'I Know This Much is True' Episode 5: Truth about Dominic’s selfish grandfather pushes him to free Thomas
'I Know This Much is True' Episode 5 begins with Dominic (Mark Ruffalo) reading about his grandfather's life when he had first moved to America with his brother. His grandfather's life is strangely reflective of a conflict that Dominic himself is currently facing in life. To give up on his brother and let him continue to stay at the maximum secure psychiatric facility or to fight for his brother to be released? Also, the fact that Dominic isn't ready to accept that staying at the secure facility might be for Thomas' (Mark Ruffalo) best, shows how adamant Dominic is. He considers that the only person capable of caring for his brother is himself.
However, he is also the same guy who wanted to cut off from his brother and his family completely in the past as well. The guilt that he held within him all this while, is resurfacing as he reads about his grandfather Dominico. The way his grandfather betrayed his brother leading to his brother's death reminds Dominic about all the times that he did not stand up for his own brother. The way his grandfather bought himself a wife and was cursed for it proves to Dominic that his grandfather was a grade-A a******.
Who else would have the heart to drown their brother's beloved pet monkey instead of taking care of the monkey? That is after promising his dead brother that he would. Dominic's grandfather built his wealth and his home on the death of people around him and when Dominic learns of this, he is further influenced to pull Thomas out of the facility that he has been sentenced to live in after chopping his hand off at a public space.
To further aggravate his worry, Dominic gets a call from his former classmate who is a janitor at the facility. He tells Dominic to get Thomas tested for HIV and after hearing this, Dominic is unable to let things go any further. He does get Thomas tested, but the test returns negative so instead, Dominic gets the janitor's help to get records that state that a fellow patient in the ward tried to break into Thomas' room twice a week. With this record, Dominic manages to negotiate a deal and get Thomas out to remain under his care until Lisa Sheffer (Rosie O'Donnell) manages to find an appropriate care facility for Thomas.
However, is this for the sake of his peace of mind or does Dominic really have Thomas' best interest at heart? This question is also something that rises when Dominic's grandfather had tried to teach his brother a lesson by snitching on him to the man whose wife his brother is having an affair with. While he believes that he is doing things for his brother's betterment, that only leads to his death. Is this alluding to Thomas' end as well?
After all, Sheffer had said that this might not be the best thing for Thomas at the moment. Yet, in his arrogant way, he shrugs off her worries and takes Thomas out to live with him.
'I Know This Much is True' new episodes drop on Sundays on HBO.