Ep 8. No Dice

In Room 104 season 4 episode 8 titled "No Dice," viewers are taken on a journey through a friendship that has been strained by addiction. The episode follows a pair of friends who are reunited after two years apart. One of them, a former gambler named Ethan, has been in recovery and is now sober. The other friend, Shane, is still in the throes of addiction and is deeply in debt due to his gambling habit.

As they catch up, it's clear that Ethan is committed to staying sober and rebuilding his life. Meanwhile, Shane seems enamored with the idea of getting rich quick and winning big at the casino. It isn't long before he pulls Ethan into his world of gambling, offering him a chance to win big and get back the money he lost during his days as a gambler.

The episode is mostly a two-hander, with Ethan and Shane sparring over their conflicting philosophies on life and addiction. Ethan tries to remain steadfast in his sobriety, even as Shane pushes him towards temptation. For much of the episode, it seems as though Ethan is destined to make the same mistakes all over again, falling back into old patterns of behavior.

But in a surprising twist, the episode takes a moment to explore the gender dynamics at play between the two friends. When Shane takes Ethan to a strip club in an attempt to live out his reckless fantasies, Ethan finds himself struggling to reconcile his sobriety with his attraction to the dancers. It's a nuanced, thoughtful look at the complications that can arise when men try to engage with their own sexuality while also trying to stay sober.

Despite the deepening tension between the two friends, however, the episode is ultimately a story of hope. Both men grapple with their demons over the course of the night, and the episode leaves the viewer with a sense that there is still a chance for redemption, even in the bleakest of circumstances.

Throughout "No Dice," viewers are treated to a range of emotions, from despair to humor to hope. The two actors deliver standout performances as their characters navigate the complicated bonds of friendship and addiction. With its focus on a pair of flawed but deeply sympathetic characters, the episode stands out as one of the most poignant and effective of the season.