Written by Jon Robin Baitz
Directed by Max Winkler
Capote (to James Baldwin): "My Swans are trying to kill me."
Well, if you spend your time revealing all of your supposed friends innermost secrets, then that might be the most natural of responses. Why was it that the episode that focused the least on the Swans turned out to be the best?
Not only was it a nice episode for Tom Hollander to display some more vulnerability as Capote, the big reason why this episode hit so well was down to Chris Chalk's excellent guest performance as James Baldwin. I'd even go as far as to say, it's the best performance of the season in regards to this show.
Truman was in full self pity mode, feeling the effects of being a social outcast, due to revealing Swans. Enter James Baldwin, who insisted that Capote met him at the scene of the crime for a much needed reality check. He wouldn't put up with Capote's bullshit and the episode was all the better for him.
Effectively this episode could've been a two hander in that restaurant and it would've been perfect. However as Capote talked trash about the Swans, we cut to flashbacks of them being largely portrayed in a negative light. Truthfully this episode highlighted their foibles and hypocrisy.
We saw how the likes of Lee and Slim mistreated Ann themselves as well as their own extra marital affairs. We also how both the likes of Babe and CZ were poor mothers, not to mention a biting commentary on their classism, body shaming and covert racism. This was all the while we got some details on actual Swans themselves.
By the end of this episode, James Baldwin had snapped Capote out of his self inflicted and the latter was back to writing/trashing his former friends. Truman talked about the Swans trying to kill him, only for a certain meal by a cute waiter/chef (Will Hochman) signifying that he won't be so easily killed. He ate a fucking Swan.
- I noticed that Joanne was the only Swan that Capote didn't talk shit about and was the only one who didn't appear in the episode.
- Although they didn't actually sleep together, the chemistry between Capote and Baldwin was the best. Tom Hollander and Chris Chalk played off each other so well.
- Lee didn't hold back with her biting comments on Capote's looks at all.
- Chronology: This episode was set during 1975.
The Secret Inner Lives Of Swans was by far the best episode of the season. Tom Hollander and Chris Chalk were on excellent form and the dialogue the most pithy as well. I think we needed more focus on Capote's thoughts on his Swans and this showed he didn't care for them at times.
Rating: 9 out of 10
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