Dr Foster, the final episode, can't wait..

[ellenanora5]

First thread nearly full so starting this one for tomorrow night

I've been doing a bit of reading, and it seems the writer of this wrote an earlier version - a 're-imagined' production of Euripides' Medea - a couple of years ago. headlong.co.uk/work/medea/ The work has been adapted and fleshed out for a 5 hour telly drama. And here lies part of the problem: unrealistic elements that we accept in theatre, such as the 'rapid descent into a madness' and odd contrivances to further the plot, don't necessarily work on television.

Also, it felt a bit too much like the writer kept thinking along the lines of "Medea is a sorcerer, so in this - doctor! Creon is the king, so in this version the girlfriend's dad - local bigwig and on the Council!" In Medea Jason makes a speech about wanting both Medea and his new princess, so Simon will make that speech too." Etc etc. Etc.

The stage version the writer created of this was promoted as a Medea. This isn't, possibly because vast audiences wouldn't have switched on for a modern version of Medea (or would they? given the success of 10 Things and all the other Shakespeare modern films). And purists might have been outraged at the major changes (no murders!) However, the problem of not making it explicit that this is heavily influenced by Euripides' Medea means that we all sit there thinking "huh? why did that happen? why did they behave like that?" at the clumsy plot devices and characterisation.

Not that I'm slating it! I really rather enjoyed the whole thing.

Bragadacia

Ah, that explains the theatricality of it.
I did accept that. I enjoyed it for what it was

So WHY did Simon and Kate, and her parents, and the PA, and the neighbours over the road go on holiday together? And how did the parents not know about the affair when everyone else did? And where did Gemma think Simon and her neighbours over the road were at the time?

Please someone put me out of my misery!

Her parents weren't on the holiday. I think the PA went to make it look like a business trip though I can't for the life of me imagine why she would go along with that.

"though I can't for the life of me imagine why she would go along with that."

Perhaps she didn't realise until she got there & I guess she needed her job.

Wasn't it also hinted at by Gemma that she(the PA) was afraid of Simon?

Couldn't figure out why people seemed loyal to him?

Small town friends?
Hated Gemma?

Mind you, couldn't figure out what Gemma or Kate saw in him.

Also, why did Gemma tell his mum that Kate was pregnant?

And she said "well 2yrs, must mean something".

Ah. So annoyed that Episode 1 no longer on i-player so can't go back and look at those photos on the hidden phone.

YES! Why did he tell his Mum? And where did "3 months" come from initially?

3 months came from Ros initially. She said that's how long it had been going on.

I am at a loss as to why he would tell his mum though.

I think that 3 months came from Ros, who worked with Gemma.

I find my ILs hard to get on with, but one thing I do know, if husband had an affair, they'd be utterly disgusted with him.

There certainly would n't be any "two years" as if that was a good thing from them!

Here's a link to ep1 online.

At about 50mins she finds the phone.
It shows Simon, Kate, Neil, Anna & Becky.

The only contacts on the phone are Becky,Kate, Ros & Neil.

Diddl didn't she post nasty things before Gemma slept with her husband?

How did she even know they'd slept together? Did Neil go straight home and tell her?

And if he was so open about it all with his wife, then how come Gemma was able to blackmail him so easily?

Gah, I'm going to have to watch it all again, aren't I!

She followed him to see who he was meeting.

Ah, did she? I missed that perhaps nodded off for a moment.

I didn't think that she posted stuff until after Gemma slept with Neil.

Not 100% sure though!

I think that he knew that Anna would be upset about Gemma as she knew her?

Diddl is correct. Gemma suddenly realised at the show-down with Anna and Neil that the negative reviews started on the night that Neil/Gemma slept together. Anna said that she had followed him and saw him meet Gemma. Sleeping with someone who is a friend had crossed the line in the adultery stakes apparently.

"Diddl is correct. "

I am noting who was paying attention!

I thought Gemma was hiding the Internet reviews from her son but told him about them and I thought that was before Gemma slept with Simon.

I like the way it ended from Gemma's pov because she got exactly what she told the lawyer she wanted - her house, her money and custody of the ds. But it was a terrible ending for their son (can't remember his name) and the last scene was as corny as the rest of it.

When we saw Simon and Kate driving away in the cheap car, Simon would have seen his son sitting there outside the cafe. Is that it then? Is he fucking off to London without saying goodbye?

I'm glad she found out what utter scum he was, but heartbreaking for the child.

Yes, but horrible to discover that a dad you adore is such an arsehole. So, like I said, not a happy ending for Tom.

I'm almost tempted to watch the whole thing again to understand all the elements of the plot...

Imbroglio It's worth doing that - I did. Watching it a 2nd time after reading all the insights on this thread really helps you to appreciate it more. You aren't wondering where the story is going because you already know, so you can actually understand the character development etc.

It will never be a modern Shakespeare, but I certainly enjoyed it even more the 2nd time round. I finally understood some of the scenes.