DISCLAIMER: This recap of the Russian Doll episode “Brain Drain” has spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Welcome, time prisoners! Netflix’s Russian Doll chugs along with its pulsating third episode, “Brain Drain.” Natasha Lyonne mesmerizes in this outing, mining the depths of Nadia’s trauma and grief over losing her mother. “Brain Drain” allows Nadia to get inside Nora’s mind, gaining a new perspective and much-needed insight into her late mom’s mind.
Sci-fi heals, y’all! It’s a unique way to explore familial pain, primarily when it stems from intergenerational trauma. Anyway, this episode unravels the mystery of the missing Krugerrands as Nadia hopes to find them, thereby mending the fractured relationship between her mother and grandmother.
Ready to dig deep into “Brain Drain”? Let’s get to it.
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We open with Nora (Chloë Sevigny), sleeping on the subway in 1982 while passengers observe her from afar. When the train stops at Astor Place, we see Nadia (Lyonne) stir as someone escorts her off the train. She knocks on young Ruth’s (Annie Murphy) door. Nadia finally explains who she is — sure, she might look like Nora, but she’s the baby growing in Nora’s womb.
Then, Nadia reveals she won’t return to 2022 until she helps Nora and Vera mend fences. Ruth stares at her in disbelief, then informs her that it’s time for her doctor’s appointment.
Next, Nadia and Ruth meet with Vera (Irén Bordán) at the doctor’s office. Vera accompanies Nadia in the bathroom while the latter urinates in a cup. Nadia tells her grandmother she reacquired the duffel bag of Krugerrands and then promptly misplaced it on the train.
Vera reveals this isn’t the first time the family lost its fortune on the train — it’s occurred twice. The first occurrence was during World War II. Nadia also discovers she understands Hungarian courtesy of her mother.
Later, Ruth and Vera sit with Nadia while she has her ultrasound. Nadia essentially sees herself in her stomach. If you think about it, it’s like being pregnant with yourself. Nadia waxes philosophical with the doctor. Can one body share two minds?
After the ultrasound, Nadia returns to Vera’s home. She watches while Vera and Delia (Athina Papadimitriu) chat in rapid-fire Hungarian about the missing gold. Delia tells Nadia that Vera wants her to stay at home for a while. Nadia questions Delia about the gold train incident, and that’s when Nadia learns that her family has concealed various treasures around the house.
Once Delia departs, Nadia searches the framed photos for clues, finding cash and various documents. Then, she tosses her mother’s possessions into a sack. Nadia begins scratching her arm, and we see Nora staring at herself in the mirror. A slew of sores appears on her arms. Nadia doesn’t overthink it and hops out of the window.
Later, Nadia hits up the New York Public Library and leafs through its archives. Nadia finds projector slides pertaining to gold trains in World War II. She spots a few police officers surveying the area, meaning it’s closing time. Nadia swats at a bug scurrying across the pages of a map of Europe.
Nadia asks a librarian to research a lost gold train from Budapest in World War II. This is how people studied things in olden times! Hey, if she had Google in 1982, this wouldn’t be such a headache.
Next, Nadia visits Danny (Malachi Nimmons) at Crazy Eddie and asks if she can borrow a projector. She returns to her mother’s now-empty apartment and dives headfirst into her research. Nadia pours over documentation from her grandparents and some questionable literature. After spotting mold on her hands, she enters the bathroom to wash it off.
Then, while staring in the mirror, Nadia notices the sores on her arms. Suddenly, she procures the same bug she encountered at the library from one of the sores on her forearm. That’s not weird at all.
Nadia runs into her mother as she leaves the bathroom. She no longer only sees Nora on reflective surfaces. The mother-daughter duo visits a convenience store before resuming their research party. Nadia watches the slides from the library and spots the lost gold train. The librarian calls Nadia and divulges the information she unearthed from her research regarding the gold train.
According to the librarian, when the Soviet army advanced on Budapest in 1944, the SS forced the Hungarian Jewish community to hand over their possessions. The SS placed the belongings on a train bound for Berlin. The families received receipts while under the impression they’d reunite with said possessions at a later date.
However, the train’s location was lost after the Nazis surrendered in 1945.
Nadia asks the librarian if she can confirm that the Peschauer (Vera’s maiden name) family possessions were on that train, but unfortunately, the NYPL doesn’t have those resources.
Ruth calls Nora, and Nora reveals that Nadia also sees the bugs. Nora emphatically asserts that her mother put said bugs in her apartment. But Ruth informs Nora that someone from the hospital is coming to pick her up.
Later, Nadia and Nora arrive at a facility. A doctor sits across from Nadia, who now dons a straitjacket, and questions her about her mental faculties. Nadia talks to Nora, but the doctor doesn’t see the latter standing behind him. He insists they’re the only people in the room.
We see Nadia move further away from the doctor while she vehemently asserts she’s mentally sound. Now she understands how her mother felt all those years ago, gaining deep insight into Nora’s psyche. It’s a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching scene, performed beautifully by Lyonne.
Next, Nora helps Nadia escape the hospital via a window. Nora stays behind, bidding farewell to her daughter. However, we later see that Nora also “escaped.”
Meanwhile, Nadia arrives in 2022 to a note on her door from Alan: “Why aren’t you picking up? Call me!” Nadia heads inside and examines the items she brought with her from 1982. She procures what looks like an itemized receipt from the back of a framed picture of Nora. It’s made out to Leo Peschauer, her grandfather, signed by a Nazi.
Budapest is the next destination on Nadia’s “Healing Intergenerational Trauma” Tour!
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“Brain Drain” spins an enthralling narrative web, punctuated by Russian Doll‘s trademark biting, dark humor and Lyonne’s top-tier performance as the acerbic, straightforward Nadia.
Something tells me this will end in heartbreak. Nadia hopes to prevent Nora’s untimely death and correct the sins of the past, but it’s a well-known rule of time travel that, well, you can’t fix history. Nadia starts to see and feel the effects of Nora’s mental illness, notably with the bugs. But what if the mold on her hands is a physical manifestation of Nadia’s place in time?
Yes, this is her family’s past; however, she technically doesn’t belong here, and she’s purposely tampering with events that have already happened.
I suppose time will tell what transpires from here. Regardless, I’m all aboard the gold train for this ride.
Do you think we’ll see what’s happening with Alan, especially after his frantic note to Nadia? What awaits Nadia in Budapest? Keep your eyes glued to this space as I recap Russian Doll, only on Geek Girl Authority.
Russian Doll Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/10-tv-shows-with-fierce-women-as-showrunners/
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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.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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