Pardon my explicit language here, but wow, that was fucked up. It made me think of Todd Solondz's Happiness, as both that film and this episode focus on a series of lonely, damaged, and arguably depraved individuals fighting through their bizarre, pitiable hangups.
There's a big theme of children in this episode. In addition to Rev. Putty's sermon, Nurse Bendy is basically playing house like a little girl (and her dialogue is unnerving in its childlike approximations of adult life). Ms. Sculptham had/is having an abortion or is pregnant or something (that part of the segment was pretty weird and unclear). And it's revealed that Ms. Censordoll had a hysterectomy (or something along those lines) when she was an infant.
It's also clear that each of these women has been abused in some way. Nurse Bendy, despite her previous blase attitude, privately feels abused by Principal Fakey, hence her horrifying reaction to her teddy bear husband falling on her while she's bent over. Ms. Sculptham was apparently raped by a serial killer and either enjoyed it or is scarred by it or is horrifically confused by having what, according to that newspaper clipping, was her first moment of sexual pleasure tied up in such a violation. And Ms. Censordoll had that surgery forced on her by her mother at an age when she couldn't consent, and it clearly messed her up, explaining both her egg fetish(representing the life she cannot make herself) and her holier than thou position since she views herself as unblemished and "immaculately conceived."
Again, like much of this season, it's incredibly bold stuff to delve into. It's pretty disturbing, and not especially pleasant, but I think that's pretty much the point. It doesn't always work, and I think there's some refuge in vagary and weirdness in places, but I admire the ambition and the depths of darkness and mental harm the show has shown itself willing to explore this season.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2016-08-22T05:08:47Z
Pardon my explicit language here, but wow, that was fucked up. It made me think of Todd Solondz's Happiness, as both that film and this episode focus on a series of lonely, damaged, and arguably depraved individuals fighting through their bizarre, pitiable hangups.
There's a big theme of children in this episode. In addition to Rev. Putty's sermon, Nurse Bendy is basically playing house like a little girl (and her dialogue is unnerving in its childlike approximations of adult life). Ms. Sculptham had/is having an abortion or is pregnant or something (that part of the segment was pretty weird and unclear). And it's revealed that Ms. Censordoll had a hysterectomy (or something along those lines) when she was an infant.
It's also clear that each of these women has been abused in some way. Nurse Bendy, despite her previous blase attitude, privately feels abused by Principal Fakey, hence her horrifying reaction to her teddy bear husband falling on her while she's bent over. Ms. Sculptham was apparently raped by a serial killer and either enjoyed it or is scarred by it or is horrifically confused by having what, according to that newspaper clipping, was her first moment of sexual pleasure tied up in such a violation. And Ms. Censordoll had that surgery forced on her by her mother at an age when she couldn't consent, and it clearly messed her up, explaining both her egg fetish(representing the life she cannot make herself) and her holier than thou position since she views herself as unblemished and "immaculately conceived."
Again, like much of this season, it's incredibly bold stuff to delve into. It's pretty disturbing, and not especially pleasant, but I think that's pretty much the point. It doesn't always work, and I think there's some refuge in vagary and weirdness in places, but I admire the ambition and the depths of darkness and mental harm the show has shown itself willing to explore this season.