'Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine' & Gail Honeyman

Pop Fiction Women

*** Complicated Woman Rating - Eleanor Oliphant: Eleanor certainly qualifies as complicated -- she is surprising and unpredictable, blunt, ignorant of social norms, deeply repressed, but ready for change. In the end, we love her growth and the fact that Eleanor is the agent of her own life, not a self-pitying victim. Carinn somehow manages to draw parallels to Marianne from Normal People and even Fleabag. (3:40)

*** Scenes - Best and Cringiest: Eleanor goes for a bikini wax -- “the Hollywood” -- and Carinn and Kate get personal (and hilarious) about their own grooming experiences (18:15); Eleanor observes the pressures society places on women and how she can still find hope despite her trauma (26:15); Eleanor’s “bad days” leave us reeling -- her suicide attempt and reflections are loneliness are harrowing because “no one has ever shown her how to live a life” (31:32); Carinn tries not to cry as she recounts the scene where Raymond gives Eleanor the cat, the living being that will teach Eleanor how to live. (39:24)

*** The Twist. Much has been said and written about the big twist or reveal, but Carinn and Kate don’t exactly agree with the masses on this one. (43:40)

*** What’s Your Damage, Heather? How much time do we have to discuss Eleanor’s damage? There is no shortage of trauma, mental abuse, scars and mommy issues that explain how Eleanor got the way she is. (49:45)

*** What She Said. Kate shares a quote about the need to open up and let people in and how that ends up being a gift you’ll receive back like one positive, virtuous circle. Carinn examines Honeyman’s “second act”, her personal journey of following her writing dreams after 40. (54:18)

*** Crystal ball. This may be more like a glimpse than a full on prediction, but how can you not root for Raymond and Eleanor!? (62:10)

*** Takeaways. Carinn is inspired by Honeyman’s second act, pivoting and proving you can be and do more than one thing in your life. Kate is reminded of how much she takes for granted in life. (65:23)

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