The Murderer – As the third episode of Flowers In The Attic: The Origin begins, Olivia Foxworth (Jemima Rooper) talks about being unable to let go of the past. Alicia (Alana Boden) returns to the mansion while Corrine (Hannah Dodd) destroys dolls and other things in her bedroom. Joel (Luke Fetherston) and Harry (Jordan Peters) are shown in bed together. When Alicia says she’d like to speak to Olivia alone, Malcolm (Max Irons) tells her that she doesn’t get to make requests after breaking their agreement. Alicia claims she is there to put their past to rest. She soon reveals that she has cancer and Christopher is in medical school now. Alicia has little time left and even less of the inheritance Garland left her. When she is gone, Christopher will have nowhere to go or the means to finish his school.

She is asking them to take her son. For one dark year, Olivia pushed back against her instincts. She decided to follow Malcolm’s instincts instead and allowed him to decide what to do. Malcolm explains that nothing will be free for Christopher here so he’ll have to work for his education. Soon, Corrine learns she is getting a tutor even though she wants to return to school. Olivia became an observer in her own home. Malcolm curses and complains about Joel playing the piano in his house. He tells Joel that he wants silence for Christmas. Olivia told herself that she did this for her children. Later, Olivia receives a letter from Christopher letting her know that Alicia has died. Olivia thought what happened to Mal would never happen again in her home if she obeyed Malcolm.

While Nella (T’Shan Williams) finds a place for the picture of Christopher’s parents, Corrine asks her mother about riding her horse to town this afternoon. Olivia already has an appointment with a seamstress for the debutante ball dress. Corrine argues she can’t keep her locked up in this house forever, but Olivia says that is up to her father. Once she approaches her father, Malcolm says he only wants the best for his daughter on the night she introduces herself to Virginian society. She’d like the key to the swan room so she can look through grandma’s old things. He suggests visiting the shops in town instead, but Corrine says it doesn’t sound very fun to go all the way there without having the means to bring any of them home. He grabs something from under the desk before giving her some money.

Corrine thinks she can get Joel to take her and get him away from the piano for a while. As Joel drives her into town, Corrine reveals she has lost her closest friendships from school. She worries she’ll be a complete stranger when everyone shows up to her ball. Joel hopes Christopher’s arrival will convince their father to let up. Corrine says he gets to have secret dalliances and leave for school while she is stuck at home listening to the world on the radio. Joel says Malcolm is the only one making decisions today and he doesn’t care what happens to him. When Joel admits there is one dalliance, Corrine questions why he won’t tell her about her. Joel says it is more fun this way. As they arrive, Corrine wonders if it is because she knows the woman. He informs her that she isn’t going to get anything out of him.

They run into Mrs. Steiner (Kate Mulgrew) who says Joel is all grown up and as pretty as a peacock. She excuses herself because some people don’t have time to dawdle in the street. Once she leaves, Joel tells Corrine how she used to be their housekeeper until Olivia fired her. Joel leaves Corrine to check out the watch store across the street. As the clerk finds out that Corrine’s stocking is damaged, a man enters with a broken button on his shirt. Corrine seems taken by the man so she agrees to let him get his shirt mended first. She tells the man about her stockings and that she’ll have to parade around town with painted seams. He assures her that no gentleman is going to be staring at her legs. They continue flirting until the woman returns with the shirt. He tells Corrine that he is forever indebted to her. She warns him that she might hold him to that before he leaves.

Later that night, Joel gives Harry the watch he bought for him earlier. They discuss the possibility of traveling north. Harry admits he’ll be happy anywhere without automobiles to work on and wherever he can make his own decisions. After Joel says traveling costs money, Harry says he can take odd jobs and he can play piano for money. Malcolm storms in and catches them kissing. He says nothing before leaving while Joel tells Harry to leave. Malcolm tells Olivia he told her playing the piano would make Joel soft since he found the garage boy doing improper things to him. She asks if he was hurt. Malcolm says it was worse because he was enjoying it. Olivia offers to talk to him, but Malcolm says he’ll deal with it since she has already done enough. The police burst into the house and take Harry away as Nella tries to stop them.

Samuel and the others decide to follow the car. Harry is taken to Foxworth Hall so Malcolm can identify him as the thief although Harry denies stealing anything. Nella tries to convince them otherwise. When the police ask about the watch Harry is wearing, he shakes his head to warn Joel not to say anything. Nella wants Olivia to speak to Harry’s character, but Malcolm doesn’t think they know him well enough to do that. Olivia says nothing. Eventually, Harry is hit by one of the officers before being taken away in the police car. After Malcolm is given the watch, he drops it to the ground and crushes it under his foot. In the morning, Corrine asks if anyone is going to tell her what happened last night. Malcolm tells her to drop it. Corrine complains she hates it here before the guest arrives. When Christopher enters, Corrine is surprised to find that he is the man from the shop.

