FX's Grotesquerie's episode seven plot twist revealed Detective Lois Tryon (Niecy Nash-Betts) was on life support instead of her husband Marshall (Courtney B. Vance). She is shockingly able to revive, in part because of what the doctors call a "liminal state" instead of a true coma, which few people manage to survive, with some incurring traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Lois' revival is a major plot twist this late in the show's inaugural season.
As she awakens, Lois is suddenly left to decipher the lengthy nightmare she endured while she was asleep. The nightmare included a series of serial killings committed by the titular Grotesquerie killer, who taunts Lois with biblical references as she investigates the case. The episode 7 twist confirmed that Grotesquerie'sfirst six episodes were all events in Lois' nightmarish state, and not events that occurred in true reality. Lois was able to ultimately pull through after being placed on life support because her state was ruled as liminal rather than a true coma.
What Is A Liminal State?
People Can Enter Liminal Spaces And Experience Liminal States
A liminal space can be a physical area where transitions happen, like an isolated train station or any other form of public transportation, or a psychological "in-between" space. The word "liminal" comes from the Latin "limen", which translates to "threshold". To be in a liminal state or space is to be transient, en route to a destination or mental conclusion that one has not quite reached yet. Liminal states and spaces create a sense of being frozen, as Grotesquerie viewers see Lois experience.
Oftentimes, psychological liminal states are induced by major life changes. In Lois' case, she has recently retired after decades of working as a detective, is on the brink of divorcing her husband, and is fairly recently sober. These loose ends in her life could have manifested in the more extreme versions of these plot lines that play out in Lois' Grotesquerie nightmares.
Is A Liminal State The Same As A Coma?
They Are Not The Same
People who are in a coma are not necessarily in a liminal state. While some people maintain brain activity and regain consciousness after being in a coma, only about 34% will survive, some of whom will live with a disability, and some of whom will make a full recovery. These rates are dependent on the patient's age, preexisting conditions, and the severity of their injury, including whether the person has sustained a TBI (via Braininjury.com).
Lois' therapist (Santino Fontana) explains to Merritt that he suspects that Lois was actually in a psychologically-induced liminal state rather than a coma, given her high levels of brain activity while she was on life support. It was for this reason that Lois was not only able to pull through after being unplugged, but also had a strong recollection of the events of her nightmares in Grotesquerie. While Lois is now awake, she remains emotionally liminal, navigating her reality with a new depth of emotional knowledge she procured in the dream space.
Sources: Braininjury.com
Grotesquerie: In this crime drama, a detective and a nun delve into a series of heinous crimes with personal ties, confronting their own struggles while unraveling a sinister web. Their investigation raises profound questions, revealing unsettling truths that challenge their perceptions and deepen the mystery.
Cast Niecy Nash-Betts , Courtney B. Vance , Nicholas Alexander Chavez , Micaela Diamond , Raven Goodwin , Lesley Manville , Joshua Bitton , Tessa Ferrer , Brooke Smith , Jay Alan Christianson , Al-Shabazz Jabateh , Travis Kelce , Conrad Bluth , Lynn Downey , Jamie H. Jung , Sarah J. Bartholomew , Joseph Schwartz , Quincey White , Mike Tarnofsky , Susan Pingleton , Kody Batchelor , Price Carson , Eve Sigall , Tom Virtue , David St. James , Ryan Maltz , Scott Anthony Simmons , Warren Sweeney
Character(s) Lois Tryon , Marshall Tryon , Father Charlie Mayhew , Sister Megan Duval , Merritt Tryon , Nurse Redd , Sgt. Jack Cranburn , Grace Finn , Gale Hanover , Stan the Homeless Man , Beat Cop , Ed Eddie Laclan , Cop , Burnside Mother , Student One , Student Two , Wes , D , SWAT Captain , Mother Firkus , Sullivan Firkus , Barkeep , Mother Superior , Bill , Bishop , Male Student , Old Priest , Priest 2
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