HBO’s Series ‘Room 104’ Is Weird, Enthralling, & Intriguing

Multiple stories told in multiple time periods, and it all happens in one room.

Written by,
Sean Wall
@SeanW_se

HBO has this way of signing onto projects to not only boost ratings but gravitate audiences in to keep watching. Shows like, ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘True Blood, & ‘The Sopranos’ prove this fact to be true as they were series that introduced us to a new world and the characters embedded in the stories. This summer, HBO provides us with an interestingly mysterious new show that even after watching the teaser will have you asking more questions than it provides answers.

Filmmakers Mark and Jay Duplass come off their recently canceled series, Togetherness (via HBO) but return to the network with another upcoming anthology series, Room 104. The entire series is in one hotel room and each episode follows new guest of that one room. Some of these guests are played by Amy Landecker, James Van Der Beek, Orlando Jones, Mae Whitman, Philip Baker Hall. The Duplass Brothers have described the series as “finding some magic in the seemingly mundane.” This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has a watchable interest in the Duplass’ work as whatever they create is must watch material. It’s touted that after years of going in and out of hotels and motels, they were left with the curiosity of what went on in other rooms, notably at the hotels by the airport.

Some of the stories they’re telling involve a cult priest (Orlando Jones), a housekeeper (Dendrie Taylor) and her younger self, two Mormon missionaries, and more.

The full list of episodes provided by HBO for the first season of Room 104 are as follows:

Episode 1: Ralphie
Debut: July 28 (11:30 p.m.-midnight ET/PT)

Things go horribly awry when a babysitter (Melonie Diaz) arrives at Room 104 to watch an unusual boy named Ralph (Ethan Kent). Ross Partridge also stars.Written by Mark Duplass; directed by Sarah Adina Smith.

Episode 2: Pizza Boy
Debut: August 4 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

A pizza delivery boy gets caught up in a couple’s twisted games. James Van Der Beek and Davie-Blue star.
Written by Mark Duplass; directed by Patrick Brice.

Episode 3: The Knockadoo
Debut: August 11 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

A woman (Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris) seeking salvation is visited by a cult priest (Orlando Jones) promising to help her transcend the ordinary world for another realm.
Written by Carson Mell; directed by Sarah Adina Smith.

Episode 4: I Knew You Weren’t Dead
Debut: August 18 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

A visitor (Jay Duplass) in Room 104 seeks advice about his marital troubles from a long-lost friend. Will Tranfo and Frank Ashmore also star.

Episode 5: The Internet
Debut: August 25 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

In 1997, a son (Karan Soni) must teach his mother (Poorna Jagannathan) how to use the internet over the phone after leaving behind an important document on his laptop.
Written by Mark Duplass; directed by Doug Emmett.

Episode 6: Voyeurs
Debut: September  1 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

The past and present come face to face when a housekeeper (Dendrie Taylor) reconnects with her younger self (Sarah Hay).
Written by Dayna Hanson; directed by Dayna Hanson.

Episode 7: The Missionaries
Debut: September 8 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

Two young Mormon missionaries (Adam Foster, Nat Wolff) test the boundaries of their faith.
Written by Mark Duplass; directed by Megan Griffiths.

Episode 8: Phoenix
Debut: September 15 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

In 1969, the sole survivor (Amy Landecker) of a plane crash is faced with a decision: Go back to the life she had or seize the opportunity to start anew. Mae Whitman also stars.
Story by Xan Aranda and Ross Partridge; teleplay by Ross Partridge; directed by Ross Partridge.

Episode 9: Boris
Debut: September 22 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

When an aging Croatian tennis player (Konstantin Lavysh) reveals memories of his tortured past to a housekeeper (Veronica Falcon), an unlikely bond is formed. Biff Wiff also stars.
Written by Ross Partridge; directed by Chad Hartigan.

Episode 10: Red Tent
Debut: September 29 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

Two young men (Keir Gilchrist, Brian Hostenske) plotting to disrupt a political convention are interrupted by nerves … and an AC repairman (Hugo Armstrong).
Written by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck; directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

Episode 11: The Fight
Debut: October 6 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

Two female mixed martial arts fighters (Natalie Morgan, Keta Meggett) work together to score a bigger payday in an upcoming bout. Stephen Rannazzisi also stars.
Written by Mark Duplass; directed by Megan Griffiths.

Episode 12: My Love
Debut: October 13 (11:30 p.m.-midnight)

An octogenarian couple (Philip Baker Hall, Ellen Geer) returns to Room 104 to relive their first night together. Jacqueline Wright also stars.
Written by Mark Duplass; directed by Marta Cunningham.

The first season of Room 104 will premiere July 28, at 11:30 p.m. (ET) on HBO.