Pam and Tommy
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Pam gets startlingly few lines consideringPam & Tommyborrows its name from her own.
Whats more, the camera lingers on Pam even in silence.
Alas, the episode is still mostly about Rand, who has grown too comfortable hiding out at Ericas.
Rand doesnt have the scratch, of course.
So he tries making another withdrawal from the bank of Tommy Lee.
Being Pamela Anderson is no less exhausting than usual.
To a stunned studio audience, she tells the truth: Its horrible.
But Pam knows the truth wont set her free or even sell movie tickets.
When the discomfiting silence lasts long enough, she adds a gauzy little giggle to put everyone at ease.
Hes the support act now.
His purpose is to help her.
She and Tommy fell in love at first sight how did they drift so far off track so fast?
Rand and Tommy call each other mean but accurate names, like loser and terrible person.
For perhaps the first time ever, a man on this show considers Pams feelings.
What did she do to deserve this nightmare?
Tommy would like to know.
A very simple question, but Rands never considered it.
To him, shes a wife or just a bathing suit or a centerfold or less.
God, he really is a loser.
And so is Tommy.
He sees Rands desperation and makes an offering to the gods of karma on his behalf.
Which is to say, he lights $27,000 on actual fire.
Tommy and the lawyer cant read the subtext, but Pamfeelsit.
So, instead, the courts determine that the photos meet the bar of newsworthy.
Whats the news value, you may ask?
Well, they were the subject of a lawsuit.
The men in Pams life are alternatively insensitive and obtuse, but theyre also empowered.
They make reckless choices without fear of consequence.
If you were Pam, wouldnt you?
But Rand doesnt have the stomach for debt-collection, at least not yet.
That comes courtesy of Erica.
She and Danielle saw Pam and Tommys sex tape at a party and loved it.
Tommy even cries a little, such is his passion for Pamela.
Hes strangely likable, Erica adds.
Sluts dont get to decide what happens to pictures of their body.
You did this to yourself, he shouts, presumably at least somewhat at himself.
But the most striking scene of the episode is its quietest.
But regular people are sighing and sniggering through it, laughing at her.
Its not their fault.
It really is a very bad film.
In the limo, Pamela closes her painted-silver eyelids like she knows its over.
This is her own limit.
This is how far a person can get from Ladysmith, Canada.
Shes not going to be a movie star like Jane Fonda.
The one who, according to a judge, didnt deserve any privacy.
The one who went on national TV and acted like she was in on the terrible joke.
