Anyone watching The Vow (HBO series about NXIVM cult)?

[SinkGirl]

Started watching last night - I had read some stuff about it but it’s still pretty shocking.

Does feel a little bit like some key members trying to get their story in and absolve themselves of responsibility though... only two episodes in so far, so will see how it plays out.

I am watching this. I am on episode 4 and don't actually think I can keep watching. It is so sickening. All of it.

But especially Keith Raniere. Ugh.

And I know a cult uses mind control, but I do still feel like shaking the people for getting into it with all sashes etc. It just sounds completely unappealing and hard work.

I saw all of it and it is sickening. But what I don't get is that Keith wasnt charismatic or strong or anything. He would deliberately stare at people. I think they were in it for the money and what they thought they could get. It has realised a loop hole with the children of the wealthy who just needed to get a job and buck up like the rest of us

I agree. All of the narrators were reasonably secure emotionally and financially and persisted with the business side of things - recruiting and converting for years.

And keith was absolutely sickening so for a lot it does seem to be a business proposition. I find the woman who did get branded incredibly annoying. I know that is unsympathetic of me: but she made such a good living out of the place, and maybe it is the strength of the cult, but I don't understand how she could be so confused about the woman-friend/sexuality stuff. And I hate the way she sobs all the time when she is interviews.

Don't like the way Mark always has to come across as a nice guy even though he got all his friends into it and was implicated right the way through.

That is ungenerous of me, I suppose: she was encouraged to be good a sales/business person for the group and her own interests; but simultaneously her power as an individual was being eroded.

I just found it very hard to understand. A lot seemed to focus on the fact that her best friend lead her into it. I do understand twisted friendships can be very confusing, even outside the context of a cult!

Is there another thread about this programme? I am sure there must be.

I find it quite annoying just the filming of it. The way Catherine Oxenberg is on her phone asking her mother for contact with the Daiai Lama. And her mother mentions getting in touch with Charles. And then afterwards Catherine says it is Prince Charles and him and her mother are cousins. Yuk

I feel really uneasy saying this but something struck me about watching Sarah in episode 5 last night. She was acting as though she were crying, although no tears, and her forehead was furrowed while she was talking about the women she bought into the cult then she said something angrily but her facial expression and forehead didn't change. It became so clear she was being insincere and putting on an act.

Sarah and Mark saw the writing on the wall and got out. I think a pp is right that they are now trying to minimise their role within the cult to avoid prosecution. It becomes clearer throughout the episodes that they were extremely high up and close to Keith and Nancy.

That all said, it's a difficult but fascinating watch.

I found it interesting too although quite badly made - I was often confused about the timeline and people seemed to have these big revelations about what was going on but not really explain them or how they got there. I definitely think there was an element of re-writing history too but find it bizarre that seemingly successful and intelligent people got so drawn into something that was so full of bullshit

I listened to a podcast about this about 2 months ago.
It was horrific.
I then googled Keith Raniere on images and couldn't quite match up the image to the abuse and torture he used to control the women.

It is very uncomfortable viewing. Mostly I think because of the frequent Keith speeches. He is so manipulative: all his mannerisms. And he loves voicing unpalatable viewpoints and making others accept them. He really is revolting: and the thought that these people all accepted, for a certain amount of time, that he was a leader, just makes me angry with them.

But it is frightening.

And Nancy Salzman really reminds me of the psychiatrist in the Sopranos