Also known as "Heads you're paranoid, tails but they're actually out to get you." (And you thought the purple rock svcked?) Oh, Chase -- trusting producers in the first place? Grow a genre savvy. But they've pushed their luck a little too far with their repeating storylines. In the original season? Pictures of someone's rear as personal item sabotage. In the sequel? Something which emerged from that area. What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing and expecting different results. What's the definition of being a network executive? Doing the same thing and expecting the same results. Which in this case happens to be insane. Go figure.Personally, I knew they were in trouble when he said "What is going on?"
We know what happened the last time a Schmo got this suspicious: Ingrid. And this time, there is no backup plan available. When they had two subjects, they could play Discard And Draw -- and did. Here, Chase is the only one, and it's looking like it's about time to leave deception's warm money transfers into a Nigerian bank for the reveal's Stop Payment order.
Except that we've been lied to before. There were times it seemed as if Matt was growing a clue, and it never quite came together. Chase is farther along than MKG ever was: he's writing stuff down, and terrifying the entire mansion with each successive word. Could he be reeled back? Sure: the mark is still immersed in the game. But he's starting to suspect rigged cards. And if any more bent-corner queens flip over...
How closely can they stick with the original script? We've seen more over-the-top quits than Allison's from real contestants, dirtier actions than her supposed passing shot -- but they were likely looking to venture further into the surreal, and now everything will get his scrutiny. Pull it too far back and the show's entertainment value is gone: keep pushing and he might break.
My first suspicion is that they'll manage to finish. But I'm really tempted to peak ahead in the listings and check the episode count.
We know they've got at least one more.
You really have to admire the crew's ability to read upside-down cursive.