UnREAL Review: Codependence / Commitment (Season 3 Episodes 9 and 10)

UnREAL‘s Season 3 finale pops open them champagne bottles, lavishly celebrating its first-place finish in the race for real AF feminist commentary.

It’s unreal the amount of mind-bending content UnREAL Season 3 Episode 9, “Codependence,” and Season 3 Episode 10, “Commitment” give us.

(Then, the Season 4 promo video puts everything in a lid-less blender. More on that later.)

The Princess Fantasy

Season 3 consistently calls our attention to the lies inherent to the Princess Fantasy that Everlasting creates, reflects, and perpetuates.

Women are not plastic barbies. We bleed, fart, poop, cry, and make cringe-worthy jokes.

UnREAL tells us that the Princess Fantasy confines women to a mythological vision of womanhood. Women are trapped in a tower— sparkling, young, and waiting to be rescued.

“Commitment,” upends that fantasy tale when Serena chooses herself.

Serena has been standing in front of that dang mirror for weeks, agonizing over who is the perfect match for her.

She rejects the men in whom she doesn’t see a fair reflection of herself. For example, on “Codependence,” August finally gets the ax when he can’t reflect Serena’s beliefs on being in the military.

It is not a simple or entirely clean metaphor, but it is intentional and purposeful that Serena is constantly wondering and examining how she is reflected.

When she chooses herself in the final ceremony it is a symbol that she finally recognizes she does not need to be seen as a reflection of anyone else; She can be seen alone.

It is a lovely and well-executed message. I love the moment.

But, then it gets better.

We see Serena alone in the limo and the visual composition of the scene is enchanting.

She is in white, surrounded by black seats, black walls, black floors, empty vacuous space. All she has is her phone, pinging with new matches.

The depth of loneliness, pride, and sorrow that is captured in the scene is breathtaking.

And there is a deep truth in this. Choosing yourself can be a very lonely business.

The Feminist Princess Fantasy tells us that if you believe in yourself, love yourself, and pick YOURSELF that you will be satisfied. It tells us that self-confidence is the great romance of our lives.

That is a fantasy too.

In reality, the princess can end up lonely in a marriage, happy in a castle by herself, or content in a good enough relationship.

UnREAL gives us this gift: feminism isn’t anti-princess, it’s anti-tower. 

Essential Honesty

Rachel’s journey on “Codependence” and “Commitment” is a confounding roller-coaster. There are no less than 12 climaxes during the finale, and that’s not counting sex with Dan.

Ultimately, Rachel’s essential honesty smacks her in the face when many people in her life finally tell her who she is, in their view.

From a storytelling perspective, this is masterful.

Jeremy’s brutal truth (his truth, not THE truth) brings two of the most gut-punching moments on the finale.

Rachel’s flat affect as she cradles a weeping Jeremy in her diminutive lap is a breathing picture of guilt. I am wrecked by the realization that Rachel can never fix what she has done, not really.

No amount of dick, money, or power can change the past.

UnREAL gives us some space to mourn that truth with Jeremy and Rachel and it is appreciated.

Then Jeremy calls Rachel a stain and I am undone.

My first reaction is, how DARE he (followed by a string of expletives)?!

My next reaction is pure disbelief. Has Rachel had a psychotic break and is simply imagining these conversations?

And then I reach acceptance.

While I do still think it’s a fair interpretation that Rachel hears a more exaggerated and harsh version of what is actually said, the finale for Rachel is really about finding her identity.

Jeremy, New Shrink (WTAF!), Charlie, and Serena all needed to be extreme in their essential honesty about her because otherwise, Rachel would not recognize their definitions of her as false.

Another possibility is that Rachel feels she needs to be punished. These confrontations are extremely punishing.

Rachel could be enhancing and sharpening the words of others so that she can feel the sting (so she can feel anything).

And perhaps once punished, Rachel finally feels free to accept the love and freedom that Quinn offers.

Rachel’s arc on the finale is deeply personal to me.

Especially here as Rachel is in the thick of how her trauma has impacted her ability to formulate a real identity.

Trauma does attack a person’s sense of self. Rachel’s trauma is not only her rape but also how her mother and father failed to keep her safe and let her heal following it.

The sexual assault grew in impact as the wound was allowed to fester in secret.

All that to say, Rachel is climbing up a hill, in the snow, both ways, to recover her sense of self.

