‘Three Women’ Recap: ‘gia’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Shailene Woodley as Gia in Episode 105 of ‘Three Women’ – ‘gia’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Three Women’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve learned a lot about women and the lives they lead in modern America, courtesy of the incredible storytelling present in the STARZ series, Three Women. For it has examined some powerful topics, the kind that have provided the insight in question while correctly pointing out how our desire to make women seen and not heard has aided in hiding their plight and their struggles. All of which has given rise to a brilliant series, one that speaks to so much and resonates on levels never thought possible. But while it has been amazing to learn such lessons, one particular aspect of this story and one character’s journey has been neglected.

After all, Gia, our reliable narrator and guide through this world that we’ve chosen to ignore, has resided in the shadows. Making her nothing more than a plot device, really. One made to move us from one story to another, and in a story about women, that would be a grave injustice. One that this series was not good with, which was why ‘gia’ took the center stage in the next episode. Wherein we were able to learn not only, why she has gone to such efforts to write about sexuality, but the struggles independent working women face out there in the world. Especially when they do indeed have something worthwhile in front of them, along with a powerful surprise that expressed the strength that women carry. All of which came forth… from a revelation.

In that, Gia did find out that her publisher was supremely displeased with her original book. In fact, they considered it to be a failure. They wanted it to have guts, and she of course, only wrote what she thought would please the publisher, since we teach women to not take risks or go for it. But a short-lived love affair, that strange conversation with Gay, and being on the road and learning how to talk to people on a different level and learn their stories… inspired her to go the extra mile. To really expose the human condition and shed the stigma she harbored and projected regarding writing, to really feel the words, and feel them flow through her and experience their power through the raw honesty that writing provides. Making this a grand quest for Gia to beome more than the norm, but a generational writer that would leave a mark with a powerful piece of work. 

But of course, there were those struggles mentioned. Because that brief love affair haunted her for some time. In part because she was pregnant and trying to decide how to handle that. And that idiot lover, felt the need to inject himself into her work. Out of the arrogant male belief that she needed his help, needed his authentic perspective on her work. Which served as a reminder that so many men offer distrust and doubt when it comes to what women can do, when that simply needs to not happen. For there is no woman on this planet that is ‘too weak’ to handle their career path on their own. But that stigma persists and idiots like him push into them, but she weathered that storm and made the work, work, before she dealt with one stunning surprise regarding their time together.

In that, she suffered through a miscarriage, and that’s important to note. Because as this series is wont to do, it showed us the moment she lost the baby. Not to be cruel, but to educate. For this moment is often glossed over in popular media and in everyday life, but it is an emotional and scary experience. One that a woman goes through alone, and somehow finds the incredible strength only they can, to go on. Which made this, another poignant and powerful episode. One that made Gia so much more at last (courtesy of a stunning performance from Shailene Woodley) and took us on a powerful journey with her. One that stayed true to what this series is eager to accomplish and one that seemingly is closing one chapter of the story to move us into another. One that the teaser hinted, will explore what comes next for all of the women we’ve met… as they take control of their lives and their wants. Until next time.

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