Critic’s Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
4.5
Now that we’ve explored the official Three Women, the series delved into Gia’s backstory.
It was harder than Gia thought to get her book about sex and relationships published, as revealed in Three Women Season 1 Episode 5.
It was Gia’s worst nightmare hearing she had to start from scratch and that 200,000 words were thrown out.
Parts of Gia’s arc are repeated from previous Three Women episodes, especially when she met her mentor, Gay Talese, who suggested she have sex with married people for her book.
That seemed like such a creepy idea. It also made me wonder how much Lisa Taddeo went through before jumping in a van and driving across the country to meet subjects.
After all, Gia’s story was based on her, and Gia’s arc was very compelling. It made sense that she wanted to talk about other women’s journeys in relationships.
Needing to Start Over and Confront Her Past
Besides Lina’s storyline, Gia’s arc was the most relatable. How many of us have wanted to jump in a van, drive across the country to fulfill some old dreams, and make new memories?
It was difficult for Gia because going to the rodeo reminded her of her late father.
It was the first time she had allowed herself to be free as she sang on stage with a local singer.
I also wondered if Gia might be bi-sexual then because she came alive when the singer touched her curls, called her beautiful, and reminded her to love herself.
Gia had been so busy trying to advance her career and prove herself to her dead parents that she had forgotten to love herself.
She also was not well-versed in communicating with others. It’s why she had difficulty getting responses for her sex study, or they would be ones wanting to share sordid family affairs.
Gia wanted to focus on women who survived love and relationships as she did.
Was Jack a Keeper or a Stalker?
While I believe Jack loved Gia, he possessed some borderline stalker tendencies. It’s not that one-night stands are bad, but he laughed at her concerns about the condom getting stuck inside her.
That scene was almost comical, but it’s not in the moment.
While he encouraged her to make peace with her past, he called her nonstop and left messages, not allowing her space.
Pretending to be a subject so Gia would meet him at a restaurant was downright stalkerish. She sold her van because she finally thought she had a lead for her book.
I couldn’t believe another woman would help with that plan. It wasn’t romantic. It was an invasion of her rights.
Jack makes things worse by implying that Gia is crazy and insists he only did it because he missed her. That sounded so stalkerish.
He only sounded sincere when she confessed that she was pregnant with his baby, and he still sounded over the top as he discussed buying out the baby store.
While Gia needed love in her life, she also needed someone to respect her needs.
The Baby That Gia Never Knew She Wanted
Watching Gia’s arc was heartbreaking. She had never been good with relationships, so she tried not to get attached to Jack.
That’s why the idea that she was pregnant terrified her.
However, no one wants to lose a baby, and that miscarriage scene was brutal to watch. Shailene Woodley performed emotionally as she broke down on the motel bathroom floor.
That amount of blood could have upset other women who have experienced miscarriages. Watching Gia break down, throw away the bloody linens, and leave again was so powerful.
It made sense why she would want nothing to do with Jack after losing the baby. He was a little too eager, and she needed time to process and heal, whether she knew it or not.
Even though Gia seemed strong, she craved love, and this baby would have met part of that need. She’s a survivor.
This was the other scene that horrified me, if true since Woodley often praised Lisa Taddeo for her strength in Three Women interviews.
Gia and Lina’s Special Relationship
Lina was the first of the three women Gia connected with. She loved Lina’s excitement when describing love, so she wanted to write about her.
Since Three Women Season 1 Episode 2, Gia and Lina have become close. There was a considerable time jump in those three episodes.
Lina was the only person Gia told about her miscarriage. Gia tried to appear strong, but once Lina embraced her, the emotions came flowing out.
Gia never even thought she wanted kids, but then she was excited to have something of her own. Poor Gia. She felt nothing she loved ever survived, but there Lina was.
Lina is a nurturer, and she and Gia are like kindred spirits. Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin are dynamite together. They act like they’ve been friends forever.
It almost seemed like the series hinted at something more between the two as Gia took Lina’s photo, and Lina agreed to let Gia write about her.
Will they end up being close friends or something more?
What did you think of Gia’s arc, TV Fanatics? Did her miscarriage hit too close to home? Do you enjoy her friendship with Lina?
We would love to hear your thoughts, so please share them in the comments.