The Girlfriend Recap: Losing Grip

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We’ve reached the halfway point in “The Girlfriend,” a moment when Laura gains an advantage over Cherry. She manages to climb up and over Daniel’s immobilized form. The sight of her unconscious son lying in a hospital bed is Laura’s most terrifying and, ironically, exciting scenario. In his current state, Daniel requires Laura, and due to his incapacitation, he can’t make decisions about Cherry on his own. Essentially, Daniel has reverted to his child self, a phase where Laura can exercise complete control. This is the dark game central to Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2017 masterpiece, “Phantom Thread.” In essence, Laura might as well tell Daniel that she wants him under her command.

In this third episode, the series significantly improves compared to the rest of the season as it picks up momentum and pace. After Daniel’s hospitalization, the narrative seamlessly transitions between Laura and Cherry’s viewpoints without the need for explicit announcement. The growing animosity between them escalates into a more intriguing dynamic. As Daniel becomes privy to their conflict, he is now tasked with understanding their justification for their actions. To stay ahead, they must strategize proactively rather than reactively as they had done previously.

Up until this point, their private feud was primarily reactive, with Cherry often dealing with clean-up efforts. Every time Laura uncovered incriminating evidence, Cherry simply provided an explanation for it. Now, however, Cherry must preemptively fabricate excuses in response to Laura’s actions. They engage in a more open, honest, and truthful psychological battle, which is what I believe viewers look forward to when tuning into television.

In this episode, let’s delve into the situation, focusing on Daniel, a 27-year-old who, despite his age, is still treated like a high school graduate by his mother, reminiscent of how one might refer to someone as “the last cookie in the tin” in Brazilian Portuguese. His mother, Laura, gets emotional when he purchases an apartment instead of the penthouse, as if this is her baby leaving the nest for good. To think that a doctor, let alone a surgeon, would be spoken about in such a manner is quite surprising. It seems Daniel is deliberately playing the part of a dutiful son to appease Laura, who was upset after discovering him and Cherry skinny-dipping in her pool during daylight hours. This is the third instance across three episodes where Laura has encountered Daniel’s intimate activities. It gives one a sense of understanding for Laura’s discomfort: it appears that they enjoy being caught. Yet, Laura might prefer witnessing Daniel and Cherry together once a day at home rather than accepting that he is moving in with her.

In simpler terms, the woman adores the apartment until Cherry shows up, at which point she begins to have doubts about it. However, Daniel has already purchased the property, and while he points out that he saved his own money for it, Laura reminds him it was actually Howard who provided the 1.5 million pounds. Later, when left alone, Laura advises Cherry to stay away from Daniel, but since adults can’t control each other without financial support, she can only ensure that Cherry’s deceptions will eventually be exposed.

The danger makes Cherry suspicious, prompting her to ask her mother, whom I’ll call Mrs. Cherry for now since we don’t know her name, to meet at a coffee shop close to her workplace. She wants to inquire if anyone has been contacting her, implying that they’re meddling in her affairs. Mrs. Cherry is a beloved character who seems overlooked by her daughter, Cherry. Given the strained relationship between mother and daughter, one might expect a more balanced interaction. However, it turns out that Daniel coincidentally visits the coffee shop at the same time, providing an opportunity for him to meet Mrs. Cherry. Naturally, he gets along well with her, as always. Later, Daniel inquires about why Cherry seemed so anxious about their encounter. “You met my mom,” she explains, “Did that make you uneasy about me?” Indeed, a naive observation!

During this time, Laura carries out some inquiries. She tries reaching Nicholas regarding Cherry but he abruptly ends the call when he hears her name due to his severe aversion to it. Instead, he speaks with Cherry, instructing her to distance herself and “American friend Lauren Sanderson” from him and Millie. He suspects her involvement in his wedding-day disaster, and threatens to involve the police if needed. Concerned, Cherry – who often asks for favors from her – pleads with Mrs. Cherry to verify their presence together on the 26th evening to anyone who inquires. Mrs. Cherry, bearing the weary expression of a mother who’s been through such situations before, agrees to help but is displeased by it. “I hope you haven’t reverted back to your old ways,” she mourns. “You frightened me.” (Scared, in past tense?!)

In this paraphrase, I aimed to make the text more natural and easier to read while maintaining the original meaning and essence. I corrected some minor grammatical errors and used a more conversational tone. The past tense of ‘scared’ was changed to present tense as it better suits the context in which it is used here.

Cherry passionately kissing Daniel with an intensity that left me feeling uneasy.

At this point, I can’t help but admire Laura’s cunning as she navigates these complex relationships, seeking to protect what she values while maintaining her connections with those around her.

Isabella and Brigitte believe that Laura’s concerns about Cherry are purely in her imagination. Although Brigitte finds Cherry quite entertaining, she admits that there might be a touch of unstable behavior in her. However, Laura persists in investigating further, eventually convincing Nicholas and Millie to discuss the matter with her at her home. Standing over six feet tall with a muscular build, Nicholas exhibited signs of trauma whenever Cherry’s name was mentioned. According to him, Cherry had always been intense, but her behavior became erratic after their breakup. She allegedly stalked him, fabricated stories about him, and appeared at their house so frequently that they sought a restraining order against her. Surprisingly, Laura seemed taken aback when Nicholas asserted that they were certain Cherry was responsible for the debacle on their wedding day. Isn’t it the same suspicion that prompted Laura to speak to them in the first place? Didn’t she rush to confront Cherry after seeing the post on Brigitte’s Instagram?

