Mike Flanagan Strikes Out: The Fall of the House of Usher’s Disastrous Monologue

Mike Flanagan, known for his talent in crafting monologues, has stumbled in his latest series, The Fall of the House of Usher. While Flanagan has excelled in shows like Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House, this particular monologue proves that he and the series struggle when it comes to portraying wealth. The monologue, delivered by Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood), the show’s narrator, in the third episode, is arguably one of the worst ever written.

A Cringe-Worthy Monologue

In the middle of the episode, Roderick opens up to Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly) about his crimes and the secrets surrounding his children’s deaths. It is during this confession that Roderick launches into a lengthy and nonsensical critique of the saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Roderick argues:

“When life hands you lemons, make lemonade? No. First you roll out a multi-media campaign to convince people lemons are incredibly scarce, which only works if you stockpile lemons, control the supply, then a media blitz…”

The monologue continues, detailing an absurd plan involving celebrities, hashtags, and product placement that is both ill-conceived and irrelevant to the contemporary cultural landscape.

Misguided Seriousness

What makes this monologue even more cringe-worthy is how the show frames it. It isolates Roderick’s intense delivery against a backdrop of thunderstorms, emphasizing his supposed wisdom on capitalism. However, the show’s treatment of the monologue as a profound insight into business only highlights its flaws.

Flawed Comparisons and Outdated References

Roderick’s comparisons throughout the monologue are flawed and lack coherence. While his comparison of diamonds to lemons as over-marketed status symbols is somewhat accurate, the monologue quickly spirals into rants about leaked sex tapes and outdated cultural references.

References to product placement in a sex tape and a leaked Kardashian sex tape are not only nonsensical but also inappropriate in their depiction of female celebrities. Moreover, suggesting that Billie Eilish should mention “lemon” as a promotional hashtag completely misunderstands her brand and online presence. The monologue’s reliance on outdated cultural references undermines its overall impact.

Poor Writing and Lack of Understanding

Apart from its flawed comparisons and outdated references, the monologue suffers from poor writing. It relies on comical hyperbole that portrays Roderick as out of touch with reality. As the main character, Auggie’s acceptance of this monologue without any skepticism also diminishes his character.

This problematic monologue undermines Flanagan’s intended commentary on wealth and corporate greed. By reducing the complexities of these issues to a simplistic story about lemons, the show fails to explore the true nature of exploitation and the consequences of wealth. Additionally, the shallow portrayal of the Usher family’s wealth overlooks the deeper implications of their status and privilege.

In the end, this ill-conceived monologue is a blemish on an otherwise promising series. Flanagan’s talent for crafting monologues may have faltered in The Fall of the House of Usher, revealing a weakness in writing about wealth and capitalism.