‘Nine Perfect Strangers’: 3 Theories About Who’s Threatening Masha
Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers transports viewers to a boutique wellness resort, where nine individuals attempt to overcome their grief and trauma by attending a 10-day retreat. A woman named Masha (Nicole Kidman) runs the program, implementing a number of nontraditional healing strategies. And while Tranquillum House has rave reviews, it seems Masha has gotten into legal trouble before — meaning not everyone has had a good experience from attending her retreats.
That could be why she’s receiving death threats over the course of the show’s first three episodes. The anonymous texts aren’t the focal point of her storyline, but they do bring an ominous tone to the retreat as a whole. As for who’s threatening Masha, that’s anyone’s guess — though there are a few possibilities that stand out.
Who’s threatening Masha on ‘Nine Perfect Strangers?’ Delilah has a motive
Nine Perfect Strangers paints a pleasant picture of the staff at Tranquillum House, all of whom work together to bring about healing. However, the Hulu series establishes a motive for one of Masha’s followers to wish her ill: Delilah (Tiffany Boone).
Thus far, Delilah seems to be the voice of reason on Nine Perfect Strangers, cautioning Masha against moving too quickly with the volatile group of guests. It’s comforting that she doesn’t blindly follow Masha’s orders, but her awareness of her boss’ shortcomings could also make Delilah a threat.
That’s especially true when you consider what’s going on between Yao (Manny Jacinto), Masha, and Delilah. There seems to be a consensual polyamorous relationship between the three characters, but Yao tells Masha that Delilah is feeling jealous lately. Could her feelings cause her to lash out at her boss? It’s possible, though violence seems out of character for her.
She does appear suddenly and out of nowhere after Masha receives a barrage of texts in episode 3, however…
The Hulu series mentions a failed lawsuit against Tranquillum House
The bigger elephant in the room is the lawsuit filed against Tranquillum House. Nine Perfect Strangers has yet to fill viewers in on the intricate details, but it seems the family of a former guest sued Masha for her practices. The court ruled in the resort’s favor, but as Delilah points out, that doesn’t mean the family is over it. In fact, they could be tempted to take justice into their own hands.
This would fit with the show’s story, offering a smooth segue to discussing the problems with Masha’s approach. Her methods are clearly questionable, but having a dissatisfied party from the past show up would drive that point home. It would also contrast the experiences of the current group, forcing them to think about what they’ve agreed to.
Could ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ reveal one of the guests as the perpetrator?
While Delilah and the family who sued Masha have clear motives for sending threats, it’s possible the person behind the messages hasn’t revealed their reasoning yet. Could one of the current guests at Tranquillum House prove a problem for its leader?
Not all of the characters on Nine Perfect Strangers have been forthcoming about their reasons for attending Masha’s retreat. Lars (Luke Evans) comes off as hostile and cynical of the whole thing, while visitors like Carmel (Regina Hall) and Jessica (Samara Weaving) seem positively smitten with Masha. It’s possible there’s more to these characters than meets the eye — in fact, it’s probable considering how much more viewers have to learn about them.
Only time will tell if something more sinister lies beneath one of the titular strangers, but future episodes could hold more clues. Nine Perfect Strangers Episode 4 arrives on Hulu on Aug. 21, 2021.
