Five Bedrooms – Season 2, Episode 7 (Three Messages)
This episode was all about emotions and I’ll be reviewing it character by character.
Harry – As the episode mostly focused on and was narrated by Harry, I’ll start with him. The episode kicks off with Harry revealing that he was tasked with the job of telling everyone the news of Evie’s passing. We see him telling Manju first, who immediately throws out the food she was cooking for Ainsley, to cook a different meal to improve her chances of conceiving again. We then see him thank Colin for bringing over a milk crate filled with food, and reluctantly thanking Stuart for his drop off, which actually turns out to be booze since he figured that they’d have heaps of food drops.
When Stuart agrees to help Ben and Simmo finish the nursery for Ainsley (which I’ll get to), Harry tells Liz it’s not appropriate for him to be there, only for Liz to call out Harry on the fact that Xavier isn’t here and he hasn’t spoken to him in the two days since Evie’s passing. When he calls and gets Xavier’s voicemail again, he leaves the house in frustration. He goes to the bar where Xavier works and finds out from one of his workmates that he’s had a few days off but will be back at work in the afternoon. He then goes to Xavier’s flat and when he doesn’t answer the door, he calls and lashes out, but does apologise at the end of the call. He then makes a second phone call, lashing out again. When he gets back to his car and his phone rings, Liz is calling to let him know Xavier has showed up at the house. Harry asks Liz to find Xavier’s phone and hide it until he gets home.
While Liz manages to get a hold of Xavier’s phone, he catches her in the act. Harry arrives home and asks him not to listen to the messages, admitting to lashing out at him, and asks that he delete them. Instead Xavier listens to them, where it’s revealed that the second message Harry left him had basically accused him of cheating with multiple men. When they get into an argument, Xavier tells him he was working and Harry calls him out on his pride in having an open relationship, all of which Manju witnesses. Manju and Xavier both leave.
After Ainsley returns home, Harry gets a phone call from Xavier. Xavier tells him that Manju broke up with Martin, locked him out of the house and is in a cooking frenzy, suggesting she is having a breakdown. When Harry gets there, he finds Martin waiting outside, who tells him that he told Manju about his own open relationships in the 70s. When Harry goes in and has a heart-to-heart with Manju, she reveals that she experienced miscarriages both before and after he was born, and her concerns for his happiness. He reassures her that he is trying to find what makes him happy.
Later Harry goes to see Xavier at the bar and they finally talk. Xavier knows Harry is uncomfortable in an open relationship but refuses to be monogamous. Harry points out that their entire relationship has been on his terms and how unfair it is to not even consider monogamy, and they break up. Harry leaves the bar and calls Liz to vent, only to hear Stuart’s voice and hangs up.
Ainsley – This episode didn’t have a major focus on her grief, but an adequate amount of focus so the viewers wouldn’t feel both ripped off or overwhelmed. Ainsley is still in the hospital at the start of the episode, with Heather looking after her.
Ben and Simmo (and later the housemates) spend the episode finishing the construction of the nursery so she doesn’t come home to a construction site. Throughout the episode, they debate whether they should keep going and how to decorate it, ultimately finishing the room with painted walls and a stencil, and a comfy chair for Ainsley to sit in.
When Ainsley returns home, Ben lets the renovations slip out. She tells him that she’s not ready to see the room. Later when she gets comfortable on the couch, she has everyone tell her what’s going on in their lives, as she wants them to act normally. The episode ends with Ainsley going into the room.
Heather and Ben – There wasn’t really a focus on Heather and Ben, other than their efforts to help Ainsley deal with her grief. Heather helps Ainsley at the hospital, as well as with coming home, whilst Ben helps Simmo finish the nursery renovations.
After Harry reads her complaint letter to the hospital, Liz also reads it and recommends that Heather gets some fresh air. Whilst they are going for a walk, Liz suggests to Heather that she complete her Masters in nursing, and that she would be good at writing nursing policies and guidelines.
Liz – There wasn’t much of a focus on Liz either, other than helping Heather with her complaint letter, and Stuart giving her a cheque for $65,000 to pay her back after leaving her penniless.
Overall I felt that this was a solid episode. We had Harry’s relationship with Xavier inevitably end, and Ainsley’s, as well as everyone’s grief, explored with subtlety and nuance.
Stray Observations:
-According to Martin at one point Manju was crying uncontrollably, baking, sauteing and deep-frying all at the same time.
Best one liners and interactions:
- “I’ve softened this line here.” “Which one?” “The one that says ‘I would honestly expect a better standard of nursing care in North Korea’.” “That was the soft version, I started with ‘Siberian gulag’.” (Harry-Heather going back and forth on Heather’s complaint letter to the hospital)
Loveday Writing 