In the fourth episode of "Laid" (2024), titled "Flagstaff," Ruby Yao (Stephanie Hsu) faces a surprising turn of events as she continues her quest to understand the mysterious deaths of her ex-lovers. The episode begins with the revelation that Ruby's "kidnapper" is none other than Richie (Michael Angarano), one of her previous lovers. Contrary to the dramatic ending of the previous episode, Richie's actions were driven by curiosity rather than malice. Unable to reach Ruby by phone or text, he decided to confront her directly.
When Ruby realizes she is not actually tied up, she chooses to stay and answer Richie's questions. This leads to a heated exchange, culminating in Richie kicking her out of his apartment after declaring that she is the worst person he has ever met. This encounter leaves Ruby feeling guilty and questioning her past behavior, particularly when she runs into Zack Bridgerton (Andre Hyland) in the hallway outside her apartment. Their brief conversation serves as a reminder of Ruby's past indiscretion of sleeping with her best friend's boyfriend, even though they had broken up at the time.
Back in her apartment, AJ (Zosia Mamet) is hard at work updating Ruby's timeline, which now includes the deaths of several more of Ruby's ex-lovers, transforming the "sex cluster" into the "death cluster." AJ receives notifications of the deaths of both Brian Glidewell and Richie, further escalating the urgency for Ruby to warn her remaining ex-lovers. One of the last living ex-lovers on Ruby's list is the celebrity John Early (John Early). Ruby boards a plane to warn him, but her efforts are met with skepticism and resistance. After a heated argument, Ruby is kicked off the flight, leaving her to search for John Early's obituary online.
Meanwhile, Isaac (Tommy Martinez) is excited about Ruby's booking of the Brett Hely trio for his parents' reception. However, he quickly notices her distress and tries to cheer her up by sharing his own coping mechanism: dancing out scenes from his favorite musicals. Ruby reluctantly joins in, but their moment is interrupted by an unexpected visit from Merci (Olivia Holt), who accuses Ruby of trying to steal Isaac and shames her away.
Feeling overwhelmed, Ruby reaches out to AJ for advice, but AJ encourages her to stay away from Isaac, offering instead a shoulder to lean on and the promise of Zack's surprise meatloaf. Ruby declines the offer and instead visits Richie's bar, hoping to find a memorial for him. To her surprise, she learns that Richie is still alive and well, having been mistaken for another person. This realization leads to a deeper conversation between Ruby and Richie, where they both acknowledge the strange circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The episode concludes with Ruby and Richie overhearing a breaking news report about the death of John Early, who was sucked out of the back of a malfunctioning plane. This unexpected twist leaves Ruby and Richie to ponder the mysterious pattern of deaths, setting the stage for further exploration and suspense in the upcoming episodes.
"Flagstaff" is a compelling episode that continues to unravel the mystery surrounding Ruby's ex-lovers' deaths. It delves into Ruby's emotional journey as she confronts her past actions and the consequences of her relationships. The episode also highlights the growing bond between Ruby and Richie, who becomes a key figure in helping Ruby navigate the complexities of her situation. As viewers, we are left eager to see how Ruby will continue to unravel the mystery and what challenges lie ahead in her quest for answers.