They sit down and begin talking about Joel playing the piano. Christopher tries to joke about it, but Joel isn’t in a joking mood. He thanks Malcolm for giving him the charity and letting them stay in their home. Malcolm hopes he is willing to work in exchange for his tuition. Christopher understands the arrangement and is more than happy to serve his office. When Malcolm reveals he’ll be helping with the yard work, Christopher says he’ll be happy to do that. Corrine doesn’t think Malcolm can expect him to work alongside Nella’s family and the servants. Joel asks what is wrong about working with Nella’s family before excusing himself. Before Malcolm leaves for work, he asks Corrine to show her uncle to his room. Olivia ends up showing him since Corrine is still eating breakfast. Moments later, Corrine calls Rockford Taylard (David Witts) to see if he can sneak out this afternoon.

Christopher admits that he didn’t know what to expect since Alicia didn’t tell him much at all. Joel complains about Olivia letting this happen since he worries what the police will do to a black man who stole from a white man. He is adamant that they have to do something. Joel explains this wasn’t Harry’s fault and it is something they want. He asks Olivia where she is. Someone she loves is pleading with her because someone they love is hurting, but she is doing nothing. Olivia argues that this is up to her father. Corrine thanks Rockford for taking her to the movies. Movies always make him feel better until she makes him wait through the whole thing. He tries to get a kiss only for Corrine to get out of the car before he can. She runs into Christopher who has been working in the yard. He wants to know where she has been since he is worried about his niece.

He tells her that Malcolm is still at the office and her mother is getting her dress fitted so the kitchen would be a good way to sneak in. Malcolm visits Doctor Curtis (Peter Bramhill) to ask for the most effective treatment available although he won’t say who it is for. On his way out, he ignores Steiner who is working in the office. Later, Malcolm tells Joel that they’re going to do something about Harry. Joel wants to go to the station to get the charges dropped immediately, but he is told he is going to a professional facility in Westmoreland. He will say nothing to his sister about this. Malcolm intends to take him after dark so nobody sees them.

The professional will get it out of him, he will return, and they will never speak about it again. Joel gets mad at the fact that Olivia isn’t going to say anything. She says she is aligned with his father. Joel offers to go if they drop the charges against Harry first. Malcolm sees okay with that. After that, Olivia tells Joel that his father won’t hurt him if he gets it fixed. She thanks him for doing this, but he isn’t doing it for her. Joel gives her a letter and asks her to give it to Harry. Corrine runs into Christopher in the hallway. They share an awkward moment together. Olivia takes the letter to Harry who has been beaten. She says nothing before walking away. Joel is taken to the facility where he is strapped to a bed. While Olivia goes to bed, it looks like Joel is being prepared for shock therapy. In the morning, Malcolm tells Corrine that Joel left for Montreal.

Olivia expands on that by claiming he received a telegram offering him to study with a top musician there. Corrine complains that he was supposed to be her first dance during the ball, but Malcolm claims the ball will be just as good without him. She looks through papers before visiting Harry with a stack of letters. She explains she stopped reading once she realized what they were. Corrine knows he must be hurting, but she just wants to know where Joel is. After he shows her the letter he received, Corrine goes to Christopher to ask what he knows about Westmoreland Sanitarium. He says some physicians call it Westmoreland Experimental, but that is too kind for a place like that. They decide to confront Olivia to tell her that Westmoreland’s methods are extreme and unverified. They shock patients’ brains for every condition you can imagine.

Corrine pleads with her to do something because Joel needs her. She might’ve been mourning Mal, but she closed the door on Joel because she couldn’t face what was inside. Seeing what was left of him caused her to remember who she was, his provider, protector, and parent. The doctor tells her that only her husband can sign him out. She gives him money and says her husband doesn’t need to know anything about this. Christopher believes Olivia will know exactly what to do once she sees Joel. Corrine holds his hand until Olivia returns. Olivia goes to Nella to tell her that Joel is sick and she can’t take care of him in the house. She knows she should’ve done more to help Harry, but she wasn’t herself. Celia (Evelyn Miller) knows she wants them to help her boy. What work did she do to help theirs? Nella says she got him back for us alive.

