‘Lady in the Lake’ Episode 5 Preview: Stephan Zawadzkie’s bold move puts Maddie in the eye of the storm
Warning: Contains spoilers for ‘Lady in the Lake’, reader's discretion advised
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: ‘Lady in the Lake’ on Apple TV+ returns with its fourth episode. Previously, the series focused on Maddie's investigation into Tessie Durst's murder, which led to Stephan Zawadzkie being charged and committed to a psychiatric hospital.
Maddie then persuaded Bob Bauer at the Baltimore Journal to hire her. Meanwhile, Cleo Johnson worried about her involvement in the attempted murder of Myrtle Summers, eventually confessing details about the getaway car to Officer Platt.
In ‘Lady in the Lake’ Episode 4, Maddie's interview with Stephan for the Baltimore Star adds new complications to her life. Cleo devises a plan to shield herself from criminal charges, while Shell discovers startling information about his associates.
‘Lady in the Lake’ Episode 4 Recap
Previously on ‘Lady in the Lake’, Maddie (Natalie Portman) visits Stephan Zawadzkie (Dylan Arnold) at the hospital to identify a man seen with Tessie Durst (Bianca Belle). Stephan, who recognizes Maddie, shares memories of his medic father who died when Stephan was seven. He reveals his strong faith and refuses to be recorded, feeling betrayed when Maddie takes notes. Stephan believes they share a peculiar connection, which Maddie uses to gather more information. He recalls a traumatic incident from her past near the lake and denies killing Tessie. He then reveals shocking details about psychological experiments he endured, leading to his mental turmoil.
Meanwhile, Cleo (Moses Ingram) enlists Reggie (Josiah Cross) to help rescue Dora (Jennifer Mogbock) from Shell Gordon's (Wood Harris) control and asks for tips on a winning bet. Despite initial reluctance, Reggie eventually complies but warns Cleo to leave by Christmas. Cleo, with her son, visits Lucille Tatum (Lunda Suarez) to place a bet. She offers Lucille a partnership in exchange for placing a specific bet on Christmas Eve, planning to keep 80% of the winnings.
Maddie’s investigation continues as she informs Bob (Pruitt Taylor Vince) at the Baltimore Star about “Operation Whitecoat,” a secret military program that victimized Stephan. After her article is published, Maddie is hired as a helpline assistant at the newspaper, a job she reluctantly accepts.
In the episode's climax, Officers Platt (Y’lan Noel) and Davis (David Johnson III) surveil suspects in an assassination attempt. Davis questions Platt's ethics, suspecting him of being involved with Maddie. They track a suspect to a theater, leading to a shootout where Davis is killed, and the suspect, Robert "Duke" Buxton, is arrested. Authorities hope to catch other accomplices, including a woman who drove them, possibly Cleo.
What happened in ‘Lady in the Lake’ Episode 4 Finale?
Shell orders Reggie to ensure Cleo attends their Christmas giveaway event so he can eliminate her and the incriminating evidence. Dora, fed up with Reggie and Shell's abuse, urges Cleo to take her somewhere safe. On Christmas, Shell, dressed as Santa Claus, oversees the event while Reggie closes all the bets. Cleo visits her mother's house, and they share an emotional moment reflecting on Cleo’s guilt-ridden past. Slappy (Byron Bowers) arrives with the children and a meal. Later, Reggie watches Cleo and Slappy from a distance as they return home.
Stephan expects Maddie to share a unique connection with him, possibly influenced by his past psychological experiments. As a helpline assistant at the Baltimore Star, Maddie shoulders leftover work and continues her relationship with Officer Platt. They slow-dance, helping him cope with Officer Davis' death, and through him, Maddie learns about the ongoing investigation. As they have sex, she recalls being assaulted by Tessie’s father, Allan (David Corenswet), near the lake.
At the event, Maddie encounters Allan, who is angry about her article on his child’s alleged murderer. He accuses her of trying to revive her journalistic career and demands she stop investigating. Maddie, determined to uncover the truth, slaps her bratty son Seth (Noah Jupe) when he misbehaves.
Later, Maddie returns to her apartment and finds Stephan there, having escaped the hospital. He becomes furious upon discovering she is dating a black man. As Stephan assaults her, Maddie tries to pacify him. He sees her as his "other self" created by God, likely a result of his experimental indoctrination.
Maddie manages to calm Stephan and make him leave. The episode ends with Stephan running toward the lake and getting caught by the police, and Reggie trying to dispose of a body at the lake but losing balance and falling on the boat.
When will ‘Lady in the Lake’ Episode 5 release?
‘Lady in the Lake’ Episode 5 titled 'Everytime someone turns up dead in that lake, it does seem to lead to you' will air on Friday, August 9, on Apple TV+. New episodes drop on the platform at 21 PT/00:00 ET/5 BST.
The official synopsis for ‘Lady in the Lake’ Episode 5 reads, "Cleo's body is discovered. As Maddie's obsession with Cleo grows deeper, she realizes they once crossed paths."
New episodes of ‘Lady in the Lake’ arrive every Friday, starting from July 19 through to August 23. There are just seven episodes in this series, and it doesn’t look like there will ever be a Season 2 as ‘Lady in the Lake’ is billed as a limited series.
What to expect from ‘Lady in the Lake’ Episode 5?
As the intrigue deepens in Apple TV+'s limited series ‘Lady in the Lake’, Episode 5 promises to be a game-changer. Cleo's body is discovered, setting off a chain reaction of events that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.
Meanwhile, Maddie's fixation on Cleo's life and death intensifies, leading to a startling revelation: their paths had crossed before, in a twist that will upend everything. With the truth slowly rising to the surface, fans can expect more pulse-pounding suspense.
On the other hand, before his arrest, Zawadzkie appears to baptize himself, suggesting he believes he has been reborn. If he feels liberated from the trauma of his past experiments, this transformation could significantly alter his personality. How this change manifests in his behavior remains to be seen.
‘Lady in the Lake’ trailer
4 episodes of ‘Lady in the Lake’ is now streaming on Apple TV+