Sharp Objects Review: Closer (Season 1 Episode 5)

On Sharp Objects Season 1 Episode 5, “Closer,” the residents of Wind Gap gather together to celebrate a time-honored tradition. Camille’s relationship with Adora continues to deteriorate.

The most obvious thing about Calhoun Day is how odd it is a town would celebrate the loyalty of a woman — a Yankee — who endures rape and other “violations” in order to protect her husband and the Confederacy. Casting local children in this sanitized reenactment doesn’t make it any less creepy.

The inhabitants of Wind Gap are able to detach themselves from the abuse and subjugation of a woman in the wake of the Ann and Natalie’s murders. All of the major characters on Sharp Objects have a tendency to see things how they want them to be as opposed to how they really are.

During the festivities, many of the characters maneuver around each other like pieces on a chess board. Everybody appears to be watching someone else, sizing them up, trying to figure out what move they’ll make next. There’s the expectation that something big is going to happen, but the real clues to solving the mysteries on Sharp Objects can be found in the smallest details.

The main object of scrutiny on “Closer,” is Camille who starts the day literally exposed by Adora and Amma — her scars on full display for the first time on the series. Adora lacks any sympathy, nor does she take any accountability for her daughter’s pain.

The sight of Camille standing defiantly before her causes Adora to unleash on Camille once again, calling her “ruined.” This statement addresses much more than Camille’s physical appearance; it’s how Adora views her daughter as a person.

Adora frees herself from any culpability by blaming Camille’s problems on her father; a man we’ve never seen, and who played no role in Camille’s upbringing.

Camille’s article also puts her in the spotlight. She’s trapped between being someone who knows secrets, and someone who isn’t able to share them.

This makes her of particular interest to her mother’s frenemies and her own. Camille has built walls around herself, and the appearance that she’s impenetrable is what draws people to her.

Even fully clothed, Camille can’t escape the attention of either Adora or Amma, especially when it comes to Camille’s relationship with Detective Willis. Adora goes out of her way to discount, discredit, and dismiss Camille to the Detective:

I just want to remind you: there’s good here, too. No matter what you might have heard.

Worried her façade of southern gentility has been shattered by Camille, Adora strikes her own blow.

She’s [Camille} delicate… a rare rose. But not without thorns.

What is Adora’s preoccupation with this particular relationship? Adora’s friendly enough with the local law enforcement (the implication of an affair lingers), but look past her supposed frailty, and Adora is a woman who must be in control. Like Camille, Willis poses a threat to that control.

On Sharp Objects, Amma’s interest in her half-sister’s romantic entanglement is a bit more difficult to understand. We know Amma shares her mother’s pathological need to be the center of attention. Amma’s jealous of Camille’s relationship with Willis because it takes Camille’s attention off of her.

There is more to Amma’s dislike of Willis, and it may have to do with the fact that the closer he grows to Camille, the closer he gets to uncovering her family’s secrets.

The title of the episode, “Closer,” describes the emotional proximity between the characters (as well as the hint of a looming break in the investigation). There is a moment on the veranda when it seems like Adora wants to bridge the gap between herself and her daughter.

Camille allows herself to be vulnerable, admitting her inability to get close to Willis, or anyone. Then Adora strikes her cruelest blow:

You can’t get close. That’s your father. And it’s why I think … I never loved you. You were born to it … that cold nature. I hope that’s some comfort to you.

You could blame this on a few too many cocktails, but Adora is very calculating. In her own twisted way, Adora may view this revelation as an act of kindness.

It also calls into question how Adora defines love. If Amma, Alan, Ann, Natalie, and Marian are any indication, Adora’s decision to bestow love is just as toxic as her choice to withhold it.

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

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Sharp Objects airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.

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