Another epic Tanya moment in memoriam: She just definitively discovered her husband is trying to have her murdered for her money, she’s killed two people and Quentin is spitting up blood, and she thinks the most important thing at this moment is to grill Q on if Greg is having an affair?? Girl! Infidelity is not the issue rn! Take off those shoes and get your ass off this boat!
Callback to the tarot session that obviously stuck with her? I wanted that needle threaded a little more explicitly, just kinda went away to us! But yes made me LOL
The shot of Tanya holding the gun and we're looking down the barrel was, to me, very reminiscent of the Goodfellas scene with Karen Hill threatening Henry after finding out about his affair... except Karen didn't pull the trigger. They sprinkled in a couple of other moments (Quentin/Godfather smoking shot, Harper/Monica Vitti in Noto) from Italian and/or mob movies so I wonder if it was intentional.
And regarding CHED, what I took away was that Ethan and Harper became Daphne and Cameron. They were talking earlier in the season about how "money changes people" and looking down on their twisted relationship, but really, by the end of the trip, E&H just morphed into the same kind of couple, playing mind games. For me it was a dark lesson: honesty and the "simple" life wasn't enough to keep them happy together; only when jealousy and money and luxury were injected into the relationship did they actually seem "happy" and intimate.
To answer this question, “ The biggest loose end for me with CHED is that I still don’t really understand why they went on vacation together in the first place.” In one of the episodes Cam tries to convince Ethan to let him manage his money. I think the root of the vacation was for Cam to get a piece of Ethan’s new wealth.
My guess is that Ethan thinks "this is what you do" when you make money. You go on trips with friends/potential people to do business with. It shows how in over his head Ethan is and how he and Harper don't actually know what is required of them in this new socioeconomic tier.
I wanted to come back to this too. The motivation for the vacation didn’t follow through. I agree it was to get a piece of his money but that plot point got lost somewhere.
okay was anyone else PISSED about Tanya’s shoes?? she had them on when she jumped off the yacht but when Daphne found her body it was barefoot… seems sloppy to me
I can accept that the shoes came off at some point after she drowned, but I’m surprised Quentin let her wear the heels all around his boat in the first place
I saw this in a tweet (so not original) but the scene of Daphne and Ethan walking to Isola Bella mirrors the opening credits where someone is going down in someone there. So to me it’s safe to assume Daphne gave Ethan a BJ.
Also, even though Harper’s original kiss may have been more messed up than Ethan’s I have some lingering problems with it. 1) he acted (and lied) first. And so although two wrongs don’t make a right, I sympathize with Harper feeling like her circumstances were out of her control and that she needed to get Ethan’s attention. 2) If Harper told the truth and Then Daphne and Ethan went past first base then Ethan is a total hypocrite. He gets to feel okay only if he betrays Harper *more* than she betrays him. On the other hand, if we think Harper lied and more happened then I have less of a problem with it, which is messed up!
This is SO random but do you all think there was anything to the jellyfish scenes? We saw one after Cam/Ethan fight and then after Tanya's body is floating to the bottom of the ocean.
I thought so while I was watching, but looking back I wonder if it was just how they decided to use the B-roll. Mike white clearly loves his underwater cameras
I actually thought the way Tanya died was perfect for her character. Half-assed escape from a murderous plot by the mafia only to completely overestimate her physical ability to jump in a boat. I think that it ties up her character well and liked that the ocean aspect was there like her moms ashes. The digrasso family was also tied up well. But, the CEHD storyline I feel like is still open so I’m hoping they’ll be in season 3. The jellyfish thing was interesting. Jellyfish are actually named after the Greek monster Medusa (their main shape is called the Medusa) and Medusa was also beheaded in Greek mythology. Besides Tanya, I think the women come out better than the men and Medusa and testa di morro are both seen as feminists in culture, one decapitated her mate and Medusa never turned a woman to stone, only males. Lucia and Mia both outsmarted men for money and a job. Daphne does whatever she’s wants regardless of what Cam is up to. Harper seemed closer and happier to Ethan who finally showed her outward affection. Portia lived when I think Jack was supposed to get rid of her. Valentina finally accepted herself and took pride in standing up for other woman. I remember something about Freud saying decapitation=castration. Maybe this season was about woman taking the power back?
Portia went to Chico State- people who go to Chico State have more street smarts than she has. Also when she asked for Albie’s number it’s like she’s still not getting her shit together.
I was also thinking how none of the originally established good or morally pure characters leave the vacation unscathed. Albie, Ethan and Harper, Mia were all introduced as the foils to Dom, Cameron and Daphne and Lucia... even Valentina vs. herself. Now no one has a leg to stand on.
At the airport I got the impression that Portia was trying to disguise herself with the head scarf and glasses, not necessarily channel Tanya bc she doesn’t know if they are looking for her. I’m 33 and watched with two 25 year olds. They said the scene when Albie and Portia admit they fucked up and immediately exchanged numbers was the most ‘gen z’ interaction of this season. It gave us a good laugh!
