The Big Door Prize Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Izzy
A surprising discovery about the MORPHO by an unusual pair makes for another solid entry on The Big Door Prize Season 1 Episode 8, “Izzy.”
With only three episodes left, The Big Door Prize is setting up for an intriguing end, more than a few town residents having their personal business displayed courtesy of a resignation announcement, a magic show, and mounting questions about the provenance of the machine.
Using Izzy’s episode to bring this up feels right, given what we’ve learned about the mayor over the series.
Izzy’s Life’s Potential: Ghost
The episode puts Izzy and Cass’s relationship front and center, and “Izzy” is all the better for it, despite its turbulent result.
Their conversation at Giorgio’s is sweet, commiserating over their hang-ups and sharing their personal truths.
Izzy: I just wish it didn’t always have to be a competition between us.
There’s something beautiful about seeing these two women sharing this moment of vulnerability when up to this point, we’ve only seen them on the highest of guards.
We get to see glimpses of the human side of Izzy in the early half of the episode, which makes her more likable than she’s been. However short-lived it may be.
Ultimately, much like the end of “Giorgio,” she precipitates a moment of potential chaos at the magic show. This bait and switch is excellently built up to in a way that puts viewers in the position of Cass, Jacob, and Martha as she decides to try to spin the events in a way that leaves her seen in a sympathetic light.
I get the jealousy aspect of it, but Izzy’s strategy of trying to work through it is to light everything on fire is definitely a choice. I will give her points for trying to make the town actively question the origins of and blind trust in the MORPHO Machine because it is very much needed.
It’s a wild moment that leaves my jaw on the floor in its unpredictability, elevating the episode and propelling the story into its final leg of the season.
Elsewhere, In Deerfield
Trina tells Dusty about what she saw between Cass and Giorgio in a panic, leading to a hilariously endearing moment between father and daughter.
Props to the dramatic entrance of Giorgio’s house on Dusty’s part and the way it leads to the “superstar” restaurant owner pouring his heart out is just pitch perfect. Much like Izzy, I go back and forth between wanting to be annoyed by Giorgio and wanting to give him a warm blanket and a cup of tea for support.
His scene with Dusty is one of the latter moments as he shares his emotional crisis of self.
While he means to confront Giorgio on what Trina walked in on at the gala, they get some unexpected bonding time in. Between their conversation at Giorgio’s house and teatime with “Sole Survivor,” Urie leads to some excellent moments of introspection.
The Great Morphini’s (aka Mr. Johnson’s) show at the theater leads to some big town moments. The focal point of the metronome card trick may be Dusty’s verbalizing his most relaxed memory, but what sticks out to me is Mr. Johnson’s comment after incorrectly guessing Father Reuben’s card.
Whether Father Reuben knows what his card really sticks out in a way that the theater’s audience may brush off, given what we know about his past, this raises questions about Mr. Johnson and the machine.
Overall, the magic show steals this week, leaving me with not only many questions given my observations but also eagerly awaits next week’s entry in the hopes we get to see the immediate aftermath of Izzy’s declarations and allegations.
Random Thoughts
- Jacob and Trina meeting (about) halfway to trade blank MORPHO cards in such a clandestine way is funny and their conversation is honestly so adorable.
- The final shot of Izzy catching an deer in Deerfield feels momentous and hilarious. But what does that sighting even mean for both her and the town?
What did you think of this episode of The Big Door Prize? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Big Door Prize streams Wednesdays on AppleTV+.
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.