Written by Jon Robin Baitz
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Capote (to Babe): "You should buy that dress anyway. So what if there's no party. Who needs parties anyway?"
We're halfway into this season and after last week's Black & White party from 1966, it was time to go back into a later period. The focus again being on both Truman and Babe's declining health and essentially the notion of forgiveness.
Babe felt like being in a forgiving mood, much to the chagrin of the somewhat hypocritical Slim this week. Capote wanted to accelerate the Swans forgiveness of him by recreating the Black & White party. It nearly worked but it didn't.
Initially it seemed like Slim was going to derail Capote with her own acts of revenge on her former friend. Blind items definitely felt like they were beneath Slim as Lee was only too quick to casually point out but this episode really highlighted Slim's own hypocrisy. Specifically Lee did it and with such style that Ryan Murphy better be lining Calista Flockhart for a future project.
Anyways for all of Slim's anger towards Truman for exposing secrets, it was both Lee and Babe who were aware of Slim's affair with Bill. Lee called Slim out on it and rightly so while Babe chose forgiveness, which only made both Bill and Slim feel worse than they already did for deceiving Babe.
As for Truman, Jack nearly got him to take responsibility for his deteriorating health but Capote preferred booze and continuing his destructive relationship with John O'Shea until the latter decided to go back to women. The arrival of John's daughter, Katy though gave Capote a protégé he didn't want but seemingly embraced.
The last scene between Capote and Babe was the highlight of the episode. A bittersweet moment between two friends who wanted to reconcile but weren't quite there yet. I do wonder if Babe's death will be before the finale, given that the episode reinforced that she hadn't long to live.
- The episode was dedicated to Treat Williams (1951-2023) who passed away after filming for the series.
- Of course Truman was happy to tell both CZ and Joanne about his sexual antics while he was supposed to be getting better. Jack also went to Switzerland after Truman relapsed. Truman also gossiped about Richard Avedon's sexuality.
- Standout music: The use of Perry Como's It's Impossible throughout the episode was nicely done. It was also Babe's favourite song.
- Chronology: I'm guessing around 1977 or 1978. The episode doesn't specify though Jodie Foster is referred to as a starlet by John and Truman.
It's Impossible was a delightful episode that certainly did well on the talks of forgiveness, even if one character wasn't willing to go down that route. The last scene was my favourite but I really want more of Lee Radziwill in the second half of the season.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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