Female Sensual Desire in Mrs. Fletcher: A Coming-ofAge story in Reverse A television show analysis of Mrs. Fletcher (2019) Written by Robyn Bacon1,2,3,4 1 Cinema Studies Institute, 2Book and Media Studies (St. Michael’s College), 3Creative Expression & Society (Victoria College), 4Fourth-year undergraduate of Innis College, University of Toronto
In the first episode, Eve’s needs are almost completely eclipsed by her teenage son Brendan and appear non-existent to the audience. Eve’s altruistic character disposition is displayed through her relationship with Brendan and her occupation as executive director of Haddington Senior Centre. Both Eve’s professional and personal life is spent taking caretaking the needs of others. As a mother, Eve does everything for Brendan. Eve cleans his room, prepares his meals, and organizes his daily schedule— treating him as if he were a ten-year-old boy. Eve’s helicopter parenting techniques are a reaction to Brendan moving away to college and her personal struggle to let go of her past when Brendan was a sweet and caring young boy. Now, Eve is unwilling to come to terms with the fact that Brendan has turned into an apathetic and unappreciative son. Brendan neglects to show appreciation for the hard work Eve puts into making his life extremely comfortable and privileged. In the first episode, Eve independently packs up the entire car for Brendan’s first day of college, individually assembles his new college dorm room, and politely requests that Brendan send her one text a day while living in college residence. However, even more so Eve’s anxiety surrounding Brendan’s departure for college is rooted in her existential fear to confront her own identity once he leaves—and subsequently discover who she really is besides being Brendan’s mother. The relationship between Eve and Brendan remains tremendously imbalanced—as Eve’s labour as a single mother go completely unacknowledged by Brendan and she remains the passive parent—afraid to scold Brendan for his transgressions. However, this dynamic in their relationship shifts once Brendan leaves the house and Eve must begin to confront something that completely frightens her—her new identity. Over years of taking care of Brendan, Eve routinely neglected her own needs. It scares Eve that her identity is more complex than merely being Mrs. Fletcher—and so her journey of selfdiscovery begins. The second episode leaves Eve feeling lost—but by the third episode Eve begins to ignite a series of activities that allow her to engage in an intimate journey of self-discovery. Immediately following Brendan’s departure Eve decides to enroll in a personal essay English night class Screenwriters’ Perspectives Vol. 1 No. 1 2020
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