‘Based on a True Story’ Recap: ‘The Universe’

8/3/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

BASED ON A TRUE STORY -- "The Universe" Episode 108 -- Pictured: (l-r) Tom Bateman as Matt, Chris Messina as Nathan -- (Photo by: PEACOCK)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Based on a True Story.’ To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Stories that feature people that have committed terrible mistakes and wish to atone for them or are looking to move their life into a better direction, often end happy and it makes sense as to why. For we are a society that cherishes the notion of a second chance, and we of course love happy endings and are inspired by growth and maturity. So seeing those very folks, fight for their future and do the right thing, provides us with everything we need and want from a story and while it is indeed lovely to see people rise above foolishness and help us to believe we can do the same in the process… the heavy truth is that… the push to be better and to right wrongs, doesn’t always follow that beautiful little formula.

Because sometimes, the mistakes we’ve made are irreparable and we must move on with lesson in hand and sometimes… we are just in too deep. For the choices we made were poor and awful, and put us in quite the quagmire. Wherein we don’t know what comes next and have to figure out to navigate this disaster and well, that unfortunate reality is top of mind today, because it served as the focal theme of the season one finale of Based on a True Story. For ‘The Universe’ saw Ava and Nathan Bartlett at quite the difficult crossroads. After all, they had indeed decided that they wanted to correct their mistake and be free of the awful situation they created by making nice with the Westside Ripper and enabling him and his special brand of evil.

But the hard reality that he killed Ruby and her left body on their summer home doorstep, made that complicated, because how on earth does one set things right when they’ve unleashed a true monster. One that was eager to exert control over those who attempted to challenge him, as evidenced by the fact that he partly killed Ruby to inform them how quickly he could bring their world crashing down, and by how he demanded they return home to a surprise anniversary party. Since he basically forced them to psychologically square acting normal while their friend’s body was gently rotting in the trunk of their car. In fact, Simon’s arrival only pushed them harder since he heard Ruby’s phone ringing and tried to get into the trunk of the car out of the worry that someone needed help.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY -- "The Universe" Episode 108 -- Pictured: Aaron Staton as Simon -- (Photo by: PEACOCK)

Granted, there was some measure of kindness present in this act since Ruby was going to the cops after all. But that was overshadowed by that cruelty and by his expectation that they become little Mini Westside Ripper assistants and bury the body away from prying eyes. Which was equally as cruel and equally as dark, but this whole mess hammered homed… the monster was free now, and it was in charge and there was no escape any time soon from his clutches and his plans. Which involved killing again to add stories to the podcast and he was also eager to bring some of the faceless killers of the world on the show. Committing this couple to more darkness, more sorrow and that really did serve as a hard reminder… that sometimes… our great intentions are ruined by the situation we’ve created.

Because any way you slice it, this couple was stuck now and well… that meant they had no choice… but bide their time. Just wait patiently to find the right time to be free and take control of their lives and make the best of a super s*itty situation. Which they figured out how do after all believe it or not. By focusing on what they had in front of them. Which was their love, their forthcoming child, and the other elements about their relationship they wanted to work on. Giving rise to some peace for now between them at least, the kind that will hopefully carry them to the big moment where they can escape Matt’s clutches, and it won’t be easy to maintain that… as evidenced by the surprise arrival of Simon at their beach house, while they were cleaning up Ruby’s blood.

But while we wait to see, how that gets handled in a second season and wait to learn if there will be a second season since as of press time, the show is not yet renewed, we can instead, take a moment to celebrate a unique finale and one amazing season of storytelling. For this show really did explore the dangers of unhealthy obsession with pop culture in a brilliant manner, and it really did go the extra mile by pondering upon how bad things could get in a person’s life if they did enable a serial killer to be a star, and really… in the end, this was just an original and refreshing story. Which is what television absolutely needs more of right now and hopefully we do get more of this dynamic show. To see this couple, find a way forward and bring Matt to justice, and to enjoy more of what it has to say about the human condition and the darkness we are drawn to.

Watch ‘Based on a True Story’

0 Comments