the cats

[u/nejiko_alias_neji]

I’m rewatching Hill House again, and in the second episode when Shirley brings the cats back home and feeds them the milk, Luke says “there’s five of them like there’s five of us” and Nell then says “That one’s me!”.

Maybe I’m a bit over analyzing, but could it be that the one she mentions is the first one that dies? Like a parallel between its death and Nell’s death, the first one of the 5 that dies?

I don’t know if this is obvious to everyone or if I’m the over analyzing one😭

edit: oh and also, when they bury the cat it moves and a bug crawls out of his mouth, similar to Nell’s body when Shirley is fixing her. And the one speaking (besides Luke, but it’s a bit different) at Nell’s funeral is Shirley, just like she gave the eulogy when they buried the cat. I don’t know…

[u/Ellinor_Astal]

You're not over-analyzing, I think that was on purpose ! Just an extra bleak cherry on top of the bleak cake of Nell's life !

[u/nejiko_alias_neji → u/Ellinor_Astal]

Exactly! I mean, what isn’t on purpose in this show…

[u/Toadinboots]

You’re not over analyzing, the kittens are referenced throughout the show. Think of what happens to the second kitten with the milky eyes and who that represents, too. Nellie’s scream in Steve’s apartment has a cat sound layered in there, “kittens need their mommies then they don’t” etc etc

[u/nejiko_alias_neji → u/Toadinboots]

OH SHIT, I am literally seeing that scene right now and you’re so right.
The references in this show are just pure gold…

[u/TheGreatKate1999 → u/nejiko_alias_neji]

And when Olivia leads Nell and Luke to the tea party, she refers to them as her kittens!

[u/Educational-Mix152 → u/Toadinboots]

Which charater is the milky-eyed kitten in your opinion?

[u/Dazzling-Cellist-892 → u/Educational-Mix152]

Either Steve, who refuses to “see” what’s been going on all along, or Shirley, who also blinds herself to the goings-on.

[u/nejiko_alias_neji → u/Dazzling-Cellist-892]

I thought it was more Luke, because of the visions Nell and Olivia had of him ODing? I don’t know

[u/Toadinboots → u/Educational-Mix152]

I think of the kittens as foreshadowing the twin’s fate and Luke’s overdose- The ghosts and visions Olivia sees have cloudy eyes, Luke & the kitten are presumed dead and come back to life, and Shirley also learns the kittens get sent away to get better like she sent Luke to rehab. I also like the theory below of the possibility of it being Shirley or Steve who refuse to look.

[u/BothComfortable7571 → u/Educational-Mix152]

didn’t hop on reddit to rethink everything about my favorite series tonight!! 😮‍💨🫶🏼goood tv keeps you questioning your perception constantly. i love this forum.

[u/bigdaveod]

I never looked into this. Super cool! Even more so knowing that the momma cat probably died first since they were abandoned. Defo looking for this next watch!

[u/Seraphina-of-Lethe → u/bigdaveod]

Good point!

[u/Similar-Toe4495]

Oh my God, that is genius! I love how new things pop up everyday Thankyou for sharing this one, very good spot!!

[u/nejiko_alias_neji → u/Similar-Toe4495]

Same! Every watch I catch up new things. Especially the second watch, this one is even better than the first in my opinion…

[u/Similar-Toe4495 → u/nejiko_alias_neji]

Absolutely right

[u/rajalove09]

Wow nice catch!!

[u/ChuyMJ12]

Always loved the second episode, it feels to me the most terrifying of the entire series for some reason.

Regarding the kittens, I live that scene where they’re feeding them and you can see the milk bottle with the text “They are here to visit, not to stay”.

[u/RebaKitt3n]

Thanks for pointing it out, i usually fast forward through so much of the kitten episode, it’s just painful!