Ep 4. Mother's Milk

Patrick Melrose season 1 episode 4 titled "Mother's Milk" follows Patrick as he returns home to England to attend his mother's funeral. While there, he becomes emotionally overwhelmed by the traumatic memories of his childhood. He struggles to grapple with his emotions as he tries to keep up appearances for the sake of his family and friends, who are largely unaware of his past.

Patrick's mother, Eleanor, was a socialite who treated her son poorly and believed in the power of class and social status. She was cold towards Patrick, dismissing his feelings and treating him with disdain. In flashbacks, we see how Eleanor would force Patrick to swallow a spoonful of her own breast milk as a young boy, claiming it would cure his ailments. These flashbacks and memories bring to the forefront the deep-seated emotional trauma and scars from his past.

The funeral takes place at Eleanor's seaside estate, which has fallen into disrepair. Patrick is reunited with his two younger sisters, Anne and Mary, who are both coping with the loss of their mother in their own ways. Anne is stoic and reserved, while Mary is emotional and fragile. Their father, David, is also in attendance. He's a distant, disengaged figure who's largely absent from their lives.

As tensions between the siblings simmer, revelations are made about their family's wealth and how it was acquired. It's clear that the Melrose family's wealth is ill-gotten, and their money came from their involvement in the drug trade. Patrick is particularly affected by this, as this knowledge further complicates his already tumultuous relationship with his mother.

Throughout the episode, Patrick is tormented by the past and struggling to come to terms with his unresolved feelings about his mother. These feelings are heightened by his addiction to drugs, which he's struggling to keep under control.

"Mother's Milk" is a dark and emotional episode, focusing on the unhealthy relationship between Patrick and his mother. It's a stark reminder that even in death, unresolved feelings and trauma can have a significant impact on a person's mental and emotional wellbeing. The episode ends with Patrick reaching a breaking point, as the weight of his emotions and trauma become too much to bear.