Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
There’s no doubt that the ’90s were a different time. The internet was in its infancy, cell phones were massive bricks, and people all across this great nation could smoke indoors like it wasn’t a big gross deal.
The People Vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story salutes our former, looser attitudes towards indoor smoking by showing us the strong bond that Los Angeles District Attorney Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) had with those delicious cancer sticks. We’re often told throughout the series that Nicole and O.J. were in love, but the only real passion we see onscreen is when Marcia sucks on her cigarettes.
CIGARETTE #1
Marcia’s first dance with the nicotine devil happens at about 23 minutes into the episode. She smokes up while reading O.J.’s domestic violence history and we don’t blame her. We, too, have had it up to HERE with the favoritism that celebrities get with the law. Just because the Juice ran some length of yardage on some famous field doesn’t give him the right to beat his wife.
Smoke on, Marcia. Smoke on.
CIGARETTE #2
Marcia doesn’t just wrap her lips around a smokey stick in her work time, she also lights up when she’s out of the office. The second time we see Marcia inhale the dark majesty that is cigarette smoke is when she’s in her lawyer’s office.
DIVORCE IS HARD.
CIGARETTE #3
Immediately following her quick smoke break indoors, she takes one outdoors. Blink and you’ll miss this bittersweet taste of middle aged ennui. Marcia Clark’s life is hard, guys. She’s getting divorced for a second time and she simply doesn’t have the time for it!
No one understands how hard life is except for this cigarette!
CIGARETTE #4
Later, Marcia excitedly puffs on a white stick of death while mapping out the prosecution’s timeline. This time she’s not pulled to the sweet siren song of carcinogens by stress, but by the promise of victory. The salad lady’s story puts an angry O.J. en route back to Rockingham right after the time of the crime! By Jove, [Marcia believes] she’s got him!
She’s going to suck the soul out of Simpson like he’s full of sweet tobacco.
BONUS: ASHTRAY
These are the corpses of cigarettes Marcia has loved and left behind. We count about 8, but Hades only knows how many beautiful ciggies were sucked down to ash and dust in the wake of Marcia’s capricious desires.
OFFICIAL COUNT: 4
Stay tuned week by week for the official Marcia Clark cigarette count. Trust us: The number will rise as the stakes in the case get higher.
NOTE: Decider does not condone smoking. Consult a doctor before lighting up.
[Where To Stream The People Vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story]
[Gifs & images: FX Networks]
