Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
In a Rue-focused episode, you get what likely will be Zendaya’s next Emmy submission.
| Aired | 2/6/2022 |
| Network | HBO |
| Directed By | Sam Levinson |
| Written By | Sam Levinson |
Recap
The Interventions – Rue, Leslie, Gia, Suze, Lexi, Cassie, Maddy, Jules, Elliot
Leslie knows. Thanks to Elliot telling Jules, and Jules telling Leslie, Leslie knows about the drugs, and she has thoroughly messed up Rue’s life by flushing them down the toilet. This action leads to a massive flip out that causes Gia’s door to be destroyed, Rue saying her biggest regret is meeting Jules, and Elliot being called out since he is an addict too.
But, in round 1, Rue tires out and seems fine with going to the ER until she realizes ER in Leslie’s mind translates to rehab. So begins round 2 as Rue jumps out of the car, running through traffic to see if Fez is home. He isn’t, so she heads to Lexi’s and starts stealing what she can and trying to find pills to end her withdrawal symptoms.
Unfortunately, for Rue anyway, Leslie catches up with her, and with feeling corned and Cassie deciding to make light of the situation, Rue exposes her and Nate’s relationship, which leads Maddy to be ready to beat her ass. In the commotion that comes with that, Rue slips away, and Lexi finds herself with an excessive amount of material.
Running Out Of Options – Fez, Rue, Laurie
After leaving Lexi’s, Rue heads to Fez, and he is cool with her being there until he realizes it is like before where she is fiending and is out of control. I mean, she even tries to take Fez’s grandma’s meds to get some kind of high and is ready to wrestle with Fex to keep the bottles. So, with her doing that, out she goes, and to show how really desperate she is, Rue goes to Laurie’s apartment.
She confesses she doesn’t have Laurie’s money there, and in her monotone voice, Laurie seems eerily calm. Mind you, their conversation only temporarily speaks about Rue getting into sex work to pay her back, but you can tell even if not the focus of their conversation, Laurie’s wheels are spinning. But, right now, she sees Rue is going through withdrawal and being that Laurie knows about addiction via Oxycontin, she decides that some methadone, via a needle, is a means to help Rue calm down.
But, the next morning, Rue realizes that she might be locked up in Laurie’s home. At least, with a padlock on the front door, it doesn’t seem she was meant to easily leave. Luckily, through Laurie’s bathroom, she escapes, but just barely.
The Loop – Rue
So, where to now? Jules has been cut off, Elliot is a snitch, she burned her bridges with Lexi, Ali, and even her mom, so where to? Well, it seems after one hell of a night, Rue might humble herself. But it isn’t clear who she may turn to now that the edge has been taken off.
Things To Note | Question(s) Left Unanswered
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- Why did Laurie padlock the front door? Was she trying to keep Rue in, or is that just the means she keeps everything safe and secure?
What Could Happen Next
- Rue owes Laurie money and made it clear sex work is a way to get it back, so expect her to come after Rue and maybe use Fez.
- I’d love a Fexi scene, but at this point, I feel like that won’t happen until the recently confirmed third season.
- Rue coming face to face with Ali, potentially at NA or on the street.
Review
Highlights
Crackhead Energy
This has to be the Emmy, Golden Globe, etc., pitch episode. From running about the town, the desperation, chaos, and those scenes between Leslie and Rue? Is that not what led to Zendaya winning an Emmy last year? Her beating away expectations, due to her Disney background, and showing herself as an actress who can just as much play pristine, beautiful, and poised as she can someone disheveled, addicted to drugs, and wavering between a manic or depressive state.
But perhaps what we appreciated more than anything else this episode wasn’t just Zendaya’s performance but also Nika King. As she notes in the post-show interview, her scenes with Zendaya are physical. It’s beyond the mental and emotional expectations of playing a role, but she mentions bruising! Can you imagine going that far with another actor, because you are using all of your might, that there is bruising done?
Cassie’s secret is out!
I just want to see what Maddy does to her and Nate. It’s great we got Zendaya in this award-worthy performance, but I’m at the point where, outside of Gia crying from the trauma she is experiencing, I’m numb to Rue. Cassie, on the other hand? I could get in my emotions about what Maddy is about to do to her. It may not be tears from sadness, but rather laughter.
On The Fence
Missing Character Specific Episodes
You could say this is an episode focused on Rue, but increasingly it feels like the show has abandoned the method of storytelling in the first season to make this less of an ensemble and place a heavy focus on Zendaya. Which, I get, she is the biggest name on the show, is an executive producer, and has an award-worthy performance. But I miss us getting to see Kat’s life and how she deals with things. I feel like we’re still long overdue for a Gia episode and even a Leslie one. For surely Leslie has a life beyond battling Rue, right?
Add in Cal’s other son Aaron, Ashtray deserves a solo episode and so many others, and it makes it so, as much as you have to love what Zendaya brings to the show, I don’t think Levinson realizes that star is burning out. So, yeah, you can have these grand chase scenes that are really dramatic, but that high is only going to last an episode, and that crash is going to be real if you both ignore your supporting actors and give them weak storylines like what Cassie has with Nate. Even if Maddy beating Cassie’s ass sounds funny and could be entertaining.
[ninja_tables id=”53858″]
TV Shows We’re Covering This Season
Images used for editorial and commentary purposes. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders.
