Since last week’s opening episode none of the characters have suddenly become likable. The plot is moving forward, with its hints at murderous members of the royal family and a high cost bordello where girls from university work for a bit of extra cash. James (Anthony Head) becomes clearer in this installment of Guilt, entitled “American Psycho” and apart from having a romantic tryst, or two, with Molly, is not a nice chap at all.
It is obvious that Grace’s stepfather impregnated her murdered bestie Molly. Although the stressed older playboy may be more concerned with keeping any connection with the high end bordello quiet.
Grace (Daisy Head) manages to effortlessly appear in the worst light possible much to her sister Natalie’s (Emily Tremaine) alarm and Stan’s (played by Billy Zane) annoyance. “She’s like a whack-a-mole,” he mutters when spying her latest boneheaded stunt.
The negative publicity tops out with her getting the nickname “American Psycho” after a reporter takes a picture of Daisy laughing moments after her tearful memorial speech for Molly.
Earlier there is a video of Daisy getting physical with Molly and a classmate threatens to go public with it unless a payment of £15K is received. Stan takes care of this with his usual flair and the student ends up with enough for a new laptop and a threat of punitive action if she approaches Daisy again.
Molly’s brother is doing his own investigations into his sister’s murder and when he tracks down the womanizing professor Patrick (Kevin Ryan) begins beating a confession out of the academic Lothario. The man’s wife appears with a hunting rifle.
Telling Patrick to get away from her husband, she then shoots him. Patrick is covered with blood. As the camera pans away from the house, another shot rings out.
This episode of Guilt piles on the twists and turns. There is the “50 Shades” bordello where a girl costs the pimp running it a cool £20K by refusing to provide some service. (One really has to ask what sexual act could be worth that much.)
There is clear evidence that Molly was having a fling with James and Grace’s other roommate is not a law-abiding type. Madam Prosecutor is shagging her lead detective, and has been for some time apparently, and (back to James again) the stepdad is paying well above the asking price for all this to “go away.”
Grace still comes across as the most self-centered and gormless student ever in a London university. Natalie continues to annoy. (One wonders how she ever won a case back in Boston, she is so irritating.) Gutterie is amusing and somewhat droll. His love of hats is a nice touch as is his glib assurance that no one else could keep Daisy out of jail.
There is the small question of why an academic has a hunting rifle versus a shotgun as it is much easier to imagine the professor hunting pheasant with a 12 gauge rather than something bigger with a “proper” rifle and a scope.
Guilt is piling on the intrigue but still lacks any main characters we really care about. This may change if Daisy is allowed to stop being so vapid and self absorbed and if Natalie becomes less irksome. Anthony Head gives good bad guy so smart money should be on him being the killer and not the faux royal “prince.”
The series airs Mondays on Freeform. Tune in and see what you think about this Amanda Knox type murder mystery. See if there is a legitimate James and Molly connection or not. Let us know who you fancy for the killer.
