Scapegoat – The episode begins with Wren Davis (Amelia Clarkson) writing “I want my friend back” on a mirror with lipstick. Noah Royston (Harry Redding) asks if she’s following the same steps as Rochelle “Roche” Mason (Isis Hainsworth). When she takes a selfie in front of the lipstick writing, a Red Rose alert pops up on her phone. She reads the quote, “Red Rose, rose red, let me speak now with the dead.” After repeating the quote, Wren trips out when Rochelle appears on her phone and begins to repeat the quote. Noah comforts her.

Noah suggests deleting a new notification. Wren asks if he wants to know what happened to Roche. He agrees with Antony Longwell (Ellis Howard) that Red Rose is “dangerous.” They are surprised to find her lipstick writing posted online.

Wren is awakened by someone saying her name. Rachel Davis (Natalie Gavin) opens the bedroom door to discover lipstick writing on the mirror.

Ashley Banister (Natalie Blair) sends Antony a text to encourage him to fix things with Wren. Antony orders Liam Longwell (Leo Ashton) to go outside for a while. He utilizes the “KRSH” app to connect with other users in the nearby vicinity. It shows the individual closing in on him when his mum falls on the stairs. He tries to help her get up.

Wren hears Rachel talking to a police officer (Hope Vidal) about Roche’s cellphone. The officer offers to check Wren’s cellphone. Rachel assures her that it wouldn’t be easy to take a teenager’s phone. Wren refuses to speak to Noah before he heads home. Rachel suggests she talk to Vinny Mason (Samuel Anderson) after what happened at Roche’s funeral. Amid a disagreement, the doorbell rings. After finding no one at the door, Wrench steps outside into what looks like blood. The lawn is littered with rubbish.

Wren cleans the walkway when she receives a Red Rose notification that reads, “It sucks when no one believes you, but I’m listening.” She sends a text, asking for the sender’s identity. A response text describes the sender as a “guardian angel.” She’s startled when Rachel questions why she’s cleaning the walkway.

While stocking Vinny’s refrigerator with food, Wren tells Ashley that Roche didn’t like people to look at her home. Vinny offers everyone tea only to discover the milk jug empty. Noah offers to make a milk run but he refuses. After a quick apology, Wren informs Vinny about Roche’s cellphone when Antony abruptly cuts her off. Vinny leaves to answer the door. Antony demands Wren stop with the lipstick writing. She tells him that Roche appeared on her cellphone twice before heading to the bathroom. As she washes her hand, the bathtub tap begins to drop. After tightening the hand, she turns to leave when someone says her name. When Vinny opens the door, she breaks down sobbing.

Noah and Wren say goodbye to Ashley and Tariq “Taz” Sadiq (Ali Khan). Noah tells Wren that she tag him in a post that they spent the night together. She assures him that isn’t possible. He suggests Red Rose is utilizing her camera. She informs him that Little Jenna (Silvie Furneaux) and Big Jenna (Hannah Griffiths) shared it. People call her a “wh**e” and “sl**.” Little Jenna and Big Jenna tease them. She tells him that it isn’t a good idea for them to be seen together. He promises to speak to Little Jenna and Big Jenna. She warns it will only make things worse since everyone believes Roche committed suicide because they got together. He assures her that there is nothing to be embarrassed as she walks away.

Noah asks Taz and Ashley if they deleted Wren’s post. Taz informs him of his plan to research Red Rose. As he heads out the door, Ashley suggests they never be alone. He agrees to stick around with the promise of a free candy bar.

Shelley Royston (Nia Roberts) asks Noah to send her a message the next time he stays with Wren. He breaks down when she describes Roche as “one of a kind.” She comforts him.

Noah tells Little Jenna and Big Jenna that Wren isn’t responsible for Roche. Big Jenna says he sounds very angry. They invite him to join them at the Fudge Factory to discuss it. He promises to consider it if they delete Wren’s post. They laugh as the call comes to an end.

When Ashley suggests Googling Red Rose, Taz teases her. Antony chats with someone on KRSH. The individual admits to being in front of his home before inviting him to meet in private. Andrea (Jennifer Hennessy) orders a bottle of vodka when Antony approaches. Surprised, she tells him that she thought he was in town before leaving without the vodka. After asking if anyone knew Andrea, Taz describes her as smelling like “cheap vodka.” Antony tells them that he has to leave.

