‘Fatal Attraction’ Episode 3 Review: Alex Forrest plays twisted mind games as her obsession takes over
Spoilers for ‘Fatal Attraction’ Episode 3, ‘The Watchful Heart.’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Lizzy Caplan has been given the responsibility of bringing Alex Forrest to life on Paramount+, decades after Glenn Close did the same. Admittedly, there’s a lot of pressure on Caplan, but ‘Fatal Attraction’ Episode 3 really helps dive into the character of Alex Forrest. If you are a fan of the original movie, this particular episode might interest you. The one thing the source material failed to do is showcase Alex’s point of view.
Everyone wants to know what happened between Dan Gallagher and Alex, but it would be more interesting to find out why. What makes Alex the way she is? What sets off? It’s these little things that are answered in ‘Fatal Attraction’ Episode 3, titled, ‘The Watchful Heart'.
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Alex Forrest’s point of view
Sometimes when a crime is committed, people always want to know more about what went through the criminal’s mind. Now, although Forrest hasn’t committed a crime just yet, getting a peak into her life is more interesting than Dan's. In ‘Fatal Attraction’ Episode 3 we see Alex as a working woman committed to her job, which also includes little glances at Dan. This episode is proof that Alex had a lot more issues than one would have initially noticed, and her problems ran deep. One of the more interesting parts of ‘Fatal Attraction’ Episode 3 is how Alex almost orchestrated every little incident that built up to the inevitable affair between her and Dan.
One thing that really stood out was when the fire alarm rang, water poured, and of course, Dan and Alex ended up going to her apartment to change. ‘Fatal Attraction’ Episode 3 reveals that Alex had lit two tampons on fire in the ladies' bathroom, which triggered the fire alarm. This is one incident that would make any viewer think “Oh she is definitely crazy.” However, at the same time, one can’t help but wonder if Alex was suffering from a mental disorder, which wasn’t really addressed in the original movie, but was always a high possibility.
The viewers also get a look into Alex’s personal life and relationships that go beyond Dan. For example, her ex-therapist. Alex reached out to her for some friendly advice, but the therapist politely declined. There was a sense of rudeness in her tone as she hung up, and it almost felt like an easter egg – did Alex have a questionable past? After that phone call, Alex heads over to visit her neighbor and so-called friend, Paul Halliwell, who had stopped returning her calls. Again, alarm bells ringing. This isn’t a psychoanalysis of Alex Forrest, but it is highly possible that she might have been suffering from a personality disorder!
Alex shows up at Dan’s house
Much like the original movie, in ‘Fatal Attraction’ Episode 3, we see Alex show up at Dan and Beth Gallagher’s house, under the pretense of looking at their house, since they were selling. Admittedly, Joshua Jackson has done a brilliant job mirroring Michael Douglas’ performance as Dan in this scene, and we’re hoping to see more of that in future episodes. Alex has officially and tactically placed herself into Gallagher’s life and home, so it is only a matter of time before the boiling bunnies and craziness ensue!
‘Fatal Attraction’ is officially available to stream on Paramount+ from April 30, 2023.