Round Two: Nine Perfect Strangers

Nine Perfect Strangers: Season 1, Episode 2 “The Critical Path” (B+)

This show continues to be very intriguing with little explanation as to what’s actually going on aside from an unsettling shot of the group moving through the forest and being recorded and then of course Masha getting a text informing her that this would be her last week on Earth. The reverence that the staff have for Masha is most alluring, and they were honest when asked whether she was the real deal or not. Jessica was certainly wowed by their brief one-on-one, which humorously started with her misinterpreting the grandeur of the “why are you here” question she was first asked. I enjoyed the fact that Tony tried to prove that he was a better person but then couldn’t resist throwing a grape into Frances’ mouth while she was sleeping, resulting in her almost choking. There’s a lot to unpack with the Marconi family, though it was good to hear them check in on each other during the burial scene, especially considering Heather nearly wandered off a cliff and didn’t seem attached to the reality she was leaving behind. I wouldn’t have pegged Michael Shannon for the role of someone so eternally optimistic, and it was enlightening to hear Napoleon defend his attitude to Heather when she called him up on how it was suffocating. The relationship between Zoe and Lars has felt inappropriate since the start, but maybe I’m reading some sexual tension into it that’s just not there. I’m glad that we have six more episodes to get to know these characters since they definitely have plenty to say.