Wren takes Nora and Clare out for milkshakes. She asks them what Roche was up to when she watched them. They tell her that Roche got scared while building a fire in the woods. Wren asks what was it. They deny seeing it until later by the back door when Roche returned home. When a Red Rose notification appears on her phone, the girls say Roche’s cellphone did the same thing. They suggest she throw her phone away. She says it’s gives her access to her friends. They ask if she ever talks to Roche when she receives another Red Rose message, “If you want to talk I’ll need an apology first.”

Wren drops the girls back at home. Vinny insists she take some of Roche’s things home. She discovers a lipstick message, “Wealth, power, respect, Mum” on a mirror in Roche’s bedroom.

Antony agrees to meet another KRSH member. The individual asks for a selfie. He sends a selfie. After describing him as “hot,” the individual sets the meeting place at Crompton Park at 3pm.

Wren accepts Red Rose’s offer to speak with Roche at her gravesite. Roche asks why she isn’t speaking. She calls her a “Dickhead” for not talking. Wren apologizes as Roche repeats her name over and over again.

Rick Bennett (Adam Nagaitis) meets Wren at the church. He tells her about when he and his grandmother visited the church. She tells him it’s her fault for what happened to Roche. He assures her that it wasn’t. She admits to hurting Roche. He says that’s not killing her. The Red Rose app disappears to keep him from seeing it.

Wren informs Ashley that she is going to make things right with Big Jenna and Little Jenna at the Fudge Factory.

Taz The First (Amerjit Deu) gives Taz and Ashley a ride to the Fudge Factory.

Antony arrives at Crompton Park. After entering the restroom, he pushes on a stall door as a man suddenly opens it. They stare at each before the man leaves and a frantic Antony enters the stall. He rushes outside when Ashley sends him a text to inform him of their plan to support Wren while she meets Little Jenna and Big Jenna. He takes off running.

Noah meets Little Jenna and Big Jenna at the Fudge Factory. He demands they leave Wren alone. Big Jenna tells him that he looked “handsome” at Roche’s funeral. Little Jenna asks if he was trying to look nice for Roche. He denies being with Roche. They ask if his staying all night with Wren real. He admits to sleeping on her bedroom floor. They claim Wren’s father murdered someone. Wren asks Noah what he is doing there. As they talk, a video of Wren at the cemetery is posted online. Someone asks if she went to Roche’s gravesite. Big Jenna accuses her of utilizing her death to get likes. A dispute breaks out when Antony pulls Wren outside.

As Antony and Wren walk away, a group of teens chases them down. Little Jenna accuses her of backstabbing Roche when Big Jenna shoves her. When Big Jenna asks if psycho runs in her family, Wren clocks her. Little Jenna and Wren share blows. Wren punches Noah when he grabs her. Antony and Wren leave together while Noah takes off by himself. All the other teens crack up laughing as they replay the video. Taz orders them to delete the video. Ashley steps in to stop a fight from breaking out as Taz walks away.

Wren claims Roche is talking to her. Taz says a girl named Alyssa did the same thing to Roche, utilizing similar hashtags. Alyssa and Roche did the same things. Wren receives a text that reads, “Come with me if you want to live tomorrow 12pm.” Antony tells them it’s in Manchester. Taz this is proof that it isn’t Red Rose. She tells them that she will do it.

Roche says, “I did it because of you.” Wren tells her that she isn’t Roche. The voice assures her that she was only doing as told like she will do. Ashley curses as the episode ends.

 

Red Rose Review

Taz found out about Alyssa. Like Rochelle, Alyssa also committed suicide after downloading the Red Rose app. It is unclear if Wren will follow in their footsteps. Rochelle’s friends didn’t believe her, so they are not taking any chances with Wren.

The acting continues to improve. Each member of the cast is given ample airtime to bring their characters to life. I like how the airtime is divvied out fairly, which is unusual.

The cinematography is unchanged. The messages are only visible if you zoom in. It was a bit annoying with a new message popping up every few minutes.

It’s beginning to look like the culprit is a hacker. Whether the hacker is close to the group is another question. Who lured Antony to Crompton Park? Was it the same person running the Red Rose app?

The episode deserves a 6. Get more Red Rose recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.