This article, “Why do Jasper and Nick want Laura dead” contains spoilers regarding Netflix’s Pieces Of Her season 1.
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As the pieces slowly fall into place, it becomes apparent that Laura Oliver has two groups of people after her, both wanting her dead. There is Jasper Queller her brother, yearning for political dominance and then her ex, the fugitive Nick Harp. Lucky Laura has the two closest men in her life desperate to kill her, but why?
Why do Jasper and Nick want Laura dead in Pieces Of Her season 1?
Let’s start with Jasper Queller, the heir to Martin’s fortune and the reluctant CEO of Quell Corp. In the present, he is played by David Wenham (Faramir in The Lord Of The Rings). Having inherited his father’s empire, Jasper works hard to bring some respectability back to the company. He forms a foundation and repays his father’s debts with his philanthropy work. Jasper is clearly eyeing up a political career, possibly vying for a Vice President role in the future. He has a lot to gain from these successes and a lot to lose if he was to be embroiled in something highly illegal.
Jasper wants to silence Laura because she holds a piece of incriminating evidence over his head. She is the star witness with the perfect blackmail material. A tape that entangles Jasper in his father’s assassination plot, a scandal that would end his political career and possibly see him behind bars as well. Jasper denies any wrongdoing, but it is highly likely that he sent his own cronies to retrieve the suitcase containing the tape, with strict instructions to kill Laura. If Laura is dead and the tape is destroyed, Jasper would sleep a lot easier at night.
In the finale, Nick plays the tape to Laura and Andy. The tape is a recorded conversation between Jasper and Nick. It details the plot of the Oslo 1988 Forum protests, where they plan to scare Martin Queller into resigning. Jasper acknowledges the idea but wishes to stay out of the specifics. Nick name checks Grace Juno, stating that she will do anything I propose. This could allude to murder, yet it is never officially confirmed. The discussion is enough to ruin Jasper and Nick though.
Nick Harp is the second culprit in this scheme to murder Laura Oliver. He is the father to Andy Oliver and was romantically involved with Laura in the eighties when she went by the name of Jane Queller. Nick’s involvement in Martin’s murder meant he spent the next few decades on the run, living the life of a fugitive. He refutes having any connection to Martin’s death, yet the event itself ruined his future plans of revolution. The man is resentful, blaming Laura for his current predicament and his wasted life. He wants to use the tape as bribery, to gain the freedom he believes he deserves.
Both men are blinded by years of bitterness and the need to clear their names. The tape has different purposes for Jasper and Nick, but both want Laura dead. If she is out of the picture then they control the narrative. Jasper wants to destroy the tape and be done with the whole affair. Nick wants to use the tape as leverage. Unfortunately, Nick is arrested and the whereabouts of the tape remains a mystery. Jasper finally finds out that it was Laura that passed Grace Juno the gun and intends to use this information to intimidate Laura. Although the final moments of Pieces Of Her hint at a future in which Laura is done with the corruption and manipulation, happy to go with the flow, hopefully, free of both men.
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