I've Scene 'Em All And, My Dear, I'm Still Here
Recounting scenes from television that have taken up residence in my brain.
If you understand the reference being used in the title of this newsletter, then congratulations, you are a theater nerd.
As I wrote a few of my last newsletters, I realized how much I attach my love for a show to particular moments throughout its life. I couldn’t write about them without searching for fragments of an episode that felt life-changing to me and linking each for others to perhaps discover for the first time, awaken dormant memories of their own reactions, and even obsess over in the same way that I had before.
There are scenes from television that have stuck with me long after the minutiae of the plot has faded. I can vividly remember the feelings that each scene evoked, from deep belly laughter to tears streaming down my face. I return to television time and time again for moments like these.
What makes a scene so unforgettable, so much that it lodges itself into the deepest crevices of your mind?
It can be a subtle character choice that lingers, a moment where the ensemble comes together in a way so heartwarming that it ingrains in your brain, or a feeling of catharsis at the end of a season. Wherever and whatever it is, the scene ends and you know it will play on a loop in your mind for years to come.
Here are a few scenes that own property in my head, in hopes of unpacking this question further. (There are plenty more, trust me!)
**I tried to find the best clips available but for the full impact, try and watch them where they are streaming (enjoy the entire episode and context while you’re at it). As always, be weary of any spoilers if you haven’t watched any of the following shows**
Mare Climbs The Ladder Towards Healing
TW: This section contains discussion of death and suicide.
Where: Max
When: Season 1, Episode 7
Unpacking the Scene & Impact:
The entire season finds Mare struggling to come to terms with the death of her son by suicide and how her actions played a role in what transpired. This is why she is so driven to fix everyone around her, because she couldn’t help the person who meant the most to her.
She can’t find the strength to return to the attic, where he died… until the final seconds of the finale. We see her in bed with her grandson, but as she slowly gets up, she sits for a second. You can almost see her decide what’s next. There’s no dialogue, just the subtle score in the background. We see her bring the ladder down and climb, taking a moment to breathe. She could back out now. Instead, Mare chooses to do the hard thing, a sign that she is truly healing. Kate Winslet, the actress that you are!
We don’t see her in the attic; we don’t need to. The way that the camera lingers instead on the ladder gives me chills. It’s Mare finally allowing herself to accept what has happened and move toward forgiveness, for her and her son. I love when a show truly sticks the landing, and this scene feels like the perfect bookend. I watch it often, reminded of the catharsis it gives both Mare and the audience. The scene is a deep breath and exhale that she has been waiting years to let out.
Ms. Mary Louise Warns Madeline Not To Cross Her
Where: Max
When: Season 2, Episode 2
Unpacking the Scene & Impact:
The scene that comes to mind for most in the second season would be the infamous one where Mary Louise screams at the dinner table, which has been memed to death (by me included). However, this is the scene that I always come back to when I think about the divisive second season, and it’s all because of the way that Meryl Streep plays with her cross necklace. It has the same energy as when a child puts all of their limbs in their shirt and stretches it out, pissing off their parents.
From this subtle action, you know there is something not quite right with the character of Mary Louise. There’s something strange and off putting about this character choice. It almost feels sacrilegious for her (and I am not even religious). She is the type of person who proclaims that she goes to service every Sunday, but hasn’t gone since that Easter in 2008. Between her spewing the words “godsend” at Madeline, with her fiddling with the cross, you can tell that she has met her match.
I don’t think this season would have worked without Meryl clocking in to give a truly devious performance as a woman who is willing to make anyone, including the audience, uncomfortable. I can truly never get this moment out of my head, likely a choice that Meryl made in the moment. It’s all about making the bold choice! Now, that’s why she has so many Oscar nominations!
Aimee Reclaims The Bus With A Little Help From Her Friends
TW: This section contains discussion of sexual assault.
Where: Netflix
When: Season 2, Episode 7
Unpacking the Scene & Impact:
I am so happy to see Aimee Lou Wood and Emma Mackey having thriving careers. The friendship they develop between Maeve and Aimee in this show feels so real, and you can see that shine through as Maeve helps Aimee find the strength to get on the bus. Their “it’s just a stupid bus” exchange carries so much weight in the scene, the perfect “I see you and validate you” moment between these two characters.
For context, Aimee is horrifically assaulted on the bus earlier in the season. Her character is known for her unyielding positivity, but this weighs on her heavily throughout the season. She is unable to get back on the bus, seeing the man who assaulted her at every turn. It’s heartbreaking to see the light inside of her almost dim due to these disgusting actions. After sharing the events with her friends, Aimee is able to get the support she needed all along.
This scene finds these characters rallying around Aimee, helping her to reclaim the bus as a safe space for her. The image of Aimee surrounded by all of them at the end is seared in my brain. It’s an example of platonic love and community coming to your aid in the face of something horrible. It’s a reminder that there are still good people in the world who want to help and genuinely care.
Sam Sings Her Way Home
Where: Max
When: Season 1, Episode 7
Unpacking the Scene & Impact:
Can you imagine someone writing a song about how you helped them find their home?! There are tears in my eyes. This scene could have felt excessively cloying or saccharine, but the writers and actors find the perfect balance. It’s hard to find shows that really go there with friendship. The depiction can feel corny and platonic love is so often put on the back burner, but not in a show like Somebody, Somewhere. This show depicts the depths of friendship like no other.
There are many scenes of Sam singing, but this one resonates with me the most because it shows us a character who has been so closed-off, baring her soul to someone who has helped her find meaning in the friendships she has fostered. This idea of “home” is something I adore seeing explored on television, and how it goes beyond a physical location or tangible space, but rather is a feeling that those around you help to come alive.
