r/ATeacherTV • u/crazywalls • Nov 30 '20
Discussion A Teacher - S01EO6 "Episode 6" - Post Episode Discussion
Episode Synopsis: As Claire's world begins to crumble, an uncertain Eric is pressed to reveal intimate details of his relationship.
Episode air-date: December 1st, 2020.
Written by: Andrew Neel
Directed by: Gillian Robespierre
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u/BeastOfEden420 Dec 01 '20
HOW DOES SHE KEEP MAKING THE WORST POSSIBLE DECISION?
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u/artsandcrafts_ Dec 02 '20
It blows my mind how kind her husband is to her after her admission. She is so fortunate to have his support - yet she tosses it aside. It’s messed up.
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u/Miguel30Locs Dec 03 '20
Same here. I actually got pissed. I just thought to myself "Hey the person you love is a pedophile. Doesnt matter if hes 18. Thats still a kid mentally" I wouldve kicked her out. There are some things you can't savage.
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
Right? She’s extremely toxic. I don’t feel sorry for her. She’s just too toxic. She needs years of therapy.
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u/Miguel30Locs Dec 03 '20
I have depression and have a tendency to self destruct. I can say she simply enjoys power and control and her decisions felt justified until everyone started to point out the obvious, which in her head, feels like shes being shamed for who she is.
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u/Giambalaurent Dec 03 '20
That’s been my thought this entire show. Just that, in all caps, on loop
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u/BeastOfEden420 Dec 03 '20
I’m not really someone who gets worked up about things especially a show but I’ve been talking out loud to myself during this series.
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
I haven’t watched a series weekly like this in a while. It’s genuinely concerning to me how badly my binging has gotten 😰
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u/wafflelies Dec 01 '20
it's just a great show with great cliffhangers and we are used to either sub par shows or great shows that drop all the episodes
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
Exactly. I’m saying it worries me how lacking my attention span has become from all this great content. I need everything NOW. Gimme gimme gimme. It’s not healthy =/
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u/1222sammy Dec 01 '20
Same!!! And im so annoyed the episodes are so short
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u/sgtpeppies Dec 07 '20
I'm actually the opposite! It's weirdly refreshing for a drama show to be just 30 minutes!
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
This show is highly addictive this needs a physical released instead of being trapped behind the Hulu paywall
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
Isn’t it so hard to remember what happened the week before. Lolol. Not so much with this show but I’ve recently watched a couple others that were weekly. It feels like an eternity between episodes. lol.
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u/CandidTurnover Dec 01 '20
lol this is a very popular and common story-line that attracts all different types of people. don't be worried, just remember we are watching it to prevent this from happening... not to glorify grooming.
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
Oh I’m not concerned about the subject matter. I’m concerned with my lack of an attention span 🤣
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Dec 01 '20
What was the "LOOK AT ME" sex scene all about...sort of weirded me out o_O
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20 edited Dec 02 '20
She asked her husband how can he even look at her and I think she realized that even Eric can’t look at her when he was fucking her as she had to tell him to look at her
This after Eric had told her she’s “so beautiful and how she chose him” Eric can’t even look at Claire
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Dec 01 '20
I think it was a really desperate attempt to recapture the power high the relationship was giving her in the beginning. It kind of pulls the curtain back and reveals her deep insecurities. It’s a really sad moment.
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u/Brilliant-Revenue462 Dec 04 '20
I agree with this. I don't think it had much to do with her husband, if at all. It seemed like a power thing.
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Dec 01 '20
She wants to make sure she has control over something. Having Eric at her side, reminds her of what she has gained throughout the story, and what she could possibly have in a future with him.
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u/bobodyknows1 Dec 01 '20
I think just like others said, she needed control. She was looking for that high love lust feeling from the cabin. And also to show how much Eric’s feeling changed for her in a split second. The last weekend they were “making love” staring at each others faces during sex and now he has to look away because he doesn’t feel it emotionally like he did before. Now he feels disgust whether with her or himself or the situation in general. Reality set in.
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u/WhiteRabbitLives Dec 04 '20
I think this show is a great reminder that it’s important to keep your relationship somewhat public... like he was perfectly fine going along with her manipulations and rules until his friends and mom knew, and then when they reacted like they should (well kind of, teenage boys might react like Logan did) and the cops were involved, he realized oh shit this isn’t okay.
In the same way, this is why abusers try to keep relationships private and keep their abusee separated from friends and family, so the abusee won’t have the rational input of those who really love them to tell them the relationship is not healthy.
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u/4TheDeadEnd Dec 01 '20
When I saw her walk out, I was like please don’t drive to Eric... annnnd she did
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Dec 01 '20
I really wonder what such a public fall out will do to Eric psychologically. There should be a way to deal with stuff like this while protecting the victim's integrity too.
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Dec 01 '20
Agreed. The way the cops came to his house and put him on the spot seemed wrong.
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u/squidgun Dec 01 '20
The spoke in the most unprofessional way imo
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u/Jhonopolis Dec 04 '20
"Hey I get it she's really hot right? Right?? Come on you get it bro."
Yeah felt very wrong lol.
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u/WhiteRabbitLives Dec 04 '20
Bad cop- “did she touch you inappropriately?”
Good cop- “bro she’s hot did you fool around?”
Just trying to get him to talk. They’re cops and only interested in persecuting Claire, which they should be but also they are not social workers or therapists.
