Babe Paley’s Swan Song Makes For a Tragic—But Masterful—Episode of ‘Feud’

After a handful of tedious episodes following Truman (Tom Hollander) and Truman alone, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans is finally giving us what we’ve wanted this entire time: a Babe Paley-centric (Naomi Watts) episode. Thank goodness. Episode 7 may be long overdue, but seeing as Babe’s swan song is the best episode of the season thus far, it’s certainly worth the wait.

We’re back in 1978, where Babe has learned that she has six months—or less—to live before cancer will consume her body. Babe has finally taken control over her life. She yells at Bill (Treat Williams), who tries to cut down her cigarette usage and blasts her for mistreating their daughter Kate. She could continue chemo, Bill insists. But Babe is ready to die. He asks his wife if being with him was truly so bad that she’s ready to kill herself. Yes, Babe says; it really was that bad.

Babe grabs lunch with the swans at La Côte Basque, where Lee (Calista Flockhart) gushes about her recent engagement. Everyone is merry—until Truman is mentioned. The girls ask C. Z. (Chloë Sevigny) how he’s doing, and her sorrowful face, bunched up and mournful, says it all. Truman is really, really suffering. He’d surely love to hear from his friends, who are still, three years later, giving him the silent treatment. Slim (Diane Lane), Lee, and Babe are quiet after this recommendation, so C. Z. finally fights back: They’re only doing this out of rage.

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