Based on a True Story – Season 1 Episode 7 “National Geographic” Recap & Review

National Geographic

Episode 7 of Based on a True Story starts off with yet another dreamscape scene. This time, Nathan is fantasizing about Ruby coming to the house and discussing the podcast. The idea is great – creating their own platform and charging a monthly subscription fee. She starts to “go down on him” as Nathan sees McEnroe seeking his attention in the same room. His reverie breaks when Ava walks in and he lays his idea to Matt and her. Matt is on board with the idea. He also has suggestions of his own to incorporate into the platform, which includes a “premium service.”

“Fresh, exclusive content for subscribers.” That means more murders, which Matt confesses he misses. The Bartletts once again dissuade him from doing so. But his hunger is clearly getting the better of him. He also gets upset when Nathan rejects his offer to “throw darts” at the bar they frequent.

Nathan and Ava have a fight over McEnroe, with the former indirectly blaming the latter for not letting him “get the dog out.” But the fight is really about something else – their failing marriage. Ava gets her turn to touch base with the dreamscape and have a fantasy about Ryan in the shower.

Tory sees her and she tells her about him. But the younger sister warns her that it can get out of hand because of her and Ryan’s proximity in these situations.  When she is showing him a house,  he gets in a shower and Ava comes clean about her fantasies. She is relieved and embarrassed as Ryan washes his hands of any feelings for her.

Michelle confronts Nathan about Matt. He vouched for him and now Matt has dumped Michelle, calling her a “dead end.” Nathan thinks that Michelle is Matt’s new target but he is taken by the Ripper.

Actually, Matt wanted to surprise Nathan with a game of darts at the bar. They have a strange conversation about “sacrifices” and “making things right.” Matt wants Nathan to feel no guilt about what happened to McEnroe. He also wants Ava and Nathan’s marriage to revive but for that, the podcast has to work and he has to kill again. Nathan sees right through his manipulations and punches him before trying to strangle him on the ground.

When Nathan comes back, Ruby shows up – for real this time. She discusses the podcast and asks Nathan to convince Ava to include her as well. Ruby tactfully tries to exploit Nathan’s underlying attraction to her and it works as he asks Ava to do so. But she vehemently denies his idea and says they will deal with the problem when it arises. It is Nathan’s turn to put on the blindfold and he takes Ava to the new Malibu beach house they have always dreamed of. Ava is less than content and this greatly upsets Nathan.

He expresses his frustration at Ava’s obsession with his inadequacy and their dire financial strait. He feels that is the reason she has undermined him and grown tired of their marriage. But Ava fights back by saying her beef is with the fact that Nathan lost ambition and stopped trying to make their life better. As she is about to walk away angrily, a surprise awaits her as she opens the door: Ruby’s dead, bloodied body with a “blue dart” in her neck, the same one that Matt held just a few hours ago. The Ripper has struck again!

The Episode Review

This was coming sooner rather than later. Ruby’s murder has arrived at a pivotal point in the series. The underlying tension of Matt’s “thirst for blood” was becoming a problem. It threatened to surface on many occasions and manifest in yet another act of violence. But no one would have expected it to have been Ruby.

Priscilla Quintana has been very well received by the viewers. Seeing her go is definitely a downer. But what is even more remarkable throughout is how soulless the Bartletts have been. Tory was spot on as she pointed out that the “interviewers” were even sicker than the Ripper himself in not only facilitating the sustenance of a monster but also profiting from it.

The makers have a lot of fun with these realistic dreamscapes that keep the lightheartedness of the narrative improbabilities alive. We are yet to see any semblance of a police investigation as the sole focus has been the front-facing view. Will the finale change that and put the Ripper to the swords of justice, or will this game of cover-up continue to enthral us and further emaciate the protagonists?