The Family

[Frosty]

Think it is ABC, but not sure. Premise is-child abducted and then mysteriously returns. Mini-series. There have been quite a few of these recently, but I liked the idea of this one because

A) The mystery isn't naturally stupidly far fetched

B) I do have an affinity for 'true crime'-and though this is fictional-parallels.

C) It is only 6 episodes-so no long commitment. But long enough so that I actually care enough to watch it.

This series is not even 'exceptional'. It's probably just average really. But I am finding it watchable-which is something that I can't always say for even the highly rated series. I think it has a leg up on Wayward Pines so far in my opinion. Oh and the son from that is also in this-so it lends a certain similar feel. Anyways. 3 episodes in. (Actually 2.5 because I was too excited to finish it I had to come and write my thoughts down first). And of course I have theories.

Theory A)

Ok so most of my theories are on the side of-He is NOT their real son. He is an imposter. This is the only one that does not follow this pattern. Ok. So. I don't really think this one likely tbh, but benefit of the doubt requires me to include it-as to be able to claim at the end if they do a shitty twist-that I potentially expected it.

Anyways. He IS their son. The family is just-well everythig in the show is intentionally being taken out of context. He is just a confused, upset, and traumatized kid-who can't be EXPECTED to remember all this shit that they are just testing him with. He is looking back at old pictures and stuff for CONNECTION... Because it has been 10 years, and he spent those years being tortured in ways that no one but him really understands.

This will either end positively(unlikely) with them all realizing that this is THEIR SON- and they need to act like it-get themselves together and be THE FAMILY they need to be. And kumbaya.

Or it will end on the negative end of the spectrum. The kid getting more and more upset by the lack of cohesiveness and just general awfulness of his family. They put more and more pressure on him until he snaps and does something stupid. Either has a mental breakdown, kidnaps another kid, kills the family, and it is a sort of oh shit WE were the ones to create the monster sort of things.

Theory B)

He is so NOT their kid. Their kid is dead. In this theory- the pedophile across the street took him. This theory is sort of unlikely after this last episode probably to be honest. But maybe, he took him-family knew he took him(more specifically-daughter-father-mother>other son-in that order)- and wanted him put away. They do everything in their power to make that happen-daughter does shit to make that happen out of some sort of misguided effort to help-right some 'wrong'(guilt over NOT watching her brother well enough?)- and just plants a shit ton of evidence to point the finger at that guy. Dad covers for her to protect her in this time of confusion. Mom is potentially clueless-other son is potentially clueless. This one is really really loose right now-partly because I am in the middle of the episode. So much is less than clear.

Theory C)

Someone in the family killed him. Purposely or accidently, and they are all just scrambling. I think this is both the most obvious and yet still-from what has been gathered-the most likely explaination-in some capacity. Ok two main theories on perp here.

I don't really think it is the dad. Possible-but it would at this point be throwing viewers for a hard to explain and probably weak loop.

*The daughter-well. She certainly looks suspicious. Too suspicious? Maybe. But can't and am not working from THAT angle right now. So... Shes been running around like a madwoman-stealig his dental records-confessing mysteriously to off screen things- deleting histories- threatening people- and pretty much leeching off of the side of her mother in a sickeningly power hungry and desperate seeming way. So ok. She gets her own subcategorization really.

1> She killed her brother in a fit of rage. He wasn't doing something he was 'supposed to' and she flew at him. Maybe she violently pummeled him-maybe she pushed him and he hit his head. Anyways, she goes and tells her dad. He sees him, and he puts him in his car-(explains his hour long absence) and drives him somewhere where he 'takes care' of the body. He covers up for his daughter, and now she knows that she has something over his head. They both know they can never mention it. Mother maybe suspects in the back of her mind-other brother is clueless. Daughter therefore KNOWS the returned kid is NOT her brother... But whether she planned his return(as a sort of publicity stunt) or she is just going along with it-because what else can she do but try to make the best of this and hope it just blows over... Who knows.

2> She has no idea what happened to her brother. But she still is involved with the return of that other kid. Maybe she knows her brother 'ran away' or something. Maybe he just accidently got hurt. Either way. She is NOT really at fault in this scenario-but believes herself to be somehow. And tries to cover up needlessly-unnecessarily just creating more problems than there need to be. Same thing yeah with the returned boy as above. And same thing-sort of-but more confused-dad involvment.

3> probably exists but it to be determined at this time.


* The mother. Ok subcategorization needed here too perhaps.

1> The mother is batshit crazy. She killed her son accidently in a delirium, and just has totally broken from that part of her reality. The family, knowing it would KILL her if she knew what she did- is trying to placate the situation and cover it up and act 'normally'. Theory 1 COULD also work for the other brother...

2> mother is just secretly a bitch who did something to her son. Now she regrets it and is trying to mold this returned adam into 'her adam'. Either that or she just wants the positive media attention and assumes that the boys are interchangeable.

3> Adam never existed. This one is lame and just at this point FULL of holes. Hopefully NOT this one in any way shape or form.

Theory D)

He is alive but still missing. This is insertable and adaptable in/to other theories above. They either dont know what happened and dont know that this boy is an imposter. Or they do know he is an imposter but 'want to believe-for any/whatever reason'

Anyways will maybe be updating this. Don't really expect anyone to be watching this show really-it isn't well, it is sort of more under the radar. But wanted to spin somewhere.