I found this episode disappointing. When I saw the first episode, "arrivals", I thought that the characters were a bit unidimensionally written just for purpose of a quick introduction, and that their complexities would be subtly developed in the show, so I gave the episode a 7/10. And while the show's pace really does seem perfect fot "subtlety", changes are presented bluntly and with little to no development. I'm giving this episode a 4, because I think it's very poorly written.
Spoilers ahead to illustrate my point.
For the teenagers subplot:
While I was watching all of the "dreamy-druggy" scenes between Olivia and Paula I thought "I have not watched Euphoria, but this is what I think Euphoria must look like". And what do you know (well, yo do know if you've watched Euphoria), Sydney Sweeney was actually in Euphoria. In the first episode they looked like obnoxious teenagers with a bit of self awareness, but the writing... the girls are bored and they don't have drugs... oh, but wait! They just forgot they had a truckload of drugs in their handbags! Including ketamine simply placed inside a pill container, that must've not been seen at any custom's x-ray, along with a water pipe that, while not illegal to transport, would normally encourage airport security to check your bag. Not here, clearly. I get the appeal of "teenagers taking drugs" for certain segments of audience, just don't be so lazy in the writing.
Paula is very overtly flirtatious with a hotel employee, in several ocations. Every time, Olivia feels the need to ask about it. Every time, Paula feels the need to deny everything. I get why Olivia is so territorial, she clearly feels like more than friends with Paula. But why would Paula, if she knows Olivia will have a negative reaction to it (and I'm assuming she knows because of, you know, all that denial), so overtly flirt right in front of Olivia?
In this episode, also, their obnoxiousness goes to the highest level. They can't have a conversation with anyone but themselves that isn't basically constant verbal abuse or passive agressive behaviour.
Tanya walks up to them and they run away, leaving their "Magic Bag" behind. Tanya grabs it, she gives it to an employee, the employee gives it to Armand. Later on instead of going up to Tanya with a simple "have you seen the bag we left behind while talking to you?", which would resolve the entire thing, they go straight to Armand. Which comes in handy because...
We begin the episode with a conversation about Armand being in a five year sober streak. This was just setup, for Armand decides to keep the bag of drugs for himself. But Armand is clearly a seasoned vet in tending to the needs of rich spoiled adult-babies... does it take just a couple of inconviniences to make him lose his edge and go back to his old self? Without more context, I can't buy into it.
Well, maybe, if the adult-baby in question is Shane "Plop" Patton. This character is by far the worst, most lazily written person in the whole resort. Everything he does, every word that comes out of his mouth is solely uttered for the purpose of making us hate him. There's absolutely not a single scene where we might get a glimpse of what the hell did Rachel saw in this guy. But her reactions to Shane make me think that maybe they were dating for months by mail, and this is the first time they see each other, because she is as appalled as we are by every action of her husband. The only thing he does on camera is be the worst imaginable person. Let me ask you a question which involves an irrelevant spoiler for the first minutes of the next episode: So Rachel and Shane are having some morning "breakfast before breakfast". Shane finishes his breakfast, but do you think he is aware that Rachel hasn't? Of course not, because, remember kids: we... must... hate... Shane.
In hospitality, an employee would NEVER sit down to eat with a guest with all the other guests and coworkers around. But in this hotel Belinda clearly can do anything she wants, like leaving her front desk position to give an hour long massage to a guest, or well, just act like a guest herself.
Anyway, I could ramble on but I'll go finish watching the third one, maybe I'm nitpicking and there's something good ahead.
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