"Ceci N'est Pas Une Drill" is a very interesting episode of Maniac. It sets up the effects of the C-Pill as it takes our characters into different directions; Owen into the mafia world and Annie into the land of fantasy. The episode is very short (a brisk 22 minutes) but it sets up everything well. Upon further watch, this episode is deep and more thematic. I had to watch once more but I got the message how stability within a genre works well as coping mechanisms, which is why Fukunaga decided to use these two genres to get the point across. I think the fantasy world works better for me. No offense to Gabriel Byrne and his "hippocampus" drill method, but Annie and Ellie elven story is a sweeter, more relatable part. Plus, Jonah Hill looks like he is trying to impersonate Post Malone with those tattoos and hair.
Annie and Owen are now taking the final C pill. In Owen's story, his dad wants him to the take the fall for the drill murders because of his mental health issues (draws a strikingly similar parallel to Owen's real-life situation). As for Annie, she plays a half-elf ranger escorting the elven princess to a lake with mystical properties. The Queen Gertrude sent invisible assassins after them. Annie doesn't care whether the princess lives or dies, but once she sees her reflection, that might change.
Overall, the episode is brisk, paced well, and an enjoyable watch. It was nice to see some of the actors we saw earlier in the series come back such as Gabriel Byrne and Jemima Kirke as one of the police officers. The mafia story is okay if not a bit violent (really came out of nowhere) but the fantasy story works well. Julia Garner shines as the elven princess. Some of her dialogue is priceless. We did not get much in the way of Mantleray except for the end, which leaves you wondering what will come next.
My Grade: B+
Review of Ceci N'est Pas Une Drill
