The Time Traveler’s Wife: Season 1/ Episode 5 – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)
As Henry continues to struggle with being Clare’s second choice, she adds in meeting her family and the pressure of befriending Gomez.
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As Henry continues to struggle with being Clare’s second choice, she adds in meeting her family and the pressure of befriending Gomez.
| Aired (HBO) | 6/12/2022 |
| Director(s) | David Nutter |
| Writer(s) | Steven Moffat |
| Introduced This Episode | |
| Mark | Peter Graham |
| Alicia | Taylor Richardson |
| Nell | Marcia DeBonis |
| Phillip | Michael Park |
| Lucille | Jaime Ray Newman |
This content contains pertinent spoilers.
Recap
You’ll Get Used To Me – Gomez, Henry
28-year-old Henry is struggling. Never mind trying to appease Clare, his destined wife, but now trying to figure out how Gomez will become his best friend? It’s a lot. 28-year-old Henry has all these people in his life he is expected to get along with and love, and it is all dictated by an older version of him.
But, while there remain some struggles with Clare, Gomez? It seems impossible to understand why that becomes his future best friend. Is it because of the stock and other financial tips? How interesting Gomez finds knowing a time traveler? Even in 2022, it doesn’t seem clear when 28-year-old Henry ends up traveling to that time and Gomez saving him. But, while the friendship doesn’t make sense, he recognizes that he can be an asset when naked and vulnerable.
So No One Wants To Make This Less Awkward? – Mark, Alicia, Nell, Phillip, Lucille, Henry, Clare, Nell
Even with knowing this version of Henry for a few weeks or months, Clare decides to take Henry to her family. This is a bit awkward and a challenge for Henry. Mark, Clare’s older brother, is a lawyer in the making who asks a lot of questions. Alicia, Clare’s younger sister, is a tease who almost pushes the idea she is into Henry, making Henry VASTLY uncomfortable.
Luckily, while she finds him attractive, she doesn’t want him. But, this is part of what Henry deals with. Phillip, Clare’s dad, is naturally inquisitive, as is Lucille, Clare’s mom, who wants the best for Clare. After all, Clare is an artist, so a librarian for a boyfriend, a potential husband? That doesn’t mean she’ll be able to maintain her lifestyle.
Even Nell, the cook, pushes the idea of money over love, which gives you a glimpse into all Clare went through and why Henry was such a refuge for her.
I’ll Be Who You Need Me To Be – Henry, Clare, Alicia
Henry struggles with Clare desiring the older version of him and seemingly waiting out for 28-year-old Henry to become this man. Yes, sexually, Henry is doing what needs to be done when it comes to his relationship with Clare. However, she still wants the fantasy. She wants that 30 or 40-year-old Henry, and the frustration of dealing with her family and then Henry coming back from the future with bruises is all too much. She goes off on her mom, and her brother, then heads to the clearing.
Sadly, it seems much has changed since she was a child. There is now trash, trucks, and a factory in the distance. It’s all very different from what she remembers. This pushes the idea, as the show’s title notes, that this is Clare’s story, and what we saw was her rose-colored glasses version of everything. But, with the help of Alicia, it seems Henry gives in. He discards his individuality of who he is at 28 to try to become the full fantasy. He cuts his hair and seemingly may commit himself to be the man Clare dreamed up versus who he is.
Things To Note
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- So, should we assume, since Clare didn’t meet Henry’s father, there will be a second season featuring that?
- It seems unfair that Henry is basically giving up who he is to accommodate Clare being unwilling to give up a fantasy, isn’t it?
What Could Happen Next
- Clare’s family learning Henry is a time traveler
- Henry’s father causing an incident at the wedding
Review
Highlight
Seeing A Bit Of Clare’s Bubble Bursting
Clare has been infatuated with Henry for over 14 years. He has been a loving father figure, her first love, her best sexual experience, and so much is built around who he is and could be. The problem is, she hasn’t really adapted that she was with a man who saw her as a child and did his best to act accordingly. However, now, Clare has her version of Henry, who not only isn’t her dreamboat but is flawed.
In my mind, she is struggling with this. She has to deal with being in a real relationship with someone and not a fantasy. This Henry isn’t gone within a few hours. He is there for days, maybe weeks at a time, and she has to do the work. She has to deal with him having a past that isn’t on the up and up. As Henry asked in the last episode, Clare has to have grace and mercy. Which, clearly, is a challenge for her, but it is appreciated that it is being addressed that it can’t be all on Henry to become this man she dreams of.
On The Fence
Not Getting To Know Why Clare’s Family Is The Way They Are
It was nice that we met Clare’s family, but it didn’t feel like we got to know them. Philip seems nice but like a very generic dad. We don’t get into why we saw Lucille drinking and doing pills when we got a glimpse of her previously. Mark, why is he a douche? Philip doesn’t come off that bad, and while Lucille doesn’t respect her daughters’ chosen professions, I can’t imagine their attitudes creating Mark.
Heck, even in terms of Alicia, there is a need to question what her story is? What led her to become a hairdresser? Mark becoming a lawyer is a family business thing. Clare becoming an artist is due to Henry talking about art with her when she was young. So what led Alicia to get into hair? There are no answers.
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