Based on a True Story Season 2 Episode 4, “Y’all Ready for This,” sees Ava make a breakthrough in the case as the narrative finally brings her and Nathan together. It’s the best episode thus far. Matt enters existential crisis mode as he questions everything he’s ever done. Will returning to his serial killer ways really give him the peace he craves? As usual, Tom Bateman makes this show for me with his nuanced, disconcerting, yet inexplicably disarming performance. Side note: killing off Jared Leto is a bold storytelling move I can respect.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Based on a True Story episode, “Relapse”
Based on a True Story, “Y’all Ready for This”
We open with Ava (Kaley Cuoco) listening to the Lipinski sisters’ podcast (June Diane Raphael and Jessica St. Clair) as they discuss the Westside Ripper. Ava remarks that it’s cute that they still think Matt is behind all this. We see her murder board behind her, with three victims taking center stage: Wendy Jenkins, the journalist; Anna Friedman, the psychiatrist and sex therapist; and Carly Warren, a mom. Ava tries to find a link between them.
Then, Nathan (Chris Messina) heads downstairs to the basement and disrobes, saying, “Y’all ready for this?” before humming the titular tune and dancing naked. Ava doesn’t even look up. Disappointed, Nathan puts his robe back on and leaves. While the Lipinski sisters monologue about obsession and our dangerous fascination with true crime, we see Matt (Bateman) and Tory (Liana Liberato) have sex.
Meanwhile, Nathan watches old footage from his tennis glory days in bed. This time, Ava undresses before him, saying, “Y’all ready for this?” Nathan doesn’t respond. There’s certainly a disconnect here.
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How Are They Connected?
Later, Ava holds baby Jack while examining her murder board in the basement. She asks questions about how the bodies are connected. Eh, probably not the best conversation to have with your infant. Tory arrives, giving Ava the perfect opportunity to do some unsanctioned investigating. She hands Jack over to his Auntie Tory.
Next, we see Ava chatting with Wendy Jenkins’ boss about her time working for him. Did she have enemies? Apparently, Wendy boasted quite a few, from big pharma to big tobacco and even a prominent senator who attended a sex party.
After this, Ava pretends to be Anna Friedman’s patient, telling the receptionist she wants to schedule an appointment. Said receptionist reveals that Anna was murdered.
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Ava feigns sadness before proceeding to grill the receptionist regarding the murder. Was it the husband? It’s always the husband. The receptionist fires back that Anna was married to a woman, and they both ran this business together. If Ava was an actual client, she’d know that. The receptionist is about to call security when Ava leaves of her own volition.
Training and Tattoos
Meanwhile, Matt helps Nathan train for his big rematch with Danny Merrick. Nathan reveals he hasn’t shared the news with Ava yet. She might not take too kindly to him dropping 20 grand for that. Matt encourages Nathan to keep quiet on that front.
Later, Ava returns home to her murder board. This time, Tory helps her brainstorm ideas. Tory points out that the “3” tattooed on Carly’s wrist means “third base.” It’s a sex party thing. Ava recalls Wendy’s boss telling her that the late journalist uncovered news about a senator at a sex party. Anna was a sex therapist. That’s it — sex is the connecting factor. Perhaps the killer meets their victims at sex parties.
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Then, Ava tells Nathan they’re attending a sex party. Nathan thanks the sex gods for this. Earlier, he confided in Matt that he and Ava haven’t been intimate since Jack was born. After this, Ava has lunch and drinks with Drew (Melissa Fumero). Drew vents about the Westside Ripper case, claiming it’s wearing her out.
Ava asks Drew questions about the interrogation process. How do you get someone to open up? What kinds of questions do you ask? Naturally, Drew is suspicious. She wonders if this has anything to do with Tory. Remember when the nanny cam bear blew up in Ava’s face?
Sex Part-tay
That night, Ava and Nathan arrive at the sex party. Nathan brought wine. I mean, it’s only polite. Nathan tries to mansplain the sex party to which Ava invited him. I love Cuoco and Messina together. They’re hilarious. Anyway, our couple finds themselves chatting about their sexual likes and dislikes. Ava admits she’s into scratching. She asks others to show them her arms. Carly, the third victim, had scratches on her arms.
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Nathan wonders why Ava’s posing strange questions to the group. Of course, he doesn’t know she has ulterior motives for being there. He thinks it’s to rekindle their relationship. After this, Ava and Nathan go their separate ways to explore the party. Ava chats with one man about his attendance and whether he was at this party on the specific dates the victims were murdered. Nathan pulls Ava aside and orders her to explain herself.
She finally admits she’s there to probe into the copycat serial killer case. Naturally, Nathan is hurt. He storms off. Meanwhile, Matt attends an AA meeting. He shares that he’s been sober for over 100 days. While that’s exciting, something’s niggling at him. The guy who took over his job is getting all the credit for his work (the copycat killer is called the Westside Ripper by the media).
You’re Not Special
The AA lead questions Matt. She wonders why he’s truly there and calls him out on his bullsh*t. If there’s one thing Matt hates, it’s people standing up to him. The AA lead reminds him that he’s not special and that his circumstances are like everyone else at this meeting. Matt insists he’s different (he’s right — unless other ex-murderers are in attendance).
Next, Ava vents to one woman who’s spanking a man. Both are clad in leather. They talk about relationships and how a little jealousy can spice things up. Ava learns not to judge those into BDSM. After this, Ava finds Nathan with a man who’s tied up (Brian Huskey). His pants are also around his ankles. Nathan prefaces this by saying that the “braless wonder” he was chatting with earlier had information on Carly. She introduced Nathan to the aforementioned man, who was the last person with Carly before she was murdered.
Nathan noticed the scratches on the man’s arms, so he tied up the latter. The man, Doug, asserts he didn’t kill Carly. She was his “Naughty Nurse.” Doug was at another party the night Carly died. He has proof. Nathan grabs Doug’s phone from his pants and flips through photos. Doug’s alibi checks out.
All Apologies
Then, Matt meets the sister of Chloe Lake (Sara Paxton). She’s in her art studio. Matt apologizes for the woman’s loss. He remarks that how Chloe died was so gruesome. That must haunt her every waking moment. Chloe’s sister replies that she’d rather remember Chloe as she lived. Her life meant something. Matt counters that Chloe’s death also means something.
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That night, Matt lies in bed with Tory. She asks him what’s on his mind. Matt realizes that it’s all pointless — his life amounts to nothing. Tory corrects him, insisting that’s not true. Matt pivots, disclosing that sobriety isn’t working for him anymore. What would she say if Matt needed to live truly and fully as himself, uninhibited by societal constraints? Tory’s face falls upon hearing that. Somebody misses murdering people…
Later, Ava and Nathan finally have sex. As they get their postcoital cuddle on, Ava hits a breakthrough in the case. She realizes the victims are all connected to the medical world. Wendy taking down big pharma as a journalist. Anna the sex therapist. Carly was Doug’s “Naughty Nurse” at the sex parties. The killer is targeting those in the medical field.
30 Seconds to the Next Victim
Ava races to the basement to record a video to share her findings with the world. She uses a bunny filter to conceal her identity and calls herself “Murder Bunny.” She states that the murderer’s next victim will be medical-related.
RELATED: Read our Based on a True Story recaps
Sure enough, we’re on the set for a Dr. Fauci biopic, America’s Doctor – The Anthony Fauci Story. None other than Jared Leto is portraying the titular doctor.
And Jared Leto is now dead in his trailer.
Based on a True Story Season 2 is now streaming on Peacock.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
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