‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’ Recap – ‘Part 6: Wheel of Fire’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sebastián Zurita and Alycia Debnam-Carey as Dylan and Alice Hart in Episode 106 of ‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’ – ‘Part 6: Wheel of Fire’. (Photo Courtesy of Glendyn Ivn/Prime Video.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this article features discussions regarding domestic violence, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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If there is one giant question that has been hanging over the Prime Video series, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, it would be… who do we become in adulthood when we have suffered through a lifetime of trauma through violence? Because that is the core of Alice Hart’s journey since her life has only known those two dark elements and thankfully, the tail end of this series is taking the time to answer that fascinating question. Since the last episode informed us how those of us who carry such pain, find ways to cope and function and find necessary joy, because eventually… there will be more darkness for reasons that one will not initially understand. 

Which ‘Part 6: Wheel of Fire’ explored by way of two key storylines. One of which involved June, who taught us that a lifetime of carrying this pain will lead to a remorseful end when we know our time is near. Because that’s all June harbored in this tale, regret and memories of dark days gone by. The kind she expressed to Candy, which explained Clem’s origin and violent origins and the birth of her own trauma, and this reflective state left her worried about making peace before the end because she did want to give that to others. Oddly, she wasn’t the only one in a reflective place in this tale since Twig also went on a personal journey whilst searching for Alice. One that reminded us how hard life can be in general when trauma forces us to forge other paths.

But while those moments were important and poignant, the real centerpiece here was Alice’s journey. Because despite having it all and enjoying a new chapter in life, the trauma returned. In this instance via a panic attack during a live, firefighting exercise at the park. Which in turn, brought ire from her man and more abuse and more horrors untold that Alice could not and seemingly would not escape from. Not because she was a fool, or weak, but because of the trauma she experienced as a child. Because Clem’s abuse, and his desire for control taught young Alice that this was normal behavior for a man, and that obedience was the key to fixing that. So, Alice held to that and indulged in it, and even called it love, to Twig no less when she asked Twig to stop searching for her.

However, it was anything but. It was merely a toxic relationship. One where a broken and angry man used fear and physical pain to maintain control over a woman that found it normal and that of course… is a recipe for disaster. One where the abused must make a decision. Either follow this path and risk one’s life or enact change and well, that choice came forth for Alice in a scary manner. One where she was badly beaten, choked, and degraded by her ‘love’ and in that moment… she decided… that this path was not normal and change needed to come into her life swiftly. So, she fought back, kept Dylan at bay and did her best to just survive one last dark night. To makes changes at dawn.

Which was quite the scary cliffhanger to endure, but necessary to hammer home the point. That trauma becomes normal for us, and a strange yet familiar place we hold onto, until we learn it’s the wrong place to be. And this series deserves a standing ovation for presenting that in a bold and scary manner. One that felt real and was uncomfortable as it should be, and Alycia Debnam-Carey (Alice) needs to be recognized for her stellar and powerful performance here, since she sold those lessons in a powerful manner and well, now that we know what we become when trauma hangs over us for a lifetime, there is but one question left for this story to answer. In that, can we break free and live a healthy life? And it will be fascinating to see what the series finale offers as an answer. Until next time.

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