‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’ Recap – ‘Part 2: Wattle’

8/10/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sigourney Weaver and Alyla Browne as June Hart and Alice Hart in Episode 102 of ‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’ – ‘Part 2: Wattle’. (Photo Courtesy of Hugh Stewart/Prime Video.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist. This article also contains discussions revolving around domestic violence and child abuse, which may be triggering to some individuals.

One of the hardest moments to live through when we’ve suffered incredible trauma through loss and potentially other means… is that odd spot shortly after the dust has settled regarding our personal disaster. For at that point, there’s just silence and then our thoughts. Wherein we wonder what comes next, and that puts us on edge. For all we’ve known is hardship, and all we feel is raw emotion and that sends our minds and hearts racing. In part because we’re still in survival mode and unsure of how to stand down, but also because… unknown paths await us. For our lives could in fact be full of joy if healing and stability awaits. Or there’s more hardships on the horizon, or both… resulting in chaos and well, those endless possibilities are top of mind because all of them were put on display in the next episode of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart on Prime Video.

A feat that ‘Part 2: Wattle’ accomplished in part, by opening up with joy and love. For Alice came to learn that in her new home, she wasn’t going to be judged, and there were women around her that in many ways… she was connected to. For Thornhill, the place that June brought Alice to, was a refuge of sorts. Wherein women with painful pasts were encouraged to live in harmony and focus on the beauty of life and of recovery and a second chance. Not to mention, there was real nobility to be found at Thornhill. For a great deal of the women under June’s protection, were former victims of domestic violence. Who from time to time, would face the hard reality that those who brought them harm were back on the streets and likely ready to strike again.

Which was why, June took it upon herself, to bring these weak men to their knees. By finding out where they were staying or hanging out, through her network of information, so she could meet up with them, and poke the bear and expose their true nature, and press charges and send them back where they belonged. Which is a process that while dangerous has merit and that nobility. For the system often fails to really protect women in matters such as this, and this is the kind of vigilante revenge that while risky, does make the jackass pay. And really… this act, and the kindness shown to Alice, made it seem as though, healing was about to take place and better days were ahead for Alice. But alas, that sadly was not going to be the case. For once the wonder of Thornhill wore off, we came to learn that this was a house of cards built upon shaky and fragile lies, the kind designed to cover for the foundational trauma that made Clem into the nightmare that he was.

Which led to the ugly in this story. The kind that informed us that June was in part, taking part in such actions to more or less atone for the generational trauma she imparted upon her own family. Which removed the nobility of it because a kind act grounded in motive is nothing short of selfish and we also learned… that June lied a lot. For she kept the truth about Agnes being in this place secret from Alice. Which was the last thing that Alice needed in this moment. Because her world was upended, and she was on edge and having PTSD related panic attacks. If anything, she clearly needed care and gentleness and that was nowhere to be found here, and the push to rush her into school only added to those pressures. For all of this put Alice in an uncertain place, wherein she was surrounded by lies and surrounded by new stresses and questions. Which put her life and her recovery on the rollercoaster we mentioned earlier, and there was more ugliness that came out of this.

Because eventually, Alice came to learn about the lie, since she discovered her mother was at Thornhill, and that brought forth a newly discovered fury within Alice. One born out of lies and manipulation and all the horrible things her father did to her emotionally, and that will bring forth more trouble ahead and really… in the end… this was just a powerful slice of life tale. One that really did explore how those precious days after our darkest hour can in fact go anywhere and any place. Giving rise to a supremely realistic story for certain, one that used that realism to flesh out the rest of the story and the characters in a powerful manner. Since clearly… Clem is the product of June’s dark side, one that we’ve only seen a taste of and that goes back to the core of this story. Which is to explore the root causes of domestic abuse and generational abuse and how that impacts a life, and we are seeing it to a tee. Since Alice is in a precarious and broken place and it will be interesting to see where her life goes from here, and what will come of the revelations that she discovered at Thornhill, and the ones involving Sally Morgan and her broken affair with Clem… as this powerhouse series continues along. Until next time.

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