Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0
4
It looks like it’s the Madeline Morgenstern show on Lady in the Lake now.
As we saw in the previous episode, the lovely Cleo Johnson is no more after Reggie dumped her body.
We always knew it was inevitable due to the series’ namesake, but Lady in the Lake did something brilliant.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
The writers used four out of seven episodes to ensure we saw Cleo as the woman she was and not the corpse she became.
In doing so, her presence will be missed because we, as viewers, became attached to her and her dreams.
Now, it’s all up to Miss Maddie and her investigative journalism skills.
But after this episode, she might want to consider getting a weapon.
Mrs. Maddie Is As A Messy Missus Who Will Not Accept A Life She Does Not Deserve
First, Maddie was saddled with a life she did not want or accept.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
However, I don’t think anyone was prepared for that little flashback in the opening of this episode of Lady in the Lake.
The girl was sleeping with her boyfriend’s father, and we can’t help but feel that Allan was right to dump her when they were young.
Maddie’s middle name should be “Messy” because Miss Morgenstern is like napalm.
The character is amazing, and I am completely rooting for her. But she tends to destroy the lives of people around her.
From her old life to her new, her husband to her lover, Maddie is paving a path of fire that is headed right for some gasoline.
At least we know now who Seth’s father is, but you know what that means, right? That Tessie, the young girl who died in the first episode, was Seth’s niece.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
That means Milton, played by Brett Gelman of Stranger Things, had to already know that Seth wasn’t his son. Maddie went into labor while she was still with Allan’s father.
Keep Kosher And Carry On, There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done
Speaking of Milton, though, I honestly didn’t realize there had been a slight time jump until he arrived at that diner with divorce papers.
The old Jewish bastard has a nice new young thing in his life. But don’t worry—she apparently keeps kosher.
How weird was Maddie’s reaction when Milton told her he had met someone?
If anything, I would think she’d be happy that he was already moving on. He’s someone else’s problem now.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
However, Maddie’s reaction to the divorce papers was absolutely iconic.
One of the first things she immediately wanted to know was if she’d be getting alimony.
I don’t care if she technically abandoned her husband. She earned that alimony after years of servitude and obedience.
I think it’s fair to asses we won’t be seeing much more of Milton during the last two episodes.
It wouldn’t be surprising if we didn’t see much of Seth, played by Noah Jupe of Franklin, either, considering he doesn’t want to be around his mother.
No, that part of Maddie’s life is pretty much over.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
It’s time for her to accept the new life she so desperately craved, even if it ends up being the death of her.
Maddie Is One Bad Mother On A One-Women Mission
Lady in the Lake writers sure are having fun with Natalie Portman’s character. She has almost no sense of self-preservation.
It’s like she’s having some manic episode that pushes her towards the fire instead of away from it.
One thing you can say about Madeline is that she has balls.
We have to commend her for being so proactive as an investigative journalist. But she barely has the sense God gave a goose.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
Despite Stefan breaking into her home, Maddie has done nothing to improve her safety. The woman won’t even lock her window.
I get that it’s so Officer Handsome can make late-night visits. However, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind tapping on the window if it meant crazies weren’t climbing through it.
Honestly, though, she is lucky to have Officer Platt because it doesn’t seem like Madeline has many people in her corner.
She is going to need all the help she can get if she’s going to keep going toe-to-toe with Shell Gordon, played by Wood Harris of Empire.
The way Maddie waltzed into his club and practically demanded an on-the-spot interview had me wide-eyed and waiting for whatever blood bath could’ve taken place.
In that situation, however, Maddie showed she was getting wiser to the game by bringing along Judith.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
It’s just too bad she didn’t keep that same mindset when she met with Ms. Zawadzkie.
At This Rate, The Lady In The Lake Is About To Have Some Company If Maddie Isn’t Careful
If there is one thing the writers of Lady in the Lake know how to do, it’s how to subvert expectations.
Raise your hand if you expected Cleo to die within the first or second episode.
I have a feeling almost all of us thought that’s where the story was headed.
Much like we thought Maddie’s meeting with Shell would end very badly.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
However, the interview that started with coffee and sweets led to Maddie’s biggest reality check.
This is not to say the character doesn’t have her wits about her, but she should’ve taken a cue from Stefan.
That man has more than a few screws loose, so his mother is likely just as unhinged. And she was.
In fairness, Maddie egged her on quite a bit, but there was no way to see that Ms. Zawadzkie would stab Madeline.
This Apple TV+ is so good at building a tense atmosphere before throwing everything at audiences, including the kitchen sink.
This episode was thriller magic. We have to give it up to everyone behind and in front of the cameras. Lady in the Lake is a masterclass in storytelling.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
What stood out the most about Lady in the Lake Season 1 Episode 5 was that, unlike the previous episodes, it didn’t feel like a fever dream.
This time, it felt like falling into madness with Maddie as our tour guide.
It has been an incredible journey for these characters. With only two more episodes, we have a feeling the mini-series is going to end with a bang.
It could be a literal bang, too, because Ms. Zawadzkie will not be the last to die.
Truthfully, the series could pull a fast one in the end and have Maddie end up in the lake as well.
Lady in the Lake is not a series that can easily be predicted, and I love that about the show.
(Courtesy of Apple TV+)
You never know what’s going to happen next, but you know it’ll be intense and entertaining when so many talented hands are involved in one series.
With two episodes left, let’s see what kind of twists and turns Miss Natalie Portman has in store for us.
What do you think will happen to Maddie now after Ms. Zawadzkie slit her own throat?
Do you think Maddie will make it to the end of Lady in the Lake alive?
Drop a comment below to let us know, and join me again when I review the next episode of Lady in the Lake!
