Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Palm Royale episode 8.
Summary
- Maxine's karma in Palm Royale came in the form of a beached whale, testing her plans for the Beach Ball.
- The whale helped Evelyn grieve her real loss, showing a deeper emotional connection.
- Maxine's interaction with the whale foreshadows her potential return to Tennessee at the end of Palm Royale.
Palm Royale episode 8 saw a giant whale wash up on the shore of the beach outside the Dellacorte mansion, causing issues for Maxine while also carrying a deeper meaning and symbolism. In the previous episode, the Palm Royale characters used Skeet’s funeral as an excuse to network. As per usual, despite some trouble along the way, Maxine ended Palm Royale episode 7 on top when she made a shocking discovery about the supposed prince of Luxembourg. Maxine also narrowly survived the events of episode 7 after Norma found her revolver in Palm Royale episode 6.
In the past few episodes, with Douglas and Linda’s Palm Royale backstory revealed, the series has taken on a darker tone. This change was hinted at early in the season with a flashforward of Maxine with a gun and the sound of a gunshot going off. With only two episodes left in Palm Royale season 1, what happened in that flashforward will soon be revealed, with much of episode 8 and its reveals setting up major storylines to be explored. While the whale storyline in Palm Royale episode 8 might have seemed strange, it was important for character development.
The Whale Was Maxine's Karma
The Whale Could Have Ruined Maxine's Party
At the end of Palm Royale episode 7, Maxine discovered that the man claiming to be the prince of Luxembourg was actually a serial scammer. She turned him in to the authorities in exchange for Douglas’ freedom. Unfortunately, in the process, she somewhat betrayed Robert, whom she was finally forming a real friendship with. Robert had planned to run away with the prince, and while Maxine saved him from being with a criminal, she didn’t tell him the truth about what happened. Instead, she let Robert believe that the prince had simply left without him.
When Robert learned the truth from one of the police officers, he was hurt and angry. He was more upset by Maxine being dishonest with him than with the prince’s own lies. Robert told Maxine that the whale showed up as karma for all of Maxine’s lies and misdeeds in Palm Royale. If the whale died on the beach, or they couldn’t get it back into the ocean, Maxine would have to cancel the Beach Ball, ruining everything she was working towards.
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The Whale Mesmerized Evelyn
The Whale Helped Evelyn Grieve
At the end of Palm Royale episode 6, Skeet, Evelyn's husband and Linda’s father, died after over 20 years in an assisted living facility. Though his death wasn’t shocking, the loss still hit hard for his widow and daughter. On the surface, it seemed as though Evelyn only married Skeet, who was older than her, for his money and status. Both Skeet and Linda believed, which is why he left his estate to Linda in his will instead of her.
When Evelyn arrived at the Dellacorte mansion and saw the whale in Palm Royale episode 8, she initially felt the same way as Robert, seeing it as karma for Maxine. However, she quickly became mesmerized by the sea creature, unable to leave its side. She sang a song her mom used to sing to her to the whale, appearing almost childlike in their interactions. When the whale finally returned to the sea, Evelyn cried, not ready to be left alone again. Despite what people thought, Evelyn loved Skeet, and losing the whale allowed her to finally grieve her true loss.
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