Based on a True Story Season 2 Episode 3: “Relapse” raises the stakes even higher when Ava considers the scary idea that Matt may have gone back to killing people. Based on the ending of Episode 2, where it looked like the Westside Ripper was going to strike again, this episode doesn’t waste any time introducing new threats and horrors. There is scary suspense, dark humor and emotional confrontations in this episode. It makes you wonder if Matt has really “relapsed” or if someone else is picking up where he left off.
Based on a True Story Season 2 Episode 3: Nightmare or Reality?
The episode starts in a scary apartment that is lit only in red. A woman is on the floor gasping for air as she looks toward a figure she can’t see. When the camera shows that the figure is Matt holding a knife, the moment is filled with fear. Before the screen goes black, he tells Ava (Kaley Cuoco) in a cold voice, “I’m back.”
Ava wakes up quickly—it was all a bad dream. Or did it? The loud news in the background, which says that the Westside Ripper is back, makes people doubt. This time, Matt killed a young journalist, and her death has all the signs of his other crimes. When Matt and Tory walk into the kitchen, Ava’s anxiety grows. She questions Matt right away about where he was at 2 a.m. He doesn’t seem to care about her worries—telling her that he passed out on her couch with Tory. Even though he seems unconcerned—Ava is still suspicious.
Ava’s Quest for the Truth
Ava asks her new friend Drew to go for a walk with her in the park because she wants to find out the truth. Ava tells Drew that she thinks the Westside Ripper might be someone close to her while their babies sleep in strollers. Drew tells Ava to trust her gut because he is always honest and down-to-earth. Drew says in jest, “If he’s the guy, maybe don’t confront him without backup,” which turns their conversation into something darkly funny.
When Ava starts to compare details from the news stories to how Matt acts—her paranoia gets worse. She sneaks through his things to see if there is any proof that he is connected to the murder. What she finds is both strange and scary—a bunch of random things that don’t seem to mean anything at first but could be trophies. As Ava takes pictures to study later, Matt walks into the room out of the blue, setting her heart racing. She just barely gets away without him noticing that she is looking around.
Nathan’s Trouble
At the same time, Nathan (Chris Messina) is busy with his failing job as a tennis coach. After getting Jaden’s help in the episode, Nathan tries to fix his reputation, but runs into more problems. His anger and desperation are similar to—Ava’s because he is having a hard time standing up for himself at work and in his personal life. Nathan still finds time to ask Ava about her fixation on Matt, which he says is because she is still stressed from giving birth. Ava fires back and tells him that he is willfully blind to the danger.
Nathan’s side story isn’t as exciting as Ava’s, but it’s a great balance to the murder mystery. His silly attempts to connect with Jaden and his other students are funny, but they’re also ironic because he has no idea that Ava is becoming more scared.
A Sinister Pattern
From the recent murders, Ava is able to piece together a disturbing pattern. Each of the victims looks a lot like Tory, Matt’s fiancée. She is becoming more and more sure that Matt is using Tory to hide his bad feelings. Ava is determined to do something, so she goes up to Matt and asks him directly why he’s kept things from the Westside Ripper case. Matt, who is surprisingly calm, says they are research materials for a book he is writing about his efforts to change. He tells her, “The best way to fight your demons is to face them.” Ava isn’t sure if she should believe him.
At the same time, Drew looks into the case for Ava and learns more about the journalist who was killed. Her report shows a link to Matt’s past: they both went to the same college and Matt was involved in a heated argument there many years ago. There is more and more evidence, but Ava doesn’t call the police because she’s afraid of what will happen to her family if she’s wrong.
The Cliffhanger
A suspenseful ending builds up the episode to a climax. Tory talks Matt into going to a community event with her, so Ava can go investigate on her own. . She discovers an old diary among Matt’s things, containing cryptic entries that suggest premeditation. Before she can process the implications, Ava hears noises from outside. She looks out the window and sees —DREW—arguing with a figure in the dark. huh!
When Ava runs outside, she sees that Drew is gone and that there is a bloody object on the ground. It is the—bracelet that Ava had seen Drew wearing earlier. She feels scared as she realizes that the danger may be closer than she thought. As the screen goes black, Ava whispers, “What have I done?” Making everyone eagerly wait for the next episode.
Based on a True Story Episode 3 of Season 2 is a masterclass in suspense, combining dark humor with psychological tension in a way that works perfectly. The audience is always on edge because Ava is always looking for the truth and Matt is acting in a mysterious way. There are more bodies being found and more secrets are being revealed. This story is far from over. Will Ava find out about Matt before it’s too late — or is she just following shadows while the real killer is free?
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