Episode 7 of Clickbait's inaugural season once again reorients the narrative spotlight, this time zeroing in on Nick's son, Ethan, whose world at school has been thrown into disarray by the aftermath of his father's ordeal. The corridors echo with awkward silences as his friend Rose shuns him, and Kai finds himself embroiled in a confrontation with a peer who takes a malicious delight in baiting their family.
That evening, around the dinner table, tensions simmer as Pia drops a bombshell revelation: Simon is not the culprit. Her doubts about the entire situation deepen, casting a shadow over Sarah's untimely death. Given Nick's traumatic experience of discovering his own father's suicide, the specter of a false accusation looms large. So, who is luring Nick into this web of deceit, and for what sinister purpose?
Ethan's virtual sanctuary with his online confidante, Alison, also begins to unravel, their exchanges of photos offering fleeting comfort amidst lingering unease. The nagging sensation that something is amiss refuses to subside.
Then, a message from Mandy Harrison arrives, shaking Ethan's world further. It transpires that she and Nick shared a prolific digital correspondence, yet their paths never crossed in the flesh. This revelation serves as a jarring twist, upending previous assumptions about Nick's character.
Meanwhile, Pia's quest for answers meets a dead end with Amiri, as the police have concluded their investigation, pinning the blame on Simon and moving swiftly to the next high-profile case. Unwilling to accept this premature closure, Pia zeroes in on Emma Beesly as the pivotal figure who holds the key to unlocking the truth.
Ethan's voice eventually resounds, calling out to Al_2005, his skepticism palpable as he wonders if this entire encounter is but a mirage. Urged onward, he ventures into a dubious neighborhood, where the truth materializes in the form of Alison, her appearance betraying the struggles she's enduring. She confesses, her tone laced with resignation, that she's taking a hiatus from her studies, her initial outreach to Ethan a solace sought amidst the shared grief over Nick's fate.
As their conversation deepens, Alison urges Ethan to seek out Emma Beesly, their connection underscored by family ties. A haunting audio clip of Nick's voice unravels a shocking revelation: Emma and Nick's paths never crossed as believed. Al, ever the observant one, captures this confessional moment in its entirety.
Meanwhile, Pia embarks on a quest to understand Tara's abrupt departure from volleyball, confronting Tara directly about the rumored feud that Jenny so avidly spread. But the truth is far more nuanced; Tara's turmoil stemmed from a vengeful ex, Matt Aldin, who had maliciously shared her images online, with Nick mistakenly caught in the crossfire.
Pia, stunned by this revelation, rushes to Matt's office, where she stumbles upon a digital trove of intimate photographs—Tara's vulnerability exposed, and Nick and Sophie's images entangled in the web of deceit.
Elsewhere, Sophie's decision to flee town with the children casts a pall over the proceedings, Kai's discontent echoing loudly, while Ethan finds himself caught between loyalty and the weight of a secret. In a moment of vulnerability, he unburdens himself to his mother, revealing the video recording and Emma's confession.
Kai, eavesdropping from the threshold, seizes upon this revelation, fueled by righteous indignation. He disappears, armed with a baseball bat, intent on confronting the elusive catfisher. As Pia confronts Matt in his lair, the pieces of the puzzle begin to shift, hinting that Matt might not be the sole orchestrator of these machinations.
So, if Matt isn't the culprit standing at the center of this web of deceit, then who holds the final key to unlock the truth? The mystery deepens, leaving the air heavy with anticipation and the promise of more revelations to come.