Olivia confesses that it was Joel because she was too much of a coward. She asks them to do it for Joel if they won’t do it for her. Samuel agrees to go out with her to help bring Joel inside while Olivia says Malcolm can never know about this. Christopher and Corrine arrive and begin helping too. Before Corrine walks off, she asks Olivia what she did to him. In the morning, Corrine asks if anyone has heard from Joel since she wants to make sure he got to Montreal safely. Once Christopher and Malcolm leave for work, Olivia confronts Corrine about keeping this a secret. Corrine believes he needs to be in a hospital, but Olivia worries Malcolm would put him through a window. Olivia claims she lied to protect her because she has no idea what has gone on in this house. Corrine tells her to look at everything they’ve lost. Corrine leaves on her horse later before it begins storming at home.

Olivia tells Malcolm that she is worried about her. He quickly blames her before rushing off. He orders the staff to search the state for her. Olivia says horrors rained down on their home that night. Some they had already imagined and some were hidden from view. Joel begins choking and seizing. Other horrors could come to haunt them later. Steiner looks through files at the doctor’s office. When Joel wakes up, he admits to Harry that he should’ve told the cops he gave him the watch. Harry thinks that would’ve made things worse for both of them.

Harry comforts him and promises he’ll be able to play piano again before they begin holding hands. Once Christopher finds Corrine, she says her horse got spooked and she fell off. Chris carries her to the chapel so they can get out of the rain. He admits they’ll have to sleep here if nobody sees the beacon outside. He’ll do what he can as a trainee, but she’ll have to see a doctor as soon as they get back. Chris asks her to tell him about this place while he takes care of the wound. Corrine explains that she used to come here with her brothers. When they raced here, Mal would usually win. Ever since he died, it has become like they’re not allowed to talk about him anymore. It is like they’ll break if they do. Chris says nobody will break if they have someone there to help them heal. They discuss who owes who before Chris leans in for a kiss. They have to stop when Malcolm arrives shouting Corrine’s name.

When they get home, they say Corrine was lucky just to have a few scrapes. Olivia thanks Christopher for finding her. She tells Corrine that she is doing her best and Joel will get better if they let him. Malcolm tells Christopher that he no longer works for him and his education will be paid for in full. When Chris goes upstairs, he tells Corrine that it can never happen again. Christopher refuses to change his mind so Corrine says he is right and she is sorry. It never happened. The next day, Corrine tries to find out who she is going to dance with first. They suggest Christopher since many dance with their uncles first. Malcolm thinks she can dance with him first, but Olivia thinks it is best for her to dance with someone closer to her age. Corrine mentions Rockford before saying his dad owns the textile mills just outside town. In private, Olivia asks her daughter if she knows what she is doing here.

Corrine believes Rockford has changed, but Olivia says he is the same person who defiled her. She wants her to remember that and what they had to do because of it. Olivia gets a visit from Steiner who admits she knows about Joel’s problem and the Westmoreland Sanitarium. She wants three grand when she comes by next weekend. Otherwise, she will tell everyone he is a homosexual. Olivia discusses it with Malcolm. She explains that they can’t have his reputation ruined so Malcolm agrees to arrange for the money. Corrine visits Joel to talk about relationships. Joel reveals he is leaving although he doesn’t know what to do about Harry. Corrine watches Christopher get undressed before diving into the water. As Joel packs his belongings, he decides to stop and play the piano. Malcolm enters to ask how he got out of the hospital. Joel says he is leaving, he doesn’t want anything, and he’ll never bother him again.

Malcolm warns him that he’ll never be allowed back and he’ll say he isn’t his son if he decides to run. Joel says he was never much of a father to him anyway. When he threatens to write Joel out of his will, Joel says he doesn’t want his money if it’ll give him a life like his. Malcolm gets rough with Joel and demands to know how he got out of the hospital. Olivia interrupts and confesses that she got him out before Joel runs away with her. Joel goes out to wait for her. Olivia explains that Joel was unrecognizable and they were breaking him. Malcolm accuses her of breaking Joel and their other son, but she says Mal’s death was an accident. Malcolm calls her a curse on this family. He goes on to say everything she touches turns to ash. Olivia argues that Mal died because he assaulted his fiancée. Joel was tortured because his father couldn’t love him for who he is.

Corrine fell into the arms of another man because she was running from his. When she calls him the curse, he punches her causing her to fall to the ground. Joel gives Harry the watch that he found after the day he was taken. He instructs him to pawn it so he can get the money needed to get out of here. Harry wants to go with him, but Joel believes he should leave on his own. Joel thanks him for being there with him although he can’t make him go through this next part with him. He deserves a life without memories of this place and Joel believes he’ll make him return to it over and over.

