Charles, Oliver and Mabel delve into the particular universe of stunt people. They encounter a suspect with an incredibly... familiar... face.
Subconsciously, Charles always knew Sazz's dream was to open a trampoline park and train the next generation of stunt people. Yet it's not something he immediately recalls upon looking deeper into Sazz's life in the months leading up to her death. His dreams point him in the direction of that paradise. It's not until he's knocked out by Ben Glenroy's Irish stunt double - also played by special guest star Paul Rudd - that the realization fully dawns on him. He was awoken by his dreams determined to create Sazz's own murder board. She deserved that distinction just as much as Charles does. The hook of the mystery this time is trying to figure out who was the intended target. It keeps going back and forth between Charles and Sazz. The podcasters were warned that Sazz was killed because she started asking questions around the West Tower. But now, Mabel is told that was an empty threat from Rudy's crazy ex-girlfriend. No one truly knows what to believe. In fact, the only constant throughout Charles' life has been his friendship with Sazz. And yet, he's upset to learn she was in pain after a lifetime of performing his stunts.
Stunt people aren't driven by ego. Their job is to be of service to the leading performers. They take on the danger. They don't seek the fame. They don't always get the appreciation they deserve. Sazz made a connection with Charles. It lasted for decades. And yet, the podcasters could easily be viewed as simply using her murder for more notoriety. This may not be the best way to honor her. She spent her life doing what she loved. She was ready to retire and pursue her other dream. That was just as important to her. She didn't know how to share the news with Charles. Moreover, she still feared for his life. She told him it was time to tap in. He had to engage with the danger completely now. He could no longer be comforted by her always protecting him. In fact, he's now required to put his ego to the side and stand in for all that she was. She was so much more than the performer who took all the punches for Charles. She helped so many people realize their potential. Charles is hearing those stories now even though he has to work to earn the trust of the other stunt performers at the local bar.
The satire of the industry is simultaneously poignant and a little ridiculous. The show always wants to deliver a commentary on the people who obsess over their careers in the entertainment industry. However, that never forms the entirety of who they are. Every caricature has more depth revealed eventually. Hilarity often ensues. It's also clear the show invited Rudd back as a new character simply because he was a blast on set. Each season provides a heavy focus on the victim that lasts long after their murder. That has never really continued after the season concludes though. In fact, this episode is the first to mention Tim Kono in awhile. That's largely because of the movie adapting the podcast. Howard auditions believing he's up for the role of himself. He has the confidence to take a step forward to who he wants to be. He never fully commits. That's a problem. He feels stuck at the moment. He's more than an available person to help Mabel keep Dudenoff's apartment occupied. It's still rather clunky. It's a way to continue the themes of the past without providing enough reason why.
Emotional depth is still present throughout a lot of the storytelling though. Mabel sees the potential error of Oliver's ways in creating a fake identity to snoop on Loretta's life across the country. He loves her. He was ready to propose. He stopped himself. He believes it will inevitably fail. He's not living in denial like Howard professed previously. Oliver wants to avoid that pain. Yet his feelings for Loretta remain strong. She has started a new life. One that doesn't feature him prominently. The connection is still there for each of them to nurture. If he allows his paranoia to control his actions, then he will lose her. That's incredibly moving. It showcases the humanity underneath the scarfs. He's not as invested in the new investigation as Charles and Mabel. Yet his story remains just as compelling as theirs are. He remains relevant to the overall program. Answers are produced. More questions still remain. No one is ever what they initially seem.
The Westies fear Mabel's presence in Dudenoff's apartment will ruin the pact they have. They act mysteriously. That can't be denied. They share with Mabel that Dudenoff actually owns all of their apartments. He lets them sublet for only two hundred dollars a month. That's an incredible deal. It provides each of them with access to all the wonderful opportunities the city has. It doesn't result in their financial ruin either. It presents as the incredible generosity of one man. Mabel never met him. And yet, these tenants believe she belongs amongst them. They welcome her. Sharing the truth was crucial. They act as a collective unit. They had something to hide. They don't want anything to ruin just how lucky they are with this deal. Anything could disrupt this luxury. Their humanity is on full display. Meanwhile, the narrative provides a connection between the film production and the murder mystery. Bev holds the podcasters at gunpoint at Sazz's trampoline park. It's the second consecutive episode in which Mabel has been threatened with a gun. It's completely unexpected. It will hopefully further connect these two distinct worlds. It needs to be substantive. It can't just be filler teasing something more potent than is actually the case. Production was much further along than the podcasters realized. That means Sazz was still alive when a lot of it went into motion.
