The Cry

[FanciedAChangeToday]

Cant see another thread - anyone watching?

In the book her meds are antibiotics for an ear infection

When I was prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection I was given tablets rather than liquid antibiotics. I thought liquid antibiotics were usually only given out to children?

At any rate, a fatal accidental overdose involving a painkiller is more plausible. I’m pretty sure overdosing on antibiotics is only likely to be fatal if there’s an allergy to antibiotics.

Please could discussion about the book go in a different thread, or wait until the last episode has been shown?

It would be very hard to over dose a baby on antibiotics! !

The author isn’t a medical expert so there’s likely to be details that aren’t 100% accurate. Adults get prescribed liquid medications sometimes - some people just can’t swallow tablets.

53rdWay nothing’s been mentioned that would be a spoiler for anyone watching who hasn’t read the book

It might not be ‘a spoiler’ as such, but discussing how the medicine was different in the book and then speculating on why that change was made is obviously going to get people thinking “hmm, what direction could the story be going in with this?” or “that makes me more likely to think what happened is this rather than that.”

It’s only six days until the next episode AND there’s a whole other board for books. Or there’s nothing to stop someone starting up a “The Cry, books included” thread on this board. That way everybody’s happy.

I agree with requesting to not discuss books on this thread. I do want to read it after the show so I want any discrepancies to be from me reading the book

I'm really enjoying this, but there's an awful lot to cover in the last hour: the (alleged!) murder, the trial, the two Joannas (insanity?) and what actually happened to poor Noah. Then there are some loose ends: Chloe hitting teachers and being on the brink of expulsion, Alex hiding a glass of wine from Chloe and repeated shots of the glass under the table. I suppose those could have been just to make us doubt the credibility of both characters, but that didn't really work for me. Usually when things like this are signposted so clearly, you expect more to come from it. Have I missed something?

Did anyone see The Replacement a couple of years ago? That started off brilliantly, but the first two episodes were leisurely, so that each could end on a cliffhanger, then the third had to pack so much in that it ruined the whole thing. I'll be disappointed if this goes the same way.

Steala agree about The Replacement, it started off so well then went crazy in the last episode.

I am hopeful this won’t go the same way.

Steala, the wine thing has been dealt with - the fact she likes more than a tipple or two is something Ali is trying to use in the custody fight. I think the Chloe hitting thing was just to set up that she’s a ‘troublesome’ teen, therefore no surprise that she stole the bootie.

I think the 'troubled teen' is more about suggesting that a change of residence is, potentially, a 'good thing'. It is giving dad something to fight with (and whilst I know nothing of the courts in Australia, here a 14 year old who didn't want to live with their dad wouldn't be forced to. I struggle to believe it would be any different there, particularly as it would involve removing her from the country and the family that has supported her for many years) and thus a reason to be in Australia (and a reason for the plane journey).

The really loose end for me is the bad back. Why no mention of it since the plane journey? I suspect the twist will be that Joanna isn't as innocent as she has been made out to be to this point.

Are you suggesting a Primal Fear moment, ohreally?

I don't like the idea of a twist ending where Joanna is manipulative and controlling. We have to base our opinions on what has been to revealed to us. There are still parts missing - e.g Alastair has been shown telling Joanna where Noah is buried, but also crying in front of a building site, and Joanna says she was betrayed. We can infer that Alastair lied, or maybe that Joanna made the plan, and Alastair failed to execute it.

But what we have seen is:

• Joanna so distraught she tries to kill herself throwing herself in front of a truck when Noah died.
• Alastair become calculating and self-interested about Chloe's custody battle, instead of devastated about Noah and guilty.
• Alastair showing a horribly nasty side to Alex.

I would be very disppointed by a twist that undermines what we have seen so far of their characters.

I think the 'two Joannas' split refers to the controlled face she presents to Alastair, and her real feelings.

I don't think there's going to be a Primal Fear type denouement - I think Joanna has always been a victim, and has been controlled and manipulated by Alistair.

I think the "2 Joannas" thing reflects the public face and the private face; she was portrayed on TV as a desperate mother who has had her child stolen, but she knows the truth but had to present a different persona for hers and Alistair's sake (at the time). And also the two faces that she went from being a victim of a baby kidnap to a woman accused of murder of her husband. Finally the two faces that she presented to Alistair - his meek, compliant, well behaved wife who was complicit in his lies, to the true Joanna who became angry and found her courage once she knew the truth (whatever that is!)

I still think she found out he overdosed the baby (unintentionally but still him, not her) and tried to manipulate her - the betrayal.

Sidge

I agree that I don't think Alastair killed his son intentionally too. He's a lazy, manipulative, selfish arse, but not murderous. I actually think Joanna, though clearly a warmer, more loving and empathetic character than Alastair, was more likely to do that 'deliberately' - in a fit of depression or desperation. It's not black and white.

Her detachment in the court appears to be her total peace with killing her partner.

Anyone think that maybe Joanna and Alex killed him together?

I find myself watching this despite myself. I love the way it is all unravelling!

@PretendIWasNeverHere it is on the audio described section of iplayer.

My thoughts now are, :
Joanna kills Alastair because she discovers that he didn't bury Noah where he told her he had.
I think Noah's body will be found and that's how she finds this out.
She made a point of asking him if the place where he buried him "was beautiful".
When it transpires that Noah wasn't left in a beautiful place, she'll flip and kill him.
OR:
The body is found and autopsy shows that he died of something completely unrelated to drugs - ? smoke inhalation from the fires.
She'd suggested this theory to Alastair but he was the one who made her think she was in some way responsible for Noah's death.
It dawns on her that she has been put through all this additional trauma un-necessarily due to Alistair's selfishness.
She flips and she kills him.
OR:
She kills Alastair after she walks in on him having sex with another woman, the same way his ex walked in on them.
After all she's been through, she flips and kills him.

Either way, because Alastair is now dead, Joanna will feel able to talk about what happened with Noah and this helps with her mental state.

Just caught up. What a great episode. I think there's a few moments which may seem insignificant at the time but actually are. The scene with Jo giving the baby medication in front of the old lady makes me think that Al gives some later when she's sleeping and it's an overdose. The bib would prove it's the right medicine and he doesn't want Jo to know. Her leaving Al with the baby to get coffee is probably the moment he realised Noah had died. The bush fires may be significant because he may have left Noah's body to burn .
It's a brilliant story. Can't wait for next week.

I think you’re right MissEliza!

Alistair must know that Noah is dead before the phone call to Chloe to say they are going to be later than planned. During/ as the call ends is when Joanna discovers Noah has died.

Interesting Sainer, I thought Al just looked too genuinely cheery when he was on the phone to Chloe, so I had thought Noah died in the car - and that neither of them knew he was dead when the car stopped.

What was the significance of Jo asking Al why he took the risk of taking her back to the flat when they first met - just as they left the airport. As Al said, 'you're asking me that now' ' i wonder whether Jo was already having doubts about him - unsympathetic, patronising, slept through Noah's crying on the flight, 'decided' Chloe would come back to UK without really consulting Jo. Relationship maybe already nearly on the rocks?

Saniner were they originally supposed to be going straight to Al's dm? If they were and Al changed plans, then Al definitely knew.

He is surprisingly composed about his ds dying as well. Getting Chloe back seems paramount to him.

Yes, i thought his reaction to Noah’s death was very cold.
I suppose the job he has requires quick thinking under pressure, which goes some way to explaining how he’s coming up with plans so fast, but even so.....,