Ted Bundy Bottle Opener – The episode opens with Channel 6 reporter (Robin Winston) announcing Dahlia Stone’s (Lizze Broadway) death at Las Vega’s “Crime Con.” Ava Barlett (Kaley Cuoco) is positively sure Matt Pierce (Tom Bateman) did it. Nathan Bartlett (Chris Messina) suggests taking Matt at his word. Reminding him of their being present when the body fell, she warns the police will be looking to interrogate them soon. He assures her anyone else wouldn’t have done any differently than them when Matt knocks on the door. She immediately places Dahlia’s death in his lap. He readily admits to confronting Dahlia at a pub but denies harming her which they should be grateful. He advises against their leaving and staying holed up in their motel room before departing. Frustrated, Nathan says it was all her idea and now, he cannot get out of being an alibi for Matt.

Hotel Lobby Balcony – Westside Ripper Mercantile (Dax Herrera) merchandise – signed copies of “Not Today” and memorabilia – catches Matt’s eye. He questions why consumers purchase the stuff. The man claims the money from the Ripper’s merchandise is covering his son’s college tuition. TV writer (Claire Holt) soon joins him near the booth. They quickly into a discussion about their favorite serial killers. She admits to being mesmerized by the “Westside Ripper.” Switching the topic, she suggests Dahlia Stone was a fraud which is why she jumped. Curious, Matt invites her to have a drink with him.

Hotel Bar – Ruby Gale (Priscilla Quintana) tries to convince Ava into having an alcoholic beverage. Ava reminds her that she is pregnant. Nathan sums it up by saying it is her decision. As Ava is ready to take a drink, Ruby is forcing ecstasy pills down Nathan’s throat before dragging them out on the dance floor. The TV writer accuses Ryan Murphy of stealing a television pilot from her. Matt gives her a word of encouragement. Ruby rushes over to offer them some ecstasy. While the writer readily accepts, Matt is a bit more hesitate but gives in. Nathan tells Ruby that he and Ava think about the three of them being in the bed together. Taking it as a compliment, she gives him a friendly kiss. Matt gets offended by the TV writer’s cold stance toward the Ripper’s victim.

Matt and the TV writer go to her room. She questions if the “loser” will claim his right in court. He imagines slicing her throat with the jagged edge of a beer bottle. After taunting her, he joins Ava, Ruby, Carlos (Sebastian Quinn), and Nathan for a bit of sensual petting on the dance floor. At one point Matt and Nathan even swap spit. Ava asks where his friend went. Matt admits to killing her before slicing her throat and everyone’s nearby. He identifies himself as the “Westside Ripper” when he snaps back to reality at the bar. The TV writer is amid a rant about her Ripper series. Tired of listening, he walks away without an explanation.

Nathan admits to telling Ruby that they sometimes imagine her in bed with them. Ava confesses to telling Carlo the exact same thing. They question if Ruby and Carlos think about them in the same manner. She apologizes for getting them mixed up with Matt. She says her biggest fear is not having him and his amazing penis to wake up next to.

Hotel Buffet – The Lipinski sisters (June Diane Raphael and Jessica St. Clair) make their grand entrance. Ava tells Nathan that it would be impossible to beat the popularity of the “Sister in Crime” podcast. He declines the offer of seeing the Lipinski sisters again. He assures her that they can be happy with their notoriety and money.

Hotel Lobby – The merchant (Atticus Hinckley) at the Ted Bundy Bottle Opener booth pawns a “killer jam” off on a mother and daughter. The daughter receives an alert of the “Westside Ripper” making a live appearance in Ballroom D. Upon their arrival, the find the ballroom empty. It isn’t long before several guests appear. Crime-Con teenage girl (Delaney Guyer) voices concern about the alert being a scam when the ballroom lights up. A disguised voice, claiming to be the Ripper, extends a warm welcome. He claims to have murdered Dahlia Stone last night. He encourages the guests to stick around with more revelations. The guests blow up social media, urging people to walk out in the middle of the “Sister in Crime” live event. After learning where everyone is going, Ruby informs Ava.

Ballroom D – Nathan and Ava arrive as the Ripper describes Dahlia Stone as a fraudster. He claims to have convinced her to reveal herself as such before he tossed her over a balcony. To validate his story, he points out that she was wearing a star pendant. As Nathan and Ava leave to alert Matt, the burner phones falls out of her belongings. Ruby is there to retrieve it. Matt doesn’t waste a second explaining his new content. Ava is adamant he murdered Dahlia which violates their formal agreement. He expresses frustration while talking about others reaping the rewards of his hard work. He suggests they get in on it action. The number of guests at the Ripper event continue to increase. Matt departs, leaving Nathan and Ava stewing on the possibility of Dahlia jumping off the balcony.

 

Based On A True Story Review

Not an entirely awful episode. I really do enjoy the “Crime Con” with all the intriguing memorabilia and even more interesting vendors. I get the Ecstasy escapade, although I didn’t feel it was entirely essential. I could only imagine the episode may have been better without all the tonsil swapping and intimate dancing. It was almost gratifying to see Matt capitalize on the “Con” the way he did after being forced to sit idly by the entire episode and watch hundreds of others make millions on the backs of others, including himself.

Once again, I understand the need for Ruby or some other interloper to gain awareness of Matt, Ava, and Nathan’s scheme, although I would have preferred to see the unveil done more cleverly. I can admit I don’t know how they would have spun it, but I can’t help but imagine some creative brain trust somewhere could have come up with something. All in all, not entirely awful, and for that, I would give episode 5 a 5.5 out of 10.

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