Michelle Carter’s highly known trial begins in ‘The Girl from Plainville’ episode 6, titled ‘Talking is Healing.’ Even as Michelle makes an unexpected legal decision, Lynn finds it increasingly difficult to face the painful details about her son’s death that are dug up in court. Meanwhile, the parallel chronology depicts the months leading up to Conrad’s death, evoking the teenager’s sense of being trapped and powerless. Episode 6 is a powerful reminder of how a multitude of variables influenced both Michelle and Conrad’s otherwise unexplainable acts, and it’s a genuinely heartbreaking chapter of the tragic actual story. Let’s look at it more closely. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
Recap of the sixth episode of The Girl from Plainville
Episode 6 picks up two years after the events of the previous installment. Michelle, aged 20, appears in court for the first time and immediately surprises the prosecution by requesting a bench trial, thereby giving up her right to a jury trial. The trial begins as Assistant District Attorney Katie Rayburn is compelled to quickly change her opening statements. Lynn finds it increasingly difficult to sit in court as more facts of Conrad’s tragic death are disclosed, and she gets up to leave.
Meanwhile, Conrad’s family is celebrating his graduation and freshly gained captain’s license in a parallel story. However, the adolescent stays pessimistic and suggests to his father that he may not want to live in Mattapoisett for the rest of his life. After Conrad leaves early from his job at the family’s maritime salvage business, things between him and his father, Conrad Roy Jr., become increasingly tense. Things come to a head when Conrad punches his father, who retaliates by punching his son. Later, Conrad tries to defend his father’s conduct to Lynn, who is still enraged by Conrad Roy Jr.’s acts.
In the flashbacks, we also get a few glimpses of Michelle as she visits a rehab center for a few weeks. The treatment appears to benefit her for a short time, and she returns to work with a positive attitude. When she tries to persuade Conrad to seek help for his crippling social anxiety and despair, he becomes enraged and declares that the next time he attempts suicide, he will succeed. He also threatens Michelle with never telling anyone about their talk or his suicide preparations.
Is Conrad breaking up with Michelle in the sixth episode of The Girl from Plainville?
Michelle’s mood quickly deteriorates following her talk with Conrad, and she begins to brood. Conrad sends her an unexpected note later, explaining that he can no longer carry on like this. She tries to call him, but all she gets is his voicemail. Back in the present, Lynn is having a hard time getting Michelle out of her mind. Finally, the bereaved mother chooses to examine the tapes that Conrad used as a video journal.
Conrad discusses his social anxiety in the videotapes, but he also emphasizes how fortunate he is to have loving parents for whom he must be present. Lynn begins to cry as she watches her son on the TV. Conrad sends Michelle a cryptic message saying, “I can’t do this,” as Episode 6 ends on an unclear note for the central connection. When she tries to call him, the calls go straight to voicemail, and the show concludes with her texting Conrad. Conrad’s message almost appears to be a breakup message, given the dispute they had before he sent it.
Conrad also angrily claims that Michelle never listens to him, which could indicate a future breakup. Michelle not responding to his messages for a few weeks while she attends a facility to cope with her eating disorder and anxiety appears to be the source of much of his rage and aggravation towards his partner. Michelle’s development doesn’t impress Conrad, who implies that her situation isn’t as bad as his.
Conrad has gotten upset in the past and subsequently patched things up with Michelle, and this is likely to be the case now. The fact that they appear to be dating when Conrad dies further suggests that if they do break up, it will be brief. Michelle, on the other hand, appears to be affected by Conrad’s erratic mood swings and the message “I can’t do this.”
Why is Michelle opting for a bench trial?
Michelle’s trial is the focus of Episode 6, which begins with the young defendant stunning everyone (except her attorney, Joseph Cataldo). Michelle waives her right to a jury trial in favor of letting the judge determine the case (known as a bench trial). Though her motivation for doing so is unclear, it is clear that she is acting on the advice of her counsel.
Michelle asks Joseph if she “did all right” after asking the shocked judge for a bench trial, to which he responds reassuringly. Because of the media attention surrounding her case, Michelle may want a bench trial. The press has speculated about her role in Conrad’s death for two years. The image painted by the press isn’t flattering for Michelle, based on the headlines momentarily seen, in which her picture appears alongside the word “manslaughter.”
As a result, the young woman and her lawyer are likely to believe that a jury will be affected by emotion and media attention, potentially biasing them against Michelle even before the trial begins. Michelle and her counsel appear to be looking for a more objective judgment by putting the verdict in the hands of the judge, which would give her a better chance of being acquitted.
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