Over the last five episodes, “Nine Perfect Strangers” has been gradually veering into unbelievable territory, but with the latest episode titled “Prague,” it seems the show has definitively jumped the shark. In this week’s installment, Masha was planning to employ her hallucinogenic abilities to introduce Tatiana to David Sharpe, her guest character. This intriguing premise promised a glimpse into the depths of Masha’s madness since Tatiana is just a figment of Masha’s drug-induced imagination. The idea was that by merging her hallucination with reality, Masha might finally snap, potentially offering insights into her character. Instead, I expected Masha to have a complete breakdown in this episode, possibly unveiling new aspects about her personality. However, the outcome didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
However, the series constructs a barrier around Masha to safeguard her from challenges, adversities, or unexpected events. After navigating through this disjointed and erratic portrayal of her history with David, two things become apparent: firstly, David, who initially harbored doubts and reservations, has now fully committed himself to Masha. He is captivated by her techniques, arguing that “more people should encounter this”. Secondly, he expresses sympathy for the fact that Masha has had to bear her guilt and sorrow over the years, alone, and feels compelled to take responsibility for his late, distant daughter retroactively. Moreover, he desires intimacy with Masha – both emotionally and physically, wanting to comfort and embrace her.
So far in the show, it’s become clear that most of the action takes place in the past, especially compared to the first season where the characters interacted more frequently. The second season has been structured with scenes at Zauberwald interspersed with flashbacks that delve into each character’s background and how they ended up at the retreat. I’ve mentioned before the drawbacks of this retrospective approach in my reviews. To this point, those flashbacks have provided some insight into the characters, even if it’s been rough around the edges: we understand why Sister Agnes holds herself responsible, why Brian feels humiliated. However, as David revisits his past with Masha through a device specifically designed for that purpose, what fresh insights are we gaining about them?
Even though we’ve uncovered a great deal, it seems none of it impacts our current situation regarding Masha. Suppose we hadn’t found out that she, apparently being from the Czech Republic rather than Russia, might have been targeted by Russian military intelligence forces – would this change anything about how we perceive her now? The distinction between disclosing and augmenting is important here: to reveal something, you must peel back layers. No additional details in Masha’s history can make her present actions more convincing. I wish the writers of “Strangers” put as much effort into exploring their central story – nine individuals at a psychedelic wellness retreat under the guidance of an eccentric yet gorgeous guru – as they do in crafting character backstories.
To put it another way, let’s rewind a bit. We find ourselves in Prague, and Masha is already settled in David’s room, proposing to embark on an intricate psychedelic exploration with him. If you recall from last week, Masha had shared that her time-travel device infused with psychotropic substances was yet to be tried out before it could be utilized for the guests. Without Martin having a clue, she selected David as the test subject. Once he’s comfortably lying down in the dark, she sets off his memories by narrating their first encounter.
Starting now, the show moves back and forth between scenes of their encounter in Prague in 2001 (during a flashback sequence that lasts for some time) and the current events at Zauberwald, where David frequently regains consciousness to grapple with the freshly experienced memories. Masha keeps tabs on his health status and comforts him, saying it’s “common to drift in and out of this illusion.” To help him return to the illusion after waking up, she employs sensory cues such as the scent of cigarettes or coffee, the sound of a news broadcast, and its visuals. In one of the episode’s most unusual instances, David lies powerless, drifting through his past, while Masha chants reassuringly: “This sensation is completely normal.
Initially, when Masha and David crossed paths, she wasn’t known as Masha Dmitrichenko; instead, she was Mila Zarutskova, a vibrant young producer for a Czech news broadcast. It was her sharp humor and self-assured demeanor that captivated David during their initial encounter, which took place when he was invited to discuss the role of his company in mending ties between Western economies and former Soviet nations like the Czech Republic. Their chance encounter on set eventually led them to a bar, where Masha disclosed her dream of becoming a journalist. This aspiration was the first of three unexpected professions that would span continents and fields, transforming her from a journalist into a successful entrepreneur (girlboss) and eventually a wellness influencer.
