Russian Doll
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Now shes in her grandmothers hometownandbody.
Ive been trying to figure out the broad strokes of how time travel works inRussian Doll.
Given what happened to the original Peschauer family savings/fortune, this mode of transportation makes sense.
After that, Nadia could summon the time-traversing train at will.
But eventually, he too could readily return to a specific time and place (1962 Berlin).
Sometimes it leads them exactly when and where they want to go.
In Exquisite Corpse, she gets her chance while navigating the most perilous setting of the season so far.
Do you want to wind up like your mother?
This briefly throws Nadia.
She can muster only a sad Already?
as she realizes that her great-grandparents and other relatives have been forced into concentration camps.
For Vera in 1944, it was imperative that she not wind up like her mother.
We dont get to see exactly how Vera avoided her mothers fate despite being on her own.
When Nadia-Vera finds the family lot (No.
1407), this is the quietest stretch of the entire series.
But she cant fix this part of the past.
Cut to season twos opening scene, with Vera recovering the bag from the tunnel.
But this cant be right if Nadia has changed the past, why is this exact scene happening again?
Nadia certainly seems to think she accomplished her goal.
But theres an unmistakable air of inevitability to these final moments of the fifth episode.
Its the butterfly effect, right?
Hell, maybe there wont be any Krugerrands because Vera wont be so intent on having an exit strategy.
But as Ruth would say, nothing in this life is easy except pissing in the shower.
Are these lessons at odds with each other?
Is this really the end of Nadias time shenanigans?
Nadia is waylaid on her return trip to 2022 by, oh, 20 years or so.
Thats right: Shes inside Noras body again just as her water breaks.
Nadia has resigned herself to the past, but clearly the past isnt through with her yet.
Russian Dollhas always been built around Natasha Lyonnes exceptional performance, but theres greater variation in Exquisite Corpse.
She inhabits multiple roles and times, capturing Nadias emotional highs and lows with aplomb.
This episode was filmed on location in Budapest, which makes it even more poignant.
