MovieChat Forums > Greenleaf (2016) Discussion > Gigi and the Ides of Mae

Gigi and the Ides of Mae

posted 9 years ago by Heretico
22 replies | jump to latest

With each episode, Mae's rancor toward Grace increases. And the way Mae spits her words at that woman...

Could it be possible that Grace is a love child from the Bishop's affair, and he insisted on taking her in or had no choice? Maybe he sent her away to get Mae off his back, and that's why she was gone 20 years.

I found it interesting staging, when they were discussing Mac in the Bishop's office, that Grace was positioned to look almost as though she was hiding behind her father, then spoke of Mae in the third person while she was standing right there.

This is some evil-stepmother hoodoo, and when the big reveal comes that Mae isn't Grace's biological mother, I want it on the record that I called it on August 4, 2016.

[–] sjrose_21 9 years ago

We think alike because she had shown contempt for her since the beginning. Remember when she was talking to Isabel and she said her husband has put her through a lot? I bet that is what she meant.

[–] wts7741 9 years ago

Heretico, I agree with you completely:

...when the big reveal comes that Mae isn't Grace's biological mother, I want it on the record that I called it on August 4, 2016.

This very same plot twist was used a few years ago in the movie, Jumping the Broom. The bigger twist, in this case, will be that the Bishop and Aunt Mavis had an affair that produced Grace, but the Bishop married Mae instead of Mavis and they took Grace to raise as their own.

The Greenleaf writers have already laid the foundation for it by portraying Grace as being closer with Mavis and having Mae constantly display visceral hatred of her own daughter at every turn. The question is how long will they drag this out before making the big reveal?

[–] Heretico 9 years ago

Good call! I never suspected Aunt Mavis. I always just see Oprah as shoehorning her abundant behind in because she can, not for any productive reason. But your theory would explain why Mavis is estranged.

If you're right, I hope there's at least a backstory as to why the Bishop didn't marry Mavis instead of Mae. Maybe there will be a story parallel to the lost romance of Noah and Grace with the exception that James actually went through with marrying the person who was less than ideal for him..

[–] wts7741 9 years ago

I think the basic backstory will have something to do with perception -- Mavis as sinner and Mae as saintly (at least back in their youth). I suspect the young, upcoming preacher that James Greenleaf was at that time would have wanted to be "evenly yoked" with someone perceived as having the potential of being the pastor's wife and first lady of the church. We can certainly see that Lady Mae sees herself as worthy of that position, although I do not. (Just my opinion.)

[–] Heretico 9 years ago

Good points.

Mavis does seem more the boho type.

Let's throw Kerissa into this mix and make it a round of *Beep*, Marry, Kill.

[–] queentulawanda1 8 years ago

Maybe the Bishop and Mae were already married, Mavis and Bishop had an affair, and Mavis got pregnant. Then, to save the church, er, Bishop 's reputation, they adopted Gigi.

[–] Heretico 8 years ago

Good looking out.

There was a line in this week's episode (12) that wasn't exactly a throwaway, but whoever delivered it to Gigi didn't make a career of it, either. It was a line where anyone would normally say "your parents" or "your mom and dad", but it referenced only the Bishop. Something's up. I'm always looking and listening for clues and trying to read between the lines, even looking at complexions and skin tones (although I know that's probably not a valid indicator), but I can't figure it out. There aren't many characters in the core cast James could have had it off with, so if it's not Mavis, the mother is likely to just manifest out of left field.

[–] leophy 9 years ago

This very same plot twist was used a few years ago in the movie, Jumping the Broom. The bigger twist, in this case, will be that the Bishop and Aunt Mavis had an affair that produced Grace, but the Bishop married Mae instead of Mavis and they took Grace to raise as their own.

Wondered about this as well especially after we saw the bishop walking with Oprah, er I mean Mavis, discussing his regrets. She assured him that he did the right thing or something along those lines. Also, Mae doesn't get along with Mavis. The flip side is that she may not be the bishop's daughter yet he still favors her as his own. Can't wait for the reveal. I also wondered if Sophia might be Noah's child but I guess she is too young to be his if Gigi took off 20 years ago.

[–] riotgrrrl22 8 years ago

I also wondered if Sophia might be Noah's child but I guess she is too young to be his if Gigi took off 20 years ago.

that would've been cool. i could see Noah being Sophia's father instead of that a-hole who's her father now.

