I saw an interesting bit of plot speculation today: what if Jessie is the abusive spouse and not Pete?
I thought it was outlandish at first, but several points were laid out that made a fair bit of sense:
- Yes, Pete is kind of a creep and quite possibly an alcoholic, but he has yet to be shown actually abusing Jessie or Sam. Carol only made that assumption after he was acting shifty at the house. Based on her past experience, she would jump to the conclusion of the guy being abusive. Maybe he drinks so much because his wife is busting his balls all the time.
- Sam spending so much time around Carol. He's trying to find a new mother figure. Even when Carol gets snarky with him, he doesn't seem to bat an eye, because that's kind of treatment he's used to at home (if not an improvement).
- Sam admits to knocking over Jessie's owl sculpture. Maybe it's revenge for whatever treatment she gives him. (Yes, on the other hand you could argue that if Pete is the abuser, Sam chooses to act out against the person who won't retaliate on him.)
- Sam asks Carol for the gun, but never says who it is for. Again, Carol just assumes that Jessie needs it.
If this is the case, it would play right into where the story has been going. Rick and Carol kill Pete. Somehow--possibly by Sam--it is revealed that Jessie was the real threat, and suddenly Rick and Carol have killed an innocent with no alibi. Any suspicions planted in Deanna's head by Gabriel are then confirmed. The Alexandrites and Rick's crew clash in the finale for control of the town.