Episode 8 of "Grotesquerie" kicks off with Merritt delivering a passionate speech about her groundbreaking method for treating cancer. Soon after, Dr. Witticomb enters the scene, introducing himself and hinting at his expertise in Neuroimaging—a technique akin to lucid dreaming in a transitional state, which he believes holds the potential to rouse individuals from comas. Lois's name is mentioned in this context, sparking hope that this could indeed be the key to awakening her from her slumber. And indeed, it has proven fruitful.
Lois now finds herself in the midst of physical therapy, battling to regain her footing. Charlie's arrival, however, brings a storm of confusion. In her current state, Lois cannot distinguish between reality and her dreams, mistaking Charlie's intentions as hostile—perhaps a haunting aftermath of his desperate attempts to save her when she suffered cardiac arrest upon waking.
Marshall, on the other hand, is grappling with an emotional whirlwind upon learning of Lois's revival. He has reached a decision: to divorce Lois. He conveys this to Redd that afternoon, with a sense of finality. Redd urges him to do it for his own well-being, rather than as a reaction to Lois's condition, but the wheels of separation have already been set in motion. Despite the pain, Marshall's motivations seem noble.
Elsewhere, Dr. Witticomb engages in a profound conversation with Megan Duval, delving into Lois's fragile mental state and the haunting case of Andrea Salana. Lois's handling of the case was erratic, earning her a stern rebuke from Megan. Their professional relationship was strained, leading to a heated altercation on the eve of Megan's retirement party.
Lois had toyed with the idea of returning to work post-retirement, but Megan's emphatic disapproval dashed those hopes. Now, the doctor speculatively wonders if the physical altercation—a punch that left a purple bruise, mirroring the ones on Andrea—triggered distressing flashbacks for Lois, exacerbating her mental turmoil.
Megan's current life is a stark contrast to her image as a thriving church journalist. She is entangled with Justin, a man who not only expects her to cater to his every need but also subjects her to abuse.
This lingering dilemma reaches a boiling point when Megan takes decisive action. She retrieves a firearm and, in a fit of rage, hurls scalding noodles at him before storming out. Her destination? None other than the enigmatic motel from Lois's haunting vision, where the water glistens with an eerie violet hue.
Dr. Witticomb, eager to lend a helping hand to Lois, emphasizes his intimate understanding of her emotional landscape and the precise moment her mind etched this vision. Initially, upon waking, Lois had unveiled much about her dreams to him, though the memories now elude her grasp.
Witticomb's focus initially sharpens on Merritt's wellbeing and her aspiration to appear on the television show "Half-Ton Trauma." He ponders whether this yearning stems from a shameful complex towards her daughter, whom Megan perceives as a sanctimonious figure, prompting her to dress her in the habit of a nun. Moreover, he introduces the concept of "Grotesquerie" as the totem reflecting Lois's perception of the world's distorted nature. Perhaps, this is the voice of PTSD echoing from the harrowing cases she once grappled with.
The affair with Ed, it seems, was a spontaneous occurrence, driven merely by his presence, aligning eerily with the dreams where he materializes unbidden at a bench. As for Charlie, his menacing presence in her dreams stems from his threats to terminate her life, suggesting that Lois was acutely aware of him and thus manifested him in this chilling manner.
Marshall's girlfriend, a nurse embodying a sinister archetype, was not harbored with malice in Lois's heart, as she herself acknowledges. In fact, she never truly harbored hatred towards her. Instead, Lois begins to decipher the language of her dreams and how they intertwine with her reality, with Witticomb guiding her through this intricate maze. Even the "get well" balloon, a symbol from her dreams, finds its way into her waking life.
Outside the hospital, Megan offers to chauffeur Lois home, quickly clarifying that she harbors no ill will. She wonders aloud why Lois portrayed her as a murderer in her dreams. A humorous, yet poignant, conversation unfolds between them as they clash over their generational disparities, each voicing their unique perspectives with unwavering conviction.
Unfortunately, this whole mess originates from Andrea. She had placed her trust in Lois, but unfortunately, this bond shattered when Andrea was implicated in the family's lawsuit against the department. As their paths diverged, Lois urged her to extricate herself from the situation while she still could, a subtle hint towards her abusive relationship with Justin.
Lois persevered with her physical therapy, but amidst her recovery, she harbored a desire to mend her strained relations with her family. The first step on this path was to reconcile with Merritt. The entire saga brought her dreams back to the forefront, prompting her to apologize for her behavior during her dream-like state.
However, no words could sufficiently compensate for the harm she had inflicted. Merritt responded by delivering a harsh slap across her mother's face. She believed that spending time amidst psychopaths and killers had tainted Lois. She branded her insane and a substandard mother, eventually hurling curses at her and forcing Lois to leave the house.
