In the second episode of Netflix's No Good Deed, titled "Private Showing," the shadows of the Morgan family's past continue to cast a dark pall over their attempts to sell their Los Feliz home. As the layers of secrecy surrounding Jacob's death begin to peel back, the truth becomes increasingly muddled, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
The episode starts by shedding light on a series of burglaries that occurred around the time of Jacob's death. Lydia, fearing for her family's safety, had insisted on keeping a gun in the house, a decision Paul had initially resisted. This flashback reveals the tension between father and son, with Paul's frustration towards Jacob's behavior foreshadowing the tragic events to come.
The plot thickens when Paul discovers a connection between the burglar's spree and his own family. After a chance encounter with JD, who is struggling with his security alarm, Paul learns that the burglar had stolen a $50,000 gold Rolex from JD's home. In a shocking revelation, Paul finds the same Rolex, along with other stolen jewelry, hidden in a secret room attached to Jacob's old room. This discovery leads to a flashback of Paul retrieving a pillowcase filled with the stolen items from outside his house on the night Jacob died, suggesting that Paul may have been involved in the burglary.
As Paul grapples with the implications of his discovery, he faces increasing pressure from his brother Mikey, who is demanding $80,000 for his silence. In a desperate move, Lydia sells her grandmother's piano, which had been hiding the gun that may be linked to Jacob's death, to pay off Mikey. This decision not only puts Paul in a tailspin but also reveals the depth of the Morgans' secrets and the lengths they are willing to go to protect them.
While Paul is dealing with the fallout of the blackmail, Lydia is left to navigate her grief alone. She clings to the belief that Jacob is trying to communicate with her through the flickering lights in his room, a sign Paul dismisses with a cruel laugh. This moment underscores the rift between Paul and Lydia, as they struggle to cope with their loss in their own ways.
In a poignant scene, Lydia shares an emotional moment with Sarah, one of the prospective buyers, who confides in her about secretly undergoing another round of IVF despite her partner's wishes. Lydia's advice to Sarah, "Don't keep things from each other, even when it's bad," resonates with the audience, as it reflects the very issue plaguing her own marriage.
The episode takes a turn when Leslie, a prosecutor for the district attorney, discovers the truth about Jacob's death through her online sleuthing. Her discovery that Jacob was killed during a botched robbery adds a new dimension to the mystery, as it contradicts the Morgans' version of events. Lydia's growing alarm at Leslie's relentless pursuit of the truth is palpable, especially when she receives security footage showing Leslie trespassing on their property.
"Private Showing" is a masterful episode that delves deeper into the Morgan family's web of lies and secrets. As the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, the question remains: What really happened the night Jacob died? The episode ends with the audience as entangled in the mystery as the characters, leaving us eager for the next installment in this dark and twisted tale. With each revelation, No Good Deed continues to prove that nothing is as it seems, and the truth is buried beneath layers of deception and grief.