- Dariel Ynoa De La Cruz
The Crowded Room | "Sanctuary" | Episode 2 Recap & Review
In episode two of The Crowded Room titled "Sanctuary", the viewers are taken on a captivating experience of unraveling the mystery of the boarding house and the impact it has on Danny's life.
Scene Recap - Exploring the boarding house
The episode starts with Rya going to the boarding house to inspect Danny's earlier living situation. Setting an off-putting vibe as she journeys through the house, she finds it empty. Not only greeted with emptiness but she's also followed by strange noises that Rya and the audience aren't able to entirely make out. Going upstairs she
finds blood splattered across the wall next to Ariana's room and a bullet hole that had shattered a part of a window. Panicked by the sight and the eerie noises still lingering in the house Rya quickly makes her exit but not before she finds Danny's sketchbook. We get a cut to the interview room where Rya continues questioning Danny asking him why he had the gun in the first place. In response, he says to save Ariana. In the show's fashion, it leaves the viewers questioning, what exactly was he trying to save her from?
Scene Recap - Danny's new home
Next we see Danny wake up in the boarding house. Woken up by the sound of knocking at the front door and Marlin's voice asking for Danny. Yitzhak asks Danny that if he wants to stay at the boarding house he's going to have to "handle" Marlin. Danny
meets Marlin outside who's accompanied by Candy his mother looking distressed and concerned for Danny. Marlin questions the reasoning for Danny being there and demands he return home. Before Danny can respond Yitzhak steps in and takes shots at Marlin's negative demeanor towards women and the way that he speaks to Candy, calling him a bully and a coward.
Marlin confused by the confrontation takes his leave along with Candy who can do nothing but stare. She asks if he will be safe in the boarding house. Danny reassures her that he will be and the family parts ways. Besides the conversation between Marlin and Danny in episode 1, this is the first time we see both Candy and Danny fearing
Marlin giving us an insight into the awful man Marlin is. Serving as a sort of confirmation of our original suspicions of Marlin.
Scene Recap - Danny and Ariana's twisted relationship
The next few scenes consist mostly of Danny and Ariana starting to meet and talk with each other, seeing the start of Danny and Ariana's relationship begin to grow. Gradually as they both take roles as spectators of each other's lives. The act of simply offering Danny food after his talk with Marlin shines a light of gratefulness across Danny's face. Ariana is a night owl as Danny calls her. She’d come home in the morning around the same time as Danny woke up either drunk, high, agitated, or all three mashed together. Danny believes that under the strong bad-ass girl attitude she puts on, she is truly someone with a kind heart who acts the way she is due to hardships and troubling circumstances.
Scene Recap - An unexpected encounter
During a shopping trip to the grocery store, Danny runs into a familiar face, Annabelle. They spend a bit catching up as Annabelle is in college now and isn't around often. Before Annabelle leaves Danny invites her to the boarding house for a party that he made up to edge her to come. Jonny runs into Danny outside the supermarket and offers to bring substances and the people to the party as long as Danny brings the house. Strange saying but funny nevertheless. Cut to the party at the ghost house where Ariana joins the mix and parties alongside Danny's friends. As the night goes on, Danny and Annabelle begin to grow closer taking their chemistry upstairs to his room. Their moment alone is interrupted by Ariana who unexpectedly joins the passionate encounter and seemingly takes Annabelle away from Danny.
Scene Recap - Ariana's secrets begin to unfold
After the party, Danny and Ariana clean up then head off to get something to eat. Ariana slowly begins to open up to Danny. Not sharing everything but we start to get bits and pieces about her life. Later that night leaving a movie theater a stranger attempts to stop them, seeming to know Ariana. After a scrawl with the stranger, Ariana breaks off from Danny leaving him. After Danny is fast asleep, we see Ariana getting dressed and attending parties, late- night raves, drinking the night away, flirting, and dancing with random people alike of various genders. Ariana's sexuality is explored through her intimacy with Jerome and a new girl Grace. The night takes a turn as she is confronted by Jerome for having made out with someone else, where she then breaks his heart and runs off.
Review - Episode 2 "Sanctuary"
Season 1, Episode 2 of The Crowded Room gives us a suspenseful episode that keeps you enthralled. Compared to episode 1, we get to explore the roots of the boarding house. Although it's clear that there's much to learn about the "Ghost House", Akiva Goldsman the creator of the series gives us just enough to feel satisfied with its being but not enough to just outright spoil its attachment to the story.
The relationships between the characters, especially Danny, Yizthak, and Ariana are all complex yet intriguing. The level of emotional turmoil is less compared to episode 1 showcasing moments of pleasure and excitement, visibly showing our depressed and troubled characters having moments of peace. Once again leaving us with more questions... Why does Yitzhak seem to care so much for Danny? What is it that Danny sees in Annabelle that he is willing to start seeing her again? How the hell does Jonny seem to have everything that Danny needs? Those
connections that each character has with Danny, although different, all tie the story together.
Overall, the storytelling of the series thus far is admirable. It's compelling yet not overbearing, leaving the audience with little to predict and more to expect. Just as every good story should thrive to be.
Catch episodes 1-8 available now on Apple TV+