Sharp Objects

[Babycakes]

Aug 23, 2018 18:30:38 GMT -4 kostgard said:

Aug 22, 2018 14:41:21 GMT -4 deeconsistent said:

2)Anyone else feel that the show is VERY strongly suggesting that Camille is Amma's mother?

I feel like that is something they are putting out there, but I think there is more evidence that maybe Alan isn't Amma's father.

Some people noticed a paternity test in Amma's medical files. The guardian listed on the form is Adora, so maybe she wasn't sure? This may also explain why Alan was so pissy when he saw that Adora had been talking to Vickery (maybe they had an affair and he knows it) and may explain why when Vickery was at the house talking to Adora and then Amma walked in, he immediately made himself scarce and zipped out the door. Maybe too awkward for him to be in the same room as Adora and his illegitimate child?

That's a show only insert. There was never any mystery as to whom Amma's parents were in the book. I don't think there was any hint of flirtation between Vickery and Adora. She was shown deference because she was the richest woman in town, but that's it. That paternity test is a "blink and you'll miss it" Easter Egg. I'd hate for them to wait until the final episode and throw that into the mix. Maybe it's going to be used to give Vickery some "man-pain" for having a blind-spot about his babymama. She's sick and twisted and poisoning their lovechild! That would be awful and pedestrian. I'd rather they focused on the mystery of Camille's dad.

[deeconsistent]

When Amma was introduced, I was convinced that Camille being her mother was going to be a big part of the story. Then when Vickery stopped by to talk to Adora and Amma answered the door all weird and they openly flirted in front of Alan, I thought Vickery being Amma's father was a possibility, but maybe I was looking for clues and finding red herrings. I kind of alluded to it in one of my previous posts because it seemed like big a storyline to tack on with things moving so slowly. I don't know how either scenario would play into wrapping up the mystery and I'm not wagering on either, but in regards to Camille's behavior, she has a weird reaction every time someone mentions her having a baby (which has happened a lot in this series). The scene at the get-together in episode 6 seemed to be broadcasting "if you haven't noticed all the little things up until now, LOOK!!!" As a childless woman in her late-30s who can attest to how completely realistic and accurate that scene was, it still felt like it was trying to make a point. I don't know what the endgame would be and I wouldn't be surprised if they are both red herrings.

Aug 23, 2018 20:35:16 GMT -4 Babycakes said:

I'd rather they focused on the mystery of Camille's dad.

Maybe it's Vickery?

[Babycakes]

Aug 23, 2018 21:29:53 GMT -4 deeconsistent said:

When Amma was introduced, I was convinced that Camille being her mother was going to be a big part of the story. Then when Vickery stopped by to talk to Adora and Amma answered the door all weird and they openly flirted in front of Alan, I thought Vickery being Amma's father was a possibility, but maybe I was looking for clues and finding red herrings. I kind of alluded to it in one of my previous posts because it seemed like big a storyline to tack on with things moving so slowly. I don't know how either scenario would play into wrapping up the mystery and I'm not wagering on either, but in regards to Camille's behavior, she has a weird reaction every time someone mentions her having a baby (which has happened a lot in this series). The scene at the get-together in episode 6 seemed to be broadcasting "if you haven't noticed all the little things up until now, LOOK!!!" As a childless woman in her late-30s who can attest to how completely realistic and accurate that scene was, it still felt like it was trying to make a point. I don't know what the endgame would be and I wouldn't be surprised if they are both red herrings.

Aug 23, 2018 20:35:16 GMT -4 Babycakes said:

I'd rather they focused on the mystery of Camille's dad.

Maybe it's Vickery?

Unless they're changing it from the books, then no. Camille's dad was some random dude that broke Adora's heart. He was given maybe 4 lines of explanation in the book. I think it was implied that he was an opportunist that her family ran off. A lot of Adora's resentment of Camille was rooted in that failed relationship. Why they'd need to compound Adora's crazy by inserting a Who's The Daddy storyline is bizarre and unnecessary to me.

[kostgard]

Apparently there will be a post-credits scene in the finale, so be sure to wait for it.

[scarlet]

I'm starting my re-read of the book today. I remember not caring for it much the first time around, but I'm curious to compare and contrast with the series in mind.

[petitesuite]

Aug 24, 2018 13:08:43 GMT -4 kostgard said:

Apparently there will be a post-credits scene in the finale, so be sure to wait for it.

I will not!!!! The thought of being so confident in your shittily paced miniseries that you think you can have two episodes with basically zero plot and then put in an after-credits scene is driving me disproportionately insane. This show is beautifully crafted and acted and I am excited for the finale but this post-credits nonsense is making me do a full-body eyeroll.

