Why Netflix's Dirty John is a testament to female strength
It is the series that has gripped the nation. Did you temporarily put your life on hold to binge watch Netflix's gripping new series, Dirty John? Us too.
The harrowing new series delves into the whirlwind romance between a mega successful interior designer and a convincing con-man posing as a doctor. Within six weeks of dating, John Meehan had persuaded Debra Newell to rent the couple a beachfront home in Newport Beach, California, shortly followed by an impulsive wedding in Las Vegas. As Deborah falls deeper into John’s terrifying web of psychological manipulation and deceit, Debra’s sceptical daughters set out to prove their suspicions about John are correct.
Initially it seems to be the story of a man who conned and manipulated women time and time again but look closer and there's more to the story. The reality is that John was ultimately outsmarted and dependent on the women in his life.
Most people were quick to label Debra foolish and malleable, and admittedly it’s hard not to at times, but the true power of this story lies in the strength of its female characters.
Debra
Debra is, of course, the main protagonist in question. The fact she found the emotional and physical strength to walk out on John is hugely admirable, but ultimately it’s Debra's willingness to share her story that is the ultimate act of bravery, particularly when it does not always frame her in a particularly good light.
Prior to meeting John, Debra had been married four times and yet proceeded to marry the self-proclaimed doctor within six weeks of meeting. It is also easy to question Debra’s decision to put so much trust in a man she barely knew given that she was clearly a smart, successful businesswomen.
Of course, she was a fool to be guileless in believing his lies but once she finally decided to leave, she showed great strength, and in one of the most powerful scenes in the series, faces John with sheer force of character and tells him to get out of her way as she leaves him for a final time.
The phenomenal buzz around the series is proof of how many savvy women like Debra have been drawn into the spider’s web of a manipulator, and the Newell’s decision to share their story has proved to be a source of comfort and guidance for women going through similar situations. Debra says she receives 20 to 40 emails a day, mostly from women, sharing their own similar stories. She hopes this will encourage America to change its lax domestic abuse laws. “I did go to four police stations, and they did nothing because I didn’t have a mark on me", she says of her attempt to leave John.
Terra
In the final episode, John attempts to kill Debra’s daughter in the ultimate act of revenge but Terra manages to fight back, grab the knife and stab John to death. While the TV show suggests Terra is anticipating an attack from John, it is the Dirty John podcast that emphasises quite how tiny and taken by surprise she was in real life, and yet she found the extraordinary strength to fight off a man twice her size. If that’s not the sign of a strong women, we don’t know what is.
Veronica
In the same way viewers were quick to brand Debra as weak, her eldest daughter Veronica is portrayed as spoilt, entitled and sulky. It’s true she is but we should be focusing on the fact her instincts are spot on from the moment John comes onto the scene.
Despite her mother’s continued refusal to acknowledge Veronica’s suspicions, the feisty 24-year-old keeps a dogged focus on her mother’s love interest by placing a tracker on his car and hiring a private detective. Even when it is clear her life is in danger, Veronica refuses to back down. This determination to prove her suspicions correct is why Veronica deserves our respect and not our judgement; she was right all along.
Tonia
John’s first wife, Tonia Sells, was the first woman to raise alarm bells about John’s behaviour when she discovered he’d been stealing prescription drugs from the hospital they both worked at. Despite repeated threats from John - “when it happens, Tonia, and you see it in your eyes, remember it was me, OK? Tonia, you enjoy your time left on this earth, OK? – she made the fearless decision to report John to the police, putting both her children and her career at risk.
John may appear to have been in control of the women in his life but ultimately it is their strength that prevails and these four strong women unanimously come out on top.
A second series has been confirmed with an entirely new cast and story. We can't wait.
In the meantime, here are all the shows you should watch on Netflix right now...
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