SPOILERS for the end of "Tell Me Your Secrets."
Some critics felt that making John one of the main characters of "Tell Me Your Secrets" wasn't a good idea, especially after the scene in Episode 8, "Be Mine," where he reverts back to his old criminal ways.
John's character may be part of the show's attempt to get inside the head of a predator, yet his relapse with a sex worker in "Be Mine" and later with Emma felt more about offering nasty thrills to the audience than understanding his compulsions. Andrew Parker of The Gate wrote that the series is fundamentally "about missing and exploited women" but the writers undercut this by including "a serial rapist as one of its 'protagonists.'"
In a review of the full season, IndieWire similarly argued that John tying up a woman then setting her free is "so movie of the week as to undo everything before it." Rather than subvert cliches about frightening predators, the writing indulges in them with "Be Mine." It's truly disappointing for a show that appeared to have a unique point of view about the damage that can be caused by violent crimes.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
