The second episode of The Beauty follows FBI detectives Cooper and Jordan in Venice as they investigate the death of an online influencer. Arriving at a sprawling mansion, they enter the crime scene wearing hazmat suits, where they find the corpse on the bed–her torso and abdomen have completely imploded. On a wall nearby, they discover a cryptic Egyptian hieroglyph meaning “beauty” drawn out with blood.
Simultaneously, a shadowy boss contacts the assassin Antonio for an update on the next target, explaining that the former employee stole his formula that was solely reserved for him and his friends, ultimately infecting others. Antonio tracks the target, closely following behind before shooting a poisonous dart into his neck. The target violently convulses, foaming at the mouth.
At a bar, Cooper and Jordan watch the influencer’s final video, posted moments before her death. Speaking directly to the camera, she pleads with viewers: “Don’t do it.” In the background, we hear men forcibly enter her room just before the video abruptly ends. As Cooper and Jordan try to decipher the video’s meaning, Cooper receives a phone call—they’re being called back to New York the next day. He explains that a chef has combusted in the Condé Nast kitchen. The conversation grows tense when Jordan insists that their relationship stay casual. Cooper agrees, saying their job demands an outlet to blow off steam, and for them, that outlet is sex. He goes on to share his worldview: after puberty, everything revolves around sex, with human behavior driven by the underlying desire to get laid. Cooper leans in to kiss her, then hesitates and pulls back. He leaves to gather more intel on the New York situation, glancing back once more to find Jordan already flirting with a handsome man.
On his way back, Cooper is suddenly ambushed by two men. He fends them off, leading them on a chase through the streets of Venice, and ultimately defeats them after a brutal fight.
Meanwhile, the handsome man takes Jordan to his luxurious Venetian suite, where they have sex. Afterward, he watches her sleep, gently kisses her cheek, and quietly leaves. In a sudden turn of events, Jordan wakes up in a pool of sweat, completely dehydrated. Her bones begin to twist, and her body contorts in every direction. She collapses on the bathroom floor. When morning comes, a more young and beautiful version of Jordan emerges from a veiny sac. Realizing what has happened, she lets out a horrified shriek.
The second episode of The Beauty effectively expands its mystery, slowly uncovering new information about the world while drastically upping the stakes. New key players are introduced: a secretive boss (played by Ashton Kutcher) and a stealthy assassin (played by Anthony Ramos). Though somewhat underdeveloped, this plotline remains engaging enough to hold the audience’s attention. Interestingly, this episode is much shorter than the pilot, packing all this new information into just 23 minutes. Focused primarily on the events in Venice, the episode neglects to follow up on Jeremy’s story, though it doesn’t disrupt the narrative in any noticeable way.
Perhaps the most striking moment of the episode comes during a conversation between Cooper and Jordan. As the two main protagonists, it’s initially difficult to see them as more than FBI detectives. But as tensions rise, Jordan’s conflicted feelings toward Cooper begin to surface. Cooper shares his personal philosophy: that people’s behaviors and actions are ultimately driven by the pursuit of sex. This character-focused moment only helps shape how these characters fit into this world defined by beauty and desire. Additionally, Rebecca Hall gives a remarkable performance this episode, with every glance and microexpression adding deep interiority to her character. It isn’t until Jordan becomes infected that Hall unleashes her all, flailing her body around helplessly. By the second episode, as both characters face physical threats, the stakes have risen dramatically, quickly setting things in motion.
Rating: 7/10
Photo credit: Courtesy of FX Networks