'We Are Who We Are' Episode 6 channels Timothée Chalamet-Armie Hammer romance from 'Call me by your Name'
In Episode 6 of 'We are Who we are' we finally see Fraser (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Jonathan go out on what Fraser thinks is their 'first date'. He says as much to Jonathan (Tom Mercier) in a slip of the tongue and Jonathan merely teases him rather than tell him it is not.
But he also invites a friend, a girl, to dinner after their long day together. Fraser is crushed at that moment, being transparent in a way only teenagers in the throes of an infatuation can be. But he is so good-natured that he doesn't resent Jonathan or the girl. By the end of the evening, the three are doing karaoke on stage with Jonathan and Fraser leaning into each other with the girl becoming a third wheel, only existing within that moment to give the evening it's 'innocent' air.
Jonathan is in a weird situation. Fraser has a very evident crush on him, a much older man. Fraser's mother, Sarah (Chloë Sevigny) is also his boss. Complicating matters is Sara playing cupid telling Jonathan that Fraser needs 'stimulus' because the army base is not the best environment for a kid like him. So we never really know what Jonathan's true feelings are towards Fraser. Is he acting like an affectionate older brother when he strokes Fraser's cheeks and hair or allows him to hug and kiss him on the cheek? Or is he wooing Fraser? Does he think Fraser is an unusually bright kid who he doesn't want to hurt or is he falling in love with him too?
There is definite 'Call me By Your Name' vibes in this episode with Fraser and Jonathan recreating the young boy-older man dynamic of Elio (Timothée Chalamet), and Oliver (Armie Hammer). The ambiguity around Jonathan's sexuality also mirrors Oliver's in the film. However, unlike the film with Elio's loving and understanding parents, 'We are Who we Are' has Sarah, who loves inserting herself into situations -- something that Fraser resents and hates. If he comes to know Jonathan asked him out partly on his mother's urging, his reaction will be volatile and possibly violent.
Meanwhile, other uneasy undercurrents continue bubbling under the surface. Sarah suspects her wife Maggie (Alice Braga) of hiding something but is not sure what. Maggie is increasingly combative in a way she has never been before because of her secret relationship with Jenny (Faith Alabi). Things are not great next door aren't great either. Jenny and Richard (Kid Cudi) have frequent fights even as he keeps a tight rein on his daughter Caitlin (Jordan Kristine Seamón), keeping her away from Fraser.
He tries to rebuild their relationship by taking her duck hunting but she is distant and combative. Caitlin is also missing Fraser, her soul twin, in a terribly immediate way, hunting for a network signal just so she can message him. Without their connection (depicted in a delightful co-ordinated dance in a fantasy sequence), they are less sure of who they are want to be or are becoming.
Sarah steps in again, like she does, giving Caitlin a pamphlet for a psychologist who can help her with figuring out her desire to be male. We also see Fraser and Caitlin have their silent communion, lights off as they stare at each other after Caitlin sends Fraser a video about administering hormone injections for a female to male transition. Caitlin seems determined to make a more permanent change, still smarting over not being able to 'pass' as male when she kissed the girl in the earlier episode.
'We are Who We Are' Episode 7 will air on October 26 on HBO at 10 pm ET.