Tanya’s actions (or inactions/ obliviousness) could be frustrating but it almost seemed like that trait transferred to Portia. Like you’re not going to call the cops, US consulate, anything, even after Albie mentioned the drowning & yacht deaths? Girl. Get it together.
Also will be suffering from Seasonal tv finale depression! 😭
I saw an interview about not being able to guess the ending, and they were right. All my theories were off. Tanya’s arc ultimately made a lot of sense. If anyone hasn’t watched the Mike White interview after the credits rolled, go back and watch! He gives great backstory.
Great observation about Portia being dressed similarly to Tanya. I assumed it was her trying to disguise herself from the “powerful people”.
Also curious if Jack was supposed to kill her and showed her mercy. As for his Instagram, I kind of thought maybe Jack isn’t even his real name 🤷♀️ the “so you fuck your uncle” line had me laughing. Will be very curious to see if Greg and Portia and what happens to Tanya’s fortune will be addressed next season.
The couple I’m left most curious about are Ethan and Harper...their problems seemed so much deeper, was that really all they needed? I was rooting for them, so I hope so...
Thanks for your always in depth and thought provoking recaps! Enjoy Australia 🇦🇺
I was thinking this too but I don’t think it could work because they used Laura Dern’s voice for Dom’s wife / Alvie’s mom, and a different actress in the photos Dom was looking at in his phone.
I think there’s a good chance Greg doesn’t end up getting the money because it’s such an obvious murder/struggle scene on that yacht, and there were a ton of witnesses to that group being together. I’m hoping this would play out with either Italian or US law enforcement getting far enough along an investigation that the will doesn’t get paid out or at least long-delayed.
Really really hard to get back an international wire…so Lucia is probably truly set. also totally agree that convo with Albie and his dad is the first time he seems hot because he’s actually being fully assertive even though now he’s mirroring the father. I would love to see Harper come back alone next season to be the antithesis of Tanya and we never know what happened to her husband
Another epic Tanya moment in memoriam: She just definitively discovered her husband is trying to have her murdered for her money, she’s killed two people and Quentin is spitting up blood, and she thinks the most important thing at this moment is to grill Q on if Greg is having an affair?? Girl! Infidelity is not the issue rn! Take off those shoes and get your ass off this boat!
Yessss the fact that she focused on asking that question was so sad 😞
Callback to the tarot session that obviously stuck with her? I wanted that needle threaded a little more explicitly, just kinda went away to us! But yes made me LOL
Two thoughts:
The shot of Tanya holding the gun and we're looking down the barrel was, to me, very reminiscent of the Goodfellas scene with Karen Hill threatening Henry after finding out about his affair... except Karen didn't pull the trigger. They sprinkled in a couple of other moments (Quentin/Godfather smoking shot, Harper/Monica Vitti in Noto) from Italian and/or mob movies so I wonder if it was intentional.
And regarding CHED, what I took away was that Ethan and Harper became Daphne and Cameron. They were talking earlier in the season about how "money changes people" and looking down on their twisted relationship, but really, by the end of the trip, E&H just morphed into the same kind of couple, playing mind games. For me it was a dark lesson: honesty and the "simple" life wasn't enough to keep them happy together; only when jealousy and money and luxury were injected into the relationship did they actually seem "happy" and intimate.
Love your take on E&H morphing into C&D!
Agreed completely on both of these!
To answer this question, “ The biggest loose end for me with CHED is that I still don’t really understand why they went on vacation together in the first place.” In one of the episodes Cam tries to convince Ethan to let him manage his money. I think the root of the vacation was for Cam to get a piece of Ethan’s new wealth.
Agreed with that but why do Ethan and Harper agree to go?!
My guess is that Ethan thinks "this is what you do" when you make money. You go on trips with friends/potential people to do business with. It shows how in over his head Ethan is and how he and Harper don't actually know what is required of them in this new socioeconomic tier.
Good q
I wanted to come back to this too. The motivation for the vacation didn’t follow through. I agree it was to get a piece of his money but that plot point got lost somewhere.
Agreed, maybe they’re playing the long game and this was just the start of him weaseling his way in. next year in the Maldives?
okay was anyone else PISSED about Tanya’s shoes?? she had them on when she jumped off the yacht but when Daphne found her body it was barefoot… seems sloppy to me
I was mostly pissed that she didn't think to take them off before she tried jumping off the boat. I was screaming at her!
I can accept that the shoes came off at some point after she drowned, but I’m surprised Quentin let her wear the heels all around his boat in the first place
I saw this in a tweet (so not original) but the scene of Daphne and Ethan walking to Isola Bella mirrors the opening credits where someone is going down in someone there. So to me it’s safe to assume Daphne gave Ethan a BJ.