Harry argues that they can get through this together like they got through last year. He isn’t going to throw the towel in on him just because he is scared. After Harry says he has a world to see and has Joel to see it with, Joel asks him where they should start. Harry thinks they should go to New York while Joel is just happy going north with him. Olivia gives Joel her ring since she can’t convince Malcolm to give him the trust. She just wants him to live with no regrets while Joel encourages her to do the same. He warns her that this is going to end with someone dying so she should get out of this place and save herself. Nella and the family say goodbye to Harry and Joel. Steiner shows up at the house to get the money from Malcolm. She is surprised when Malcolm tells her that he no longer has a son. She can blab to whoever she wants. Steiner suspects tonight’s party is very important to him.

She hopes it goes off without a hitch. Next, Malcolm goes to Corrine to tell her that her mother ruined her dress, but he has one more surprise. As Olivia walks back inside, she hears Corrine screaming from upstairs. She finds out that Malcolm tells her she could wear one of grandma’s dresses even though Olivia got her dress fixed. Before the party begins, Olivia complains about Malcolm bringing his mom’s painting down from the attic. Malcolm wants to make sure nothing distracts from Corrine so he asks the servants to take the painting back upstairs. Corrine wants to make sure Rockford knows how to do it. He tells her to calm down because they’ll show him how great they are on the dance floor. As the guests begin arriving, Malcolm gets emotional while looking at his mom’s painting. Steiner approaches Olivia who reminds her that she isn’t welcome here.

She tells Olivia she is there for her daughter or Alicia’s daughter. Steiner knows how much Olivia wants to keep that hidden. When Corrine comes over, she admits she hasn’t seen her father. As Malcolm comes down the stairs, Rockford approaches to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Christopher overhears them before Malcolm says they should discuss it in private. Olivia takes Steiner to a private spot to discuss the secret. Steiner tells her how she knows about Corrine before saying she is gorgeous and Olivia is a monster. Once Olivia offers three thousand, Steiner asks for five now. Olivia leaves in hopes of finding Malcolm. Since Rockford is missing, she thinks Christopher should dance with Corrine first. Malcolm joins them but refuses to talk about their problem until Corrine’s first dance is over. While they dance, they discuss her marriage as Corrine says he doesn’t get to be jealous.

He hopes she is making the right decision because there is no worse pain than being stuck in a life of regret. Chris admits he has regrets with her before Malcolm begins dancing with his daughter. When she asks about Rockford, Malcolm says he made his intentions clear, but he made his clearer. She worries he might’ve hurt him. Malcolm says he won’t hurt her again. He will never abandon her because she belongs to him. After Corrine tells Olivia about Rockford, Olivia tells her that she can tell she really isn’t in love with him. Then, she finally tells Malcolm about Steiner being locked in the library and knowing about Corrine. She returns to Steiner who complains about being locked in there for an hour. Olivia claims she did everything for her children and Corrine is a child of her heart. Steiner says everyone knows that she is jealous of Corrine’s beauty and charm. Once they begin talking about love, Olivia admits he doesn’t think Garland loved Steiner in return.

When Steiner tries to leave, Olivia pushes her down and knocks her out. Malcolm joins her and prevents her from calling the doctor. Instead, he finishes her off before hiding her body. He returns to remind Olivia that their guests are waiting. They go back to the party and dance in front of the crowd. Corrine runs into Christopher outside where she tells him the engagement is off. Fighting what she feels inside has become more difficult than facing it. She confesses he is the one she wants and loves. Christopher says he loves her too. While they try to find out what to do next, Olivia and Malcolm are busy dealing with Steiner’s body. They take the body outside and dig a hole to bury it. Malcolm kisses Olivia before telling her to get some rest. Olivia believes their lives would be better than hers thanks to everything she did. Since Joel got out of Foxworth Hall alive, she thinks Corrine can do the same. As she walks back to her room, she looks through the keyhole and sees Corrine sleeping with Christopher.

 

Flowers In The Attic: The Origin Review

The third episode of Flowers In The Attic: The Origin had a little bit of everything including extortion, romance, and murder. I still sometimes cringe when I heard the accents because they’re hit and miss. Sometimes, the southern accent is just dropped completely, but most of the performances are okay through three episodes.

Joel’s storyline with Harry was a high point for the series and it is nice to see a possible happy ending for at least one character. Olivia continues inching closer to becoming a near replica of Malcolm. The episode was a bit tedious at points so it likely could’ve been slimmed to an hour without missing anything of importance.

Fans of the novels may not like The Origin considering how many things have been changed and added for modernization purposes. Despite a handful of blemishes, the series is mostly entertaining and does a good job of following’s Olivia descent into madness so to speak. The episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of Flowers In The Attic: The Origin are available on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support us at this link.