Warning: spoilers for Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions TV show.
The Cruel Intentions TV show is not just about Caroline’s (Sarah Catherine Hook) plan and bet with Lucien (Zac Burgess), as there’s also Blaise’s (John Harlan Kim) plan, which involves the President of his fraternity. Based on the 1999 movie by Roger Krumble and the 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, Cruel Intentions introduces a new group of wealthy teenagers who know no limits when it comes to getting what they want and benefiting themselves. At the front and center are step-siblings Caroline and Lucien, who agree on a bet involving the Vice President’s daughter, Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith).
Caroline wants Lucien to seduce and sleep with Annie so they can convince her to join her sorority, Delta Phi, thus saving it from an anti-Greek movement on campus. Lucien is part of Delta Phi’s sister fraternity, Alpha Gamma, which also goes through its own problems in Cruel Intentions. Part of the fraternity is Blaise, Alpha Gamma’s social chair, who takes new President Scott Russell (Khobe Clarke) under his wing, but it’s all part of his own plan as he’s going through some personal problems.
Why Blaise Makes Scott The Fraternity’s President
Blaise Needed Scott To Be Alpha Gamma’ President
Cruel Intentions begins with a brief flashback to the last spring formal hosted by Delta Phi and Alpha Gamma, in which new prospects from the latter went through some horrible “initiations.” Among them was Scott, but he was hit in the head and he passed out. Scott’s injury put the fraternities at risk, but he made a full recovery and returned to college. Now back, Blaise took Scott under his wing to help him adapt to Alpha Gamma and more, and they ended up becoming lovers.
Under the excuse of guiding him, Blaise had full control of Scott, and after making him President, Blaise also had control over the fraternity.
When Alpha Gamma’s Vice President, Blandsman (Zeke Goodman), shared his plan to become President, Blaise acted fast and, with CeCe’s (Sara Silva) help, got some personal and embarrassing material to blackmail Blandsman with. Blandsman stepped back and Blaise convinced Scott to become Alpha Gamma’s President, with everyone else agreeing. Scott was different from the rest of Alpha Gamma’s members as he was more kindhearted but also very naive and not very bright, making him very easy to manipulate. Under the excuse of guiding him, Blaise had full control of Scott, and after making him President, Blaise also had control over the fraternity.
Blaise fully took advantage of Scott not being the brightest crayon in the box and constantly made him sign checks and receipts. Blaise explained that these were necessary purchases for the fraternity, but Lucien, Alpha Gamma’s treasurer, found out the truth: Blaise had been embezzling fraternity funds. Scott felt understandably betrayed by Blaise, who later went to his house to speak to his dad, Congressman Russell, who had promised Blaise a job after he graduated.
Congressman Russell was very angry with Blaise, so the latter tried to blackmail him by telling him that Scott was gay – but to his surprise, Scott was there, as he had just talked to his father about what Blaise did at the fraternity and that he’s gay. Blaise was later kicked out of Alpha Gamma, and he’s now also a liar and blackmailer in Congressman Russell’s eyes.
Why Blaise Needed The Fraternity’s Money In Cruel Intentions TV Show
Blaise Was Going Through Financial Issues
Blaise didn’t embezzle fraternity funds just because – he had personal reasons to do it, though that doesn’t mean that what he did was right. At one point in Cruel Intentions, it’s revealed that Blaise’s parents owe money to the college, and unfortunately, Beatrice Worth (Brooke Lena Johnson), the leader of the anti-Greek movement, learned this. Beatrice blackmailed Blaise so she could infiltrate Lucien’s party, but she never revealed anything about Blaise’s financial situation.
Even Scott himself told his father that Blaise had taken the fraternity’s money because he needed it, and so Congressman Russell decided to pay for everything Blaise had taken from Alpha Gamma’s funds. Blaise might have the money he needed, but he no longer has the fraternity, Scott, and a job after he graduates.
How Blaise Compares’ To Blaine In 1999’s Cruel Intentions Movie
Blaise Is The TV Show’s Equivalent To The Movie’s Blaine
Blaise is the TV show’s version of Cruel Intentions’ Blaine, played by Joshua Jackson – but Blaise had a bigger role in the story than Blaine. In the 1999 movie, Blaine is a friend of Sebastian (and provider of weed), who has occasional sex with the school’s football star, Greg McConnell, a friend of Annette Hargrove, the target of Sebastian and Kathryn’s bet. Blaine helps Sebastian set Greg up so he can blackmail him and make him convince Annette that Sebastian is a good guy, all so he can win the bet.
Blaise, on the other hand, works for his own benefit and his actions are unrelated to Caroline’s plans and her bet with Lucien. Blaise was given a purpose and goal in Cruel Intentions, while Blaine didn’t have any in the movie aside from helping Sebastian blackmail Greg. It’s to be seen what Blaise will do now without the fraternity if Cruel Intentions gets a second season.
Two ambitious step-siblings at a prestigious Washington, D.C. college will stop at nothing to keep their social standing. After a hazing scandal threatens their control, they resort to extreme tactics, including seducing the vice president’s daughter, to safeguard their reputation and influence.
- Cast
- Sarah Catherine Hook , Zac Burgess , Sara Silva , Khobe Clarke , John Harlan Kim , Brooke Lena Johnson , Sean Patrick Thomas , Savannah Lee Smith
- Release Date
- November 21, 2024
- Network
- Prime Video
