"This is the moment you enter the unknown."
Room 104 - Advance Preview
Room 104 is an anthology series created by the Duplass Brothers but directed by different people in a three-day time limit for each outing. Here we get to see what happens to the different people that pass through the Room 104 of an American motel. You're thrown into these stories midway through and, for the most part, you don't understand a thing that goes on in there.
The first episode features a young girl that has to babysit an unusual kid, though at first there are a few good minutes where you wonder if there even is a kid to begin with. There's also a writer worried about his life's work, a woman trying to transcend, and a housekeeper reconnecting with her younger self, among other stories.
There's an episode straight out of a horror movie where HBO is certainly not messing around, it's not about jump scares or running blood, it is about being left with a feeling of unease and a need to watch a comedy before bed, and for half-hour episodes, that quite a feat. But they're not all terrifying, some are a bit more fun, mostly, what they share is the overwhelming feeling that comes afterwards which mainly translates to: what the f*ck did just happen?
There are appearances by Orlando Jones (Sleepy Hollow), Spencer Garrett (Satisfaction), Sarah Hay (Flesh and Bone), Ross Partridge (Stranger Things), James Van Der Beek (Dawson's Creek), Mae Whitman (Parenthood), Keir Gilchrist (United States of Tara), Amy Landecker (Transparent) and even Jay Duplass himself. Sarah Hay is particularly mesmerizing, as she always is, but it won't surprise you that her episode is directed by choreographer Dayna Hanson.
Room 104 has a similar feel to Netflix's Easy, though this is a lot more watchable. And, to be honest, this usually means it's a mixed bag and you're going to enjoy some episodes more than others, but being half-hour episodes, that's a lot more manageable, but it also means you might end up watching a whole season of something that wasn't really all that interesting. In the end, it's up to you whether you're willing to give it a try, but if "WTF" is your thing, then you probably should.
Some quotes:
"Don't call my words dumb just because you don't understand them!"
"He says a lot of things, not all of them are true."
"Your computer? The whole thing?"
Watch Room 104 tomorrow night Friday 28th at 11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT.
