Love and Death

After the first three episodes of love and death we were left knowing that the murder was about to take place. For those of us that have no chill and went to the internet to investigate the real story we know what is about to happen. But from a narrative perspective the cliffhanger was great and still left the future up in the air. The second half of the series is all murder and aftermath so here we go.

Candy’s story to the other mom’s for why she was late was so specific and rehearsed. Lizzie Olsen’s performance was also incredible. She was clearly so shaken by what had happened, and out of it because she had to lie it was a very real performance. The thing about the situation for me is that it was very obviously self-defense and you can’t really have a non-violent death when you're attacked with an ax. But Candy didn’t think about the baby in her clean up. Like she was responsible for the oldest daughter but she didn’t think about the baby.

Candy then has to fend off the rest of the neighborhood. Everyone was calling her to gossip about Betty’s death and Candy looks like she’s about to lose it with every phone ring. Candy lying her ass off as a form of self preservation makes sense if you consider the fact that she also has children. She is also very clearly haunted by what she did. This was in no way a cold blooded murder, and if Betty wasn’t fully off her rocker she would still be alive. She simply had to not threaten another woman with an ax and tell her that she was going to kill her.

The police start investigating and our next cliffhanger is that they find out that Allen and Candy were having an affair.

The fifth episode of Love and Death starts with Candy obviously dealing with her guilt, she isn’t sleeping. Due to his confession about their affair Alan is being interrogated by the police. Candy is outwardly accused of Betty’s murder which she, of course, denies. They then go to get Candy a lawyer, who asks her not to lie to him. She admits to him that she did in fact kill Betty.

Another aspect of accuracy that we are getting from this show is the media circus that begins surrounding the murder. Thus far the show is remarkably accurate, according to all available sources including the main subject herself. Some of the dialogue of the show was pulled directly from interviews Candy actually gave to Texas monthly.

Candy is in fact arrested, and her lawyer lays into her forcing her to do whatever possible for him to argue her case. He is of course 100% correct. Candy’s marriage is also strained. They could make it through an affair but few marriages survive murder.

Elizabeth Olsen’s acting is so phenomenal in this whole series but definitely in the scene with the physiatrist. Her range, her emotion, the subtleties and the dramaticness in her expression is so captivating and truly truly incredible. She is just groundbreaking in this role.

The accuracy I am most concerned about is really the outcome of the trial as well as its aftermath. Especially considering that the real Candy Montgomery is still alive and well. We will have to wait and see how the next two episodes handle the rest of the real life situation but so far the show has done an excellent job of sticking to the “This is a True Story” tagline at the beginning of each episode.