Where we're at- Henderson's "suicide" is still fresh, but the real heat is starting to come from inside Joe's little circle. The cops and tabloids fade; Love, Forty, Candace, and Delilah all start closing in, whether Joe notices or not. Big beats- Love throws him a surprise party and keeps pushing for honesty. Joe's trying to act normal, but you can feel his secrets fighting to spill. Forty locks them in a 36-hour script-writing bender to adapt Beck's book. Coke, grand ideas, wild mood-swings - the works. It's hilarious until you realize Forty's piecing together Joe's crimes. Candace hovers around Forty, just smiling like, "Keep lying, Joe. I dare you." Every scene with her is a loaded gun. Joe's stuck with Forty. Delilah keeps pulling receipts on Henderson. She's setting up the handcuffs we'll see in a couple episodes.
Why this episode works-
It's L. A. noir in a hoodie - dim bars, shady producers, sunshine that feels fake.
Forty hits; James Scully makes him messy and heartbreaking.
No new murder needed - just everyone almost finding Joe out. Way tenser than the kill scenes.
Where it drags- It's a "move the chess pieces" hour. Good for binging; rough if you had to wait a week back in 2019. Candace could also use a clearer motive this episode - she's more vibe than story right now. MVP- Forty, hands down. He's comic relief one minute, tragic brother the next, and Penn Badgley has someone he can't predict. 8/10. Not the flashiest, but it's the pressure cooker that makes the last four episodes pop. Stick around for Forty's meltdown, Candace's ice-cold stare, and the creepy feeling that Joe's whole "fresh start" is already toast. Last thought to chew on- anyone who calls Joe "Will" in this episode is inviting him to lie one more time. Feels like the writers winding the timer on a bomb.