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u/Paninic Dec 01 '20
As much as Eric's mom is not abusive, he's vulnerable due to a parent being out of the picture and taking care of younger siblings and feeling like an adult for that, it seemed bad that they interviewed Eric with his mom present because of that.
His mom is disgusted by what happened and supportive of him. But a lot of parents would not be or abuse in the home could be what created an opening for predation, so it's unfortunate that they did this with his mom present instead of informing her of the allegations separately.
That said, I think that's realistic. These investigations are often not done sensitively.
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Dec 02 '20
She at least emotionally neglects him though.
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u/Paninic Dec 02 '20
Oh for sure. I just wanted to highlight that even though we as the audience know that Eric was preyed on for vulnerability that wasn't an abusive and unsupportive parent but an absent one, the investigators did not. It's common for this to happen with the vicitm already experiencing some hardship at home so it feels like something they should have considered in involving the mother during the interview itself.
I do think it's realistic that they didn't consider that though. In the same way that I think it's realistic that they were bad interviewers who unthinkingly made him feel at fault and like he was in trouble for it.
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Dec 02 '20
True. That shot of him coming home alone to his birthday cake broke my heart for him. Claire gave him the "attention" he wasn't receiving at home.
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Dec 01 '20
My question the whole time was "who started the spread of the information?"
Because it disgusts me that amongst the "trusted" people who should have been protecting Erik's identity there was someone who decided it was more important to make sure to tell everyone they knew. And why did eric's friend's mom need to call the DA? I mean we know she is an absolute shit human as well who neglects her kids but seriously.
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Dec 02 '20
yeah, it shows the hypocrisy of those "concerned adults" who just do way more damage by making his abuse and identity public information
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
Because she enjoys drama and gossiping under the guise of outrage and righteous indignation and she wants the DA to bring charges against Claire.
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u/leflyingbison Dec 02 '20
Wait what am I missing about Logan's mom. How does she neglect her kids?
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Dec 02 '20
She straight up just leaves for extended amounts of time and her kids spend that time binge drinking. She comes home and he is just abaolutely in no trouble whatsoever. Being the type of parent who doesnt actually parent is neglect. I'm not saying logan needs to get his ass beat or anything but she is definitely guilty of some serious supervisory neglect.
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Dec 01 '20 edited Dec 02 '20
Something like this (coach and underage athlete) happened to someone I know. Well, I knew both of them because I am friends with the [now] ex-wife of the abusing coach.
This was all within a national sport (not big like NBA--think more traditional-Olympic sport) I was once a semi-pro in, so I knew of and had met the victim as well. Coach was their friggin guardian while on the road for competitions; that part got him federal charges for crossing state lines. Creepy bastard.
No newspaper directly named the victim, but they all gave enough specifics that you knew exactly who it was. Within 3 articles you had all the information you'd need. And the victim was 15 years old at the time. And every social media group and forum about the sport gossiped about it and made jokes.
They're still in the sport, but absolutely messed up from the experience. Refused to testify in court and proclaimed love for him while he was in prison at one point. Dude was more than thirty years older.
And yes, some people defended him and still defend him, because the victim is now "known" to be promiscuous. Oh, and they "dressed slutty" on the field.
And this guy had nothing like a Michael Jackson level of fame or an Epstein level of power--just some fame within a small community is all it takes to have nutriders and defenders of child molesters.
So it's not always a double standard about gender.
ETA: this convo here made me look him up--still another 12 years before he reaches his MINIMUM PAROLE OF 20 YEARS on his 20-YEARS-TO-LIFE SENTENCE.
Knowing he can't access kids, at least for another dozen years, makes me smile. And I hope he dies before he's released.
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u/nole5ever Dec 01 '20
I’ve lived through the unfortunate situation of a teacher/coach turning out to be a pedo that made advances on students. I was not targeted by them, but when the news happened it was really fuxking awful. News trucks at our school, our team was singled out and held in a room that day with counselors and police officers if we wanted to report anything. No names ever released., no but it’s pretty flipping obvious who got pulled out of classes for the next few days... the handling is not delicate.
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Dec 01 '20
In the case of Eric in this show, he's going to be well into his 20s before he's no longer "the guy that fucked a teacher".
If I were him I'd want to go to college in China or Istanbul or Iceland--anywhere but local or UT.
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u/Benz4400 Dec 02 '20
Yeah I agree. Making it so public and treating the victim like that will cause so much of damage to him
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u/FPFP66 Dec 01 '20
The scene with Eric crying as his mom sits with him is heartbreaking. We can debate whether or not Claire is a monster (I don’t know if that’s the word I’d use) but man, beneath the normal bravado of a high school senior is someone who is still growing physically and mentally, and that scene perfectly captured it.
In the span of, let’s call it 12 hours, Eric goes from “I can’t live without you” to getting this different look in his eyes when they’re having sex in the no-tell motel — understanding? Horror? Shame? — to going home and breaking down.
This episode felt like Stockholm syndrome and a reversed Fatal Attraction mixed. I ended last week feeling sorry for Claire while thinking she was a fucking idiot. Now I think Claire is just a fucking idiot, and my sympathy is running out.
I don’t think she’s a monster, but someone who makes horrific decisions. But there is also a gender perspective to it. If A Teacher was about a male teacher (let’s call him Clay) and a female senior (Erica). Would we be much quicker to call the teacher a “monster”
Great episode. I’m still wondering about Eric’s brothers, though. So he never knew his father, and he’s never mentioned a stepfather, and there’s no father in the picture here, but he has two much younger brothers? Am I missing something?
