Laid: Season 1 Episode 5 – Recap and Review | Zack Decides To Blow Up Ruby’s Life
The day Ruby has been waiting for and dreaded finally has come.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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| Category | Details |
| Originally Aired | December 19, 2024 |
| Network | Peacock |
| Director(s) | Nahnatchka Khan |
| Writer(s) | David Smithyman |
| Character | ACTOR’S NAME |
| Richie | Michael Angarano |
| Ruby | Stephanie Hsu |
| Isaac | Tommy Martinez |
| Merci | Olivia Holt |
| *Dr. Debra | Elizabeth Bowen |
| *Detective Brenowitz | David Denman |
| AJ | Zosia Mamet |
| Zack | Andre Hyland |
Quick Recap
With Richie lucking into a loophole, it sadly seems he’ll be around for a while as more of Ruby’s exes die. But, he may have his use. Things with Isaac suddenly become real, and as he and Ruby do a run-through for his parents, including reading their vows, something clicks. This leads to him breaking up with Merci and wanting to be with Ruby, but with no idea how to be with Isaac and not kill him, sans not having sex, she has them put a pause on what could be – and she sleeps with Richie.
This is the good that happens in this episode. The bad thing is that, as usual, Dr. Debra, Ruby’s therapist, holds her accountable and pushes her to contact her father, which Ruby really does not want to do. Following that, we have the cops, after John Early’s death, finally taking note of Ruby’s confession and Detective Brenowitz really pushing the idea Ruby did something nefarious.
However, he has no proof to pin her down, and since he is more against her than on her side, he just adds to her frustration. But what takes the cake is Zack deciding to tell the online world what he and Ruby did, which gets to AJ. Her revealing she knows to Ruby ends the episode.
New Character Descriptions
Dr. Debra
Dr. Debra is Ruby’s therapist. Ruby tries her best to meet with her on Zoom so Dr. Debra can’t have her full attention and hold her accountable for her actions or her homework that isn’t consistently done.
Detective Brenowitz
Detective Brenowitz is the lead on Ruby’s case. Originally, he didn’t take her plea for help seriously, mainly because she presented it as a stalker was doing this, and they sent a human head. However, after the death of someone famous associated with Ruby, he now takes her case seriously, with the assumption that she is intentionally causing all of this.
Other Noteworthy Information
Review
Trajectory (76/100): Plateau
I feel very torn about this show. On the one hand, I’ve liked Stephanie Hsu’s past work, but when it comes to “Laid,” it feels like something is off. Mind you, it could be because of the people she is playing off of. While Isaac’s actor is attractive, I don’t see much romantic chemistry between him and Hsu. It feels more like two attractive people put together because it looked good on screen than could lead to anything resembling butterflies or envy.
But, honestly, maybe that’s the point? Going over most of the people Ruby has been with, it is hard to see it work as a relationship, and considering her relationship with her dad, maybe, as stereotypical as it is, her issues with her dad could be why none of her past relationships worked, and it seems potential future ones wouldn’t either? They are more so placeholders or trying to fill a gap not sized for them than truly given space in Ruby’s heart and mind.
That aside, I find myself again thinking that, while there is an undercurrent of something potentially deep going on, the drama and subjective comedy piled onto that is such a burden. From sleeping with Zack, his character blabbing about that online, to Richie’s antics, I get this is an American adaptation, which means a cultural shift in some ways, but while it is understandable that book adaptations should be faithful to the source material, I’d submit the same need not be said for TV shows – especially considering the original “Laid” premiered and ended more than a decade ago and only lasted for two seasons. Be it by choice or due to ratings.
Highlights
- AJ Knows What Happened
- The Potential Conversations Ruby Can Have With Her Dad
Low Points
- Richie Being The One Who Lived
On The Fence
- Ruby and Isaac’s Chemistry
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