Abhiroop Das
The third and fourth episodes of Netflix’s ‘Black Rabbit,’ titled ‘Skin Contact’ and ‘No More F**k-Ups,’ take the established narrative up a few notches by introducing multiple conflicts into the fray. What starts out as a journey of Vince Friedken finding his way back into the family turns into a quest for survival, in large part due to the money that he has taken from very powerful figures. In the previous episodes, we learn that Jake’s life, behind the facades, is equally spotty. However, his budding romance with Estelle promises to make things different. Co-created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, this crime thriller expands its scope at every turn by bringing New York City’s dramatized crime scene to life. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Jake’s Task of Repaying the Debt Takes a Toll on Him
The episode begins with a flashback to two years ago, when Vince was still an official part of Black Rabbit. However, that equation changes as Jake and Naveen concoct a new agreement, which dissolves the eldest brother’s partnership. This money is pumped out to deal with one of Vince’s many lifestyle hiccups, but the sum of just $100,000 irks him. Nonetheless, he is unable to push back and has to settle for the deal and leave the city behind. In the present, the power dynamics are completely different, but the story itself has cycled back. Although Jake is not happy about the turn of events, he still agrees to take on Vince’s burden and arrange the money. This act of goodwill strengthens the renewed bond between the siblings, and while Vince breathes a sigh of relief, his younger brother has to calculate a new way to churn out money faster, lest he lose the restaurant itself.
Initially, Jake makes his way to his trusted investors, hoping to take a loan for that sum and pay the debts to Mancuso in one go. However, rejection makes him realize that his public image is presently shaky at best, in large part due to the risks he is taking with his The Pool Room project. Dejected, Jake decides to pawn off one of his most prized possessions: the watch that was gifted to him by his father. With fresh money at hand, he immediately makes his way to the mob boss and clears his dues for the week. But with no way out of this situation, he realizes that he will have to bend the rules in order to taste victory. However, Junior and Babbit have concerns of their own and decide on a backup plan to strong-arm the Friedken brothers into compliance. To that end, they target Vince’s daughter, Gen, getting a tattoo done by her as a way of signifying the threat level to her father.
Roxie Learns the Truth About What Happened to Anna
A different scene unfolds at Black Rabbit, as Klein’s article on Jake and Roxie turns out to be more scathing than positive. The report is largely informed by the circumstances surrounding Anna Davis, who was fired in light of her continued absence. However, this prompts Roxie to meet Anna herself and get a better grasp of what transpired. Here, Anna reveals the shocking truth. On the night of her final appearance at the restaurant, she remembers sharing a drink with Jules Zablonski, one of Black Rabbit’s most powerful patrons. However, the rest of the night is erased from her mind, and she wakes up the next morning in the washroom, without her clothes. This leads to the unnerving realization that Jules likely sexually abused her after spiking her drinks, and that trauma is behind her absence. Aghast at the truth, Roxie confronts Jake, and he admits that it is a personal failure on his end that needs to be mended.
While Jake shows remorse, his attention is quickly taken over by the upcoming party, which also serves as a way to collect money to pay off Vince’s debt. This involves scamming the guests and diverting their funds, but the younger brother shows no hesitation in getting his hands dirty. However, one of the hiccups in this endeavour comes with Roxie’s choice of meal type, which is largely centered around her hot dogs. Although Jake initially believes the dish to be low-brow, he nonetheless makes it one of the party’s highlights. Roxie’s dissatisfaction extends to Vince, who she believes has done more harm than good for Black Rabbit. The event is ultimately a success, and Jake manages to collect enough money for his brother to go debt-free. This becomes a moment of celebration, and Vince acknowledges how much Jake has done for him. The same theme is extended in the kitchen, with Roxie’s sous chefs leaving one of her prized hot dogs for her to relish on.
Jake Has His Highest Highs and Lowest Lows
The aftermath of the party spins a tale of many complex emotions, beginning with Jake and Estelle sharing another moment of privacy. Although their discussion begins as a professional one, it quickly takes on romantic shades and ends with the couple sharing a passionate kiss. On the other hand, Roxie is shocked to learn that Vince is in talks of becoming a permanent member of the restaurant, against what she advised Jake. Her dissatisfaction goes up a notch when she discovers him and Estelle kissing, knowing that she is still Wes’s partner. However, before anyone can process their emotions, tragedy strikes the restaurant as Mel, one of the employees, begins overdosing on the cocaine she got from Jules Zablonski. Alarmed, Jake goes up to the CCTV room to check up on the footage from a few nights prior, and his worst suspicions are confirmed. It was Jules who spiked Anna’s drink and sexually abused her that night. However, in a twisted turn of events, Jake decides to delete the footage instead.
