‘Three Women’ Recap: ‘her name’

11/18/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Betty Gilpin, DeWanda Wise, Shailene Woodley, and Gabrielle Creevy as Lina, Sloane, Gia, and Maggie in Episode 110 of ‘Three Women’ – ‘her name’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Finale of ‘Three Women’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

Over the course of the past nine weeks, we’ve enjoyed quite the powerful examination of what life is like for women in the 21st century America via the STARZ series, Three Women. Wherein we’ve come to learn, that life as a woman is messy. Primarily because of the many conflicts society imparts upon women. After all, women are expected to be loyal and loving but cannot enjoy desire, and women cannot cross certain lines when it comes to being bold, and women can be playthings if men so choose. All of which is counterintuitive to what we teach people about life and the pursuit of happiness, and that’s led to some powerful stories for certain in this series. The kind that has raised quite the big question.

In that, what then has the point of this journey been? Which is not to insult the show or insult the stories that have been put on display, but that is a valid question. For every story has a goal in mind and every story must bring that goal together and they usually do that through tension and conflict that is building toward something greater for certain. But this show has been unconventional in its structure and hasn’t had that traditional build toward something more. Leaving us to wonder what the story has been eager to accomplish, and the series finale of this saga, did not seem to lend to an endgame. At least, not right away. Since ‘her name’ focused on different types of resolution for the fascinating characters in this show. For instance, Gia had her baby early and hit the road with her, to meet Maggie and get her story. Which infuriated Jake and led to some ugly moments for certain that were hurtful for Gia but spoke to what Gia needed in life and the lengths she was prepared to go to get it.

Plus, Sloane worked to claim agency in a new manner. Wherein she was less brash with people and more open to unity and forgiveness and grace, and kindness. Since she disarmed Will’s beloved rather than escalate, to make a point that she wasn’t inhuman and made mistakes, and she of course, worked to patch things up with her husband and find common ground that addressed her concerns and his, so they could be partners again. Also, Lina finally came to quite the epiphany about her quest. In that, while it was lovely to be desired, there had to be more. There had to be romance and attention and a feeding of that desire beyond mind blowing sex. She needed that connection and that wasn’t present with Aidan, and it led to her focusing on the wrong things and that caused wild harm, to her son. So, she broke it off, to find her needs.

Not to mention, Maggie did tell her story and that meant, Gia wrote her book a
nd clearly overcame her cancer. All of which were baseline endings, that seemingly do not speak to a theme, but Gia’s final thoughts and really, the actions taken here… does in fact… speak to a message and a goal for this series. It was just simply delivered unto us in a subtle manner and requires one to think upon the whole of the work and not just the finale to understand… this was about taking part in something that has needed to happen for a very long time. Because let’s not mince words, we don’t listen to women, we don’t acknowledge the wants and needs of women, and we most certainly don’t care to nurture those and give women a chance to thrive and life a full life free from the bullshit standards we impart upon them.

Which means… this series was designed to do that. To make sure that these stories were heard, and we had to damn well listen, and we had to acknowledge the wants and needs present here and watch them be nurtured as a part of an effort to send up a great big middle finger to the patriarchy and all of its nonsense. Because it is time. Time to listen, time to let go and just let women live their lives. Because women are not breeding vessels, or property, or anything less, and women deserve to live their lives as they see fit because it is no one’s business but that of the individual, and that made for a satisfying ending for certain. One complex and powerful and will stay with us for some time. Courtesy of an honest story, that held nothing back in showcasing the lives of three women, and the lives they finally get to lead.

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