A new month, a new episode in the Hulu series Into the Dark! In this one, we follow Marisol, a pregnant Latina woman who wants to attempt to cross the border to find a new life for her and her child. She doesn’t expect what comes next.
Marisol isn’t happy with the life she has in Mexico. She is used as a cautionary tale to other young women when you go out alone without any contraception. She has tried crossing the border before but was left behind.
She makes the attempt again and meets young boy Ricky who has traveled far to reach the United States. Marisol assures Ricky that he doesn’t have to be alone when they cross the border, that she will be there for him. Unfortunately, when they get to the border they are met by The Cartel and are chased down. We see Marisol stand alone when a voice calls out “border control!” She faints.
Marisol awakens in new clothes and the baby gone from her stomach. Confused, she wonders the house she is in and finds a woman who tells her she made it to America. Elated, Marisol goes with the woman on a walk with her newborn baby to see new people and the 4th of July event being prepared.
It isn’t until she sees her baby’s father in the town that she starts to realize something strange is going on.
Throughout the episode, we see Marisol run into others who were in her group prior to crossing the border but she is the only self-aware person there. She eventually makes it out of the dream state she is in and finds herself strapped down with a forced tube in her throat and a VR headset over her face.
This episode was top notch. It was an interesting topic to touch on, especially in the current political climate. The beginning episode is in subtitles due to Spanish being the only spoken language but when we see Marisol in the virtual reality, everyone speaks English.
With a surprise appearance by Creed Bratton (The Office) as the antagonist, this show will keep viewers on their toes.
8/10
Culture Shock is on Hulu now
