gigi

This scene has been controversial for the fandom because a lot of people (me included) have pegged that scene as using Sydney's pain as a tool to make Claire more agreeable to the fandom. But after my second rewatch, I'm beginning to wonder if there's a different or a second reason.

Let's examine the scene.

Sydney is alone and afraid in the hospital when she runs into Claire. Claire is very helpful to her, gets her coffee, finds out about her dad, keeps company with her and reassures her. Syd breaks down in a mess, the most vulnerable we've ever seen her on the show and the scene is so annoying because why Claire, when it could have been literally anybody else?

But notice the micro-expressions on Claire's face;

Sydney breaks down crying

Claire strokes her arm to comfort her but notice the way her expression changes subtly the moment where she stops stroking her arm.

That's a subtle stank face if I've ever seen one.

This is not a sympathetic or empathic face. The up-down flickering of her eyes, the srunched face and flared nostrils, the upturned lip. That's quiet irritation.

This brings me to this scene where Syd calls to Carm to say what he's afraid of

That's a disgusted almost eye roll. And that sweeping shot? They wanted you to see it if you're really looking. But it's so subtle you almost don't notice it and it's also so deniable.

I've been saying since her appearance in S2 that Molly does this subtle micro expressions within expressions that gives sinister vibes to her character and I'm convinced now more than ever that it's deliberate. I went to acting (for film) school. This is something that if it's unintentional, the director will see it and fix it. This is intentional and it's so subtle that they can make it go away if they want and make you look like a crazy person. Typical gaslighting. And you don't notice it unless you are scrutinizing the scenes or rewatching in context.

It's kind of like that scene where Keizer Soze is staring at the notice board (in The Usual Suspects). If the end didn't happen the way it did, it doesn't look sinister at all. It's like an expression that can change meaning depending on the context.