MovieChat Forums > The Way Way Back (2013) Discussion > The Stepsister

The Stepsister

posted 11 years ago by americaneskimodog
13 replies | jump to latest

Just wanted to know what people thought of Trent's daughter. She was a pretty typical teenager, selfish and bratty, and she treated Susanna poorly as well. Did she have any redeeming qualities? I'm not sure what to make of the part when she told Duncan's mom Pam to move two purple spaces - was it her being her father's daughter and playing by the book, or did she think it would make the situation better for Duncan's mom to move more spaces?

Also, the night that Trent stayed out too late, she also offers to take over the dishes for Duncan's mom. Still not sure what to make of that, whether she was trying to help out or if she was just trying not to let Pam's stress ruin the task.

Anything else noteworthy from her?

[–] zoerobe 11 years ago

I thought that while she was usually your stereotypical pouty teen there were a couple of moments where she seemed to be making an effort. I got the feeling she was genuinely trying to be nice during the Candyland game and they might have had a decent time if Trent hadn't ruined it.

Also I felt bad for her when Duncan and Susanna came back from Water Wizz, and she said that everything in her life was falling apart. Maybe she knew about her dad cheating on Pam and just didn't want to deal with that on top of losing her boyfriend.

[–] johnston.scot 11 years ago

She was basically a textbook bratty teenager. The points - which you mention - where she broke from that emphasize that Trent was a jerk and Pam was sympathetic: even a bratty teenager realized that.

[–] gentelg 11 years ago

I think the reason she was a bratty little b#tch was because Trent obviously spoiled her rotten as a way to make up for his absence when she was growing up. I got the vibe during the dish washing scene that Steph was used to Trent staying out late or all night and she sensed that he was out with Joan or perhaps another random woman.

[–] johnston.scot 11 years ago

Yes. Various details make it clear he spoils her and lets her do pretty much what she wants. I also agree she knew what Trent was up to while others were holding out hope it was just a misunderstanding or car break down, or something. Even though she was a brat, she still felt sorry for Pam.

One detail: she was Steph. Susanna was the nicer girl next door (Anna Sophia Robb).

[–] vic_cc-288-122638 8 years ago

yep like on the beach *beep* on duncan for livin in a 2 bedroom house

[–] tiger01 11 years ago

The biggest thing I noticed about her was that she obviously had some issues with alcohol (at least three separate scenes I can recall offhand) and it made me wonder if she was using it to dull any pain. I was waiting to see if there would be a scene between her and Trent where he was an ass to her or something. On the flip side, perhaps she even wanted a better relationship with her father but he was too distant, non-disciplining, etc. The lack of discipline showed in her relationship with the buff dude on the beach; she was obviously not used to being told no in that fashion. I actually feel bad for the character kind of; Duncan had more personal growth in one short summer than she had in a lifetime.

In my opinion, she was probably ultimately an "underbaked" character. I don't really fault the writers (two men, I think) as it can't be easily to realistically write a teenager/early 20s girl. She was really a minor character in the grand scheme of things so it wasn't a huge deal to me.

[–] IncognitoElf 11 years ago

This character could have been edited out of the movie with no problems whatsoever.

[–] bellamae 11 years ago

Sorry, but I disagree w/ you on that for a couple of reasons:

1) His lax attitude w/ his daughter contrasted very strongly w/ his harshness towards Duncan. That shows that even tho he talked about "being a family" fairness was not part of the equation. Like, Duncan was expected to leave notes telling of his whereabouts, but Susanna never did. It emphasized what a jerk he was to Duncan.

2) The fact that she was a spoiled brat was a mirror of Trent's "it's all about ME" approach to life, and emphasized the fact that he really doesn't have very parenting skills.

[–] monstermayhem32 11 years ago

It seemed as though Trent's tough guy attitude toward duncan was covering up for his faulty parenting schools towards steph since they were both not such great people.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] freebird1987 10 years ago

She just seemed like a stereotypical bratty teenager. But she does have some redeeming qualities.

In the Candyland scene, I think she was just trying to keep things peaceful. And I think she was trying to help out with the dishes.

I think Steph actually hated her dad as much as Duncan did. She was probably taking her anger towards Trent out on Duncan because he was just an easier target.

[–] JohannaMackay 10 years ago

I really like Freebird's take. I think Stephanie is covering up a lot of pain, mostly the pain that her dad cares so little about her and she's stuck spending the summers with him.

She's not the total jerk her dad is, but she hasn't had the best example. How hard to know that your dad is such a creep? Was this the first woman she's had to spend a summer with to please her dad? I think she's just coping in life and used to covering up a lot of pain.

[–] lollipop15 9 years ago

I think she helped with the dishes because she knew where Trent really was (with Joan) and felt sorry for Pam. She didn't want any stress.