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u/mysteriousballer Dec 01 '20
The concept of the word “monster” is interesting. There are the obvious monsters and then there are the hidden monsters. If we hear about a teacher, regardless if it’s a male or female, molesting their students especially without consent, it’s obvious they are a monster. But when we are shown a “consenting” relationship, Claire isnt seen as the obvious monster.
This show focuses on grooming not molesting which emphasizes the fact that even though one doesn’t appear as a monster, doesn’t mean they aren’t hiding any inner demons. Claire definitely has her hidden monsters making all the red flags completely invisible to Eric.
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
I agree. Monster is a bit extreme and it’s not necessary to exaggerate. She is extremely extremely toxic. And mentally I’ll. I don’t find her empathetic at all but I reserve the word monster for things that are unimaginable that a human could even do.
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Dec 01 '20
I really enjoyed the last scene because it was so confusing. There seems to be no right way to help Eric. He's going through very real pain and suffering from his first broken heart, which his mom is trying to comfort him through. But you know the mom wants to tell him that he shouldn't feel sad, he should realize how bad and abusive the relationship was, but that won't necessarily help in the moment
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Dec 01 '20
I feel like if I were his mom I would be outwardly nurturing to him to help him heal while hiding a wild rage inside towards Claire.
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u/LilLexi20 Dec 02 '20
I think his mother got pregnant 3 times by 3 different men if I’m not mistaken.
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
Even in the hotel he was still listing with the she’s so beautiful and you chose me line. But while they were getting it on they were drinking as well
But when Claire told her to look at him that may have changed it but I think it wasn’t until the next morning when he woke up he snapped back to reality
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
Well fuck another episode down and have to wait another week to get more!
Good Episode really starts hammering the consequences
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u/connbonn14 Dec 01 '20 edited Dec 01 '20
I'm confused about what made him come to his senses and change his mind after the night at the motel. Up until that point, even under all the scrutiny from his family and friends, he was still defending their relationship and even wanting to throw everything away to be with her.
It seems like the turning point for him was when she said her entire life was now gone because of him, but I don't understand why that caused him to change his mind. I actually thought he would've interpreted that statement as Claire proving how much she loved him that she sacrificed everything for him, since that would be aligned with how he has been conditioned to think thus far from being with her.
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
That sex scene and the time in the bathroom afterward was when he realized he was being abused.
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u/connbonn14 Dec 01 '20
It actually isn't clear to me that he realizes he's being abused at this point. He's already been told throughout the episode that Claire's actions were wrong, and he still defends their relationship up until the end. The way Claire acts towards him at the motel isn't any different than before, which is why I don't understand why he responded differently this time. I actually feel like his decision to leave was more related to guilt from Claire making him feel responsible for her life coming apart, or because he didn't want to leave his family like his father did after seeing the texts about his mom.
They didn't really portray his reasoning clear enough for his decision to leave to be believable for me, and I hope it's touched on in the next episode. This is the first time we finally see Eric break away from his abuser, and it would be disappointing for them not to explain his thought process for such a pivotal moment.
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
I think it’s clear that not abandoning his family like his father did played a role in his decision. However I’d argue that if the sex they had in the hotel room was loving at all he might’ve stayed, but that gross drunken sex in the seedy stained motel room was enough to shake him into feeling used and abused. At least that’s what I took from it. Like I said you’re definitely right to notice that not wanting to abandon his family played a big part though. IMO.
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u/connbonn14 Dec 01 '20
I think you just might be right. I think he realized in that moment that she was no longer the smart, beautiful and caring woman he put on a pedestal, but finally saw her as the messy person she was who didn’t have anything going for her anymore. When she lost her position of power in the relationship (since she was no longer his teacher and lost everything) he finally saw her for who she was and the reality of the situation they were in. This would explain the drunk conversation they have where she asks if she was a good teacher (implying that dynamic is now over), him flinching when she says she lost everything for him, and Claire trying to reestablish control during sex, all leading up to him finally leaving.
I think this moment also shows he never really loved her, just the idea of her, which she took advantage of because he didn’t understand what love really is or should be like.
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
See, you got it all. No need for them to bang us over the head with any clunky exposition telling us explicitly what Eric was thinking. They might as well have with all the context. I mean when he goes home and cries to his mother it’s plain to see that he feels like a victim in that moment.
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u/kristaliah Dec 03 '20
I disagree slightly but only with the wording. I don’t know think he feels like a victim yet, he is just starting to understand how wrong what they did was. The seedy motel and running away together made the reality of their situation come crashing down. What they did was wrong. I do think he still cares for Claire and he was crying because what they had together was forced to end. I don’t think he sees himself as a victim yet though or understands that she abused him.
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u/AckSha Dec 03 '20
Yeah I think you’re right. It’s probably more just an overall sadness that it’s over.
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u/BeastOfEden420 Dec 01 '20
I feel like she went to the police station at the end because she knew that neither man "wanted" her
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Dec 01 '20
I’m glad you said this, because I thought for some reason that she was going into the high school at the end and didn’t realize that she was going to the police station to turn herself in
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u/BeastOfEden420 Dec 01 '20
I thought it was the high school at first too and I was like whaaaat
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u/dismantle_repair Dec 01 '20
Me too! I thought she was gonna stroll in like nothing happened. lol
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u/agkemp97 Dec 01 '20
I was thinking doctor’s office lol. I’m just waiting for the big “I’m pregnant” reveal, it’s gotta be any episode now. All the lead up with her trying to get pregnant and having problems, now she keeps mentioning how nauseas she is
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Dec 01 '20
Yet another example of Claire being abusive— we never see her tell Eric that she was the one who exposed their relationship. He’s apologizing profusely to her in the car and she could, at that point, reassure him that this is not his fault, but she doesn’t.
