Previously it was shown on Irma Vep Season1episode 1 that Mira, an A-list Hollywood actor joins a lower budget French production while trying to move away from LA, her existing career, and the heartbreak caused by her ex-girlfriend and assistant Laurie. It was also uncertain whether the film will continue as the insurance company refused to back the production due to Rene’s erratic behavior and usage of mood stabilizers.
Warning. Contains Spoilers!
Does the film get canceled?
The episode begins with Mira’s agent, Regina checking out the Paris suite provided by the French production company. This is just a cozy little hotel room where the curtain of the bathroom opens straight into the living room. She thinks Mira will definitely not like it. She calls Mira’s agent, Zelda and they have an argument. Zelda keeps calling Mira while she is busy trying her costume. She informs Mira that the film is going to get canceled and she should return back to LA.
She even tells her that the Silver Surfer production is offering her a blank check if she agrees to sign up for the sequel. They want her to play the part of Silver surfer but she refuses. Rene (director) visits another insurance doctor to get another opinion as he is having trouble finding an insurance company for his film. He is considered unfit for directing Irma Vep. He admits “I cannot stand interaction with people” and “the drug helps.”
He even flips out on the movie being called ‘a series’. But the doctor gives him the green signal anyway. Later Mira meets Zoe, the costume designer of the film in a club. She tells her that Rene has found a new insurance company. Mira is just content that she won’t have to return back to LA. She confesses to Zoe how she had opened up to Laurie and felt betrayed but she did help her come out of the toxic relationship with Eamonn.
Conflicts arising
Rene gets into an argument with Edmond (the actor who plays Phillip) over a movie scene and they start physically assaulting each other. Edmond says that he should get time to grieve Marfa’s death and need motivation. To this Rene lashes out saying “Next time you say ‘Motivation’ again and I’ll strangle you.” Mira is seen working out her dancing skill with her choreographer and both are shocked to find how brilliant she is. She loves her slight improvisation. Rene is directing another scene where Edmund as Phillipe escapes from the prison but Rene again freaks out and starts yelling at everyone on the sets.
Carla, who is in the production team, goes to pick up an actor, Gottfried Von Shack from the train station. When she comments that he doesn’t look good, he tells that he had to throw away his crack stash because he misunderstood two soldiers to be customs officials. He says that he is clean for the last twenty-four hours and wants some stuff. He blackmails Carla to score for him or else he promises to jump off the roof of the hotel. Carla manages to get Gottfried a room on the ground floor so that he cannot think of jumping.
Fight for respect
Zoe and Gregory fight over production time management and pay. One of the side actors says they should be paid for dancing and they were not informed earlier about the 6 am call time. When Gregory charges Zoe she says she doesn’t have enough stuff due to budget restraints and always tries to keep Greg out of any brawl with Rene and still doesn’t get any respect.
On the other hand, Mira gets to know that a tabloid printed her and Regina’s picture which will certainly make Laurie jealous. Mira is enacting her scene which Rene watches on his phone and gets mesmerized. Later, he talks to his therapist that he is obsessed with women in catsuits which turns him on. Carla talks to Zoe that Gottfried is addicted to crack and asks for her help. Zoe manages to get some of it using her old connection. So Laurie does get jealous and posts her and Mira’s pictures on Instagram. Zoe also lashes out at a production crew when she asks them to hurry up as Rene is waiting. In a way, we can see the production is crumbling.
Without his knowledge
Edmond doesn’t like the fact that a grown-up man Phillippe still lives with his mother. He tells Mira that Rene either removes his mother’s character or he is out. Rene agrees with Edmond to get Edmond off his back but never really does so. He discusses with Rene how shocked Edmond will be to find that out. Mira questions Rene about his script writing and says it is dumb of the vampires to write their secrets in a coded diary.
She gets to know about Phillipe’s mother still present in the show when she asks, “Who hired Irma Vep to be his maid?” Mira is starting to have a conflict with Rene as he thinks she could be a little more realistic and she questions his writing abilities for this generation. The episode ends with Mira acting as Irma Vep manages to steal back the Red Codebook and flee away from Phillipe’s house.
The main highlight of the episode: Who or rather what is IRMA VEP?
Most of the scenes we see here are movie scenes enacted by the characters within the show. As choreographed in episode one, Marfa is seen performing on the stage as the Grand Vampire sits and witnesses her shocking and pre-planned death of her. She is poisoned from the ring that was gifted by the grand vampire. As he walks out, Phillipe starts following him. Only this is just a trap and he is imprisoned. He is taken to a jail where he is informed that an inquisitor will visit him. Just as the inquisitor is about to ask questions, the jailor frees him and he escapes with the ‘Red Codebook.’
It is shown as a merging of 1916 silent film and present movie scene that Phillippe has hit the jackpot. He is deep thought in trying to decode the book. He is successful in doing so and locates the Vampire’s den and goes there undercover. Although he tries his best but is mesmerized by Irma’s performance. This is also the first time we see Mira perform as Irma. So here’s the conclusion: IRMA VEP means VAMPIRE.
What is the motive of Rene Vidal?
Rene seems to be one complex character with such volatile behavior. He confesses to his therapist that he has a thing for women in catsuits. He used to watch Diana Rigg in the Avengers on television as a child and became obsessed with the character, Emma Peel, though he has huge respect for Rigg as an artist.
He but dodges the question where he is asked whether he used to pleasure himself while watching her. It will be interesting to see how obsessed he gets with Mira and whether they can keep her reel and real-life separate. He is engaging in terrible fights with almost all the actors and crew members, especially Edmond. He seems extremely rigid and obsessed with French culture and art and very strict with his directions with the actors.
What can we expect in the upcoming episodes?
We can certainly expect a lot of drama and bizarre behavior of Rene might end up in some serious fights. The character Gottfried is quite weird too. He already has an addiction and his interaction with the other characters could be intense or funny. There is also a flirtatious and fondness relationship building up between Zoe and Mira whereas there is a slight possibility of a spark between Mira and Regina.
Rene is still tolerable to Mira’s constant questioning. Like “Why would the Vampires write down all their secrets in a notebook?” “Who hired Irma Vep to be her maid?” But it’s not very far away when Rene’s disturbing side conflicts with Mira’s rebellious side.
Some important and exciting plot twists are coming up. Do follow for more such updates of Irma Vep Season 1 Episode 3.