Three Women Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Twilight

Critic’s Rating: 4.45 / 5.0

4.45

Was anyone else surprised that this episode coincided with Maggie’s arc after the previous one ended with Gia meeting Sloane?

When it was released, Twilight been a phenomenon. I was never excited about it, but Twilight was essential to the relationship between Maggie Wilken and Aaron Knodel.

Although the series briefly touched on it earlier, it explained why the movie was so important to the couple in Three Women Season 1 Episode 8. It’s disappointing that Maggie will never think about her favorite movie the same way again.

Forbidden romance or sexual grooming?

Maggie’s storyline always has a different vibe than the other women’s. Theirs had drama, angst and hot sex, while Maggie focused on losing her innocence with her first meaningful sexual relationship.

As Maggie testified in court, she explained the details of her relationship with Aaron Knodel. She often compared them to Edward and Bella’s forbidden romance from Twilight, saying that loving someone gives them the power to hurt you.

In their case that was certainly the case. Aaron Knodel made all the rules and often seduced her, as we watched their physical relationship play out in flashbacks.

Kissing in a classroom would have been risky and romantic if they were two teenagers. But he was a teacher and locked the door, which gave off a creepy atmosphere.

Having an affair with a married man is never easy. Ask Lina. You end up kissing the guy in a parked car. But this is so much worse. Maggie was 17 years old.

At best it was sexual care. At worst it should have been statutory rape.

Like many complicated cases in Law and order: SVU, it was harder to prove, and it felt like Maggie was on trial for having an affair and not being a good girl.

Aaron Knodel’s lawyer attacked her for breaking up a marriage. The parallels and cinematography were beautifully done, as Mr. Knodel’s wife and mother played the lead role in Maggie.

Although for many victims it often seems like they are on trial, it is unfair. It was also unfair that they portrayed Maggie as the temptress who destroyed the marriage of an excellent teacher.

Play by the rules of Aaron Knodel

At seventeen, Maggie had her whole life ahead of her, including college. Being in the dark proved difficult. She didn’t want to go to prom with some random guy, but she couldn’t show off her adult teacher boyfriend.

Aaron Knodel imposed so many rules that it made him look even more like a jerk. He called her by text when he wanted to see her, but she couldn’t text him.

He had the audacity to suggest that they wait five years before revealing their relationship because she would be more age appropriate and his children would be older.

If he realized she was too young, they shouldn’t have dated!

But things get even more dangerous when a fellow teacher catches Maggie in Mr. Knodel’s classroom after they had sex behind closed doors.

Aaron Knodel was such a clever liar that he lied his way out of it as easily as he convinced the court that he never wrote entries in Maggie’s Twilight book or discussed anything other than her broken family.

In that respect, Maggie was the only one to suffer. She was dumped as soon as his wife found out and was seen as a seductress, not a victim.

Maggie fought for her rights so that others would have that strength too.

Another devastating loss for Maggie

I’m relieved the series didn’t show Mark Wilkin’s suicide. Seeing an actual suicide could have been triggering for some viewers.

Mark Wilkin seemed to crash because he couldn’t get along with someone who knew their dirty laundry. He was ashamed of being an alcoholic who abandoned his family, even though things had improved since then.

When he made her that photo collage and kissed her goodbye, it felt like he was saying goodbye to Maggie. Although they argued a lot, she was a daddy’s girl in many ways.

It devastated me that he didn’t say goodbye to his wife and son, and they seemed more shocked that he committed suicide, while Maggie was angry and wanted to blame someone else.

Everyone in high school needs a tribe

Three women showed the importance of female friendships; sometimes the bonds you create in high school will be there for you through everything.

Brilliant minds showed how important it is to have a tribe in high school that helps you fit in recently and not be rushed into adulthood.

That was Maggie’s problem. She thought hanging out with her older teacher was more fun than hanging out with her friends or the prom.

It wasn’t her fault. It is the adult’s responsibility in these sexual grooming cases, and she was a teenager. Part of me understood why her friend Jordan was conflicted.

I felt for her best friend Billie, who knew something was wrong. These were the kind of best friends you called at two in the morning, who wouldn’t hesitate to help bury a body.

Despite this, her friends stood behind her and were there to support her when she came forward and sat in court to support her.

Despite the tension and disagreements, Jordan and Billie comforted Maggie when her father died. That’s the kind of friend she needed.

It no longer mattered whether Jordan believed Aaron Knodel’s life shouldn’t be ruined even if he crossed certain lines.

Billie even tried to help Maggie see Twilight as something they saw and shared together, rather than an unwanted memory with Aaron Knodel.

That was a sweet gesture, although it will take some time for Maggie to grieve both Aaron Knodel and her father.

What did you think of Maggie’s day in court, TV Fanatics? Are you impressed by her strength? Were you surprised that her father committed suicide?

Let’s discuss this matter, so share your thoughts in the comments.

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