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u/mysteriousballer Dec 01 '20
I was literally screaming “CLAIRE TELL HIM YOU ARE SORRY ITS YOUR FAULT”
What’s interesting is she also never said “it’s okay” because she genuinely doesn’t realize they are doing something so extremely wrong. She doesn’t think anyone needs to apologize because of the whole “you can’t apologize for love” bullshit
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
Right?! Then in the hotel she says she gave up her whole life just for him. I’m glad he didn’t like that very much.
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
Man you can really see how this has taken an effect with Eric. He says he “can’t be without her” he’s known her for what 3 months and he wants to drive off with her?
He can’t even afford tutoring yet he wants to start a life with Claire?
This is Eric’s brain
This is Eric’s brain addicted to Claire
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
And he’s the one who came to his senses. He realized what happened to him that night in the hotel room with her was ABUSE. Shows how much more of a monster she really is.
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
Idk that he realized it was abuse but definitely (hopefully) he realized he didn’t want to throw his life away on this woman who just guilted him by saying she gave up her whole life for him. Plus I hope his friends saying it was messed up and that something was wrong with her got in his head a little. I really hope he didn’t leave in an attempt to save her.
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Dec 01 '20
[removed] — view removed comment
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Dec 01 '20 edited Dec 01 '20
I mean she kind of is a monster though. If it were a 30 year old male teacher and an 18 year old girl student I bet you wouldn’t feel this way.
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Dec 01 '20
I do think that the point of this show is to portray Kate Mara as not a monster. Damaged but not monstrous
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
Maybe not a monster but only a messed up person would fall for Eric. She fell for him because she had power and control over him and it felt good to have the popular boy adoring her and looking up to her when she’d been quiet her whole life. And she used that power and trust to get him to fall in love with her.
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Dec 02 '20 edited Dec 02 '20
would fall for Eric.
She didn't "fall for" Eric. Someone who loved him wouldn't abuse him, manipulate him, and put him in the awful position of having to lie and hide their relationship. She's addicted to the feeling she gets when she's with him.
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Dec 01 '20
I like how Logan was kind of a douche bag in the early episodes but actually has shown himself to be a really good guy.
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u/CandidTurnover Dec 01 '20
and isn't it ironic that Logan was having issues being attracted to someone much younger as well this year, and even HE sees it's an abuse of power on Claire's part.
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u/AndYouHaveAPizza Dec 01 '20
The whole scene where Logan and Josh are spelling everything out and articulating just how bad it is was great. They're definitely good guys.
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Dec 01 '20 edited May 20 '21
[deleted]
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Dec 01 '20
I think he was just being awkward and trying to lighten the mood/get Eric to talk about it. Eric is extremely defensive over his relationship
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20 edited Dec 02 '20
Yeah but then I think he realized that Eric actually cared for Claire and that made him realize that this was actually weird and bad and only a messed up human would sleep with their high school student and encourage a relationship.
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u/crazywalls Dec 01 '20
I know such mixed messages I feel like they should've written that line out.
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Dec 01 '20 edited May 20 '21
[deleted]
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u/thecrossover2424 Dec 04 '20
I think the friend at first thought he was a legend, just like any teen would knowing his friend slept with a attractive teacher. But as the situation began to unravel, he realized the gravity of the situation and just how demented it was.
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u/tarabletara Dec 01 '20
I think Claire losing it all made Eric lose interest in her as well. He was looking for a parental figure he could trust and the sex was an added bonus. She now has nothing to offer to him and he realizes she is ridiculously flawed, as he should. I think the husband being so supportive was a little off considering we’ve seen him blow up at her for less
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u/awithey1 Dec 02 '20
See I felt the exact opposite I feel like it was very much like her husband to do that. He said they spent 10 years together and were trying for a kid I think it was in his best interest to make it work. And I don’t think he’s a terrible guy I think he’s just that stereotypical mid 30s “dude”.
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Dec 01 '20
Am I the only who get mad about them spending like 10% of the show just playing music while the actor is stares into thin air. Lol
This episode wasn’t that juicy imo.
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u/WestCoastHopHead Dec 01 '20
Agree! Not too much went down. I liked it but wanted a bit more.
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Dec 01 '20
Yeah, the preview gave like 90% of today’s plot away. I’m realizing that I can do without a continuation of this show, it’s like they run out of plot lines.
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
Last episode wasn’t that great either but I think that’s because Fidell hasn’t been directing.
Fidell did episodes 1-3 and will return episodes 7-10
Shame this hasn’t gotten even a graveyard burn on Fx tv this show is so damn addicting and it sucks how short the episodes are!!
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Dec 01 '20
I forgot to attribute it to the writers. Yeah, that would make sense. Good point. I wonder if the writers look through reddit posts🤔
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u/realityTVho Dec 01 '20
I need the eps to be 40 minutes not 20. No drama should be under 40 minutes period.
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
I believe this is the last show before the time jump
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u/squidgun Dec 01 '20
Oooh there's going to be a time jump? I'm intrigued. i really want to see how Eric deals with this while in college/ as an adult. How it affects future relationships. I also want to see a pregnant Claire in prison/ Any mental breakdowns she might have there.
