Doctor Foster series 2: 8 HUGE questions after ep 3
"One minute you want to destroy him, the next you're f**king him. Maybe you want to do both those things at the same time? Dark."
You said it, Anna. Tonight's edition of Doctor Foster was unflinching when it came to exploring Gemma's warped relationship with Simon, and the harmful effect it's had on their son Tom.
The epic episode answered a ton of questions and tied up plenty of dangling plot threads – so neatly, in fact, that it could almost have served as a series finale.
But with two episodes left, what do this week's wild antics in Parminster really mean? We've got a few thoughts.
1. Did Gemma film her romp with Simon?
Gemma (Suranne Jones) attempts to seduce Simon (Bertie Carvel) in her kitchen, apparently in the hopes of filming the whole thing on her phone, but her ex-husband cottons on to her plan. "Disappointing," he spits. "Desperate. To show Kate? Pathetic."
But even after she's caught out, Gemma presses on and eventually she and Simon do proceed to the bedroom, despite their mutual loathing. Are their feelings for each other really that confused? Or did Gemma play a double-bluff?
It's possible she installed a second camera in the bedroom – though if that's the case, why doesn't Gemma confide in close pal Anna (Victoria Hamilton) when she's confronted over her tryst with Simon? Either things really are as they appear on the surface, or Dr Foster is playing her cards seriously close to her chest.
2. Will Tom continue his downward spiral?
As we predicted after the first episode, the Fosters' son Tom (Tom Taylor) tried to force himself on Isobel (Hope Lloyd) at his Dad's wedding party.
There were a few clues – Tom's sullen behaviour and sudden desire to leave the party after disappearing off with Isobel, plus the recasting of Isobel (previously played by Megan Roberts) with an older actress, as is appropriate for the storyline.
Tom's friend Max (Frank Kauer) found out what Tom had done, which is why the pair ended up trading blows. (Good on Gemma, by the way, for telling Isobel that it "doesn't matter" whether Tom was emotionally distressed or drunk – what he did was wrong.)
By the episode's end, Tom appears to realise how low he's sunk, branding himself "the shittest son ever" – so will he now work to make amends? Or is he more damaged than Gemma realises?
3. What did Simon tell Tom to turn him against Gemma?
"You told him something," Gemma asserts. "And now he won't even look at me."
Unless we missed it, it was never actually divulged what slimy Simon originally told Tom to turn him against his mother so dramatically.
4. Where did Simon get his money?
Last week, Simon led Neil (Adam James) up the garden path with a story about making his millions in fracking. We know that was a lie, but don't learn any more this week about how Simon actually ended up so flush with cash.
One thing's clear: he's got a fair bit stashed away and hasn't blown it all on sharp suits, a flash car and a big house, because he claims to have enough left over to fund private schooling for Tom.
5. Can things possibly work out for Gemma and James?
James actor Prasanna Puwanarajah told Digital Spy that there's a genuine "connection" between the nice-but-dull schoolteacher and Gemma... but if we're honest, we can't see a future for the couple.
Their sexual encounter last week seemed totally tame compared to Gemma and Simon's hate-f**king, and while he might have forgiven her obvious obsession with her ex, will James really forgive Gemma going to bed with him?
If he does, we doubt Gemma would respect him for it, so poor James ends up the loser either way.
6. Have we seen the last of Anna and Neil?
If Gemma does return to Parminster (more on that below), will her allies Anna and Neil still be around?
After Neil strayed one time too many, Anna ended their marriage and this week announces plans to go and stay with her sister. "When it all goes wrong this time, I won't be across the road," she warns Gemma.
Has Gemma lost one of the few people left she could actually trust? Perhaps the only one? (Unlike Ros the snake – hiss!)
7. Have Gemma and Tom left Parminster for good?
It's the ultimate irony. After all of Simon's hard work, scheming to get Tom back and drive Gemma out of town, he ends up turning his back on his son, and Gemma and Tom leave town of their own accord to start a new life together.
Are they gone for good? Or is this just a temporary break? Like when Gemma briefly left town in series 1, only to return more fierce than ever?
As she and Tom drive out of Parminster, it feels as though the story is more or less over, so what the heck happens next, and where is this all heading? We've got a theory.
8. Could Gemma and Simon actually end up together?
Their mutually destructive love / hate relationship is totally unhealthy. But at this stage, is it a case of not being to live with each other, or without each other?
We're banking on series two of Doctor Foster ending up a bit like *spoilers* Gone Girl (the novel, rather than the film) where the two feuding leads basically decide that they're both as terrible as each other and so end up back together. Imagine the viewer outrage!
Doctor Foster continues next Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One.
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