Ep 2. The Chrysalis

Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults season 1 episode 2, titled The Chrysalis, continues to explore the origins and beliefs of the infamous cult led by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles. The episode delves deeper into the group's fascination with science fiction, and their belief that they were preparing to leave Earth and ascend to another level of existence.

The episode opens with the group in the late 1980s, when they were becoming more reclusive and secretive. Members began to change their appearance, with Applewhite and Nettles encouraging them to undergo plastic surgery and adopt androgynous hairstyles and clothing. This was part of the group's emphasis on shedding their human identities and becoming more like aliens, which they believed were their true ancestors.

The group's obsession with science fiction is also explored in this episode, as they read and watched everything from Star Trek to the Star Wars movies. They saw themselves as part of a larger cosmic plan, with Applewhite and Nettles as the "two witnesses" mentioned in the Bible's Book of Revelation. The group believed that they were on a mission to help humanity evolve and reach a higher level of consciousness.

As the group became more isolated, their beliefs became more extreme. They began to withdraw from society altogether, and their only connections with the outside world were through cassette tapes and occasional visits from family members. The group's emphasis on celibacy and the avoidance of all material possessions led to a severe lack of funding, and members often lived in squalid conditions.

The episode also explores some of the darker aspects of the group's beliefs, including their views on suicide and death. The group's emphasis on leaving their human bodies behind and ascending to a higher level of existence eventually culminated in the infamous mass suicide of 39 members in 1997. The episode does not focus on the events of the final days, but rather on the beliefs and practices that led up to it.

Overall, The Chrysalis provides a detailed and chilling exploration of one of the most notorious cults in American history. By examining the group's beliefs and practices, the episode sheds light on how seemingly rational people can become completely consumed by a cult and its leaders. It is a fascinating and disturbing look at the power of belief and the dangers of following charismatic leaders without question.