In giving absolution to the thief who stole Pamela Anderson's sex tape, Pam & Tommy also provides it for itself

Vulture

The finale is "playing with the historical record to give viewers what they think we want to see," says Roxana Hadadi. "In the Rolling Stone story that Pam & Tommy is based on, sex tape thief Rand Gauthier "mentions no apology to Anderson, nor does he seem to think she deserves one," says Hadadi. "He takes ownership for stealing the video, and seems proud of it." Yet in this week's finale, Seth Rogen’s Gauthier is "a man consumed by regret and obsessed with apologizing to Anderson," says Hadadi. "It’s a tidy way to wrap up the overly sympathetic arc the series has given Gauthier, and it’s also a complete fantasy — a pat on the head for viewers new to this story who don’t know anything about Gauthier’s real-life lack of remorse and who buy into the pitiful characterization underscored by Rogen’s sad-sack performance. No matter that there’s no record of the frantic, heartfelt apology from Gauthier to Anderson depicted in 'Seattle,' and no matter that Anderson wanted nothing to do with the series that her family and friends have described as exploitative. (She is working with Netflix on a documentary from her perspective.) If the guy who wronged Anderson so fully can try to make amends, Pam & Tommy seems to say, then he sets a relatable, empathetic example for all of us, and this miniseries has a reason to exist. In giving absolution to Gauthier, Pam & Tommy also provides it for itself."