In The Afterparty Season 2 Episode 9, "Isabel," the mother of the groom tells her story in a classic psychological melodrama style, revealing that her son Edgar has been gaslighting and driving her insane. Despite her unreliable narrator, the story is believed to be a reprehensible one, as seen in previous mind movies. Elizabeth Perkins plays Isabel with precision and skill, capturing the melodramatic aspects with precision. The special treat is seeing Perkins in a frilly dress jumping on a trampoline, a tribute to her character in Big. The episode of Isabel, directed by Anna Lockhart and Katie Miller, is a grand drama that aims to appeal to a larger audience. The episode features classic melodrama tropes and aesthetics, drawing inspiration from films like Gaslight (1944) and Vertigo (1958), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Dr. Shulkind, a character resembling the master of suspense, makes a brief appearance. The score is filled with haunting orchestral sounds and dramatic tones, while the costuming, makeup, and set decoration are in line with classic films. Dynamic camerawork adds to the drama, with the dolly zoom move, a classic in-camera effect used to show character unraveling and create unease with the audience, aptly named the "vertigo shot" from Hitchcock's Vertigo. Isabel's psychological thriller features captivating cinematic references, making it an engaging experience for cinephiles. Isabel's portrayal of the victim, Framing Grace, makes her sympathetic until the conclusion. Isabel accidentally drugged Edgar, but not with the drug that killed him and Roxana. The murder mystery has many questions, with only one more episode to solve. Apple has announced an additional episode for this season, which may have disappointed some viewers who were disappointed with the previous ending. The episode, which does not feature Edgar's dark side, feels jarring and unintentional, affecting the overall quality of the season. The creatives' decision to turn the plate upside down in a single episode is seen as an ill-thought-out decision that further diminishes the season's shine. Despite this, the presentation is top-notch, and the production team deserves credit for another cleverly set-up episode. The mixed feelings since the beginning of the season confirm the mixed feelings. In episode 9 of Afterparty's season 2, Isabel narrates her life after her husband, Alexander Minnows, dies. She experiences depression and madness, which persists. Edgar and Hannah attempt to help her, but they fail to soothe her wounds. Isabel's pride prevents her from seeking emotional support from her children. Her condition worsens when she hears children's music. Isabel accidentally introduces Grace to her, mistakenly calling her Gail. She admits to her growing "insanity" and admits to jumping on a trampoline and ordering a sword and armor from the internet. Isabel's mental state is evident in her actions, such as jumping on a trampoline and ordering a sword and armor from the internet.
