Dangerous Memories

The answer to why “The Healer” in this story destroys lives of vulnerable people is because she is a malignant narcissist. It is that simple to me whose mother was a malignant narcissist. The damage she caused is immeasurable. Their brains are wired differently and they are deeply insecure and desire complete control and obedience. It is a sickness.

As a poor woman of color dealing with real issues, I find all of this funny, and I was rooting for Ann (Get that bag, sis.) the entire podcast. These “posh girl” just got a life lesson and perhaps if instead of paying for them to play artists in Florence their family cut the cord and forced them to be starving artists who actually have to grind to achieve success they wouldn’t have gotten taken by this obvious grifter. Guess this is the downside of being rich, white, privileged, and entitled. Chalk it up to lessons learned, ladies.

It is clear that the narrator’s unresolved fascination with Ann relates to her own unconscious interest in her horrifically sexist attitudes toward men. It’s unfortunate that she doesn’t seem to have grown emotionally or mentally through this journey to a point where she can honestly assess them. She is still resolutely committed to the heteronormative, gynocentric mythologies in the final episode that she expressed at the series’ outset. She remains steadfastly resistant to considering the possibility that cisgender, heterosexual (white) women are not intrinsically morally superior. It’s a shame that she lacks either the intelligence or—more likely—the intellectual integrity and fortitude to bring forth questions about how those gynocentric mythologies that she wants to assert came into being and remain in our consciousness. So disappointing. This came close to being an excellent investigative piece, but ultimately remained content as sexist, casuistic propaganda.