[–] draivin 9 years ago

I've wondered why she was so horrible towards ONLY Grace and no one else; to everyone else she's just uppity and pious. This theory would make a lot more sense in explaining her attitude towards her.

Honestly, I think Mae had suspicions about Mac and got even more irritated when Grace came back digging around about what really happened to Faith. Obviously,this is something that the royal-highniness Lady Mae would not want getting out at all.

I have EXORCISED the demon

[–] Heretico 9 years ago

This Grace love-child thing is just my theory, although another poster made it even better it with another layer of conspiracy.

I never saw evidence of Mae's suspicion of Mac before the showdown, but I can see where it would make sense.

* * *

Sidetrip: Lynn Whitfield was on this week's episode of Mistresses. She's brilliant in Greenleaf and I love her to smithereens, but her turn as a dysfunctional, scheming, divisive alcoholic Mother of the Year seemed like a much better fit.

[–] draivin 9 years ago

Sidetrip: Lynn Whitfield was on this week's episode of Mistresses. She's brilliant in Greenleaf and I love her to smithereens, but her turn as a dysfunctional, scheming, divisive alcoholic Mother of the Year seemed like a much better fit.

I always loved that woman lol. I don't know, for some reason I had this inkling that she may have had slight suspicions but probably dismissed them. I don't think she really believed it but with pedophiles sometimes there are signs/suggestions early on probably during the (late) teen years but, of course, they can hide it and victims are typically within the family.

I have EXORCISED the demon

[–] Heretico 9 years ago

D'oh! There was that whole thing with Faith and the undercurrent of suspicion about Mac. I forgot all about it.

When I saw Lynn Whitfield's name, there was a vague '70s-era familiarity, but I don't recall ever having seen her in anything. Even then, I got her confused with someone else until I saw who she was.

UPDATE: Charity, at the dinner table in Episode 10, just cleared up the question of whether Mae knew what Mac was up to.

[–] queentulawanda1 8 years ago

I think Mac molested Mae when they were kids. If it gets out about Mac, Mae's afraid it'll get out about her. Sand then, Mae will be the trash she'd perceive any victim of incest that wasn't Faith.

[–] Heretico 8 years ago

I was going to suggest Grace was maybe a product of Mac's rapiness. Never thought about Mae, though. Why would she keep Mac around and guarantee him a living? Blackmail, akin to what you suggested, to keep Mae's involvement under wraps? But even then, that would be inconsistent with the bond between Grace and James. Maybe Dad got happy with Mae and that's why she scorns him so.

[–] TinaKimo 8 years ago

Isn't Mac suppose to be younger than Mae and Mavis? How could he possibly molest them????

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[–] raaderlaakerles-47935 9 years ago

I guess you haven't seen her portrayal in a 1996 Martin Lawrence film : A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. She wickedly good as a scorned woman.

[–] Heretico 9 years ago

I'm not a Martin Lawrence fan, so I didn't see it.

I'm only too willing to take your word for it, though. I can see where she would be a fit. If it was a comedy, she was probably funny, too. Even in Greenleaf, she gets out some zingers.

They say casting directors cast by type. I think we can all agree on what Lynn's type is. She was a delight when I saw her on The View, though (that is, when she could get a word in edgewise).

[–] Cheena71 9 years ago

I've been saying that as well. On more than one occasion, Mae has insinuated an affair by Bishop.

I can't imagine why the mom is so bitter towards her daughter, otherwise.

[–] jd-md-116-171491 8 years ago

I agree. I think there is something up because her hatred of Gigi is visceral. I also think Mae suspected that Mac abused Faith because I think her father abused her and Mavis. Mae hates her father with a passion and he called her a slut. Mavis does not ever want to see him alive again. I also think there is something screwy with Mac and his mother. Mavis and Mae left home and he was the one who stayed and I feel that something dark happened between them which caused his disfunction. Mac, in my opinion was paying his father off for more than the caretaker being burnt up in the basement of the old church.

[–] tigerlele 8 years ago

@ OP i just had to post that i loved the title of this thread! Now to read thru!

[–] Heretico 8 years ago

Finally!
I've been chortling ever since I created it, thanks.

Spolier alert, but I suspect this thread's Mavis conspiracy theory is debunked, seeing as how Mae called Mavis a "childless whore".