Mabel and Oliver begin investigating Arconia's West Tower and get trapped inside an ominous game. Meanwhile, Charles is visited by two individuals from his complex past.
Charles and Oliver have disdain for the residents of the West Tower at the Arconia. They are renters. The two sides had to be cut off to further separate the two socioeconomic classes. Mabel reminds them that people today aren't lucky enough to be locked into low prices when they purchase fabulous and spacious apartments in luxury buildings. Charles and Oliver are a product of their time. Things are different now. They still have a place in the world. That's what the entire show is about. These three characters have vitality despite being aimless with their ambitions outside of the podcast. They have more opportunities now. They've been to Broadway and Hollywood. However, that has made the murders more personal and devastating. Sazz has been Charles' longest friend. She was always there to face the danger for him. Now, he no longer has the luxury of being protected all the time. He has to step up and handle that risk all by himself.
Of course, Charles has been in plenty of dangerous situations over the course of the series. His confrontation with Jan at the conclusion of the first season was particularly memorable. That's what continues to make Jan an intimidating presence whenever she appears. She too was deeply connected with Sazz's life. Sazz visited Jan in prison so Charles no longer had to. Sure, it became sexual too. However, that's the energy Jan brings to everything. She either wants to seduce or kill Charles. No other options apply. She broke out of prison because she was concerned about Sazz. That actually transcended every other emotion. That's powerful. The show even frames it around Sazz being in the room. She comes between Charles and Jan. She connects them in a way that makes them focus on the loss. They sit in that despite not knowing what happened. The police know where to look for Jan after her escape. However, it's more potent when Charles is alone realizing the scope of the situation and the intended target of the shooter.
Every member of the central trio has hallucinated to inform the audience about the pain of their recent tragedies. It's a familiar trope. Even Mabel and Oliver comment on it when they worry about Charles. They want to keep him busy in the apartment. They shield him away from the danger. However, the deadbolt isn't guaranteed safety. It's almost as if Mabel forgot about the secret passageways throughout the Arconia. Fortunately, the show didn't. That's how Jan suddenly appears. The podcast has provided the listeners with a map to navigate this building. It makes the trio more accessible. That also opens them up to threats. They no longer have complete control over their lives. They were woken up by working together pursuing something they cared about. But now, people keep getting murdered. They take it as the inevitable sign that they have to continue the podcast. They can't move on from it. It's what the universe is telling them must be done. Everything always eventually comes back to it. Some twists are hard for them to take. It only takes the smallest amount of evidence for them to accept it though.
Charles has opinions about the Westies who have a clear shot at his apartment window. They don't line up with the people Oliver and Mabel actually meet. In fact, one happens to be a huge fan of Charles and Brazzos. And yet, they all apparently have access to the empty apartment in which the shot was fired. Inside, it's a relic of the past that hasn't been touched in years. To gain access though, it requires a specific code on a keypad. Moreover, suspicion shifts to the family down the hall because a live pig is discovered in the bathroom. Meanwhile, the card game they play is the code to enter the apartment. It's incriminating. The audience should be suspicious based on these new clues. However, the narrative has also built up the expectation that it can never be as simple as that. The case needs to be more complex. Sazz uncovered so many clues that threatened her friend. She had to warn him. She wasn't given the chance. The crime was covered up. It's not how Jan would have done it. That showcases the need to evolve in the pursuit of a new type of killer. That is needed. It's just unclear if Charles, Oliver and Mabel are capable of making that transition. The police are alerted even though they too are exasperated by the murders that frequent this building.
Ultimately though, the episode is all about the message Sazz left behind for Charles. He reminisces over their friendship. He laments how one interview she gave years ago is the only footage people ever got to see of her. It highlights how this was the family business. She got into the industry because of Charles. He provided her with her dream. She gave him friendship. Their lives became full because they gave what the other needed the most. That's the power of this bond. It's gone now. Charles can no longer lean on Sazz. He has spent a lifetime freezing and waiting for her to tap him out. She would pull off the dangerous stunts. Now, the time has come for him to tap in. He must pick up the investigation where she left off. It's his responsibility now. He can't be blind to the true nature of the attack. He is being targeted by someone. They have access to his apartment. Sazz has become collateral damage. The best way to honor her is to expose the truth and bring the killer to justice. He can't be afraid of the world. He must get back up and face the danger. That's the lasting impression Sazz leaves on him. That's what he needs to carry the most.
