Episode 3 of "Nine Perfect Strangers" dawns with our ensemble awakening from a whirlwind of events that have unfolded over the past few days. As Jessica and Ben succumb to the throes of passion, Heather finds herself indifferent to Napoleon's advances, leaving him high and dry. Meanwhile, Napoleon's about to have a one-on-one consultation with Masha, and he's surprisingly upbeat.
Delilah, on the other hand, harbors reservations about the retreat's progress, convinced that their participants are still unprepared. Masha dismisses her concerns with a wave of her hand and proceeds to gear up for day three, kicking it off with a refreshing smoothie for breakfast. Gathered around the table, Lars, true to the moniker I've bestowed upon him – "the Spoon Stirrer" – stirs a cauldron of troubles among the residents. He dives headfirst into Ben and Jessica's marital woes, stirring up a hornet's nest.
Enter Yao, who brings a timely distraction in the form of a potato sack race! But Lars, ever the provocateur, stirs the pot further, unearthing Carmel's latent fury with a crass remark. Tony, too, harbors a seething cauldron of rage and grief, exacerbated by his drug addiction. Flashbacks to his tumultuous past unveil haunting revelations, including a football match where he was stretchered off the field, a poignant reminder of his inner turmoil.
As we delve deeper into the narrative, we uncover that Tony is, in fact, a renowned player, albeit retired from his former moniker of "Smiley" – an ironically fitting nickname in hindsight, considering our current understanding of him. Following the conclusion of the sack race, Napoleon arrives to meet Masha in a private setting, where we are informed of Zack's tragic self-imposed exit, a loss that has profoundly impacted Heather. Napoleon, adopting a stance of clinical detachment, chooses to focus solely on the bare facts, refusing to let the sorrow seep into his heart. Yet, despite his apparent scientific dispassion, his body language tells a different tale, betraying his true emotions.
Masha, sensing his internal conflict, urges Napoleon to close his eyes, leading him to a vision of his son. Yet, Napoleon, deceiving even himself, denies the experience, and abruptly terminates the session, fleeing from his grief. It is patently clear that he must confront his sorrow, yet the timing feels all wrong.
Elsewhere, Delilah, seeking to foster a deeper connection with the land, exhorts the girls (isolated from the boys in this particular session) to immerse themselves nude in the river. Among them, only Heather obeys, her courage a stark contrast to the self-conscious reservations of her peers. On the riverbank, tensions escalate between Carmel and Jessica, particularly when Carmel scathingly criticizes Jessica over her Instagram profile, igniting a fiery spat between the two.
In the soothing embrace of the hot spring, where poetic irony abounds, the girls' conversation eventually steams down to the intimate details of their sex life. For Zoe, the discourse is nothing short of excruciating, particularly when Heather confides that it has been three long years since she shared a lovemaking session with Napoleon. The spark has fizzled, and it becomes evident that after Zack, rekindling the same depth of intimacy with her husband has proven a formidable challenge.
Elsewhere, the men venture off with Yao in search of sustenance, their quest turning the spotlight from Tony onto Ben as Lars grills him about the source of his wealth. It transpires that Ben struck gold, quite literally, winning a whopping $22 million in the lottery—a windfall that utterly transformed and disrupted his life. Meanwhile, Lars persists in his undermining demeanor, belittling everyone around him until, united in purpose, the men successfully hunt and slay an animal. Having embarked on a journey to survive off the land, they have undeniably accomplished their mission. However, for Masha, the revelation stirs depths unseen beneath her forced smile.
Though she offers her congratulations, her hurried retreat into her room betrays her true emotions as she begins to breathe heavily. Yao, sensing her distress, seeks her out, offering heartfelt condolences for her unseen loss.
As day transitions into night, our once unfamiliar faces find solace in a communal dance by the crackling fire. The ambiance has undeniably shifted, and Lars, too, perceives the alteration, his frustrations boiling over as he confronts Delilah about more items being missing from his chamber. Yet, this altercation is swiftly overshadowed by the grand goat banquet that draws everyone's attention.
Napoleon rises to his feet, poised to address the gathering, and in a poignant moment of vulnerability, confesses that Zack's passing is a burden he bears alone. He acknowledges that if he hadn't dismissed his alarm and attended to Zack when duty called, Heather would not have endured such heart-wrenching pain. This confession serves as a therapeutic outlet, forcing Napoleon to confront his grief directly—a resolution Heather had deeply desired.
The subsequent silence, heavy with contemplation, gives Heather the cue to turn to Masha with a querying glance, wondering aloud if perhaps they've all been given something to ease their minds. Masha's wry smile, in return, confirms her suspicion without words.
