Flashbacks reveal Shirley’s strained relationship with her siblings, particularly her resentment toward Steven for writing a book about their childhood and her past attempts to help Luke through expensive rehab. Key Themes & Motifs
Young Shirley discovers a litter of abandoned kittens in a shed at Hill House. Despite her efforts to care for them, they die one by one, giving Shirley her first traumatic encounter with death. During the first kitten's burial, she is horrified when a large beetle crawls out of its mouth. Later, she sees her mother, Olivia, in an open casket and is fascinated by how the mortician "fixed" her, which inspires her future career. The Haunting of Hill House Miniseries - Episode 2
The second episode of The Haunting of Hill House , titled focuses on Shirley Crain , the eldest daughter and a professional mortician. The episode explores her clinical approach to death as a way to control her childhood trauma and denial. Episode Overview Original Air Date: October 12, 2018. Director: Mike Flanagan. During the first kitten's burial, she is horrified