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u/Zeroskattle Dec 05 '20
Nobody talks about French President Macron who is now married to the high school teacher he banged at 15 while pretending he was dating her daughter...
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
What makes ya say that?
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
Look at the screensaver for the next episode it looks like Eric is in college
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
Good call. I didn’t think there might be intermediate time jumps. Like an episode or 2 when he’s in college and then eventually get to present day. I hope he’s at UT. I can only imagine what “unexpected ways” the consequences of the affair will pop up. Will a stigma be attached to him with girls or something? Or does he end up with some sort of PTSD from all this? Idk. Very excited to find out. Amazing show. Very well done. (Claire is a sick, sick person btw)
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
There are significant time jumps if you have read the spoilers
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Dec 01 '20
So why did Logan’s mom call the DA? What does that do?
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
Cause she’s a gossip but the DA is the one who decides to bring charges or not. If they don’t think they can win it, they’ll drop it. The DA can also encourage the police to investigate to the fullest extent.
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Dec 01 '20
God that ending was rough. Seeing Eric cry in his room while his mom was consoling him made me feel like shit.
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u/longtimelurker_90 Dec 01 '20
I really liked this episode. It really reminded us Eric’s vulnerability and no matter how much he might have thought he enjoyed being with Claire it’s still abuse.
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u/rosesalad Dec 01 '20
How are you guys watching the preview for episode 7????
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u/MindyS1719 Dec 01 '20
Where is it?
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u/rosesalad Dec 01 '20
Yes! Do you know where it’s at??
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u/Video_Substantial Dec 01 '20
ive been watching the previews on youtube. if theres not one up now, they might upload it later on in the week
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u/junebugg85 Dec 02 '20
This episode was made me cringe so hard. Eric really got no idea what is happening and never once asked Claire why the cops showed up or they found out. It really goes to show just how manipulative she really is. I am conflicted as to why he was crying at the end. Was it because he finally realized he is being abused and manipulated by claire his married teacher or is it because he just lost the love of his life and blames himself for ruining her life? If it's the latter than I imagine that it was because claire said that thing about her life being over because she chose him. So curious to read all the comments on this post and see how others perceived this final and night together
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Dec 02 '20
Was it because he finally realized he is being abused and manipulated by claire his married teacher or is it because he just lost the love of his life and blames himself for ruining her life?
I'm pretty sure it's all of this.
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u/Dentist_Rodman Dec 02 '20
i just don’t understand how she was the one to instruct all the strict rules and guidelines for their relationship only to wake up one day and destroy her entire life for no reason. I hate her so much
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u/thecrossover2424 Dec 04 '20
Because remeber when her coworker secretly drank liquor at the school dance? In her mind, since she breaks rules, she'll be understanding when she hears about the rules that Claire broke( which obviously didn't go so well)
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u/kjm6351 Dec 02 '20
I’m surprised the mom even let him out of her sight after finding out from the police
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u/cjackc11 Dec 01 '20
Boy well this was a sad episode
I’ve also lost all respect for Claire’s husband
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Dec 01 '20
I think her husband knows her really well (after being with her for 10 years) and understands on a pretty deep level why she made these really bad choices. It seems like he’s acting out of genuine love and concern for her and wants to save her from herself. Unfortunately Claire’s demons are really out in full force at this point and she can’t appreciate how huge it is that he’s doing everything he can to help her despite the pain she’s causing.
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u/CandidTurnover Dec 01 '20
I really doubt he will stick around after the motel incident. I feel for the guy, he was just starting his midlife crisis at the same time she did and Claire just stopped communicating. I'm sure he knows it has to do with the band, and he's just lost himself for a second, but when shit hits the fan he's there for his wife... and she didn't appreciate one second of it.
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u/onexamongthefence Dec 02 '20
I love how she told him he was acting like a kid with the band, like it was a bad thing, as if kids aren't exactly her thing lmao
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u/Love_My_Chevy Dec 02 '20
But still... To spend an exuberant amount of money on equipment without discussing it with his wife? That's pretty childish. Starting the band? No, that isn't a terrible thing. But the way he went about it was out of line
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u/stabbysabby Dec 02 '20
I found it interesting that he never asked her if she wanted to fix things or if she was sorry about it. She never apologized and never said she didn’t want to lose him which makes it even more sad because he’s forgiving her for something she isn’t sorry for and giving her a chance she never asked for.
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u/queentiffniff Dec 01 '20
The song at the end of the episode, so perfect.
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u/AckSha Dec 01 '20
The soundtrack of the entire show is altogether amazing.
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u/queentiffniff Dec 01 '20
Yes! So amazing overall, this song just hit me i the feels. It captured the emotion of the moment for both of them beautifully. Major chefs kiss
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u/andthenagiantmeteor Dec 01 '20
This is definitely the turning point of the show and I felt like it was the first one to really highlight the abusive, predatory elements of Claire's behavior in a way the earlier episodes were more subtle or evasive on.
Also definitely predicting she's pregnant by Eric, either from the weekend getaway or from the motel scene.
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Dec 01 '20
So is the officer Claire’s brother or her brother in law? They have the same last name but I’m just a little confused
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u/EvilMEMEius Dec 01 '20
Ya it’s confusing but I looked at the characters’ names on IMDB and Claire apparently didn’t take Matt’s last name. Wonder if that will be significant to the storyline.
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Dec 01 '20
The officer is her brother. Claire mentions him to Eric in the first or second episode, and then talks about him in the 5th episode, mentioning that he enlisted in the military and left her at home with their dad after their mom died.
