A lot of people seem to consider the child androgynous. To me he just looked supremely artificial, like a wind-up doll. Adore is a rather feminine name as well. I feel terrible for saying it, but seeing him crushed was satisfying to a degree even while it was sickening, because he was so entirely obnoxious.

Karen Black being so old compared to her character's book age did sort of recontextualize Faye's behaviour, which was more in keeping/slightly more forgivable in a seventeen year old. I didn't think Todd was so much better though. The only consistently sympathetic character was Homer.