MovieChat Forums > Accused (2010) Discussion > Major inconsistency in ep. 4 (EP. 3 SPOI...

Major inconsistency in ep. 4 (EP. 3 SPOILERS)

posted 12 years ago by ortonangel1
6 replies | jump to latest

There seems to be a major error in episode 4 which I just can't get my head around. At the end of episode 3 we see Stephen Cartwright being visited in prison by his 'evil stepmother', who tells him that both his brother and father are unwell - a major plot twist which is impossible to forget.

However, the first major event in episode 4 is that Stephen kills himself after having been alone in his cell for 28 hours. If he was taken straight from trial to jail and immediately commits suicide, when is it he is supposed to have been visited by his stepmother?

Also, his father features throughout this episode and appears to be in excellent health.

I find it hard to believe that such an exemplary and experienced writer as Jimmy McGovern would have overlooked such a major plot hole, so have I completely missed something here?

[–] Moss-37 12 years ago

Yep,you are one hundred percent correcto here,I was surprised to see his old man too,and what of his younger bother,and his evil stepmummy?It was like stephen cartwright was used as a clumsy link into a new story ,totally disregarding what went on the prevous episode.Mcgovern,you stink!

[–] Tess22 12 years ago

At the beginning he was being transferred - maybe from a young offenders institution to an adult one? The stepmother wasn't in court, which I took to mean she was out of the family - maybe because his dad and brother had found out about her. On the other hand, maybe she decided not to come. I didn't like the ending of episode 3.

CAT - it's small, neat and doesn't care if you live or die! CAT - the dog of tomorrow.

[–] KMHleics 12 years ago

Absolutely right, it was clearly a transfer rather than his first few nights inside. Indeed had they been his first few nights inside the staff would have been much more attentive.

[–] Adamsufc 12 years ago

The Final scene in episode 3 was Stephen Cartwright's imagination/paranoia in my opinion, showing that he really had lost his mind. I doubt they would make such a major gaff as this.

[–] allthewine 12 years ago

That's my opinion too.

Steven was an unreliable narrator. What we saw in that final scene was the horror show playing inside his head.

I could be wrong but that's how I think it played out.

[–] PeterMarkoff 9 years ago

it could be just different facility after he received final confirmation from court, sitting like going from detention to do your time after court

as for father's health, the ending is ambiguous, it can be all just in his head, she could play mind games with him or she could be telling truth and it's still doesn't necessarily mean she is poisoning then just because they had once upset stomach