Also, even though Harper’s original kiss may have been more messed up than Ethan’s I have some lingering problems with it. 1) he acted (and lied) first. And so although two wrongs don’t make a right, I sympathize with Harper feeling like her circumstances were out of her control and that she needed to get Ethan’s attention. 2) If Harper told the truth and Then Daphne and Ethan went past first base then Ethan is a total hypocrite. He gets to feel okay only if he betrays Harper *more* than she betrays him. On the other hand, if we think Harper lied and more happened then I have less of a problem with it, which is messed up!
This is SO random but do you all think there was anything to the jellyfish scenes? We saw one after Cam/Ethan fight and then after Tanya's body is floating to the bottom of the ocean.
I thought so while I was watching, but looking back I wonder if it was just how they decided to use the B-roll. Mike white clearly loves his underwater cameras
I thought it was to trick the audience after the fight because they look like blood in the water.
I actually thought the way Tanya died was perfect for her character. Half-assed escape from a murderous plot by the mafia only to completely overestimate her physical ability to jump in a boat. I think that it ties up her character well and liked that the ocean aspect was there like her moms ashes. The digrasso family was also tied up well. But, the CEHD storyline I feel like is still open so I’m hoping they’ll be in season 3. The jellyfish thing was interesting. Jellyfish are actually named after the Greek monster Medusa (their main shape is called the Medusa) and Medusa was also beheaded in Greek mythology. Besides Tanya, I think the women come out better than the men and Medusa and testa di morro are both seen as feminists in culture, one decapitated her mate and Medusa never turned a woman to stone, only males. Lucia and Mia both outsmarted men for money and a job. Daphne does whatever she’s wants regardless of what Cam is up to. Harper seemed closer and happier to Ethan who finally showed her outward affection. Portia lived when I think Jack was supposed to get rid of her. Valentina finally accepted herself and took pride in standing up for other woman. I remember something about Freud saying decapitation=castration. Maybe this season was about woman taking the power back?
Portia went to Chico State- people who go to Chico State have more street smarts than she has. Also when she asked for Albie’s number it’s like she’s still not getting her shit together.
I was so annoyed by this helpless storyline- no sense of danger at all!
I was also thinking how none of the originally established good or morally pure characters leave the vacation unscathed. Albie, Ethan and Harper, Mia were all introduced as the foils to Dom, Cameron and Daphne and Lucia... even Valentina vs. herself. Now no one has a leg to stand on.
At the airport I got the impression that Portia was trying to disguise herself with the head scarf and glasses, not necessarily channel Tanya bc she doesn’t know if they are looking for her. I’m 33 and watched with two 25 year olds. They said the scene when Albie and Portia admit they fucked up and immediately exchanged numbers was the most ‘gen z’ interaction of this season. It gave us a good laugh!
Tanya’s actions (or inactions/ obliviousness) could be frustrating but it almost seemed like that trait transferred to Portia. Like you’re not going to call the cops, US consulate, anything, even after Albie mentioned the drowning & yacht deaths? Girl. Get it together.
Also will be suffering from Seasonal tv finale depression! 😭
I saw an interview about not being able to guess the ending, and they were right. All my theories were off. Tanya’s arc ultimately made a lot of sense. If anyone hasn’t watched the Mike White interview after the credits rolled, go back and watch! He gives great backstory.
Great observation about Portia being dressed similarly to Tanya. I assumed it was her trying to disguise herself from the “powerful people”.
Also curious if Jack was supposed to kill her and showed her mercy. As for his Instagram, I kind of thought maybe Jack isn’t even his real name 🤷♀️ the “so you fuck your uncle” line had me laughing. Will be very curious to see if Greg and Portia and what happens to Tanya’s fortune will be addressed next season.
The couple I’m left most curious about are Ethan and Harper...their problems seemed so much deeper, was that really all they needed? I was rooting for them, so I hope so...
Thanks for your always in depth and thought provoking recaps! Enjoy Australia 🇦🇺
For the next season, I am wondering if we will follow the DiGrasso’s on their next family vacation with Albie’s mom and sister tagging along!
I was thinking this too but I don’t think it could work because they used Laura Dern’s voice for Dom’s wife / Alvie’s mom, and a different actress in the photos Dom was looking at in his phone.
I think there’s a good chance Greg doesn’t end up getting the money because it’s such an obvious murder/struggle scene on that yacht, and there were a ton of witnesses to that group being together. I’m hoping this would play out with either Italian or US law enforcement getting far enough along an investigation that the will doesn’t get paid out or at least long-delayed.
Really really hard to get back an international wire…so Lucia is probably truly set. also totally agree that convo with Albie and his dad is the first time he seems hot because he’s actually being fully assertive even though now he’s mirroring the father. I would love to see Harper come back alone next season to be the antithesis of Tanya and we never know what happened to her husband
I would love for them to have a newly wealthy Greg, maybe with a new wife, to come back next season
Oh yea that would be great too. And then we have to figure out if the new wife is real or also being scammed
Perhaps CHED is a modern EM Forrester/Jane Austen study on socioeconomic status and relationships? (Cam & Daphne = Wickham & Lydia)