‘The Girl From Plainville’: The ‘Creepy’ Connection Between Michelle Carter and ‘Glee’ Explained
Throughout Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville, Michelle Carter’s obsession with Glee and the on-screen and off-screen relationship between main characters Rachel and Finn (portrayed by Lea Michele and Cory Monteith) is explored. It’s believed that her infatuation with their romance played a role in her seemingly encouraging then-boyfriend Conrad Roy III to die by suicide.
Michelle Carter’s obsession with ‘Glee’ is explored in ‘The Girl From Plainville’
From the beginning of the miniseries, Michelle Carter’s obsession with musical comedy-drama Glee is evident.
She’s notably interested in main characters Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson’s love story, which has carried over to the romance between the real-life actors behind them, Lea Michele and the late Cory Monteith. Near the end of the pilot episode, Carter is portrayed watching a scene in Glee Season 5 Episode 3, “The Quarterback,” when Rachel gives a farewell to the character and her then-boyfriend.
While looking into the mirror, the teenager recited the speech and sang along to Michele’s rendition of “Make You Feel My Love” as she cried. She also repeated phrases the actor made about Monteith toward Conrad Roy III and frequently fantasized about herself and her then-boyfriend as Rachel and Finn.
In one sequence, she imagined herself and Roy, clad in outfits the main characters would wear, singing “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”
It’s believed Carter’s fascination with ‘Glee’ and Lea Michele played a role in her motives
During Carter’s trial, the attorneys discussed the teenager’s past with anxiety, depression, and anorexia. Additionally, they explored her relationships at school, pointing out that Carter didn’t have many friends.
Therefore, it was believed that she used the death of her boyfriend for attention. The trial also investigated Carter’s infatuation with Glee and Michele’s relationship with her late co-star, Monteith.
Reportedly, the 17-year-old was fascinated with the massive outpouring of support that Michele received after Monteith’s death. Additionally, she became enthralled with how the show incorporated his death into the show.
As Carter didn’t testify in her defense, many believed her obsession with the show and its main characters played a part in why she seemed to encourage Roy to die by suicide. However, her exact motives still aren’t clear.
‘The Girl From Plainville’ is based on the true story of Michelle Carter’s involvement in Conrad Roy III’s death
Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville is a drama-miniseries based on the 2014 true story of Michelle Carter (Elle Fanning), who was charged with involuntary manslaughter when she seemed to encourage her then-boyfriend Conrad “Coco” Roy III (Colton Ryan) to die by suicide through text messages and phone calls.
Their secret phone-based two-year relationship is explored throughout the show, including the investigation surrounding her involvement in his death and the fallout as his family deals with their new reality.
The show is inspired by journalist Jessie Barron’s 2017 Esquire piece of the same name and began development in 2019.
By 2021, the cast, which also includes Chloë Sevigny and Norbert Leo Butz as Roy III’s parents and Cara Buono and Kai Lennox as Carter’s parents, was finalized and filmed in Savannah, Georgia. The Girl From Plainville airs Tuesdays on Hulu.
How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.