Masha and David enjoy a cozy evening in a luxurious hotel room. Over time, a certain hardness has developed within David; he always made it a point to call Peter, an 11-year-old boy, goodnight no matter where he was in the world back in 2001. However, the tender side of him resurfaces when he confesses to Masha that he’s never forgotten their shared moment. Before things get overly emotional, Masha suggests they move somewhere else. She increases his medication, describes a severe pain in his core, and sings the same lullaby she used to sing to Tatiana to sleep. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself in a hospital room with Masha holding their newborn child. Masha informs the nurse in front of David that Tatina’s biological father is unknown.
In the secluded sanctuary of Zauberwald, David poses a significant query to Masha. Why had she never shared with him about Tatiana? Their past connection was substantial enough for one person to have contacted the other, but Masha clarifies that she had no interest in his wealth and aimed to instill independence in her daughter instead. This instance illustrates how excessive backstory can simplify rather than enrich characters. David’s query sets the stage for a multitude of narrative opportunities: What if she had reached out to him, only to be ignored? What if there was an element of their encounter that wasn’t romantic, prompting her to maintain distance? What if she discovered something about him that made her wary? What if he behaved inappropriately? What if she was the one who acted improperly? What if he committed a wrongdoing? What if she did?
Instead, things become even more puzzling. Masha recounts her encounter with David years later in Prague. She had tried to reach out to him when she discovered he was in town, but he failed to recognize her while engrossed in a conversation with Sergei Ivanov. As we observe Mila observing David, he seems to emerge from a dream-like state and questions Masha’s tale: “What fictional story are you concocting? You’ve been influenced by too many Cold War spy novels; I believe this is all in your imagination.” Masha responds: “We’re in your imagination now, and this is very genuine.” This raises doubts about the entire bizarre espionage narrative that’s on the brink of unfolding. Could it be that Masha is inventing these memories as a form of revenge against David, as Helena had speculated? What other purpose could there possibly be beyond emotional torment? Can this scenario grow any more absurd?
It appears we’re in a situation where we need confirmation that this is indeed Masha’s twisted scheme, but in essence, Mila – now a journalist for a newspaper – decided to investigate Ivanov, uncover his dubious military contracts as a convoluted route to reaching David. However, her investigation put her in danger: Ivanov recognized her and made her a target. Menacing individuals started surveillance on her home and trailed her in vehicles.
at times it appears as if Masha is leading the way, and at others, it seems like they switch positions with Tatiana in front. By this point, though, these details are mere distinctions without a difference.
Towards the climax of the show, it’s unveiled that Martin has been secretly observing and eavesdropping on their entire conversation, including intimate moments, via concealed cameras in the room. This is during a pivotal moment when David expresses his intention to invest in Masha’s method and acknowledge past wrongdoings towards her, which, considering her background, would be challenging. Here’s a brief rundown of Masha’s life: she’s a single mother, possibly a fugitive from the Russians; she lost a child tragically, survived an assassination attempt, and has held roles as a journalist, a businesswoman, and a wellness advocate. However, despite these experiences, I still don’t feel like I understand Masha as a character, as she seems more like a compilation of events rather than a person. The episode concludes without Masha and David actually interacting, which was the main purpose of the trip.
Und So Weiter
One positive aspect of this episode was Nicole Kidman’s captivating portrayal during the Prague scenes. Free from the constraints of playing a character who already knows everything that is about to unfold, she was able to genuinely explore emotions such as falling for David, the nervousness of revealing one’s desires to a stranger, and the innocence of youth. For the first time, it seemed like we were witnessing Kidman truly act, rather than simply delivering lines. One of her most striking qualities as an actress is the haunting, cat-like quality of her eyes: when darkened, they exude a slightly unhinged quality, reminiscent of Bambi gone wild. This reminded me of the remarkable scene from Jonathan Glazer’s “Birth” where, during an opera performance, the full spectrum of human emotion seems to flicker across her face as the camera remains steadfast on her visage.
In “Prague”, our main character Masha encounters other guests primarily through Brian Tumkin’s Crabapple Clubhouse. Upon returning home one evening, Tatiana is found watching the same show on TV and practicing her English. Interestingly, the episode being aired depicts a young girl named Tina expressing her dream to become an astronaut to Brian.
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2025-06-11 12:54