Later that night, I find myself with genuine tears in my eyes as I ask Daniel if I’m a bad person. This moment in the script is quite powerful, as I continue to deceive, but there’s a part of me that truly means this question. The situation becomes more complex when I have to ask my mother to cover for me and see Mrs. Cherry’s disappointment at the return of my old habits. This stirs up an unexpected feeling within me: remorse. However, I have a goal in mind, and that is to outsmart Laura. So, I tell Daniel that Nicholas was a manipulative ex-boyfriend who never got over me and is now spreading rumors about my insanity and sabotaging his wedding. Unfortunately, Daniel, finding himself defenseless, falls for it entirely.

As he approaches, he finds Cherry and Laura locked in a dispute. Cherry challenges Laura over talking to Nicholas, growing increasingly aggressive until Daniel comes into view. At this point, she bursts into tears and pleads with him. Unaware of Daniel’s presence, Laura coldly expresses her dislike for Cherry. It’s then that Daniel steps in. Laura attempts to clarify the situation regarding Nicholas, but Daniel, having already suspected he was being deceived, remains unconvinced. This is when The Girlfriend takes on emotional intensity: Daniel is compelled to confront his mother, accusing her of overprotectiveness. The argument is as painful for Daniel as it is for Laura. However, Cherry finds it empowering.

Daniel, who seems older than his years, felt a pang of sadness as he rode out to the countryside with Cherry. Cherry managed to lighten his mood by playfully tickling him under his arms. Meanwhile, back in London, Howard expressed his own discontent towards Laura. He was frank about their relationship with Daniel being “a bit strange.” He suspected Laura’s overprotectiveness might be connected to Rose and grief, but regardless, he was tired of it. Exhausted, he asserted, “It needs to end.”

This version aims to maintain the original meaning while making it more accessible and natural in everyday conversation.

At Wintour’s Leap, Cherry and Daniel stroll past an antique church before embarking on a rock-climbing adventure. Daniel playfully mentions proposing, but then expresses his genuine desire to marry Cherry, offering her a key ring with the promise to upgrade it when he finds something of higher quality. (It’s important to note that this is not a real proposal.) After inhaling the invigorating mountain air, expressing his affection for his girlfriend, and appreciating the scenic beauty, Daniel almost forgets about his spat with his mother. In fact, feeling quite self-assured and elated while scaling the cliff, Daniel, reaching a challenging section, decides to impress Cherry. He leaps for a grab and misses, plummeting several feet from the cliff edge. The scene shifts back to the wobbly handheld camera perspective through the hospital sequence that initiated the episode.

When Laura receives a call from Cherry informing her that Daniel was involved in an accident, she’s currently with Lilith, an artist from her past who she had been exchanging texts with. While Howard was on a romantic date to the ballet with Marianne, Lilith resides in a chaotically charming loft filled with canvases, wearing an over-sized shirt, statement necklace, and her hair tied loosely. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, Lilith senses Laura is troubled, causing her to burst into tears immediately. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Lilith offers advice: Laura should apologize to everyone, including Cherry, and let the truth unfold on its own, ensuring that Daniel won’t hold a grudge when he eventually discovers everything. If not for Daniel being hospitalized, perhaps Laura could have received more guidance from Lilith.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but empathize with the situation unfolding here. You see, the patient is in a critical condition, requiring a delicate procedure to relieve pressure on his brain, which involves a small piece of his skull being removed. This predicament has left Laura absolutely distraught, and she demands that Cherry stay away from her family at this difficult time.

It falls upon Howard to carry out this request, yet he does so with a tone that seems more fitting for dealing with a teenage crush’s casual acquaintance rather than a friend in need. He gently explains to Cherry that Daniel needs to focus on his family, delivering the message as if it were a mere formality. However, Cherry eventually complies and departs.

Days pass, and Laura remains silent as Cherry sends countless voicemails, eager for updates. Yet, her calls remain unanswered until the dreadful news arrives. The doctor delivers the heart-rending prognosis that due to complications, they were unable to stop the bleeding in Daniel’s brain, making his survival over the next few hours highly unlikely.

In their grief, Howard and Laura crumble, but Laura, still coherent enough amidst her pain, finally answers Cherry’s call. She delivers the devastating news that Daniel has already passed away.

Without a doubt, as soon as she speaks, Daniel stirs awake. If he recalls the events, what actions might Laura take to stop Daniel from contacting Cherry? It’s plausible that she fabricates a story about Cherry voluntarily causing the accident or deceives him by saying that Cherry left when Daniel was hospitalized in ICU. Let’s see how this tale unfolds!

Department of Investigation

I’m growing frustrated with the initial scenes that build up to each episode’s dramatic peak. When watched consecutively as part of a binge-watching session, these opening sequences lose their appeal and dilute the impact of the climax. In fact, they seem to drain the momentum from the main event. As soon as Daniel and Cherry began scaling, it became clear why we started with a hospital scene. Now for something less important: A quick online search reveals that Wintour’s Leap is a challenging climb intended for experienced climbers. It strains credulity to imagine a skilled doctor would take an inexperienced partner on such a difficult route, but I’ll grant you that it’s a minor point.

In simpler terms, I felt that Olivia Cooke’s response to Daniel’s death seemed a bit overdramatic or stereotypical, as if she was just following acting basics. With her talent, there is certainly room for more depth and complexity, even when working with a less developed script.

It amused me that Lilith prefers not to have her artwork displayed at Laura’s gallery since it heavily features Instagram-style art.

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2025-09-10 22:00