the father. In the book, the brother of the second victim was the one most people suspected was the killer.

3 more episodes left. Hopefully next week will go full throttle. I just wish the episodes would leak.

ETA:

And I also had the same question about Amma. It seems people under 21 know what she's really like, but no adults do. Like, do they not see her rollerskating around town all night, every night? Do the adults in this town just not go out after dark? She plays "troubled" for Adora at times, but I think it is just that. Adora craves the drama, and Amma gives it to her. Adora likes to go on about all the horrible things that have happened to her and she loves to play the victim (and blame Camille for everything), and I see Amma molding herself after Adora, which Adora digs. On some level she probably knows Amma is (literally) hell on wheels once the sun goes down, but I think she is in some serious denial about it because it doesn't fit the image she likes to present (she knew damn well that Camille wasn't the one who ruined her rosebushes. But Camille is the "bad" daughter, so she gets blamed for everything, logic be damned).

I've had aunts and a grandmother who were kinda like Adora. If you played their game, you got preferential treatment, regardless of whether you deserved it or not. If you refused to play into their ridiculous dramas (like I suspect Camille eventually did with Adora), you get the cold shoulder, regardless of whether you deserved it or not. Those people are exhausting.

Those are some excellent observations.

[kostgard]

Yeah, Adora is...a piece of work. Camille tries to smooth things over, and in response Adora is all, “Yeah, I never loved your father. Or you. You’re totally ruined, but I kinda blame your dad, so that makes you feel better, right?”

And then Calhoun Day?! Sure, host a Confederate celebration on your front lawn that features a play where boys pantomime raping your teenage daughter. That’s totally normal.

And Amma can’t stand her sister talking to Richard instead of watching her play, so she gets the attention back by running off and causing a panic. But Adora has got to get her slice of the drama too.

Jesus. These people are monsters. I want to yell at Camille’s editor, “No! Let her leave! Her family is toxic and she needs to get away from them.”

Also, when is Elizabeth Perkins’ character going to invite Camille over, give her a good pep talk, and then plan burning the damn town down with her? She obviously sees through Adora’s bullshit and I want her to just let ‘er rip.

[Martini Girl]

Hopefully, the next episode brings out the best in Adora. I say that with total sarcasm.

I feel this limited series could have been a mini-series of 3 episodes. Nothing of substance would have been lost.

[biondetta]

This last episode really dragged. The girl with the bite marks on her ear was the only interesting bit.

[magazinewhore]

Haven't read the book, but I'm watching. I have to say I have no idea who the killer is. I have my theories.

I'm also finding this a bit impenetrable as well. And some of the dialogue is so quiet I can't hear it. But besides that I am enjoying it.

I pictured a midwestern, John Krasinski-type while I was reading the book.

I like Messina, but that would have been some nice casting too.

[Babycakes]

Aug 18, 2018 13:40:50 GMT -4 biondetta said:

This last episode really dragged. The girl with the bite marks on her ear was the only interesting bit.

This series has been more of a character study of current day Camille, than a murder mystery. I swear the book had more clues, red herrings, and plot progression. But it was also a character study of a woman in crisis, rapidly heading towards oblivion. Television Camille is just a pretty girl, with problems. Adora is a bad mom, and Amma a wild child. In the books there was more hurt, pain, anger, aggression, lashing out, and palpable unease. You could almost smell the b.o. coming off Camille. Everything she did had me face palming. Her bad decision just compounded upon themselves. There was danger around every corner. Now we have flashes of dead girls, and some nice cinematography, but I'd like more plot.

I don't mind that they had more episodes to let the characters "breathe", but we haven't gotten any real insight into them. We still know next to nothing about the Kansas City detective. The last episode was particularly meandering. The last two episodes, but let's be real, most likely the last episode is going to be jammed packed. It's going to be more like an info dump--here's the killer! Here's the motive! Surprise!

It's still an entertaining series, but not a knockout like BBL, or season 1 of True Detective.

[Martini Girl]

Agree.

The writers still haven't gotten to the good stuff about Camille's family, and I'm beginning to wonder if it's going to show up in the last 30 minutes of the series because producers thought it would pack more of a punch that way. I'm frustrated by the way the characters have been played thus far. Everything feels watered down.

I swear, the book was riveting. The series... it ... meanders.

[kostgard]

Me watching the first 10 minutes of the show tonight:

[opening credits] You know, something about the spider always sticks out at me. Like, a spider is usually feminine in literature and symbolism. So this spider wrapping up another spider like prey makes me think of a mother eating her own.

[Camille wakes up to find Adora in her room with a tray of “medicine”] Oh, fuck! She’s gonna poison her!

[Camille goes to talk to Amma, who says “The best part about getting messed up is Mama takes care of me after”] Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!

Then of course, the scene with the nurse spells it all out.

And how many people know about this? Jackie clearly did. Alan clearly knows it is happening to Amma. And the police chief seemed worried when Amma’s friends told him she was home sick. They all know and did nothing? Is Adora that effing untouchable in that town?

Camille needs to get out of there. Sleeping with John? Yeah, they share a similar pain. But he’s 18! And she had that motel room still and yet she’s staying with her mother? WHY? Get out of there! And yeah, Mr Editor, you never should have sent her there! You should have told her to get on a plane ages ago.

They have a lot to wrap up next week. John clearly didn’t kill the girls. We need to find out who did (though I’m now convinced it is one of the strawberry blondes in that big house) and Adora needs her comeuppance.