‘Three Women’ Recap: ‘two women’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin in Episode 107 of ‘Three Women’ – ‘two women’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Three Women’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article contains discussions regarding sexual assault as well, which may be triggering to some individuals. 
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When we last settled in to discuss the brilliant STARZ series, Three Women, we pondered briefly upon an unfortunate possibility regarding the agency that Lina, Maggie, and Sloane obtained. In that, there was a very real chance that they might face real consequences for their actions. Since their situations required delicate balance and there were unknown factors to their important and liberating decisions, something that set forth real risk for certain, and well… it didn’t take long for this series to explore some of those consequences, and so much more in a story that once again defied convention through and through.

But before we dive into that, let’s discuss those consequences. Which as it turned out, revolved around the fact, that the grass was not greener on the other side for Lina in ‘two women’. Sure, she was able to be intimate with Aidan often, and enjoy mind blowing intimacy, and yes, she was getting her separation from her dry and boring husband at last. But the fact of the matter was, she wasn’t getting love. Just lust, for Aidan didn’t exactly make all the effort necessary here to be with Lina, and it was obvious, this was just fun for him. A reality that did lightly rattle Lina, but she held to the belief this was love and all it stood for, ignoring that warning sign. But there was psychology behind such a move, one that she discovered while hanging out with Gia.

Because in their various travels in Indiana, they at one point found themselves in a basement in the midst of a tornado warning. Wherein they were able to speak frankly about their lives and their mistakes, and truths they did not want to face or did not know, existed. Such as the fact that Lina dealt with sexual assault and rejection as a teenager, the latter of which came from Aidan, who saw her as impure for actions that were out of her control, and that rejection… and the trauma of what happened, was repressed, and helped to shape some of what she desired and why she thought physical love was such a healing agent at this point in her life. Which was powerful stuff to uncover and something we simply don’t see; television shows acknowledge and explore enough. 

Which puts Lina’s plans in a precarious place and truly is of consequence. Since sadly… Aidan is not the solution she hoped for and that will devastate and wound when the lust and the fantasy comes crashing down. But… one must take a chance, one must go for it or stay stagnant, so we cannot fault Lina, we can only feel for her. But there was also mention, of some unconventional moments here, and that was handled via Gia. Who once again was dating Jack since he returned and tried to start a family with her and well… while there was success there, there was also a scary surprise. In that, cancer found its way into Gia’s body and that prompted her to pack up and head to a facility alone to battle it. To face her fears about facing the same fate as her mother, head on.

A twist that simply spoke to life’s cruelty, and the random nature of it, and how genetics can sometimes play a part in that, and that just added… to the realism of this tale. Because what Lina encountered here, is common. Sometimes what we think is love, is actually lust, and sometimes what we seek will take time to find. The important thing is that we start the process toward getting what we want and that starts with learning more about who we really are. Which Lina did indeed do here, and hopefully she can heal and hopefully the same goes for Gia, who is facing quite the task. If anything, all of these elements made for a slice of life episode for certain. One that compels us to finish the journey and see what lie ahead for these intrepid women and their quest… to find peace and agency. Until next time.

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