The people in Rachel’s life, other than Quinn, fault her for being herself.

Her mother derides her ability to read and influence people. Jeremy calls her ruined. Jay tells her she’s worthless. New Shrink tells her she is the object of his affection, and that she caused his affections to arise.

It is a miracle that Rachel can cut through all the noise to hear the one person who is telling her, perhaps not the truth, but a version of Rachel that is good, good enough, and accepted.

Quinn gives Rachel a safe place to start and look in the mirror and be okay with liking what she sees.

On the finale, Rachel shows a commitment to fight for herself and she knows that it means being alone, away from Everlasting.

Thankfully for us viewers, the promo of Season 4 tells us that Rachel will not stay away for long.

The Matriarchy

While I would consider myself more like Rachel than anyone else on UnREAL (close second is Graham), Quinn is by far my favorite character.

Constance Zimmer’s performance on “Codependence,” and “Commitment,” is exquisite. IT IS EMMY WORTHY IN EVERY WAY.

I will do my best to keep this gush-fest under 1,000 words.

Real Ass Reporter makes a reappearance and it gives viewers the chance to again consider the accusation/question levied at Quinn: is it possible to be a producer of Everlasting AND a feminist?

Real Ass Reporter and Fiona believe no. Quinn’s decisions and the way she treats herself on the finale say a resounding YES.

When Quinn flips Gary the bird, she doesn’t try to hide it or sugar coat it with a cute “oh it’s in my pocket” gesture.

She is bold and does not feel the need to dumb herself down. That is feminist.

Quinn hears her pseudo-daughter, even when her initial reaction is glib or uncaring.

Rachel: I’m like dying here. I mean this place is just killing me. You have to know that. I mean just let me get out.

Rather than be defensive or even snarky, Quinn cuts a check for Rachel so she can be free to live her fantasy cabin life. 

With that gesture, Quinn supports Rachel to go after her goals, her passions, not be saved by a shiny penny.

Quinn helps Rachel to leave, not be rescued. 

It kills Quinn to do it because she needs Rachel. Rachel is the great love of her life.

But, Quinn is willing to sacrifice her own needs, her own joy, for her best friend.

That is also feminist (and makes me cry all of the tears).

Importantly, Quinn is a transcendent feminist in the way she uses her influence to bring the women in her life up, while also recognizing that she is flawed. She is not any better than a man; she is equal.

“Matriarchal bullshit is still cool, right?” – Quinning

I honestly think it is surprising that Quinn so willingly forgives Fiona and then connives with her to make her number one. But, then I think about who Quinn has proven herself to be.

Yes, Quinn is confident and has made it a point to clearly go after exactly what she wants. Her dream house and her standard for a relationship with Chet are examples.

But, Quinn is also humble.

She consistently sees how she could have made a similar mistake or choice when considering people’s poor choices. She never says “I would never do that,” because nothing and no one is beneath her.

Quinn is simply the best.

There are so many superb moments from the finale. My favorite is Quinn’s thoughtful and loving words to Rachel.

My second favorite is Crystal wedding crashing the final ceremony.

Constance Zimmer and Craig Bierko act their faces off in that scene, and the pay off is endlessly entertaining.

Zimmer’s every word is perfection, including how she assures Chet gently, it’s okay, go ahead, it’s good TV.

We see Quinn have a REAL, romantic, make your panties wet, event on Everlasting. She is the boss, she is a hero, and she is the princess.

Being a whole person who is entitled to the glitter and the goo, that is feminist too.

For me, UnREAL is deeply, strangely personal. The characters are me. The characters are the women I love in my life.

That is why representation matters so very much. It is not just that it is good to see yourself represented on a show.

It is that seeing yourself on screen validates who you are in real life and empowers you to embrace your identity as a good thing, even if it isn’t “normal.”

Real Talk

• Quinn’s cute little giggle is going to end me.
• Graham is an absolute stand-out character this Season. I would love a DVD extra of just his outtakes and lines.
• Quinn’s German “ACH NE LIBER!” and Jay’s “There you go” is fall down funny and feels like a glimpse into the real behind the scenes fun on UnREAL.
• Season 4 looks absolutely, jaw-dropping insane. Rachel’s fake cry is a horror movie. Full stop. I might pee myself I am so excited! Check out the promo below.

What did you think of this episode of UnREAL? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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UnREAL airs at 10/9c on Lifetime.

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