Also sheds some light on why Cobel was trying to get so close to Mark outside of Lumon. Based on her conversation with Sissy, it seems like she’s been anti-Lumon for quite some time, perhaps trying to take them down from the inside. Your theory about Raghabi is interesting; if she is still in bed with Lumon, unclear why reintegrating Mark would be an advantage for them. Of course, still a lot more to be revealed.3dender wrote: ↑07 Mar 2025 07:56 amidk, I don't think they coulda done much better without taking away a lot of screentime from more interesting characters. She has always been the least interesting character for me but I don't think that's the writer's fault, it's just that everyone else has much more obvious conflict going on. Most of her heel turn has clearly occurred off screen, and this episode just lets us know that's what's happening so that it's much less jarring when she swoops in to help Mark and Devon. At least that's how I take it.MikoTython wrote: ↑07 Mar 2025 07:22 amHer 'heel turn' isn't very convincing. If she put her heart & soul into enslaving people, just because she got kicked to the curb, she's now an emancipator ? There isn't even an attempt to show any actual change of heart, just an accumulation of resentment. The narrative does, however, show the origins of her emotional isolation, the manipulations of her environs. I guess, all that aside, her 'experitise' sets her up to be the uber de-severer. Her character is written sloppily, imo.3dender wrote: ↑07 Mar 2025 05:02 am E8 kind of a dud in my family's opinion. I see why it was necessary to learn Cobel's backstory, and that she's definitely anti Lumon now and likely to be instrumental in whatever rebellion takes place. I just wish it hadn't come in a way that totally slammed the brakes on all the momentum building from E7.
E.g. I would have preferred they intersperse the first 2/3 of this episode over a couple of the previous episodes, say E5 and E6, then leave all the Sissy's house stuff for part of this episode while the majority would be occupied by more interesting goings on back at Lumon. Oh well.
And the episode synopsis "discoveries are made" is puzzling.
I do think this ep does well with the subtle storytelling that this series is so good at, like her looking at the ether addict as she brushes her teeth, and commenting about how run down the town looks. Clearly it's solidifying for her that her decision to rebel is the correct one. And honestly this episode even subverts the audience belief that the altar in her home was about her reverence for Lumon... now we understand that it was for her anti-Lumon mother and may have even been a sign of rebellion against Lumon. We now have no idea how long she's actually been against Lumon.
This ep is also interesting in that we learn that Reghabi was wrong about Cobel. We just don't know if it's because she was ignorant (i.e. puncturing her sort of all-knowing aura of doctor genius) or if it's because she was actively trying to keep Devon/Mark from connecting with an ally. I'm guessing it's the former but the latter would open up all sorts of interesting tangents with Reghabi secretly working for Lumon the whole time.
The little details are also so cool. In Sissy’s room, she had dolls of the four figures from the waffle party. Ending the episode with Fire Woman from The Cult, on point.
