The Whale

The Whale (2022)

2 plot holes

(4 votes)

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Ty Simpkins, Sadie Sink

Genres: Drama

Plot hole: Other than being an on-line college instructor who "works a lot", the status of Charlie's employment was not revealed. There's a big difference between being a full-time tenure-track instructor (with a fringe benefits package that would include health insurance) versus part-time/adjunct faculty (with low pay per course and little or no benefits). Charlie was able to save $120K in 8 years, suggesting he was full-time and should have had health as well as life insurance and a retirement plan.

KeyZOid

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Suggested correction: Not necessarily. My uncle works as a college professor (typically part-time or single-semester gigs) and has been able to set aside pretty good money by controlling his spending. Granted, not $120K... but my uncle also spends more money than Charlie on leisure things. (Also, according to a quick Google search, a part-time college professor often makes as much as $40K+ per year depending on different factors... pretty easy to save money if all you're spending is rent and food).

TedStixon

Plot hole: After sending the offensive message to his students, Charlie got on-line with them (within hours or the same day?) and said, "Well, your complaints have been heard. I've been replaced..." IF an on-line college instructor could be terminated and replaced as quickly as Charlie was, it would follow that he would no longer be able to access the on-line course to communicate with the students like he did. (01:39:55)

KeyZOid

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: I think this is based on too much assumption. Any sort-of ban would likely be entire dependent on whatever system they're using for their online class. And it's entirely plausible he'd still be able to access his account mere hours later, even if the call has already been made to replace him.

TedStixon

I worked for the Defence department in Australia and it was a running gag that eighteen months after I had left my online access to my account was still open, allowing me access to highly classified documentation, including emails. Mistakes happen.

Plot hole: After sending the offensive message to his students, Charlie got on-line with them (within hours or the same day?) and said, "Well, your complaints have been heard. I've been replaced..." IF an on-line college instructor could be terminated and replaced as quickly as Charlie was, it would follow that he would no longer be able to access the on-line course to communicate with the students like he did. (01:39:55)

KeyZOid

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: I think this is based on too much assumption. Any sort-of ban would likely be entire dependent on whatever system they're using for their online class. And it's entirely plausible he'd still be able to access his account mere hours later, even if the call has already been made to replace him.

TedStixon

I worked for the Defence department in Australia and it was a running gag that eighteen months after I had left my online access to my account was still open, allowing me access to highly classified documentation, including emails. Mistakes happen.

More mistakes in The Whale

Charlie: I need to know that I have done one right thing with my life.

More quotes from The Whale

Trivia: Brendan Fraser's performance was so well received at the Venice Film Festival that he received a six minute standing ovation which brought him to tears.

More trivia for The Whale

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