In the eighth episode of Vladimir, M wakes up and frees Vlad, who she lies to about wanting to be dominated but ultimately did nothing. She also claims they tried to hook up because she told him about John and Cynthia's affair, and he dropped his phone in the toilet. She leaves him with the car service's number and he disappears in the morning. M believes she has made a mistake and texts John an apology, promising to be home soon.
At John's hearing, Lila's testimony reveals that she was naive and inexperienced, looked up to John, and was in a vulnerable place. She was hurt that he took advantage of her, but when it comes to M, she is vague and claims she was a good teacher. Sid realizes he was wrong, that Lila didn't pursue John but he took advantage of her. After the hearing, an upset Sid leaves, refusing to stay for the verdict. John finally agrees with M that it was a bad idea to get Sid involved. He also updates M that the reports were dismissed, and while he has been fired, he will still get his pension, which is a win in his eyes.
As for M and Vlad, they never actually hook up in the traditional sense. Vlad returns to the cabin after taking a walk in the morning and reveals that he slept well for the first time in 3 years and is inspired to write. M is confused and asks him outright about their relationship. He reveals that Cynthia left him with Phee and tried to kill herself. He wrote about it and it was quite good, but Cynthia threw it away as it's her story. He is upset that she is the one now distancing herself again by having an affair. He also confronts M about the text; his iPhone is connected to his Mac and shows the text she sent Cynthia. He also suspects her of roofing him but drops it and goes kayaking.
When he returns, he finds M's almost complete manuscript and asks about it. She claims it is her best work but she cannot figure out an ending. He suggests writing together and she is awkward as he simply focuses on his own work. While she barely gets anything done, he writes 12 pages. He asks if she ever had an affair with a student and she says yes. He resumes his writing and it confuses her further. He flirts with her all day and after dinner, he makes a move on her. But he tries to roleplay as a student hooking up with their teacher, which she is annoyed by and stops him. He keeps asking what she wants and she wishes he would just know without asking questions. He finally gets on the program and dominates her, and everything they do is exactly how she fantasized it. But once they are done, she kicks him out as she is inspired into writing an ending. It seems like she was only interested in him as a muse.
As time passes, John arrives at the cabin to check on M. Vlad and M confront him about their misunderstanding, but it's all a false alarm. John and Cynthia have been using Adderall and writing together. She had confessed to him that she wanted to return to her life and stop making it all about Vlad. Vlad is enraged since Cynthia is a recovering addict. He believes that everything has been about her, not him. With M lavishing him with attention, he was probably entertained by her chaotic actions.
Vlad calls Cynthia, but he's defeated when she explains that John makes her feel human. Unable to have the marriage he desires, he makes a move on M, saying she inspires him and suggesting they hook up once a week. But M refuses, as that's not what she wants anymore.
On the other hand, John is quite blasé about the whole thing and actually wants to recommit with M since they're on the same page about everything. They agree that desire isn't the end game but the power from being desired is. That's what fueled M's new book, and she believes it will be a big hit, which makes John happy. He asks to sleep with her, but she's still looking for a better ending for the whole thing. This suggests that she isn't interested in Vlad or John.
M writes that she feels like a character in John and Vlad's stories. The two men think they know how it will end, but she claims there are external forces at play. A fire breaks out when the cabin heater short-circuits. She wakes up John and Vlad, and while they struggle to open the back door which is stuck, she decides to choose her own life. She grabs her manuscript which is near the front door and runs out.
Outside, she tells us that her book is about an older woman obsessing over her younger male colleague. She then reveals that Vlad writes about a tender affair with an older professor. But her book does way better. She explains that she called 911 and they saved John and Vlad. The cabin explodes, and she wonders if the viewers believe her. The episode ends with Lizzo’s 'Truth Hurts' playing in the background. While it’s doubtful, it seems that M is telling the truth, and no one actually dies that night. That Vlad and John dying is just the new ending of her book.
