'Gaslit' Episode 5: Martha's revelations create a rift between her and John
Contains spoilers from 'Gaslit' Episode 5 'Honeymoon'
'Gaslit' focuses on one of the biggest political controversies of all time -- the Watergate scandal. It also follows the story of whistleblower Martha Mitchell (Julia Roberts), who leaked details about the scandal and paid a high price for it.
In earlier episodes, viewers saw Martha's brutal kidnapping in California and the attempts of the Nixon administration to silence her from revealing the truth. In episode 5 titled 'Honeymoon', Martha finally decides to reveal the truth about the Watergate break-in and her kidnapping to the public.
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Episode 5 'Honeymoon' begins with Martha being interviewed on a talk show. She publicly accuses Nixon of the Watergate break-in as well as her kidnapping in California. Despite what she said had happened to her in California, Martha believed John (Sean Penn) was not involved in any wrongdoing and defends him by stating that Nixon was putting all the blame on her husband. Martha calls herself a southern woman who speaks her mind and who will never stop talking. She reveals that her goal is to take down Nixon and adds that the American people will not approve of him anymore if they knew the dirty secrets of his government.
Martha succeeds in getting public support, however, the White House aides try to dismantle Martha’s claims by calling her bellicose and unreliable. They even label her as an alcoholic and drug addict who is emotionally unstable.
Meanwhile, John and Martha have an argument regarding her interviews. John mocks her popularity and the reporter's obsession with her by comparing her to a teen idol. We also learn that Martha is working on her biography with journalist Winnie McLendon. John, who stands in support of Nixon, berates Martha for her public revelations. Martha says that she wouldn’t have done the interview if John had the guts to reveal the truth to the public. It is also revealed that John, who has grown tired of Martha's antics, has started an illicit affair with his secretary Diana. Towards the end of the episode, Martha says that she has been called by the civil suit against Nixon’s Committee to re-elect the President. She reveals to a shocked John that she is going to testify.
The new episode of 'Gaslit' is available on Starz.