I love how we are allowed a few emotional beats at the end, but the scene allows the signature humor to shine through between Joel’s “You motherfucker” and Fred’s humor. I want to write something on the depiction of platonic love and community in television, but for now I will leave you with this scene to bring you all of these warm feelings. We need more tenderness and earnestness on-screen!
David and Patrick Find Their Rhythm
Where: Hulu, Amazon Prime
When: Season 4, Episode 6 and Episode 9
Unpacking the Scene(s) & Impact:
This is a BOGO special. These scenes are two sides of the same coin. In the first scene, seeing the reaction from David (and even Moira) go from cringiness to tenderness as Patrick sings is heartwarming, especially for two characters who are not quick to express emotion in this way. Patrick is so generous in what he has to offer, and for someone like David it can be overwhelming in the most beautiful way. I think that this scene depicts that aspect of their relationship perfectly. As someone who can identify with David’s emotions surrounding love and how it can make you uncomfortable, getting to see him let his guard down felt personally triumphant.
I love the use of “Simply the Best” in both. It’s a perfect callback in the second scene and a lovely bow on their relationship. When we see David lip sync to the song in the second, it’s after a break in his relationship with Patrick. It’s his version of extending an olive branch. There is something special about David going so far out of his comfort zone for the man that he loves. It shows us the evolution of his character. The David from the first season would have never done this silly act for anyone!
If it wasn’t obvious, I love when a character sings sincerely in a show. Sorry, if it’s cringe to you but it works for me! I still find both scenes to be lovely little snippets into a love story that still resonates today, long after the show ended.
Shruti, You Deserved So Much Better
TW: This section contains discussion of death and suicide.
Where: AMC+
When: Season 1, Episode 6
Unpacking the Scene & Impact:
This scene is fucking devastating. If you have watched the show, you know how easy it is to cling to Shruti as your favorite character and to be completely knocked off of your feet by her fate. Spoiler: We find out in the next episode that Shruti took her own life. Throughout the show, she struggles with the effects of working in an NHS hospital, studying for her exams and the clear lack of support from her supervisors.
In this scene, you see Ben Whishaw’s Dr. Kay finally offer to help Shruti study after he canceled on her multiple times. There’s an eeriness to their interaction. He wants to finally do the right thing, but it’s too late. The “I’ll see you” followed by a small beat. The breaking of the fourth wall. The image of Shruti walking away, knowing that this is the last time we will see her character. It all builds the most uneasy feeling, but the show wants you to feel this way. Ambika Mod’s delivery of “I’m sorry. I really did try” feels like a punch to the face. Even if you aren’t yet aware of what her words mean, you can hear the exhaustion and resoluteness in her voice. It’s gut wrenching.
I think watching this during the pandemic made it resonate even more. The character of Shruti felt so real. I was emotionally invested in her story and wanted her to succeed. Her fate was a scary, but necessary reminder, that without the proper resources and support, the systems can fail you when you need them the most.
Fleabag Who Is Going To Be Okay
Where: Amazon Prime
When: Season 2, Episode 6
Unpacking the Scene & Impact:
Don’t roll your eyes! This choice to end it all? There’s nothing that anyone, save for Phoebe Waller-Bridge herself, could say about this show that is novel. It’s been discussed and discoursed to the ends of the earth. Every scene with the Hot Priest has been dissected in every corner of the internet.
However, I believe that the most important part of this scene is after Hot Priest (and the fox) have made their final exit. There’s an acceptance from Fleabag that she is capable of love, and even if this attempt hurt her deeply and couldn’t work out, she will be able to do it all over again. There’s a realization that being alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely. “This Feeling” by Alabama Shakes is a perfect song to accompany this scene. Fleabag is “going to be alright.” She no longer needs an audience to help her move along. As she walks away from the camera, you can’t help but feel a sense of relief. It’s very “girl who is going to be okay” energy in the best way.
The turn and wave at the end is so cheeky. I love it. Yes, this show is beloved by many and it’s been discussed to death, but this scene still resonates with me. There’s a reason so many have tried to recreate a character like Fleabag, with this particular moment in mind. I would love a spark of the magic that was infused into this scene.
More often than not, it’s a feeling that a scene evokes, sometimes beyond explanation. It might not be the same for everyone, but that is what makes the television viewing experience so compelling. Something quite forgettable to one person might be groundbreaking to another. I believe that we attach our own lived experiences to the scenes that impact us the most. The story being told merges with some facet of your own truth to exist in a space between both worlds. Not always, but often.
I keep coming back to my little shows, knowing that there will always be moments to ponder and reckon with. What scenes from television have stayed with you? Which ones had an impact that you haven’t been able to shake?
I love this!
The first thing that came to my mind when I read your intro was the scene in Big Little Lies when Jane realizes that Perry is the guy who raped her. The look on her face in that scene haunts me.
I'm also forever haunted by the ending of Sharp Objects when it zooms in on the doll house and you realize some of the parts are human teeth 😨.
And on the happier side I love rewatching the San Junipero episode of Black Mirror and all the feelings hit in the mid credit scene when Heaven is a Place on Earth starts playing.
Perfect taste (I still need to watch This Is Going to Hurt!!). That Sex Education scene is something I think about all the time — especially seeing people discover Aimee Lou Wood now through White Lotus. BLL had so many scenes that stay with me but woof that Meryl!!! Fleabag I mean absolutely…Alabama Shakes playing and the small shake of her head ugh. Somebody Somewhere, you already know how I feel!!!! AND KATE WINSLET HELLO!!
Once again perfect opinions, my friend.