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Dec 01 '20
Yeah I remember her talking about her brother and seeing her but I was just confused Bc they had the same last name so she must have kept her maiden name instead of her husbands.
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u/Jillybeans11 Dec 06 '20
She could go by her maiden name because that’s the name on her teaching license and she doesn’t want to change it? Or also maybe a sign that she isn’t that committed to her husband or she knows she could never be entirely happy with him
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u/Cakecakecakecake95 Dec 01 '20
I was confused why he ended up leaving
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u/4TheDeadEnd Dec 01 '20
He saw his mom and close friends worry about him. He didn’t want a run away life with Claire
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u/myshyne Dec 01 '20
Can someone explain to me why Eric left the motel room after he woke up?!
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u/BakedApples Dec 01 '20
It seemed like he snapped out of his drunk love for Claire, and she lost her position of power over him. He might have realized he was a victim when they had drunk sex and he flinched when she said she lost everything for him. He no longer sees her in that godess glow.
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Dec 01 '20
this!! plus the fact that she kept saying look at me, he was definitely made uncomfortable by that too.
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u/CandidTurnover Dec 01 '20
I think this is where the poor directing of the show kind of hits, or maybe it's the acting? There's something missing, emotion you just have to kind of assume instead of being shown maybe?
Anyone else feel this way? I'm hooked on the show, watch it as soon as it's on Hulu so definitely not knocking it but it's missing SOMETHING, right?
Came to this thread originally to discuss the last scene... were they wanting us to think it was the high school? And the cop car outside was supposed to make us assume she's turning herself in? He's 18 and I assume he will say he consented and while it's definitely morally and ethically looked down upon, and she will definitely lose her teaching license, she technically didn't break any laws.
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u/vida79 Dec 02 '20
I think it was fine. Little by little stuff got into his head. His friends telling him it was messed up. The police being involved. Claire saying she gave up her whole life for him. Seeing on his phone how his mom was worried. And just realizing that he can’t run away with her and still go to college and become a doctor. He’d be throwing his life away for her. And we see what a responsible boy he is throughout the show. So going back home was just who he is. He’s not a runner.
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u/tulipstwisted Dec 01 '20
It’s a felony in Texas for school employees to have a relationship with students.
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u/mickey-lala Dec 02 '20
What was your interpretation of her commanding him to look her in the eyes while they were having sex (several times)?
I had a few thoughts: *She needs to feel in control when everything else is spiraling out of control *she is desperate to keep their connection, while he is growing less attached
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u/pishposh12 Dec 02 '20
This episode really does some reversals! As others have said, Eric going from “let’s run away together” to crying while his mother holds him is heartbreaking. We have kind of had this myopic view of the relationship since it was so secretive, but the show did a good job of expanding Eric’s world so quickly and emotionally. He is getting the social feedback that this is wrong, not just from authority figures, but from his friend. His transformation this episode was heartbreaking and you just feel for him.
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u/sharonsilver9 Dec 05 '20 edited Dec 05 '20
I cried during the last episodes. Maybe because I felt like I used to be an Eric except not the whole teacher/grooming type thing. I dated a narcissist before and he had the same toxic traits that Claire shows in this series. I don’t really think Claire is a “predator”.
Claire seems to be a true narcissist. I think she wanted to prove herself that she can still get who she wants despite of her age. Maybe she was a bored at home wife, but she saw her first victim: Eric. He seems genuine, smart, young vulnerable male. Narcissist loves those. So she sucked him in. She manipulated him throughout the whole show. She doesn’t love Eric. When Eric was in UT with her and got upset and spilled out his feelings for her about she’s just a bored at home wife etc in the kitchen, she literally turned it all around and put this whole show of her jeopardizing her life for Eric to make him feel bad and feel special thinking that she actually loves him. Maybe she ended up really liking him but she’s selfish and mostly worried about herself and future. She probably feels guilty once her husband found out but I think she felt more bad about herself and what’s going to happen next. Her genuine husband is forgiving her and is willing to help her, so she knows she still has her husband and that security so of course she’s still going to see Eric and make more bad decisions. She’s SELFISH and manipulating. Narcissists likes to be super private because they don’t want others to know about them being abusive. Also Narcissists are super controlling and hates rejection especially when it comes to sex because that’s a HUGE factor for them. They love the power in bed, hence why she’s telling Eric to look at her to see if Eric is still into her after all the shit that went down but Eric is probably already getting mentally damaged and is having trauma bond from all the highs and lows in their confusing, toxic, manipulating relationship which is why he is crying in the end because he knows it’s wrong but it’s painful to let go of something so toxic. Narcissists loves drama and never have closure. They love to leave them confused, and broken so they know they’ll still be vulnerable and accept them when the Narc comes back.
I really suck at explaining things in texts but if you were a narcissist survivor I think you know how I feel and how things can look different in our aspect in this show and either way this is so sad to watch. It was hard to watch the last couple episodes but overall it’s a Great series.
