Nine Perfect Strangers Season 1, Episode 4 recap: Brave New World

The first three episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers were filled with surprises and suspense, and the Nine Perfect Strangers Episode 4 (appropriately titled “Brave New World,” presumably after Aldous Huxley’s sci-fi novel about a dystopian society ripe with psychological manipulation — sound familiar?) was no different.

Masha admitted to drugging the guests’ smoothies, leading to chaos amongst the group. In this episode, not only do we dive deeper into some characters’ pasts, learning there’s both a journalist and a murderer at Tranquillum House, but we even get to break out the swords.

Nine Perfect Strangers Episode 4 recap: Lars searches for answers

In one of the less shocking twists of the episode, we learn that Lars isn’t only at the retreat to heal — he’s also an investigative journalist looking to write an exposé. The more unexpected part was how Masha reacted. So confident in her methods, Masha tells him that if he does write an article about microdosing, he will likely be revered and win prestigious awards for getting the word out.

Nine Perfect Strangers Episode 4 recap: The Marconis face their grief  — but not in the same way

The Marconis are reacting to the drugs, and the impending anniversary of Zach’s death, in vastly different ways. Usually upbeat, optimistic, Napolean is stressed and frantic, while uptight Heather is now the calm voice of reason. Napoleon is worried about how the drugs are affecting him, but Heather tells him he shouldn’t worry — that he’s more like himself than he’s been in a while. She also absolves him of the guilt he’s been carrying, assuring him there’s nothing he could have done to prevent Zach from committing suicide. Despite the bad headspace Napoleon is in, one good thing does come out of it: he and Heather rekindling their romance.

Meanwhile, Zoe is determined to act like everything is fine. Though Lars tries to connect with her, saying it’s okay to be depressed, she keeps reiterating that she’s fine and that she and her brother weren’t close. Napoleon proposes they leave the retreat to celebrate her 21st birthday elsewhere, but Zoe is adamant about staying.

Nine Perfect Strangers Episode 4 recap: Tragic pasts revealed

Several people’s pasts are delved into more deeply this episode. First, we get more glimpses of Masha pre-Tranquillum House, seeing her walking through a dark parking garage with business attire right before being shot. Could this perhaps be tied to the broken pot and threatening message she finds in her office at the end of the episode?

We also learn a little about Ben’s past. While Jessica feels cheated when she learns she and Ben haven’t been getting drugged, Ben is relieved, as his sister died from them, and he’s not entirely comfortable with the prospect. But her husband’s stance doesn’t stop Jessica from feeling jealous, and she even convinces Yao to slip some molly into their meals.

Frances and Tony continue to get closer, with Tony spiraling even further and eventually opening up to Frances about a dark moment in his past. He reveals that, after he got injured on the football field, guys would come up to him in bars to harass him. One of these times, Tony snapped, punching the man messing with him so hard he fell and never got up. Even though Tony never got charged, he’s still a killer. Tony breaks down, with Frances comforting him and assuring them he’s more than this one mistake.

Nine Perfect Strangers Episode 4 recap: Frances and Carmel lay the smackdown

Although Frances takes mercy on Tony, she pulls no punches when it comes to the dummy — in the most literal sense. As an exercise, Masha has her hit a dummy and pretend it’s the man who hurt her. She thinks it’s silly at first but soon finds it therapeutic, crying and yelling about how the man who scammed her took her money, confidence, and the promise that she would be a mother to someone.

Carmel also lets off some steam using the same methods. During her one-on-one with Masha, she discloses how her husband left her for a younger woman. Although the woman is nice enough, she still has anger towards her. She tells Masha how her relationship with her husband was always volatile, even writing down some insults he used to say to her. Masha reads these words aloud while Carmel has the sword, and the scene ends with her beating it on the floor, out of control.

Nine Perfect Strangers Episode 4 recap: Tension brewing within

The love triangle between Masha, Yao, and Delilah only continues to get more complicated, as it’s clear Delilah isn’t exactly thrilled that Yao is involved with Masha. After Yao slips into Masha’s room one night, Delilah makes him sleep on the couch for several days.

The tension bleeds over beyond romance and into their professional lives as well. Masha announces that she’s ready to implement protocol two, but Yao and Delilah aren’t so sure. Not wanting to be questioned, Masha turns the tables on Delilah, telling her she knows she’s not taking her drugs anymore and that she needs to get her bipolar disorder under control. Delilah, however, doesn’t back down, telling Masha that if she cuts her out of an important decision again, things will not end well for her. Yikes.

What did you think of this episode? And what do you think will happen next? Comment below!