History YMMV / SixDegreesOfSeparation

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: In Paul's last conversation with Ouisa, is his plea for help and expression of a desire for friendship and acceptance all an act, or is it sincere? Since everything we've seen of Paul suggests that he's a completely amoral, sociopathic compulsive liar, chances are it's all just an act. However, there's also the possibility that Paul is something of a JerkassWoobie who became a scammer and a liar because that was the only way he could find acceptance in high society. The fact that he was willing to turn himself into the police provided that Ousia accompanied him to the station is also ambiguous: was it an admission of guilt, or was it just an attempt to get law enforcement to go easy on him by bringing along someone wealthy and "respectable".

* HilariousInHindsight: Paul pulls in his marks by claiming that his father Sidney Poitier is working on a film version of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}''. While they question how ''Cats'' [[HardToAdaptWork could ever work on film]], Paul assures them that Sidney cracked it, though he notably doesn't explain how. In 2019, the long-awaited film version of ''Film/{Cats}'', directed by Creator/TomHooper, was finally released to [[DarthWiki/SoBadItsHorrible universal scorn]], seemingly proving that there is no way to film ''Cats''.

* HilariousInHindsight: Paul pulls in his marks by claiming that his father Sidney Poitier is working on a film version of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}''. While they question how ''Cats'' [[HardToAdaptWork could ever work on film]], Paul assures them that Sidney cracked it, though he notably doesn't explain how. In 2019, the long-awaited film version of ''Film/{Cats}'', directed by Creator/TomHooper, was finally released to [[DarthWiki/SoBadItsAwful universal scorn]], seemingly proving that there is no way to film ''Cats''.

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: In universe, part of the reason Ouisa sympathizes with Paul is that despite the fact that he's a sociopathic ConMan, even he's more likable and sympathetic than her own spoiled, ungrateful children or the equally spoiled children of their friends. Many who watch the film agree with her.

* HilariousInHindsight:
** Creator/JJAbrams, who played Dr. Fine's son, went on to create the short-lived series ''Six Degrees'', which was also about people connected to each other by six people.
** Paul pulls his marks in by claiming that his father Sidney Poitier is working on a film version of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}''. They question how ''Cats'' could ever work on film, but Paul assures them that Sidney cracked it, though he notably doesn't explain how. Fast forward to 2019, when Creator/TomHooper's [[Film/{{Cats}} film version]] was universally panned by critics and audiences, seemingly proving that there is no way to film ''Cats'', and only a complete dupe would ever think it was a good idea.
*** Even better, Creator/IanMcKellen, who had a role in the film version of the play, portrayed Gus the Theater Cat in the film.

** Also, nowadays, the characters would just use the Internet to look up Poitier.
** The Waverly Theatre, where Paul gets arrested at, has since closed down (replaced by the IFC Theatre).

** Paul pulls his marks in by claiming that his father Sidney Poitier is working on a film version of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}''. They question how ''Cats'' could ever work on film, but Paul assures them that Sidney cracked it, though he notably doesn't explain how. Fast forward to 2019, when Creator/TomHooper's [[Film/{{Cats}} film version]] was universally panned by critics and audiences, proving that there does seem to be no way to film ''Cats'', and only a complete dupe would ever think it was a good idea.

** Paul pulls his marks in by claiming that his father Sidney Poitier is working on a film version of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}''. They question how ''Cats'' could ever work on film, but Paul assures them that Sidney cracked it, though he notably doesn't explain how. Fast forward to 2019, when Creator/TomHooper's [[Film/{{Cats}} film version]] came out. It was universally panned by critics and audiences, proving that there does seem to be no way to film ''Cats'', and only a complete dupe would ever think was a good idea.

** Many of the characters treat the idea of making a movie of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}'' a joke, especially a live-action version. [[Film/{{Cats}} A movie version came out in 2019]], and it's live-action. Even better, Ian [=McKellen=], who had a role in the film version of the play, portrays Gus the Theater Cat.

** [[Film/XMen1 Senator Kelly]] is Larkin, while Creator/AnthonyRapp plays his son.

** [[Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle Commandant Edwin Spangler]] plays the detective.

** [[Film/XMen1 Senator Kelly]] is Larkin.

** Many of the characters treat the idea of making a movie of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}'' a joke, especially a live-action version. There is [[Film/{{Cats}} a movie version coming out in 2019]], and it's live-action. Even better, Ian [=McKellen=], who had a role in the film version of the play, portrays Gus the Theater Cat.

** Many of the characters treat the idea of making a movie of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}'' a joke, especially a live-action version. There is [[Film/Cats2019 a movie version coming out in 2019]], and it's live-action. Even better, Ian [=McKellen=], who had a role in the film version of the play, portrays Gus the Theater Cat.

* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/JJAbrams, who played Dr. Fine's son, went on to create the short-lived series ''Six Degrees'', which was also about people connected to each other by six people.
** Many of the characters treat the idea of making a movie of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}'' a joke, especially a live-action version. There is a movie version coming out in 2019, and it's live-action.

** Creator/HeatherGraham is Elizabeth.

** Many of the characters treat the idea of making a movie of ''Theatre/{{Cats}}'' a joke. There is a movie version coming out in 2019, directed by Creator/TomHooper.

* HeReallyCanAct: While Creator/WillSmith was already a star in music and [[Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir on television]], this film marked the first time critics took him seriously.

* MoralEventHorizon: For about the first half of the play and the movie, while Paul has certainly lied to the other characters about who he was (not just his lineage, but also his friendship with everyone's children), as the detective points out, he really hasn't committed a crime (and the money everyone gave Paul was just chicken feed), and besides, these are IdleRich folks. However, Elizabeth and Rick are both struggling to make ends meet, and [[spoiler: Paul basically gets Rick to empty out Elizabeth and Paul's entire bank account on one night of celebration, which later [[DrivenToSuicide drives Rick to kill himself]], and leaves Elizabeth bankrupt.]]

* MoralEventHorizon: For about the first half of the play and the movie, while Paul has certainly lied to the other characters about who he was (not just his lineage, but also his friendship with everyone's children), as the detective points out, he really hasn't committed a crime (and the money everyone gave Paul was just chicken feed), and besides, these are IdleRich folks. However, Elizabeth and Rick are both struggling to make ends meet, and [[spoiler: Paul basically gets Rick to empty out Elizabeth and Paul's entire bank account on one night of celebration, which later [[DrivenToSuicide drives Rick to kill himself]], and leaves Elizabeth bankrupt.]]

* MoralEventHorizon: For about the first half of the play and the movie, while Paul has certainly lied to the other characters about who he was (not just his lineage, but also his friendship with everyone's children), but as the detective points out, he really hasn't committed a crime (and the money everyone gave Paul was just chicken feed), and besides, these are IdleRich folks. However, Elizabeth and Rick are both struggling to make ends meet, and [[spoiler: Paul basically gets Rick to empty out Elizabeth and Paul's entire bank account on one night of celebration, which later [[DrivenToSuicide drives Rick to kill himself]], and leaves Elizabeth bankrupt.]]

* MemeticMutation: As mentioned on the main page, this eventually led to SixDegreesOfKevinBacon.