‘Nine Perfect Strangers’: Is Lars Lying About Why He’s at Tranquillum House?
Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers sees nine grief-stricken individuals embarking on a 10-day retreat at a mysterious resort called Tranquillum House. Nicole Kidman’s wellness guru Masha runs the place, and her “protocol” promises to entail some unconventional methods of healing. Most of the guests seem at least partially on board with her plans, even if they’re a bit invasive. However, there is one character who remains cynical about it all: Lars (Luke Evans).
[Spoiler warning: This article contains spoilers for the first three episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers.]
Who plays Lars on ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’?
Luke Evans plays Lars Lee in Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, bringing a cynic into the mix of characters hoping to heal. Viewers first meet Lars stocking up on junk food that’s prohibited at Tranquillum House. When the cashier brings up the place, he seems inquisitive. However, he’s not all that interested in speaking to Regina Hall’s Carmel when she butts into the conversation.
Evans conveys Lars’ skepticism well, toeing the line between total denial of Masha’s methods and interest that suggests there’s more going on. Although he insists her promises are “such utter crap,” he seems open to challenges from Zoe (Grace Van Patten).
As for where fans will recognize Evans from, he’s been in a number of other series — including TNT’s The Alienist and Hulu’s Crossing Swords. He also headlined the cast of ITV’s The Pembrokeshire Murders, so he knows a thing or two about mysteries. Could he be solving one of his own in Nine Perfect Strangers?
Is Lars lying about why he’s at Tranquillum House?
If Lars’ introduction doesn’t suggest he’s not all that eager to stay at Tranquillum House, his suspicious behavior later on will catch viewers’ attention. As it turns out, junk food isn’t the only thing Lars sneaks into Masha’s resort. He also brings an Apple watch and earpiece, which Zoe Marconi (Grace Van Patten) catches him using in the woods.
What she overhears raises some interesting questions about Lars. Besides the fact that he’s separated from a boyfriend or husband, she also learns that he’s at the resort “for work.” When she approaches him, he gives her a speech that proves he isn’t there for Masha’s healing:
“Wellness retreats. Just another construct to separate rich people from their money [and] get them to feel good about themselves in the process. Such utter crap.”
With his doubts about Tranquillum, cynical attitude, and admission that he’s here on duty, Lars seems to be lying about his motivations. That doesn’t escape Masha’s staff either. During Nine Perfect Strangers Episode 2, Delilah (Tiffany Boone) tells Masha, “I don’t know what Lars is, but I know he’s not a guest. He’s got some agenda.”
That agenda hasn’t come to light just yet. However, there are a few reasons Lars could be at Tranquillum House — outside of the desire to heal, of course.
What Lars’ suspicious behavior on ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ could mean
While every character in Nine Perfect Strangers appears to be hiding something or holding something back, Lars comes off as the most suspicious. What could his behavior mean, and what work would require him to visit some “f—– up spa”?
Given Masha recently won a lawsuit against Tranquillum House, Lars could be some kind of investigator. She tells Delilah that the court ruled in her favor, but that doesn’t mean whoever filed the suit wouldn’t hire a P.I. to gather information. Likewise, if law enforcement is onto Masha’s dubious methods of healing, they could be trying to figure out if anything criminal is going on at her establishment.
The more sinister option could see Lars infiltrating the retreat to enact revenge. The first three episodes show Masha receiving death threats, but she doesn’t know who they’re coming from. Could Lars have something to do with that?
Only time will tell, but viewers can expect some kind of twist surrounding Lars’ character in the coming episodes. For now, there’s plenty of suspicious behavior to speculate about in the first three, which are currently streaming on Hulu.
