This week’s episode of “The Slap” takes a poignant shift, delving deeply into themes of grief and emotional turmoil. The story begins with a flashback featuring a pivotal moment where Harry (played by Ethan Carter) strikes Hugo (portrayed by Max Jennings), but this time we view it through the eyes of Anya (played by Sarah Thompson). As she witnesses “the entire bizarre scene”—particularly, Leo (played by Sam Richards) flirting with the babysitter in the shadows—Anya contemplates the complexities of relationships and the desire for parenthood. She finds herself drawn to Jake (portrayed by Liam Foster), a rising star with a band and an unexpected depth of understanding.
During a lunch with her friends Mia (played by Jade Ellis) and Lila (portrayed by Emma Brooks), Anya’s friend Lila is thrilled about Harry’s legal troubles, dismissing the anxieties voiced by the others. Anya later quips that Lila resembles a modern-day Joan of Arc. (In the previous episode, Harry likened himself to a Greek hero, suggesting a whimsical blend of mythical warriors and legendary figures.)
Anya visits her mother, Veronica (played by Clara Evans), a psychiatrist with a posh British accent and a rather frosty demeanor. Veronica, who uses a cane—claiming it’s just a sprained ankle—dismisses Anya’s complaints about her own health, suggesting a potential pregnancy, which Anya automatically rejects. Veronica advises her daughter to keep Hector’s flirtations under wraps, a suggestion Anya reluctantly agrees to follow. However, she confronts Hector discreetly, warning him not to jeopardize “their” family over a fleeting affair. That evening, while attending Jake’s band performance, Anya finds herself ill in a grimy restroom, leading to the realization that her mother’s earlier comment holds more weight than she initially thought. A pregnancy test later confirms her fears.
Anya invites Jake over for a dinner at Veronica’s, where her mother announces she’s sold her apartment and will be moving to Edinburgh for a teaching role—news that devastates Anya. The following morning, Jake confronts Anya about the pregnancy and suggests marriage and fatherhood, even proposing the name Olive. Anya, overwhelmed, firmly rejects him, stating, “I don’t want this and I don’t want you.”
Seeking guidance, Anya turns to Mia for a referral for an abortion, but Mia suggests she take a couple of days to consider her options. We learn more about the strained bond between Anya and her mother: Veronica never intended to keep Anya after her father’s death during their divorce proceedings, leaving her with no choice. An offhand remark from Mia about her own child prompts Anya to investigate Veronica’s computer, revealing her mother is battling aggressive brain cancer. The supposed teaching opportunity in Edinburgh is a façade; Veronica is actually seeking treatment there.
Faced with the prospect of motherhood, the fear of losing her mother, and the complexities surrounding Hector and Mia, Anya reaches out to Lila, apologizing for her earlier harshness: “The love you have for your son is truly remarkable.” She presents Veronica with a suitcase as a parting gift, allowing her mother to maintain her secret of illness, even as Veronica acknowledges Anya’s pregnancy. Gifts symbolize the ongoing theme throughout this episode: the expectations we place on our children—whether they desire them or not—and what we ultimately give to our parents as they prepare to depart from our lives.
Anya meets Jake at a local bar, resting her head on his shoulder, seeking solace and care she cannot receive from her mother. She resolves to embrace her pregnancy and the relationship with him.
This episode is replete with dramatic elements—betrayals, unexpected pregnancies, and heartbreaking diagnoses—echoing the soap-opera vibes that Veronica criticizes about Anya’s television show. Yet, beneath the surface, “The Slap” resonates with the profound grief that accompanies the joys of parenthood, reminding us that every new beginning is intertwined with an ending.
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Summary:
In this emotionally charged episode of “The Slap,” Anya navigates the complexities of unexpected pregnancy, strained familial relationships, and the impending loss of her mother. With poignant reflections on love, sacrifice, and the bittersweet nature of parenthood, the narrative intertwines dramatic elements while highlighting the grief that accompanies moments of joy.