While Jake’s actions are rooted in a myriad of reasons, the future of his company stands out as his primary interest, over the physical and mental well-being of others. This is made more evident the following day, as we learn that he spent the night with Mel. As it turns out, he has had an on-off sexual relationship with her as well, and that directly affects his feelings regarding the situation. Faced with a mountain of troubles, the protagonist decides to keep on his string of lies, giving Mel fake comforts in order to let the situation pass. On an opposite tangent, Vince tries to rekindle the real bonds in his life, which starts by locating Gen’s home and trying to break the ice once again. Although their conversation is livelier than before, Gen maintains a sense of distance from her father, in large part due to her consistent avoidant nature, which has forced her to put up walls.
Elsewhere, Lisa Klein, the journalist, strikes up a conversation with Anna, establishing that she has an idea of what is going on at Black Rabbit, and the former bartender is free to voice her frustrations. However, Anna’s conflicted emotions lead to a fear response instead. Meanwhile, Jake makes his way to The Pool Room, where Estelle is waiting for him. Given that they are both sober, their feeling regarding last night are different from before; however, the protagonist ensures that his attraction towards her is real. Estelle reciprocates, and the couple makes love. Although the two admit to having feelings for each other, the situation is made more complicated by Estelle’s existing relationship with Wes, who is not only an indispensable organ of Black Rabbit but also one of Jake’s closest friends. Elsewhere, Roxie and the rest of the employees plan for Mel’s return, but things are complicated by Klein returning for an interview in the hopes of digging out more details about the restaurant.
Vince’s Debt Results in a Ghastly Death
Although Vince is jubilant in his declaration to Junior about repaying all of his debts in one go, reality plays out differently. Jake is approached by a man named Campbell, who works for Jules and is tasked with erasing all possibilities of news about his crimes coming out. Campbell makes it clear to Jake that the person who is most at risk in this scenario is Jake himself, and as such, the money to ensure tight lips all around must come out of his pocket. Thus, the money promised to the mob flows into Campbell’s hands instead, and the younger brother has to explain this twisted turn of events to a desperate Vince. Elsewhere, Roxie heads out to the house of her lover for a well-deserved break. Here, she discusses her desire to break free of Black Rabbit and carve something for herself, and is encouraged to take the plunge. However, this comes with its own set of trials, and to surpass that, she needs more allies.
Following Jake’s sudden exit, Vince is once again left at the complete mercy of Manusco, and in particular, his chief henchmen Junior and Babbit. When the elder brother tries to make his case, he is dragged into an even greater mess, which takes him to Jake’s house. There, Junior and Babbit begin looting and destroying everything that looks of value, much to Vince’s protests. When that doesn’t seem enough, they pull out their trump card, threatening to harm Gen. This forces Vince back into his senses, and he promises to cooperate. However, Anna Davis’s case continues to be the singular opposition to the smooth criminal operations of everyone involved, and this fact does not go unnoticed. When Vince slips up and reveals her name, Junior wastes no time in locating her address using social media, and the duo rushes to their next location. With this, the eldest Friedken is now officially out of moves. On top of this, he has no money left to save him from imminent peril.
A completely different scenery unfolds at Anna’s house, as she is surprised to see Campbell already inside. He explains that she is presently in the eye of the storm, and her best course of action is to leave the country and disappear for good. Given that the alternative is likely death, Anna is forced to make this choice. As Campbell waits for her outside, the timing intersects with that of Babbit and Junior’s entry into her house. The scene is conveyed entirely from the exteriors, as the lights in her apartment eventually go out, alarming Campbell. Following the two thugs’ rushed exit, he makes his way back in, only to find out that Anna has been killed in cold blood. This new development puts a new spin on the narrative, amping the stakes by several degrees. On the other side of the equation, Jake’s new chapter comes with increased difficulties, both on a personal and professional level, making his flaws all the more apparent in the process.
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