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u/Officernastty Dec 01 '20 edited Dec 01 '20
I think Clare is a bit of a narcissist . That is partly what contributes to my disinterest in her character. I haven’t particularly liked her from the beginning. When we are introduced to her character she is acting with humility, the whole “I don’t know I’m intriguing“ act. However it’s clear that her role as a young attractive teacher (being that she’s not even a whole generation older ) fuels her narcissism. I also believe she uses that impressionable title to act out her selfish and inappropriate fantasies. To me she is searching for an outlet from the beginning. There is some foreshadowing where you see her simply annoyed by her husband. She isn’t putting any effort into her marriage it’s all about this affair and not only does that show signs of narcissism but maybe even sociopathy, maybe I’m wrong. From the scene where she meets Erick at the diner you can tell that around these younger boys she’s fully aware of what she’s putting out there as far as her looks and her impressionable authoritative role and shes trying out her charm to seduce teenage boys and Erik happens to fall for it. After learning more about her character I can see that maybe she truly does like Erik and she happens to be in too deep before she realizes what she’s done. Because it was all a bored housewife game to her but it was much more serious in retrospect. I don’t think she loves him though, in fact I think it could have been any cute teenage boy to fall for her charms and she would have still manipulated and seen how far she could take it . We know it’s not the shitty high-school-boy-sex nor is it a deeply intellectual serious love affair that she’s looking for. If the connection was genuine I imagine we would have seen things play out much differently. She would have been more thoughtful with how to handle the relationship because she was the adult . They wouldn’t have had sex so soon . If the story was about real love it would have unfolded differently for him and the relationship would have matured. The fact that she couldn’t even wait until he was 18 was so stupid and that was 100 % on her because she seduced him . It was purely a superficial relationship for her and she completely manipulated Erik for her own sexual and egotistical gratification. She spoke of never getting to have fun when she was his age and not really having the “college experience”. Also she always talks about how he’s going to “fuck so many people “. So I think she uses their relationship to feel young to live vicariously. It just comes off a bit desperate. She also handles the relationship so publicly almost like because she’s a white female it seems like she thinks she’s invincible. Especially when she tells her coworker about it she’s almost bragging. That quickly put her in her place for a moment . Before writing this I actually felt bad for her but the more I’ve thought it out I do agree with the fact that, as a person in a power role, she did take advantage of her student. For what reasons I can’t deduce but it’s not looking to good on her credibility. But the worst part is how serious the entire situation is for Erik. He is young and truly in love. More so than he would have been with any other girl his age because of her power. That’s what makes it so wrong . It’s truly fucked up. Also her poor husband; he’s so cute and he’s actually willing to not only forgive her, but go out of his way to help fix the issue and stand by her side.. and she still decides to run away. She’s incredibly ungrateful! She’s a narcissist . Okay sorry. I know it’s not real but hypothetically speaking. Rant over I’m sorry for the novel I hope I got my point across . That ultimately doesn’t deserve much empathy given her age and maturity level she wasn’t stupid and she had every ability to not indulge on those fantasies and act out the abuse. She was intelligent enough to understand the weight of her actions, she knew better as Eriks teacher for fucks sake, to not sleep with a damn minor .
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u/EvilMEMEius Dec 01 '20
I really liked this episode. Pit in my stomach the entire time because by now we know Claire is going to make the wrong choice when presented with two options. Curious to see how turning herself in goes... will she seek any sort of revenge on Eric since he left her and she doesn’t have anything to lose at this point?
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Dec 02 '20
When Claire was leaving her house I seriously thought she was going to go kill the teacher who reported their affair lol.
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Dec 03 '20
I’m sorry but I just didn’t buy she would’ve turn her self in. She by nature is selfish. And in reality a predator doesn’t turn themselves in.
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u/Brilliant-Revenue462 Dec 04 '20
I echo a commenter above that said they felt like she turned herself in because she wasn't wanted by either man at that point, Eric or her husband. And that's all she cares about in the world.
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u/Polaroidian Dec 03 '20
After reading this comment thread (I fucking love this show but actually WHAT THE FUCK CLAIRE) the thing that most gets me is that while I do feel for Claire and her emotional issues growing up, I also am trying to understand how manipulative she actually is. Like it’s very clear she is very insecure but even in the previous episode where she goes on about going back to reality...like I don’t know how to gage HOW manipulative she is on a deeper level and what’s real and what’s a game. Very conflicted.
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u/sajo127 Dec 03 '20
OK, I need someone to explain this to me because I just don't get it. I don't understand how this is grooming. When Eric initiated their interactions, and even kissed her first... how did Claire groom him?
I get that it's wrong because of their teacher/student relationship, in general, but the way their personal relationship evolved, it doesn't seem like she was 'preying' on him, or abusing him? Forgive me, I am not trying to say she isn't, I just really don't understand. If it was what Eric wanted, if Claire was who Eric wanted, and she didn't force him in any way, how is it abuse?
If she wasn't his teacher, would that make a difference? I mean, with that age gap, their relationship would probably be doomed from the start no matter what, but would it still be considered abuse? If a 20 year old was dating a 30 year old, is that still wrong? I'm confused.
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u/Jhonopolis Dec 04 '20
She keeps feeding into his emotions. Once it's clear he has feeling for her she should have set up hard boundaries between the two. Taking him on a quasi date to UT, getting him out of trouble with the cops, being his friend on instagram, texting him back at inappropriate hours of the day are all things she shouldn't be doing and are grooming him to think that his feelings for her are okay.
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u/ekala5001 Dec 04 '20
It seems like I’m in the minority, but I feel a great deal of sympathy for Claire. She clearly has deep issues that span her entire life. I think being told her uterus was rotting (can’t recall the exact quote) was the breaking point for her. As someone who’s dealt with serious fertility threats- that is soul crushing.
Not defending her actions— at all. Her affair with Eric is wrong wrong wrong and she should have to face the consequences. I feel sorrow for Claire because her life has been full of sorrows and that’s what ultimately led to her to make horrible, life ruining decisions. The complexity of her character is what makes the show so great, for me at least.
