The sixth episode of Season 2 of "Nine Perfect Strangers" kicks off with Helena immersed in worry, convinced that David is toying with Masha's delicate emotions. Masha, whose fragility is pronounced especially when witnessing David with his family, harbors a complex mix of affection and resentment towards him. Unbeknownst to others, her tumultuous feelings serve as a subtle manipulation to entice David into investing in their struggling business, a desperate attempt to extricate them from their financial quagmire. Helena's gentle proposition of forgiveness meets with Masha's harsh rejection; instead, Masha advocates for shifting their focus to testing Peter next.
Elsewhere, Imogen awakens in the music room, Tina by her side, while Matteo is struck with panic upon witnessing airplanes soaring overhead, soon revealing a haunting undercurrent. Beneath Victoria's veneer of a carefree, spontaneous spirit lies a harrowing truth. Confined to her bed and wasting away daily, she surrounds herself with bottles of pills, her condition a closely guarded secret from Imogen. Matteo, more than just her lover, is her devoted caregiver, burdened by her silence. She struggles to find the right moment to confide in Imogen that she is terminally ill.
Meanwhile, Brian rouses Agnes from slumber with a whimsical marionette puppet, their playful adoption of religious symbolism—he as an angel, she as a devil—infusing the otherwise bleak season with a touch of humor.
When David seeks Peter's counsel regarding Masha's narrative, Peter harbors doubts. He fears David is being duped once more, his skepticism rooted in past traumas. It transpires that Peter's skepticism stems from deeper issues; he is hallucinating under Masha's influence. In a fit of rage and delirium, he storms into the dining room, only to be calmed by Masha's arrival. She elucidates that his outbreak is a therapeutic exercise, employing prompts to evoke and confront core traumas. Combined with medication, this process facilitates a collective exploration of past wounds and the cultivation of new, healthier responses to those haunting memories.
With Peter stumbling around in a daze, and Masha clarifying that David stands "on the opposite shore," Peter ultimately locates his father. Sensing a prime opportunity, David believes that partnering with Peter could turn this venture into their own. Meanwhile, Masha urges Matteo and Imogen to undergo the treatment next, whereas Victoria, quite tellingly, declines the hallucinogens. It's now evident why (despite her earlier willingness to ingest mushrooms three episodes back?)—the drugs would clash with her ongoing treatment.
Matteo, who lost both his parents in a drone strike while they were teaching, bears the scar of that tragedy. Sister Agnes was also present, offering solace to the affected children. These very drones were crafted by Victoria's husband. The web of connections becomes crystal clear, elucidating why Matteo figures prominently in Masha's scheme, as fleeting visions of Victoria watching the news attest.
Remarkably, Matteo doesn't flinch from confronting his pain. He yearns for his family daily, yet he understands that life encompasses more. Touched by his resilience, Masha decides to halt his "treatment."
Imogen awakens to find Victoria in cardiac arrest, unresponsive due to an adverse reaction to the unadjusted medication. Whether she possesses the strength to counteract its effects remains uncertain. Upon discovering that Matteo is actually her caregiver, Imogen is taken aback.
Elsewhere, Helena lambasts Masha for neglecting her duties concerning this project. She demands the mess be rectified and the retreat concluded, but Masha stands firm. It is here that a startling revelation unfolds: Helena never truly existed and passed away in 2022.
