Flagstaff – Episode 4 begins with revealing Ruby Yao’s (Stephanie Hsu) kidnapper as Richie (Michael Angarano), one of her previous lovers. Although episode 3 ended with what looked like a kidnapping, it turns out that Richie was merely curious about the claims that he was going to die. After not reaching Ruby by phone or text, Richie felt he had to take matters into his own hands. When Ruby realizes she isn’t tied, she decides to stay and answer some of Richie’s inquiries. Much to Ruby’s surprise, after a bit of back-and-forth bickering, Richie kicks her out after telling her there is something wrong with her and she is the worst person he’s ever met.
Ruby begins to believe she really is the worst person in the world when she runs into Zack Bridgerton (Andre Hyland) in the hall outside her apartment. This brief conversation only reminds her that she slept with her best friend’s boyfriend, even though they had broken up at the time. This encounter ends with them both promising to keep what they did to themselves.
AJ (Zosia Mamet) is hard at work on Ruby’s Timeline by the time Ruby joins her in the apartment. Although Ruby tries to update her on the run-in with Richie, AJ has much more pressing news. Thanks to the deaths of Simon (Brandon Prea), Corbin The Clown (Danny Mac), Philippe, Jordana (Adeline Rudolph), Joao, and Lug the sex cluster has become the death cluster. As they are speaking, AJ receives a death notification for both Brian Glidewell and Richie.
Since the cluster was overcome, the deaths appear to be coming faster and more frequently, which leaves both AJ and Ruby in a scramble to alert the last living lovers. Unfortunately for Ruby, next up on the list is the only celebrity on the list, John Early (John Early). On the airplane, it takes Ruby a bit of work but she gets him to remember her. She does not, however, convince him that his life is in danger. After a bit of back-and-forth arguing, Ruby ends up getting kicked off the fight.
While Ruby scours the Internet for John Early’s obituary, Isaac raves about her booking the Brett Hely trio for his parent’s reception. Despite his excitement, it doesn’t take him long to notice that Ruby is down. After a bit of prying, she tells him that bad things keep happening to people close to her. He tries to cheer her up by sharing what he does when he’s feeling down, which is dancing out scenes to his favorite musicals. It takes a bit of convincing, but she gets him to show her a routine. After he does, he makes her join him. Merci makes an unexpected visit and is not at all happy with what she sees. She practically accuses Ruby of trying to steal Isaac and shames her off.
After her debacle with Merci, Ruby reaches out to AJ for advice. Ruby doesn’t really get the advice she was looking for when AJ encourages her to stay away from Isaac. AJ offers a shoulder to lean on and tells her to come home because Zack has made surprise meatloaf. Ruby turns the offer down for a visit to Richie’s bar.
Ruby shows up at the bar looking to find a memorial for Richie but only discovers a new bartender, who doesn’t have a clue as to who Richie is. A quick visit with the manager reveals that Richie hasn’t shown up for his shift, leaving Ruby to think that he is at home alone, dead. A quick trip to his apartment and a meeting with the maintenance guy, Larry, reveals this isn’t the case at all. Not only is Larry alive and well but he has an aquarium that is apparently against policy. It doesn’t take Ruby and Richie long to realize that the curse somehow miraculously skipped him.
The episode ends with Ruby and Richie overhearing a breaking news report about the death of John early, who was sucked out of the back of a malfunctioning plane.
Laid Review
Now, this was a really good episode. It started out a bit lame due to the crazy/botched/unexplained kidnapping, but the ending really brought things together. I enjoyed Ruby’s brief time with John but it was the ending and learning that Richie is a bit of an enigma that tied everything together. This likely also means that the show will be getting a new leading actor, Richie. He looks like he could be a fun guy, and I can’t wait to see what he brings to the table. I am very much looking forward to the next episode and would give this one a 5.7 out of 10.
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