Where the first three episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers gave us some introduction to our cast of characters at the Tranquillum wellness retreat, the fourth and fifth treat us to some intense character growth. If you aren’t caught up on the series, you have been warned, spoilers for Episodes 4 and 5 are ahead.
In episode 4, “Brave New World,” the group finds out that Masha (Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies) has been drugging them through micro-dosing. While most are angered by this initially, they settle into the idea that it is all just a part of the process, and since it has proven effective for previous attendees, why not continue? At least, for those who have been participating.
We find out that, aside from Zoe who isn’t 21 yet, Ben (Melvin Gregg, Snowfall) and Jessica (Samara Weaving, Ready or Not) are the only ones from the group not being drugged. Jessica asks to be a part of this “experience” and is told that she and Ben will start receiving their microdosing later that day. We don’t see too much surrounding their storyline for the rest of the episode, and the only major growth we see in them comes in episode 5 where they are clearly feeling more “connected” in the hot springs. Speaking of sex, the Marconis’ finally reconnect since the passing of their son (probably thanks to the micro-dosing effects) and we see Yao (Manny Jacinto, The Good Place) and Masha together, at which point Masha receives a call from whoever is secretly threatening her.
With the mood ruined, Yao heads back to the room he shares with Delilah (Tiffany Boone, Little Fires Everywhere) and wonders if she may be the one threatening Masha. This assumption lands him on the couch and prompts Delilah to finally ask Masha to stop sleeping with her boyfriend in Episode 5. But the tables turn real quick when it appears that Delilah and Masha have a secret of their own. While it’s unclear what’s totally going on with that whole situation, one thing is for sure, there is definitely someone threatening Masha, and the threats are becoming more intense, as episode 4 ends with blood on the wall of her room alongside the words “It’s Good To Die.”
Part of the group’s exercise during this episode is to let out their frustrations by hitting a dummy with a wooden katana sword. While Frances (Melissa McCarthy, Ghostbusters) is hesitant to go first, she gives in to the feeling, and we see the true anger she holds for her long-distance boyfriend and the imaginary life they had built together come through. The activity truly does help to lift a weight off her shoulders. However, the same cannot be said for Carmel (Regina Hall, Support the Girls), who prior to this activity had her 1×1 with Masha and revealed the anger and resentment she harbors towards her ex, writing down all the awful things he’s said to her in a notebook. When it is Carmel’s turn with the dummy, Delilah and Masha take turns reading the hurtful words Carmel wrote, leading her to attack the dummy with the rage of a million scorned ex-wives. For as quiet and meek as she may try to appear to everyone else, Carmel has some intense anger boiling inside of her. During episode 5, we are treated to a sweet moment between Carmel and Lars (Luke Evans, Beauty and the Beast), with him listening while she breaks down, showing that maybe Lars does care about the others.
Despite his character growth, Lars may still be at this retreat for the wrong reasons, as he is revealed to be an investigative journalist whose relationship is suffering from the fact that he claims he doesn’t want kids while his (possibly ex) partner does. He may unknowingly be lying to himself about this, as in Episode 5, during a drug-filled dream, Lars imagines himself giving birth to Tony’s baby. It’s an oddly tender moment listening to Lars retell the experience to the group at breakfast.
Back in Episode 4, we find out that Tony (Bobby Cannavale, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) accidentally killed a man in a bar fight and has been grappling with this and his poor relationship with his children. He and Frances appear to be growing closer and he takes care of her when the effects of microdosing appear to be too much for Frances to handle. While everyone is sharing their vibrant dreams from the night before, we get to see Frances’ fever dream play out right in front of us. Her long-distance boyfriend comes to visit her at the retreat, and she ends up attacking him in a very similar fashion as she did the dummy from the episode prior. This turns out to be a complete figment of her imagination as we see her wake up face down in her oatmeal. Tony, frustrated with the fact that there is something clearly wrong with Frances, doesn’t back down when Delilah asks him to let her take care of the situation, prompting Delilah to exclaim “Fuck off, Tony.” This is something that is very out of character for the previously calm, cool, and collected staff of Tranquillum, showing that there may be more tension brewing under the surface than just Masha and Yao’s encounters.
But, in Episode 5, “Sweet Surrender,” there is also cause for celebration as Zoe (Grace Van Patten, The Meyerowitz Stories) turns 21. A day that is equally happy and sad for the Marconis’ as it would have also been Zach’s birthday as well. Despite Zoe’s growing friendship with Lars, when the topic of her brother comes up during their sweat lodge sesh the day prior, she lies to him about having been close to Zach (Hal Cumpston, The Walking Dead: World Beyond), a lie that comes back to literally haunt her later that night.
On the eve of their birthday, Zoe sees Zach, not merely as a premonition or ghost, but as a physical, huggable human standing in front of her, letting her know that it wasn’t her fault and asking why she would lie about them being close. The morning of her birthday is the morning we hear about everyone’s vivid dreams, leaving us wondering if Zoe’s experience was just an incredibly vivid dream and if Zoe has been drugged this entire time as well. Regardless, something questionable is afoot at the end of the episode, because Masha sees Zoe looking off in the distance and knows that she can see Zach, exclaiming that Zoe is “the key.” The key to what? What does it all mean? We’ll have to keep watching because that’s where this episode ends.
Overall, Nine Perfect Strangers is shaping up to be incredibly reminiscent of Liane Moriarty’s previous book to television adaptation, Big Little Lies, where nothing is truly what it seems, and as events become harder, the group will need to lean on each other to survive.
Nine Perfect Strangers Episodes 4 & 5 are now streaming on Hulu. New episodes air on Wednesdays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvqujH6boEI