[Babycakes]

Well, they screwed that up royally.

So many missed opportunities. They left out so many clues about Amma to go for the shock!wham! ending.

Don't get me wrong. Amy Adams and the actress that plays Amma acted the hell out of the first half of the episode. Even though the St. Louis arc was rushed, it was done well. But the ending scene was ridiculous. Not to mention the mid-credit and post credit scenes. Ridiculous.

And what was that scene in the bar with Richard? Was he supposed to be realizing something? I watched the episode twice and still can't decipher his aha moment.

I did tear up a bit when Camille was dying/seeing Marian, and her boss and Richard busted in and found her.

And clearly Alan was up to his eyeballs culpable. He helped hide Camille from Richard, and he kept Amma home through manipulation. I would have liked to see more explanation on his victim/martyr/co-conspirator complex.

The series started strong, and went out with a whimper. Strong acting, but too much meandering. Not enough focus on the mystery, and the breadcrumbs clues. What about the bite marks on Amma and Adora? And her friends never started to break.

And there was no payoff for the Vickery and Adora subplot. He was reluctant to arrest her, and Alan clearly knows something is going on with them, but no real payoff.

It was a wasted opportunity.

[kostgard]

Well, that was...unsatisfying. Too many unanswered questions!

I mean, my guesses were mostly right, but there was stuff I didn’t guess and I want answers!

Like, did Alan get in trouble for so obviously knowing what was going on? They at least made it known that Vickery and Adora have had an affair and Alan knew about it.

Adora was in prison for killing Natalie and Ann, but was she also in prison for clearly trying to straight-up murder Camille? (and slowly poisoning Amma for her MBP situation. And she was giving them antifreeze and rat poison? Damn, Adora). Did Camille or Amma have to testify against her?

Couldn’t blame Richard for being all, “Boy, you sure come with an insane amount of baggage, so...bye!”

Good on Camille’s editor for actually getting on a plane and going to get her. About time someone tried to pull her out of that situation.

As soon as Amma started sniping at her new friend at dinner, I thought “Oh, shit. She’s gonna kill her.” Then of course her mother comes around looking for her the next day.

But now to my major question - in the mid-credits flash, it appears that Amma had help with her murders. You can see her roller-friends holding the girls down while Amma murders them. Um, they didn’t address that Wind Gap still has little murderers rolling around? Is it addressed in the book? Was Ashley part of that group? Is that how she got the bite on her ear - one of the murder victims bit her in self-defense? And does that mean she knew John was innocent when she pointed the finger at him?

We understand why Amma is a monster. But why are her friends cool with helping her murder people? Is she really that persuasive? I really wish they had addressed that. And now it’s making me think back to the “lesbian” murder/suicide and I’m picturing Adora making that happen with an assist from Jackie.

And I kinda hated that the series ends with “No, Camille’s life isn’t actually getting better. Her little sister is a murderer like her mom. And she just killed again.” Camille needs some damn peace!

[Martini Girl]

Producers said they always knew they'd end with the reveal that Amma was the killer. I feel in the book, the last 50 pages were devoted to the reveal that both Adora and Amma were monsters. If memory serves, there was no resolution about Amma's helpers in the book. It focused on Camille's revelation that her sister was evil incarnate.

I swear, the book was so much better.

[kostgard]

I thought they did an okay job of revealing that Amma and Adora were monsters without tipping their hand completely. The actress who played Amma was especially good at giving off an air of menace. They also made it clear that she has to be the center of attention and gets upset when it doesn’t happen. It used to be that she needed all her mother’s attention (and though they didn’t say it, I assume part of the reason why she killed Ann and Natalie was because Adora was helping them and paying attention to them). She seemed to be acting out a bit at the beginning of the season as Camille was getting Adora’s (not positive) attention. Then her obsession shifted to Camille and making sure she had Camille’s attention. When she didn’t have it, she acted out. Camille spends time with Richard and seems like they are building a relationship (that will surely get Camille’s attention), act out by taunting Richard and sticking her lollipop in Camille’s hair. Camille is chatting with Richard rather than paying attention to Amma’s performance in the Calhoun Day play? Run off into the woods so Camille will freak out, fear the worst and then come looking for her. Then she suspects her new friend is kissing up to Camille, so she’s gotta go too.

But I really want to know why her friends were cool with helping her murder multiple times. And why they were all cool as cucumbers about it and no one cracked or spilled the beans. That’s a lot of teenage girls keeping a huge secret.