Absentia discussion: The week of Alice Durand continues
What is Alice Durand bringing to the table on Absentia? She’s a character certainly put in a tough posision.
If we are to take the character at face value, which is that she’s an innocent bystander in much if the craziness, she is the new wife of Nick Durand and stepmother to Flynn, the child Nick had with his former wife Emily Byrne. When Emily is found alive, however, the entire family is uprooted, and understandably Alice is going to find herself in a position where she doesn’t quite know where she stands.
It would be fairly easy to say “suck it up” to Alice and have her try to think outside of herself. However, the sign of good writing is that the character’s human. When the idea of Emily resurfaces, it makes sense for her to be concerned for her own self-interests. The sign of whether or not she is a good person is if she can shift her feelings somewhat with time and consideration.
One thing that is very interesting about the latest teaser posted by the show’s official account is that Alice’s line to Nick reads “you’re just going to leave us” rather than “you’re just going to leave me” after the discovery of Emily is made. She is thinking for both herself and Flynn, most likely keeping an awareness that this situation for the child could be devastating. there may be joy at the thought of his biological mother’s return, but also fear that she’s changed, a misunderstanding as to why she’s gone, or the possibility that the version of Emily he meets is something entire different. This show should succeed via complexity, and by pulling the emotions out of some of these situations.
If and when Flynn and Emily do reunite, there will likely be awkward moments. Alice will probably be overly protective, and for Emily, it may feel as though little time has passed when the reality is the opposite of that.
New episodes of Absentia will premiere this fall; the series is expected to premiere at the Monte Carlo TV Festival. Given that the show’s account has been posting many Alice details all week, we anticipate this continuing.
What do you think about what’s being said here by Alice, and does it cloud your opinion of her as a character in any way? Be sure to share in the comments!
Meanwhile, head over to the link here in the event you do want some additional news when it comes to the show. (Photo: Sony.)