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'The Vow' Episode 4: Footage of Keith Raniere meeting Allison Mack has viewers calling him a 'walking red flag'

Among archival footage is one of when Mack first met Raniere in person during the weekly volleyball games Raniere would conduct for NXIVM members

HBO's latest miniseries, 'The Vow', dives into the inner workings of NXIVM (pronounced Nex-e-um), the self-help organization that was embittered in allegations of running a sex cult. The organization was co-founded by Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman. A few years ago, Raniere and the organization headlined the news when it was revealed that a secret group within NXIVM called DOS ("Dominant Over Submissive" in Latin) was recruiting women under the guise of empowerment, but subjected them to "master-slave" sex relationships. Many of these women were recruited as sex slaves for Raniere. One of the prominent members of NXIVM and DOS was 'Smallville' actress Allison Mack.

'The Vow' features actresses, Bonnie Piesse and Sarah Edmondson and filmmaker Mark Vicente who were former members of NXIVM. The first few episodes show viewers how they became members and how they subsequently left. Of the three, it was only Edmondson who was part of DOS and got branded with a symbol that turned out to be initials for both Raniere and Mack -- this episode caused her and her spouse, Anthony Ames, also a NXIVM member, to leave the group.

Perhaps because of Vicente's presence, 'The Vow' is filled with archival footage. Among them is footage of when Mack first met Raniere in person during the weekly volleyball games Raniere would conduct for NXIVM members. It is clear at the onset itself that Mack was smitten with Raniere -- and vice versa -- when Raniere asks her why her art is important to her. Raniere's words even lead to Mack breaking down in tears.

Viewers who have been following the series on HBO have been looking forward to this footage to diagnose the first meeting between Raniere and Mack, after all, Mack was just as instrumental in setting up DOS as Raniere was and had pled guilty to charges of racketeering. One viewer tweeted, "Look at this man!!! He's a walking red flag. #thevow," indicating Raniere in the footage. Another viewer wrote, "This look is called “got her!” #TheVow@TheVowHBO."

Some viewers tried to analyze Mack herself and while some sympathized with the 'Smallville' actress, others were not as sure. One viewer wrote, "These early videos of Allison Mack are fucking heartbreaking. #TheVow." Another tweeted, "Omg Allison Mack was perfect for NXIVM, She needed to "belong" and Keith smelled it from the second they met #TheVow." A user commented, "Allison Mack looks at Keith Reiniere like- #TheVowHBO."

'The Vow' airs on HBO on Sunday nights at 10/9c.