Summary
The Act, Episode 4, “A Whole New World” presents the final demise of Dee Dee, her past and Gypsy’s new journey.
Hulu Original Series The Act is a seasonal anthology series that details strange true crime stories. The first season follows Gypsy Blanchard, a young girl who appears to have a range of medical issues, trying to remove herself from her toxic relationship with her overprotective, abusive mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Her persistence for independence leads to darker secrets, and ultimately, murder. This review of Episode 6, “A Whole New World”, contains spoilers. You can read the review of the previous episode by clicking these words.
Well, there we have it, folks, the end of Dee Dee Blanchard (Patricia Arquette), stabbed by Nick’s alternate personality; Episode 6, “A Whole New World”, never actually shows the stabbing, but it makes the best use of the sounds. It coincides with the next scene, going back in time when Dee Dee gave birth to Gypsy (Joey King), and her overbearing grandma took the reins.
“A Whole New World” shows the beginning of Gypsy and Nick embarking on their new life. They leave the house together after the murder, returning to Nick’s messy hotel room, which disappoints Gypsy – you can see it on her face. But it doesn’t ruin their night, as they make a clumsy sex tape.
In the 1991 flashback, Dee Dee is struggling to breastfeed Gypsy, making her worried about her health. Gypsy’s grandma is noticeably relaxed, taking her from Dee Dee’s arms, but Dee Dee insists they go to the doctors, who confirms they have nothing to worry about, and that Gypsy needs to eat a little more.
In the present day, you can tell the reality is sinking in quicker for Gypsy than Nick; the pair are planning on seeing Nick’s mother. Before they set off for the coach, they decide to have their “first date” at a shabby looking restaurant. Nick fails to stick up for her when the waitress is rude, and Gypsy panics when the police show up for an unrelated matter.
In 1993, Dee Dee was arrested for cheque fraud and was sentenced to 6 months in prison. She pleas with the grandma, begging for her to stick to the routine list that the doctor gave her for Gyspy. Her grandma was observedly wicked to Dee Dee as she was arrested, refusing to let her hold her daughter.
Episode 8 confirms how useless Nick is despite managing to murder Gypsy’s mother. He makes a booking error on the coaches, once again, leaving Gyspy disappointed. Their relationship is so strange that via webcam you understood how it worked, but in the real world, the problems are apparent.
Back in 1993, Dee Dee returns from prison and is visibly upset at Gypsy crying at her. Her mental issues begin, questioning why Gypsy is not napping; at this point the grandma has become controlling, revealing that she knew the baby was better off with her as soon as she was born.
In 1997, the grandma was struggling with her mobility and health, and Dee Dee is half-heartedly attending to her needs. The doctor reveals she does not have many days to live, but Dee Dee is less emotional than you’d expect in this situation. With her last dying breaths, the grandma whispers to Dee Dee, “you made it impossible”, sending Dee Dee into a spiral of protectiveness over Gypsy, vowing always to love her no matter what. When Gypsy falls off a trampoline, she “temporarily” puts her in a wheelchair while she rests.
In the present day, Gypsy is losing her mind and decides to confront Nick in an argumentative stance. He agrees that he needs to be better, whimpering that he will do anything for her because he is in love. They finally get that coach, and everything appears to be okay again.
Episode 6, “A Whole New World”, was a formidable chapter, giving us a glance of where the problems started for Dee Dee after Gypsy was born.
You can read our review of the seventh episode by clicking these words.
