Things are going well between Terry and Pat on Shining Vale. So much so, that Terry has recovered enough from the ax incident that he doesn’t walk with a limp and doesn’t stutter. He is even ready to return to work; a clear sign that everything is back to normal. However, how long can the good times last?
The cold opening is an example of Shining Vale expertly crafting a horror scene. They are able to take something mundane and develop such suspense and a creepy atmosphere. When you step away from it, you realize all the grounded elements make the scares that much more impressive. The misdirect with Pat’s hair is a nice eerie touch.
The rollercoaster relationship between Terry and Pat is front and center when the truth of the affair comes out. The resulting conversation with the kids about their separation seems so anticlimactic with both Jake and Gaynor unmoved by the news. Terry amusingly goes on a wicked coke and alcohol filled bender with his boss and new love interest, Katherine. Despite the shenanigans, it’s sweet to see how much Terry is still in love with his wife. As Katherine puts it, sometimes we are addicted to things that are bad for us.
Meanwhile, Pat is having a harder time managing and she can no longer control her psychological breakdowns. Her dreams of a third Mira Sorvino played persona Millie, an undercover journalist working to expose the abuses against women in an asylum in the past, has her fearing that her schizophrenia is back. Pat also wrestles with the idea if she can ever be happy since she always manages to attract drama in her life. It’s an interesting look inside a mentally unwell person who is desperately trying to heal and do the right thing.
Shining Vale contrasts the emotional descents between mother and daughter. Maybe because she’s younger and beginning to experience the mental illness, Gaynor has a more subtle decline. It begins with seeing things in the shadows and catching glimpses here and there. She receives a charming but mysterious visitor at her work, but soon realizes he is the same man in the hat haunting her. At least she has the self-awareness to realize something is off so there is a chance she can overcome this on her own.
The closing moments of the episode look to ratchet things up. Ruth’s rejuvenating herbal tea might also have fertility properties as well. Will a baby bring Terry and Pat closer together or will it strain their relationship even more. Regardless, the potential bundle of joy can only add to the dysfunction making you want to see what’s next in a train wreck sort of way.
“Smile” stacks drama upon drama creating an entertaining hot mess that the Phelps can hopefully overcome together.
New episodes of Shining Vale air Fridays on Starz.
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