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Doctor Foster, episode 4 recap: Gemma finally gets her revenge on wicked Simon
The penultimate hour of hyperventilating relationship romp Doctor Foster was never going to be calm and collected. But even by the eye-rolling rules of engagement already established by writer Mike Bartlett, this was a wildly loopy episode – a blur of betrayal, back-stabbing and barking plot twists. Quite enjoyable, too – provided you’d fastened your psychological safety belt and didn’t take fright at the screeching silliness. Here is what we learned:
1: Has Gemma Killed Simon?
Simon was a beaten man – rumbled as a cheat by his wife, tossed out on his ear by the in-laws and ditched by his business partner. But not even his humiliation could sate Gemma's hunger for revenge, it appeared. As Simon (Bertie Carvel, assisted by Bertie Carvel's evil stubble) dashed off wickedly to reconcile with son Tom, his ex-wife couldn't help herself. Perhaps she was reminded of his insistence that the only way he was leaving Parminster was "in a coffin".
Behind the wheel of her sensible family car, eyes narrowing, Gemma (Suranne Jones) veered towards Simon – and the screen cut to black. Has she done the terrible deed (no, not a reference to last week's "hate sex")? Given the show's looniness, running Simon down in cold blood wouldn't be unthinkable.
2: Is Simon really still obsessed with Gemma?
Just how reliable a narrator is the eponymous Doctor Foster? It's difficult to say. But she had done her homework and assembled a body of evidence that persuasively argued her cheating former husband couldn't get her out of his mind. (He's kept the watch and cufflinks from their marriage, etc.) Having spent the episode menacing Simon's new significant other (Jodie Comer), Gemma delivered the clinching argument when she pointed out that he had encouraged his new wife to adopt Gemma's fashion sense. How can you trust a man who psychologically manipulates his young bride into wearing skinny jeans and boots?
3: Were you distracted by Gemma's convoluted plans?
At one level, Gemma's machinations made sense. She knew Simon was bad for Kate, but had to make the starry-eyed young woman see the truth. Nothing illogical here. And yet, the labyrinthine scheming that ensued felt excessive – even in Doctor Foster's feverish alternate reality. Gemma could apparently call on an army of spies – weird Siân (Sian Brooke) from work, neighbour Anna (Victoria Hamilton) – to steer Kate into tracking her and Tom down to their hotel. But what would have happened if Kate had failed to follow the breadcrumb trail? All of that dastardly scheming might have been for naught.
4: Why did Kate's parents help Gemma?
Would Kate's mum, Susie (Sara Stewart) really agree to Gemma's ruse – with the doctor's suggestion that, on account of being shackled to Simon, Kate might not fulfil her ultimate dream to travel the world, closing the deal? Doctor Foster is more hot-blooded caper than serious drama. But there are limits as to how much silliness the story can endure. That Susie would keep Kate's return a secret from her daughter – and then go to the hotel where Gemma and Tom were holed up, with husband and granddaughter and tow, felt a stretch.
5: The 'what's in the box?' plot-line was a damp squib
With so many fizzing fireworks chucked in, it was reasonable to expect that the mystery of the gift Gemma had given to Kate at the homecoming party would yield another cracking surprise. Actually, it was merely the speech Simon had made to Gemma on their wedding – a toxic reminder of his iffy romantic past, but surely not enough to drive Kate from his arms.
6: So Simon was skint all along
How could Simon and Kate afford their megabucks mansion with its see-through walls and sci-fi kitchen? Actually they couldn't – Kate's dad was signing the cheques, while Simon's new business was bankrolled by his wife's godfather. When it was revealed that Simon had cheated on Kate with Gemma – and remained obsessed with his ex wife – his benefactors hastily withdrew their support and Kate left with their daughter for a new life in France. And thus Simon was revealed as an empty suit with a leery smile. Actually, it was that creepy grin that made it impossible to empathise, even as he rolled around on the doorstep of his former house feeling sorry for himself.
7: Was 'hate sex' part of Gemma's grand strategy from the start?
Gemma's original plan was to seduce Simon and surreptitiously film the footage. Being the sneaky sort, he duly twigged the camera – only to carry on regardless. This was presented as a heat-of-the moment decision. Yet now, Gemma was telling everyone what a love rat Simon was.
Are we to believe he indeed fell into her trap – and that hate sex was the rock upon which Gemma's eventual triumph was built? In the cad's defence, we at least learned that Simon was conflicted about the assignation. Engaging in hate sex was lust, he explained to his wronged wife, "but finishing it was politeness". So that's Kate mind put to rest then.
8: Does Tom want to leave Parminster or not?
The previous episode concluded with Tom (Tom Taylor) deciding that, for good or for ill, he should quit his sleepy hometown. Yet this week he and Gemma were holed up at an Alan Partridge-esque Travelodge, desperate to return to their earlier lives. With so many bonkers adults, it's probably too much to expect narrative consistency from a 15 year old – but, still, here was further evidence, that Doctor Foster season two is all about short sharp shocks and that coherence can get stuffed.
Relive each episode: