‘Chloe’ Recap: ‘Grimy Friend’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Chloe’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this article contains discussions regarding domestic violence.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, our journey through the Prime Video series, Chloe, has taught us a great deal about the dangers of residing within a fantasy world. For we know now, that holding onto that over anything else, can result in a shattering of our everyday lives. To the point where people that once meant the world to the dreamer are distanced for certain and the damage doesn’t end there. Since sticking with the fantasy, puts that same person in a risky place mentally and emotionally. Because those buried within a false world live in fear of being exposed and of course… the greatest danger of all… is that the fantasy will collapse, and the person that wouldn’t let go, could be left devastated in every way imaginable when that happens. 

Yet, there is another danger that we don’t really think about when it comes to fantasy living. In that, there is a chance that the world we’ve diving into, could in fact… be worse than the one we left behind. Which is… a scary and unfortunate possibility that became a reality for Becky Green in the next episode of Chloe. For ‘Grimy Friend’ taught her that the grass is not always greener on the other side, shortly after she learned a great deal of surprises about Chloe. Such as the fact that she had a tendency to use Richard to move about the world undetected. So, she could enjoy a little freedom away from home. In fact, Chloe was so hellbent on that freedom… that she actually purchased a little seaside cottage to work and live from and she was also funneling money out of Elliott’s accounts to prepare for what appeared to be a life without him.

Which is a surprise series of revelations that stunned Becky to no end. After all, Chloe supposedly had the perfect life through and through. So, why on earth would she be eager to leave and fighting to do so? Well as it turned out, Chloe wasn’t living the lavish and beautiful life that Becky thought she was. For she was actually miserable and eager to escape her marriage… all because, Elliott was not what he seemed. In fact, a monster would be the best way to describe him. Because he continued to press Becky to stay at home often and just be there for him night and day, and when she didn’t comply, he revealed his abusive tendencies. Since he took the time to hide her keys from her and lock her in the house and go through her stuff and confront and scream before playing nice. Making it clear that Elliot has no qualms with abusing the woman closest to him in life and well… that left Becky beside herself.

For the mystique and magic of loving him and being his next choice… was immediately removed. Teaching her in the harshest way imaginable that the fantasy can be a nightmare and that put her at quite the crossroads. One that she couldn’t quite reconcile in the moment. Because to do so would bring everything crumbling down quickly. So instead, she opted to just continue to dig for the moment. In the hopes of finding out more answers regarding the exact reasons as to why Chloe felt the need to end her own life and well… as evidenced by the end of this tale, that will be no easy task. For Becky is going to have to use incredible stealth to navigate under Elliott’s uncomfortably well-trained and downright obsessive eye to find that truth.

In the end however, this was just… a brilliant tale through and through. Simply because it really did offer up some fascinating surprises regarding Chloe’s life. Since it would appear that an abusive relationship was the genesis of a lot of her problems, and this is a story that has changed our stance regarding Becky. For now, she’s a hero of sorts, one that is working toward the truth and good, and while that doesn’t exonerate her for her sour behavior, it’s a start in the right direction and well… all this episode does is leave us incredibly hungry for more. Because there is only one episode left in this magnificent story, one that will likely answer our questions and seal Becky’s fate for better or worse, and it will be utterly incredible to see how those elements come to life as this incredibly well-written and thoughtful story, comes to a close. Until next time.

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