A Friend of the Family Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Outer Darkness
The tension is off the charts on A Friend of the Family Season 1 Episode 8, “Outer Darkness.” As evidenced by Jan moving to bite her toenails because her fingernails have all been chewed off, this installment is a real nail-biter.
Two scenes standout in this regard. The concealed quickdraw standoff between Mary Ann (Anna Paquin) and B. (Jake Lacy), and the intercut moments leading up to B.’s arrest are excellent examples of how editing can enhance and heighten the drama.
I’ve been talking about the compelling performances of the entire cast in every review, and this episode is no different. Along with the dynamic editing, these affecting portrayals bring so much complexity to the story. And knowing that it is a dramatization of real life events makes it even more fascinating, not to mention heartbreaking.
Paquin and Lacy are incredible in that standoff. B.’s wickedness is expected by now, but he is also a very unpredictable man. A narcissist is gonna narcissist, but the approach might be different every time, making it impossible for their targets to prepare for any encounter with them.
These actors take into consideration all of the nuance in an unthinkable situation, and the result is thrilling to watch. Lacy is so disturbing and Paquin completely captivates.
Likewise, Mckenna Grace gives an achingly tragic performance as Jan Broberg. Her fear and panic is felt through the screen. She’s so indoctrinated and there is so much at stake for her already that B.’s more aggressive, callous approach to gaslighting his young victim becomes overwhelming for both Jan and the audience.
The way he embellishes his horrific lie about “the mission” to put even more pressure on her is exceptionally heinous. The love-bombing phase has long been over—B. now openly criticizes and berates her while the lie becomes more and more elaborate, focusing on Jan’s failings. In addition, his treatment of her after the car accident is horrendous.
Jan: Do you think I have to go to the hospital?
B.: No, I don’t think you need to go to the hospital. It’s a bump on the noggin. And even if it was worse, I couldn’t take you. You know that, right?
Jan: I just, I feel kinda dizzy.
He proceeds to fault her parents for making it so he can’t, and then to add insult to literal injury, he brings the blame back around to her.
B.: I told you to watch the road, didn’t I? I told you to watch the road!
Keep in mind, she’s too young to drive and he’s decided to take it upon himself to teach her. Oh, and he was yelling at her while she was driving, so it was he who actually caused the crash.
There is some satisfaction in seeing him caught with no way out before he’s finally apprehended. However, that feeling recedes as Berchtold cavalierly surrenders, followed by Jan’s sour homecoming wherein she ends the episode essentially disowning her emotionally-ravaged parents.
What did you think of this episode of A Friend of the Family? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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New episodes of A Friend of the Family stream Thursdays on Peacock.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.