Shining Vale 1×06 “Chapter Six – Whispering Hope” started out on the brightest note…and ended up on one of the series’ darkest images yet. When you think about the way overkill tends to build up in the typical horror story, it probably shouldn’t have been shocking that Valerie He met her end in such a gory fashion. After all, it’s not like our local neighborhood ghost-slash-demon, or perhaps hallucination, was ever going to be particularly friendly toward someone who was constantly getting in her way.
And if viewers want to believe the “it’s all in Pat’s head” theory, we were due for some violence against the woman who, in some ways, was stealing Gaynor away from her own mother. What better way to lash out against your daughter’s new godmother, whose company and faith she’s preferred over anything at all having to do with you, than to have the demon you’ve relied on to get your work done eliminate the problem altogether? Add in the frustration of finishing a book and actually thinking it was good, only to find out the publisher hated it…and something was bound to boil over.
Then again, Shining Vale 1×06 viewers saw, pretty clearly, that Valerie wasn’t pushed. And we heard the seductive, “this is for you, Patricia” during Valerie’s final moments. So, uh. The “imagination” theory just doesn’t fit—never did. Let’s talk about what led up to that moment.
Writing is hell
After a one-month time jump, we finally get to see Pat in her element and finishing up her long-awaited book. The pressure is finally off. Everything’s coming up Phelps. That feeling of having finally found all the words, finally written it all and gotten through all the struggles, was far too familiar. But so was something else—something we don’t talk about as much but really should.
For as much as Pat was excited to finish the book, even to the point where she was convinced she’d she’d nailed it, she…kept feeling the need to apologize for reveling in her own success. When she tried to share her excitement with her family, they were unsupportive as usual — all wrapped up in their own lives. She couldn’t even tell them how proud she was of this huge accomplishment without first saying something about knowing writers aren’t supposed to say their work is good. Later, with Dr. Misogyny —or whatever his name is — Pat had to add “not to sound like an asshole, but” to the beginning of her statement on the matter.
Then, there was Pat’s visit to see her mom.
“And FYI, no good writer ever says that about their own book.”
Joan was all about celebrating her short-lived success. But Pat, having not yet learned how to not give a fuck about how everyone thinks she should respond to her own work, chastised her. Which, to be fair, a lot of good writers…don’t say that about their own writing. Because self-doubt is a powerful drug, as is society’s push for certain folks to always try to make ourselves smaller.
Can we stop doing this? And by “we,” I mostly mean talented women. Because mediocre men never seem to have a problem with boasting about how great they are, even when they aren’t.
Even Gaynor, after singing so well that she had everyone in the church just staring on in awe…thought the shocked response meant she sucked. Which, again: Sweetie, no. You kicked ass. Own it.
Whatever brief moment of self-confidence Pat may have found after a month in isolation, typing away, Shining Vale‘s dark side wasn’t yet done with her or with us. Pat’s book wasn’t good enough…Or, as Kam later confessed, the publisher just wanted to go with someone younger for their big summer release. Because, of course women are disposable after 29. Here’s hoping “that fucking YA bitchling” enjoys her success while it lasts.
Oh. But they really loved the one part of the book Pat was particularly excited to free herself from: Rosemary.
That meant more drugs, summoning the demon, and letting her…”come inside.” Throw in the extra “gift” of Valerie He getting impaled on the fence, and “Chapter Six – Whispering Hope” has sufficiently put the “horror” in horror comedy, yet again.
One might even say we started the episode with Pat’s hopes for her future and belief in herself high up in the sky, and by the end, thanks to the usual behavior of society whenever a woman actually feels good about herself…it splatted harder than Valerie.
Whispering thoughts on Shining Vale 1×06
- There are few moments in television that I will ever love more than Courteney Cox yelling “FUCK!” in the middle of a church scene. Just…iconic.
- While we’re on our undying love for Cox: She gets it. Whatever she channeled to bring about Pat’s utter glee at being finished with writing? She gets it.
- I just feel like…very called out by the “did I suck” scene.
- “Is it over?” “No not until you’re dead.” Jake vs. the creepy girl in his game? Or all of us vs. this pandemic? Choose your own deadventure.
- Terry’s “Amish serial killer” look is giving “guys on twitter dot com who brag about not bathing.”
- I was going to write a whole thing about the double standards with this trash therapist, but Pat’s “unfuckingbelievable” basically sums it up.
- …also this: “A man gets depressed, and he gets to work through it. A woman has an emotion, and she’s treated like a mental patient.”
- “That’s why my book is so relevant—a women’s empowerment story that you can read on the beach.” It’s giving, “the publishers didn’t like it because they’re probably a bunch of old white dudes.”
- Pat searching the name of someone who’s getting all the success she knows she deserves, when she’s supposed to be reworking her story? A mood.
- Everything about that scene with Judith Light was perfection. We’re not worthy. I don’t think there are enough Rosemarys on the planet to assist me in explaining how great that was and how much we do not deserve the Light/Cox combination.
- And then we have Mira Sorvino, ever so slowly turning Rosemary into something a bit darker, a bit more tempting…and the chemistry with Cox.
- I am not a 12-year-old boy, and yet the whole “come inside” exchange had me cackling. That’s called actors delivery skills, folks.
- We’re here for the “suck a hot dick” remix, too.
- “Forevermore, why am I a demon? Because I’m a strong woman? Because I know what I want and I speak my mind?” Just leaving this here forever.
What are your thoughts on Shining Vale 1×06? Leave us a comment!
Shining Vale airs Sundays on Starz.
