The previous episode of The Crowded Room, episode 9, left viewers with a feeling of hopelessness regarding Danny Sullivan's trial and his chances of survival. The focus of this episode was on Danny's trial, where he faced the jury for the first time. Throughout the episode, various characters from Danny's past, such as Annabelle, appeared and shared their side of the story regarding their interactions with him. The prosecution argued for Danny's imprisonment, claiming that the only reason people escaped death was his poor marksmanship. On the other hand, the defense pleaded for Danny to be sent to a hospital to receive the necessary help.
Amidst the intense proceedings, Danny's mother consistently chose not to testify. However, a conversation between Rya and Candy convinced Candy to overcome her hesitations and testify in support of her son. Unfortunately, after a confrontation with Marlin in the elevator, Candy succumbed to pressure and ended up testifying against Danny. Feeling abandoned, the weight of emotions pushed Danny to resort to self-harm using a binder clip from the events of episode 8. The episode concluded suddenly, leaving the audience in suspense regarding Danny's fate and the eventual resolution of the trial.
Is Danny Dying In The Crowded Room Episode 9's Ending?
In the final moments of episode 9 of The Crowded Room, Danny utilized the binder clip provided by Jonny as a means of protection, as his various personalities deemed fit. Feeling utterly isolated, Danny made the choice to inflict harm upon himself, resulting in a heartbreaking scene of him bleeding to death. During the trial, the prosecution contended that Rya, who had been Danny's confidante, utilized him to secure a research grant. This revelation shattered Danny's trust in Rya, as he came to realize that she may have exploited him and his condition for personal gain.
Later, when his mother took the stand to testify, Danny expected her to expose the traumatic experiences from his past that contributed to his dissociative identity disorder. However, when she was called upon, Candy refuted the allegations of Danny's childhood abuse, leaving the defense without substantial evidence to support their argument.
Candy’s Testimony Decision & What It Means For Danny's Trial
Danny felt betrayed, causing him to make the desperate and tragic decision to end his life. The conclusion of the episode left viewers contemplating Danny's fate, yet it is evident that he possesses persistent and protective identities. Consequently, one of his alters, presumably his closest companion Ariana, will intercede to rescue him from the clutches of death.After much deliberation, Candy was torn about whether or not to testify in Danny's case. However, a heart-to-heart conversation with Rya ultimately convinced her that advocating for her son was the right course of action. Sadly, just moments before she was set to take the stand, Marlin intercepted her in the elevator. This encounter left her petrified, causing her to retract her previous statements and deny any allegations of abuse during Danny's upbringing. Marlin's menacing threats of losing everything - her spouse, her livelihood, and her financial stability - instilled a deep fear within Candy.
He manipulated her emotions, emphasizing that if she confessed to Danny's sexual abuse, the public would perceive her as an unfit mother. Rya told Stan, "We prefer to endure the pain we know rather than risk more pain." Despite her fear of starting over alone, Candy opted to stay with Marlin, feeling the need for someone to take care of her, even if it meant sacrificing her son.
With Candy's testimony absent, Danny now faces the daunting challenge of convincing the jury about his condition, when he hasn't even admitted to himself that he was abused. Danny must confront his trauma before he can have any hope of winning the trial. Stan, his lawyer, never intended for Danny to testify, fearing that his multiple identities might be difficult to control during the trial. However, it becomes evident that the only way for Danny to seek justice is to testify himself and acknowledge the abuse he endured as a child, which could sway the jury in his favor.
Rya’s Abuse Testimony Sets Up 1 Alter’s Return
In court, Rya testified that Danny had dissociative identity disorder, a condition that typically develops in childhood after experiencing some form of abuse, often of a sexual nature. However, when asked if Danny had ever claimed to have been abused as a child, Rya had to state that he never admitted to it. In a conversation with Stan, Rya mentioned that she couldn't assert that Danny was abused because he never disclosed it to her personally, only his alter ego Adam did.
This paves the way for the possibility of Danny reconnecting with Adam, allowing him to discover the truth about his "brother" - that Adam never died but has always been there for him as a protective alter. So far, Adam has only appeared in Danny's childhood flashbacks, creating an opportunity for the character to resurface in the final moments, ultimately turning the tide in the case and once again saving Danny.
What Rya & Candy’s Conversation Revealed About Danny’s Father
Throughout the series, the mystery surrounding Danny's father in The Crowded Room has played a significant role, leading viewers to speculate about his whereabouts and his impact on Danny's life. It was hinted that he may be in hiding or possibly deceased, as he was absent from Danny's childhood memories. A crucial moment in the storyline occurred during the final conversation between Rya and Candy, where Rya implied that Candy had experienced previous predators in her life, with Danny and herself as their prey.
This comment suggests that Candy left Danny's father because he was the first person to sexually abuse Danny. As a result, Danny's biological father is responsible for his dissociative identity disorder, which later manifested itself when individuals like Marlin took advantage of Danny's gentle and vulnerable nature. This revelation shed light on the traumatic events that shaped Danny's psychological condition, finally exposing the dark truths of his past.
How Marlin Knew Candy Would Go To Court
In episode 9 of The Crowded Room, Candy and Marlin's phone kept ringing persistently. Stan, attempting to reach Candy, needed her to appear in court. Marlin warned Candy not to answer the phone until after the trial, fully aware that her testimony would have negative consequences for him. It is likely that Marlin shadowed Candy to the courthouse to ensure she refrained from speaking against him.
Additionally, it is feasible that Marlin learned about Candy's scheduled testimony through his job as a juvenile corrections officer. This knowledge prompted him to swiftly confront and intimidate her, preventing her from testifying against him.
What Pills Stan Takes & What It Means For Defending Danny
In episode 9 of The Crowded Room, Rya and Stan discuss the potential consequences of Candy not testifying for Danny, realizing that it could cost them the case. Rya explores Candy's motivations for avoiding the testimony, noting that she relies on Marlin to shield herself from loneliness and the pain of the unknown. Rya suggests that people often turn to vices like alcohol, drugs, and sex to numb their pain, which Stan acknowledges as effective.
Throughout the series, Stan is shown taking pills and goes to great lengths to acquire more from the pharmacy. An old photograph on his refrigerator reveals his involvement in the Vietnam War and the resulting PTSD, for which he uses anti-anxiety pills. The Crowded Room explores various approaches to dealing with suffering, exemplified by Danny's dissociative identity disorder. Stan's character is closely intertwined with Danny's fate as he recognizes a shared sense of anguish between them.
In The Crowded Room, both characters are driven to do whatever it takes to survive, despite their sometimes unhealthy or unproductive coping mechanisms. The story portrays their encounters with different kinds of pain, offering a glimpse into the human experience and highlighting the multitude of ways individuals confront and persevere through life's challenges.