TV Recap & Review: ‘Clarice’ Episode 10 – “Motherless Child”

clarice tv show
CBS

At times this season, Clarice has really struggled to find its own voice, never sure whether to slyly reference a cannibalistic psychiatrist we all know, dive into the full FBI procedural theme, or go in a totally different direction. In episode 10, “Motherless Child,” the show flexes its strengths, which has always been Rebecca Breeds as Clarice, and this week, showing serial killers as they really are and the destruction they leave in their wake.

The main storyline of episode 10 centers around Catherine (Marnee Carpenter0 as she finally confronts the mother of the man who ruined her life, Jame Gumb a.k.a. Buffalo Bill (Simon Northwood). It is a great collection of scenes, with many moving parts, including of course Starling (who again goes solo, an understandable character flaw yet annoying at times in terms of the reality of her position). At one point, the three women are all in Lila Gumb’s kitchen (Lila was played wonderfully by Maria Ricossa), two guns pointed at individuals, which produced a lot of truth coming out from everyone.

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The connection all three women have to Buffalo Bill is less about some bizarre bonding moment and more about how one person can effectively shape, or even destroy, lives, long after they are gone. Catherine, Lila, and yes Clarice, are all a mess, and although Clarice is still functional in the real world, she still carries around the weight of what happened to a degree that it will eventually destroy her if not dealt with properly. This storyline, about the trauma the women endured, and continue to endure, was effective and on point.

These scenes were intercut nicely with Krendler (Michael Cudlitz) and Catherine’s mother Ruth (Jayne Atkinson), both of whom have their own demons to deal with. Together, they struck a deal that allowed ‘the man who cannot be named’ (yes, Hannibal) to escape and kill again, blood on their hands that can never be completely washed away. As with the three women mentioned above, the trauma from these killers continues to haunt these two as well, in ways that shaped both of their lives.

Check out all of our coverage for ‘Clarice’ here!

Meanwhile, Julia (Jen Richards) continues to help ViCAP connect the dots between the River Murders and Alastor Pharmaceuticals, and we get a great scene between her and Agent Clarke (Nick Sandow). The conversation is uncomfortable and telling, and also helps broaden the scope of the characters. In a strange way, it almost mirrors what is going on at Lila Gumb’s house, which helps build the already uncomfortable vibe hanging over this episode.

The episode ends with Clarice talking with her therapist, admitting how her father liked to do things without backup, and tapping into a memory she has buried deep in her subconscious. It was a great way to end the episode that, while at times felt like it was force-feeding you certain things, balances important plotlines and tone nicely, making for an interesting episode highlighted by solid acting.


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