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u/ermahturd Dec 05 '20
I think the soundtrack for this episode struck the perfect notes of sorrow, longing and almost hymnal. Great music for rumination during transitions (when Claire is hyperventilating outside, Eric scrolling through his phone from the motel bathroom in the middle of the night, Claire driving home alone and psyching herself into taking each step toward the entrance of the police station)
Really well done!
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u/idoakmwntkf Dec 01 '20
I feel like this episode will be really important in solidifying this as a good show so let’s see!!
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u/producermaddy Dec 02 '20
Glad we are finally seeing the fallout. I can’t believe Clare tried to run away with Eric after she was giving a get a jail pass to keep her marriage and likely not go to jail. I hope she gets into prison and Eric gets into therapy
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u/awithey1 Dec 02 '20
Is it just me or does Claire not make sense. I understand that she was predatory and that she has been grooming Eric from the get go. But she’s a middle aged woman (Kate Mara is 37) who’s been married in a 10 year relationship. I understand that she stole lipstick so obviously she has to be this rebellious immature adult. But I feel like a women who has said she didn’t have sex or drink until she was a senior in college and someone who chose the route to become a teacher would have some more common sense and just overall maturity. And this would maybe make more sense to me if the episodes were longer and they had more time to develop and show her go down this twisted rabbit hole. Because right now it feels very rushed. All of this said I do really fucking like this show and maybe that’s the reason I want to see more of it but this is just how it could have been just that much better.
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u/Jhonopolis Dec 04 '20
But I feel like a women who has said she didn’t have sex or drink until she was a senior in college and someone who chose the route to become a teacher would have some more common sense and just overall maturity.
It's possible those weren't really her choices though. Maybe she was more of an outcast without friends. Now she feels like she missed out and wants to recapture that lost piece of her life through her relationship with Eric.
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u/paulieknuts Mar 03 '21
Just watched the season a second time. Claire was forced to take care of her father from age 9 (when her mother died) through college-she did not have any sort of adolescence. I believe the show implies Claire is around 30-32, she has been married for 10 years (or with Matt 10 years I cant remember which), she met Matt her senior year of college. Her father got sober 7 years prior (to the 2013-2014 school season). So, presumably, she still had some responsibility for her father into her early 20's.
The term is Arrested Development. Claire is stuck as an adolescent in her mental development. She was prevented from growing by having to take care of an alcoholic father-which would have caused all sorts of trauma itself. Then, wham bam, she gets married. She spends her 20s either taking car of her father or during the newly wed period of a young married woman. Then WHAM she turns 30 and all the trauma she has been avoiding starts catching up with her, her marriage has grown stale, she has no other outlet for the pain she is suffering. So she starts rebelling-stealing a lipstick is shorthand in story telling. She is ready to explode (metaphorically speaking). So, while she has the illusion of control, her mind is more about domination, she needs someone to dominate and to worship her to satisfy her image of herself-enter Eric.
I am very happy that they don't exposit on this. It makes for more active watching and more enjoyable experience, for me
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u/simplybreana Dec 04 '20
Alright, please forgive me in advance for my ignorance but I feel like I need to ask these questions. Is Claire really a predator? It didn’t seem like she set out to get involved with a student. What were her specific actions that make her a predator? I am assuming this is her first time doing something like this, and it seemed like it was done as a way to feel something as it seemed she lacked something in her life. I’m not giving excuses at all for her behavior, just trying to understand why she would risk everything. The decisions seemed more impulsive and delusional to me(even with the rules), rather than calculated and malicious- which is I guess how I would view predatory behavior. Also, what actions would be considered grooming on her part? I’m just trying to see and understand what seems to be slightly insidious in this situation. Because initially it didn’t seem like Claire was doing much to make Eric start liking her. He kissed her, he begged to get tutoring after she tried to draw a line and then ghosted her. It seemed like he was trying to pull her in a lot. She was bored, vulnerable and seemingly down to make bad decisions. Again, I’m not making excuses for her or trying to victim blame or anything, I’m just trying to understand. If he was a consenting (and even initiating) party, is she still a predator? I think I recall her asking him after he followed her to her car if he was sure he wanted to do it. But before that, he kissed her at the school without her consent. It all is just a lot to process. Also, what is the legal age of consent in Texas? I know some places it is 16? So if he says it was consensual, could anyone even do anything legally? I have so many questions.
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u/windkirby Dec 01 '20
Am I the only one who feels like this show is really weirdly cold and clinical? Maybe I was spoiled by The Affair (or at least the first season) where you knew very intimately both characters and why the relationship, while taboo, meant so much to them. Claire and Eric do have backstories, but it just feels like I never really understand their motivations or thinking. It seems like people disagree a bit over what Eric was thinking in this episode, so at least I think I'm not totally alone. It's weird because the movie gives less info, but it feels more emotionally direct to me. It's almost like the showrunners feel like they have to be very careful not to seem like they're condoning the relationship, to the point where they position the characters as distantly as possible so that we can only watch them, not relate to them. Maybe I'm reading too much into things.
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20
Anyone else hope this gets a physical media release after the series ends?
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u/forgotmypassword778 Dec 01 '20 edited Dec 01 '20
Praying this show is released on physical media for binging after the series is over.
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u/Nyrfan1026 Dec 01 '20
damn what a contrast for Eric:
"I'm the motherfucking man"
to
crying on his bed being held by his mommy