This is another enjoyable episode but veers into some bizarre directions at the same time. Our episode features on three characters: John, Claire, and Lottie. Claire is John's mother and they have an insanely close relationship that's more bizarre to me than anything. This episode is the right opposite of another episode that features Phyllis Thaxter's character dealing with issues concerning her mental health and she just feels more comfortable having her parents close to her. I can sympathize with that character while John and Claire just struck me as being on the odd side. I don't want to write it off as John's a momma's boy.
The episode has depth to it because it also shows the mother/son relationship in this episode isn't a healthy one in so many ways. Take notice of John limping when he's near his mother versus when he's not limping around Lottie. John was getting a taste of independence being away from his mother and being around Lottie.
I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself because I haven't talked about Lottie. Lottie is a lady John met and they're supposedly falling in love with each other. I don't really buy it tbh. Lottie's a very nice, smart and lovely looking lady. I don't see somebody that's the full package dealing with John for very long. Example: Lottie's spending time with John and he's constantly talking about Claire or being bothered that he's missed another phone call from Claire. I type all this and it makes me laugh thinking how this story would be in today's times with everybody having a cell phone. John would absolutely ignore Lottie completely in order to talk on his cell phone with his mom!
Claire's supposed to meet up with John after she's done visiting with her daughter, son in law and grandkids. I point out the scene where Claire's having her reunion with John and she looks bothered by wanting to know what John's been up to. Again, a lot of people will write this off as a mother NOT wanting to let her grown son grow up and live his own life. I feel like the mother was acting like a dumped girlfriend upset that her boyfriend has moved on and found another love. Claire even manages to track Lottie down at her place of employment and act very rude and dismissive to Lottie. At the time Lottie didn't even realize Claire is John's mom. Lottie's not too impressed when she finally meets Claire officially.
John and Lottie are talking about marriage. Lottie does at least know what's up during the episode. She talks about her feelings of John still living at home, the phone calls with Claire, etc. And this marriage? John can't even tell his mother he wants to marry Lottie! Lottie correctly tells John that he'll only get his freedom after Claire dies.
Earlier in the episode Lottie proudly shows off a waterfall she enjoys coming to. The three characters go to this waterfall at the end of the episode and John ends up pushing Lottie to her death. I really don't get a murderous vibe from Lottie. It might be a divided point between viewers but I don't think Lottie was planning on pushing Claire to her death or expecting John to do it either. The end of the episode features Lottie's death being ruled an accident. John looks to be limping worse than ever in this scene.
I appreciate the symbolism in this episode. Sometimes a parent can be quite toxic to a child, whether or not the child ever realizes it or not. John had it pointed out to him and he'll never act on it on his own in order to be anything other than Claire's adoring son.