The Act episode 3 recap: Gypsy’s first kiss opens a pandora’s box that can’t be closed

The third episode of The Act is full of control issues and crushes. The charade continues as Dee Dee tries to maintain control over Gypsy and as Gypsy tries to gain control of her own life.

When episode three of The Act begins, we see the plot has moved forward two years into the future. But in the current year of 2015, all of the Blanchard’s neighbors are still looking on as the scene unfolds in front of them.

In the past, Gypsy is without a feeding tube, but she’s in a wheelchair and sporting a shaved head still while Dee Dee’s control over her daughter remains ever present.

Meanwhile, she eagerly collects cash from Gypsy’s supporters via mail—almost like a scam. She doesn’t even read the letters or share them with Gypsy, Dee Dee just pockets the money. The ladies are even sharing a bed at night.

Gypsy wakes up in the middle of the night to explore YouTube again. She spends her time watching kissing tutorials as her mom sleeps. She searches cosplay ideas, and the family plans their trip to a convention the next day.

Dee Dee maintains her control by telling Gypsy she needs to dress as Cinderella for the convention instead of Belle. While they are buying tickets for the convention, Dee Dee informs the cashier that her daughter is 15 years old. Gypsy makes a confused face because she thought she was born in 1993, not 1995. This episode is set in 2011.

Both ladies find crushes in men dressed as the character Wolverine. Russ (Dean Norris) is interested in Dee Dee, which catches her off-guard. It doesn’t seem like Dee Dee has had any male attention in a long time. While Dee Dee is in the restroom, Gypsy befriends another man dressed as Wolverine, Scott. She tells him she’s 18.

Gypsy is instantly infatuated with Scott. She creates a Facebook, and while thinking about the year she was born, she discovers a document showing her birth year as 1991. That means Gypsy is closer to being 20 years old during this episode, not 15.

Gypsy’s sneaking around hits an all-time high when she purchases a cell phone in a gas station while her mom is cleaning the car. She starts texting Scott. They talk about getting married and having kids. Gypsy confides in Lacey by saying she has met her Prince Charming. Scott mails her a red wig so Gypsy can look like Wolverine’s love, Jean Grey.

Gypsy gets an alarming late night text from Scott stating he’s in the emergency room. She boldly climbs out of bed, puts the red wig on, and takes a taxi to the hospital without her wheelchair. She left a note for Dee Dee that said she was running away to get married and have kids. Gypsy signed the letter, “From your 19-year-old daughter.”

Scott is confused by Gypsy’s lack of a wheelchair and mentions she looks different. They go back to Scott’s house, and Gypsy has her first kiss on the couch. Their intimacy is quickly halted when Dee Dee shows up. She guilts Gypsy into going back home. Once Gypsy is away from them, Dee Dee tells Scott that her daughter is 14 years old. Scott looks worried.

Once home, Dee Dee makes Gypsy get back into her wheelchair. Does Dee Dee have control of her daughter again or will Gypsy continue to rebel?

The Act is currently streaming on Hulu. For more on this Hulu Original and everything Hulu related, follow us on the Hulu Watcher Twitter Account @HuluWatcherFS or the Hulu Watcher Facebook Page.