WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Disclaimer episodes 3 & 4.
Two distinct animals could be thematically linked to the plot in Apple’s new mystery thriller seriesDisclaimer.Cate Blanchett leads a talented ensemblecast ofDisclaimeras Catherine Ravenscroft, a hard-working and acclaimed television documentary journalist out of London, England.Catherine’s world unravels once a mysterious novel titledThe Perfect Strangerarrives at her doorstep, bringing up memories of one of her deepest and darkest secrets.Disclaimeralso stars Sacha Baron Cohen as Robert, Catherine’s husband, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nicholas, Robert and Catherine’s son, and Kevin Kline as Stephen Brigstocke, a local London man who has lost his wife and son.
Disclaimeris based on the 2015 bookof the same name written by Renée Knight. The Apple series marks Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón’s first return to television since 2014’sBelieve. Cuarón has won two Best Directing Academy Awards, one for 2013’sGravitystarring Sandra Bullock and another for his 2018 black and white filmRoma.Disclaimerhas earned an impressive Rotten Tomatoescritic score of 78%, marking a satisfying rebound for the 2-time Oscar-winning actress after the massive commercial and critical disappointment ofBorderlands.Disclaimerconsists of seven parts with the final episode releasing on November 15.
The Cat In Disclaimer Seemingly Represents Catherine’s Guilt & Loss Of Control
The cat also exhibits similar behaviors to Catherine of defiance and feigning innocence
In several scenes ofDisclaimer, Catherine’s pet cat is noticeably around her in such a way that it could be intentional and allude to the themes of her story and character. The cat follows her around virtually everywhere in the house, which is a clear sign at the very base level that they are quite bonded and that Catherine likely spends a good amount of time at home around the cat.When she puts the cat down she can’t escape it as it hovers and vies for her attention, at times even defiantly disobeying Catherine’s demands and instructions.
Disclaimer’s Four Different Timelines Explained
Alfonso Cuarón’s new mystery thriller series Disclaimer portrays the scandalous past of Cate Blanchett’s Catherine and her dark secret, Jonathan.
The cat is also gray, which could represent the gray area of Catherine’s side of her story with Jonathan and be an interesting manifestation of her ambiguous feelings. After four episodes ofDisclaimer, the audience hasyet to hear Catherine’s perspective on the events that happened with Jonathan in Italy, having only seen her horrified responses to being exposed to her affair some twenty years later. The cat could also just be an additional filmmaking tool to make Catherine’s home life more believable. However, the frequency in which the cat appears throughout the series is enough to raise questions about its other potential meanings.
Could The Cat Be Even More Important In Disclaimer?
Catherine is more connected to the cat than with her son
There’s so much indirect focus on the cat inDisclaimer, which leads to the question of whether it could end up being more directly involved in the plot down the line. Whether significant or not, the cat could play a notable role in Catherine’s unbecoming. Otherwise, it would have just been thrown in for the sake of the atmosphere of Catherine and Robert’s home. If this were the case, however, why would the cat need to be in so many scenes? While it may seem like a stretch at this point in the series,the cat may be a clever method to further reveal Catherine’s side of the storyand perhaps point to her innocence or guilt in Jonathan’s death.
If Catherine’s cat does not pertain to the plot ofDisclaimer, then at least there are clear connections between the cat’s traits and Catherine’s behaviors. The cat is often playfully mischievous, jumping up onto tables where it’s not supposed to be while also appearing completely sweet and innocent.Like Catherine, the cat expresses a boldness that suggests confidence in getting away with thingsthat it knows it shouldn’t be doing. Catherine is also most comfortable at home, naturally, where she can be her truest self, which only the cat ever sees. Additionally, Catherine is more affectionate and connected to the cat than she is with her son, Nicholas.
The Fox May Be A Clue That What Happened in The Perfect Stranger Isn’t Real
The fox may hint at the trickery done by Nancy and Stephan against Catherine
On the other side of the plot,a fox commonly appears in the yard outside the Brigstocke’s home. While again it could have been implemented to add authenticity to the film set, or even one of those odd occurrences during production that somehow finds its way into the final cut, there are several common meanings for foxes in literature and stories that could apply.
Foxes are cunning and can represent trickery, which could be hinting that Nancy’s book version of the events between Jonathan and Catherine is just that, a trick meant to ruin Catherine’s life.The fox could also be reflective of Stephen’s trickery on Jonathan and Robertas he discreetly plantsThe Perfect Strangerin their possession. Stephen’s goal is to ruin Catherine’s life through Nancy’s novel inDisclaimerbut he may end up being more on the side of vengeance than justice by the series end.
Disclaimer
Cast
Told in seven chapters, “Disclaimer” is based on the novel of the same name by Renée Knight. Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets. As Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee).
