"The Slap" should have ended with a bang, but it ended with a whimper!
None of this is the fault of the actors, all of whom did a fabulous job. The blame lies on the head of the writer, Jon Robin Baitz, whom I actually admire as a writer, but whom I am convinced was forced to sell out to NBC.
True to the form of the book, Richie's was the last viewpoint to be explored, and Lucas Hedges was brilliant in the role. But the Richie he was forced to play was not the Richie in the book.
Batiz was trying to cover too much territory in the finale. The focus should have been on whether Richie would go on the stand, and the question of the pictures. Instead, we get into this tragic back story of Richie (who, in the book, is not a tormented kid) that invokes the whole Tyler Clementi tragedy in so cheap and exploitative a way if I were the Clemntis I would pursue a lawsuit against NBC.
The verdict was almost anti-climactic. Harry was found guilty, but sentenced for time served. Rosie and Gary were given a harsh lecture on their parenting skills, and threatened with a visit from Child Protective Services. By this point, they had been reduced to a couple of catatonics. The Rosie I admired was a firebrand, but in the last two episodes, and especially here, Baitz stripped Rosie of all her Mojo, so that she was happy with the verdict. The Rosie I admire would not have been. And, as one who relates to Rosie, I personally would not have been. I would have said something, even under threat of contempt.
The last scene should have been the one that was most beautifully done. It was in Grand Central Station, between Richie and Connie, still the show's two most responsible characters, as Connie is catching a train, probably to New England somewhere, en route to one of the Ivy League Colleges, or maybe Smith or Simmons. If the last shot of Connie walking to her track, Richie watching with renewed confidence, and a pullback indicating "The End" had been used, I would have found the ending acceptable.
Instead, what was used was almost a tacked on afterthought. The show ends where it began, with everyone gathered at Aisha's and Hector's house. Except his parents are not there.
Rosie and Gary show up, and everything is hunky dory! Are you kidding me? Do you think this would happen in real life?????? Let me assure you, it would not! We see that Anouk has given birth to a little boy, whose name is never given, and no longer has Jamie in her life, so she will be a single Mom. Then Hugo comes barging in at full speed, suggesting he has not really changed, but then goes to Anouk and the baby, and, in a touching scene, Anouk allows Hugo to hold the infant, and the two seem to bond, indicating some hope for Hugo, although I could not help noticing Anouk never turned her head away from them for a second--and for good reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, Connie and Richie are still the two most responsible, and the adults will make an effort, but will soon revert to their old ways. Maybe there is hope for the younger generation! Ho hum. For a show that started with such potential, what was done to "The Slap" was almost criminal. Some of you may ask why! But I know the answer, and so does Robbie Baitz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greed, baby, Greed! It's the name of the Selling Game, in Hollywood!!!!!!!!!!
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