In spite of all the marital problems the Phelps have on Shining Vale, it seems Pat and Terry are ready to move on and repair the damage that has been done. “The Goat” sees the couple trying to rekindle the magic between them, even if it’s based on a false premise.
Pat is a flawed character that you can root for. She might not always be the nicest person, and she doesn’t always tell the complete truth to her husband. However, you can understand the place she is coming from and the regret she has for destroying her family. She does care for them showing pride in Gaynor’s academic achievement and helping Jake with his gassiness. Her approach is questionable, but you can’t deny the love.
That is why her recent reconciliation with Terry has the potential to be explosive on Shining Vale. They get back together on a misunderstanding where Terry feels he was responsible for the axe attack. It’s nice that they can take that step forward together and become closer. Yet, how much healing can be done if it’s based on a lie and whether they continue down the same destructive cycle once the truth comes out.
Pat’s youthful transformation contrasts her mental state. Although she seems so rejuvenated on the outside, she still has issues psychologically to the point that even her mother is concerned learning about her daughter’s vivid dreams. In the ending we tip toe that tight rope between the supernatural and reality. Did she actually make love to her husband or was there a more nefarious and disturbing scheme involving the titular Goat. What adds to the unsettling nature is the shady behavior of both the real estate agent and Ruth. The pair have a conspirational vibe to them and have unsettling conversations with the Phelps.
Shining Vale continues to gradually build the links of mental health between generations. As mentioned previously, Pat reaches a phase where even her mother, Joan, is worried. More so, after hearing about Joan’s own experiences, we witness Gaynor following the same path. Particularly the part of the man with the hat when we see a shadow from the window. Earlier, we are reminded of her potential with her ACT scores and the bright future she can have making these early signs of illness tragic.
One big complaint of “The Goat” is the excessive use of jump scares. It’s fine when it’s developed well enough in the case of Jake’s haunting at school. But when they come out of nowhere that it becomes gratuitous such as an appearance of a crow or another bird crashing into a window. The show is only half an hour long so there is a disproportionate number of jump scares considering the length.
You can feel the sentimentality from this week’s episode, but fear for the dark things to come later on Shining Vale.
New episodes of Shining Vale air Fridays on Starz.
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