There are many things that I believe CAOS didn't properly think through... However, Part 4's The Uninvited (episode) truly sparks some anger in me for the simple matter of how they portrayed Mrs Anderson's (and possibly Lucy Anderson's?) demise.
Just to start: I don't dislike the idea of The Uninvited as a character/concept. I think that The Uninvited could have been an interesting look at how shallow certain characters are in Greendale and how they value appearances. Or even a further commentary on small-town courtesy politics.
In the case of Mrs Anderson and Lucy, even Mrs Anderson is depicted to be shallow in some way for refusing to let The Uninvited into her home on account of his appeance. It's how it comes across in reviews of the episode, at least. Expanding on the "heartless" narrative of the character.
However, even if Mrs Anderson is being shallow in terms of appearance... I can't blame her in any way or form for turning The Uninvited away. She appears to be a single mother with a young child inside the home. If it were me in her position, appearances aside, I wouldn't think to let a strange man into my home for any reason. Especially one who looked like they could out-muscle or manouver me. Actually... unless there were some truly extenuating circumstances, I wouldn't let a stranger into my home at all. Especially if I had a child inside.
I feel like this matter isn't addressed, as they talk about it in-universe as being a "heartless" action (at least in terms of the Eldritch Mythos.) And I think that's a gross diservice. Mrs Anderson performs a culturally acceptable, smart, self-preserving action.
And is the message being sent "women should let strange men into their homes"?
I know that The Uninvited is an antagonist and I know it's not as if the show-writers are endorsing letting strangers waltz into your home and I understand that horror is the genre...
It just felt like such a discordant event and message, considering the themes that the show claims to project about women's empowerment. It also feeds a bit into the discussion about how the younger women of the show are empowered while the older women of the cast suffer various and continuous traumas and violations of their agency, no matter what #girlboss title they hold.
** This is by no means a comprehensive deep dive or essay. Merely a ramble about the show. If you disagree, that's entirely fine 👍 I've just been thinking about this since P4 came out and as I rewatch or reabsorb material in an attempt to finish some projects, I felt the need to share.
