Ep 9. The Return

In Room 104 season 2 episode 9, titled "The Return," viewers are taken on a journey through the psyche of a man named John who has returned to his childhood home in order to confront the ghost of his past. As soon as John checks into the room, he begins to experience strange and eerie occurrences that seem to be linked to his traumatic upbringing in the house.

The episode is shot entirely in black and white, which adds to the unsettling and haunted nature of the story. The camera work is also unique, as it often switches between long, slow pan shots and sudden, jarring close-ups. Through these techniques, the viewer is made to feel as if they are also one of the ghosts haunting John's past.

The plot of the episode is centered around John's attempts to reconcile with his sister, whom he has not seen in many years. Throughout the course of the episode, we learn that John and his sister grew up in a household where their father was physically abusive and their mother was emotionally distant. As a result of this traumatic upbringing, John has become estranged from his family and has turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism.

As John delves deeper into his past, he begins to experience vivid flashbacks to his childhood. These flashbacks are interspersed throughout the episode and are shot in a grainy, 8mm style. They are often very disturbing, showing scenes of violence and neglect that John has repressed for many years.

The tension in the episode builds steadily as John's sanity begins to unravel. He becomes more and more obsessed with the idea of confronting the ghosts that he believes are haunting him. At one point, he even attempts to perform a seance in the room in order to make contact with his dead father.

Despite its dark subject matter, "The Return" is also quite poignant. Through John's journey, we see a man who is finally coming to terms with the trauma of his past and trying to find a way to move on. The episode is ultimately about the power of forgiveness and the ways that our past can haunt us if we refuse to confront it.

Overall, "The Return" is a haunting and thought-provoking episode of Room 104 that will leave viewers feeling unsettled long after the credits roll. With its deft use of cinematography and an excellent performance by its lead actor, the episode is a standout in an already impressive season.