Summary
Hollywood season 1, episode 6, “Meg” demonstrates the lengths it used to take to have a film like this, that is slightly diverse, to be fully produced.
This recap of Netflix series Hollywood season 1, episode 6, “Meg” contains significant spoilers.
How does Hollywood season 1, episode 6, “Meg” begin?
The repercussions of the studios having a black writer and a black lead actress have caused protests around town. Some protestors have taken it further, burning crosses outside the production team’s houses. This is truly representative of the times — such irrationality.
One of the executives, Lon, tells Avis to halt production or he will take legal action if Meg continues. Avis proudly tells Lon to stick it.
What about the $25k debt for Raymond?
The boys return to Ernie’s gas station to be prostitutes again to raise the $25k additional budget.
Ernie tells them all to go home as it is too risky as they need to follow their dreams and he decides to take on the burden for them, bringing back some elites to raise cash quickly. He even uses his own cash to tell him.
When they offer to give a gift for his generosity, he refuses, calling it a parting gift to the town.
Is Ernie dying?
So Ernie gets nothing in return?
Well, Jack and co could not help but return the favor and they give him some lines in the movie — Ernie gets understandably emotional, finally realizing his dreams.
How’s the production going?
Hollywood season 1, episode 6, “Meg” shows the production in action, providing the audience with various scenes for Meg. Jack puts on an emotional display to really end the film well.
In a screen test, Henry says the film is missing something — “Something bold, something surprising”. He suggests making the ending ambiguous, with the audience not knowing if Camille is alive or dead.
He’s told by the editor that it’s a terrible idea so Henry storms out.
Everything seems to be going swimmingly…
Yes, that’s under the owner of the studio, Ace Amberg, suddenly wakes up from his coma. Avis helps him to return to work but she’s immediately shunned away from the big, important meetings, telling her to go home and cook.
This was a major blow for the character.
Ah, s*** but what about the film?
Ace Amberg tells the other executives that he knows Meg is a risk but a lot of people have put a lot of work into it.
The executives tell Ace that the picture will bankrupt them with the South already boycotting and that they need to burn the reels.
Afterward, Ace watches the screen test of Meg and he’s obviously moved by it. At lunch, Richard Samuels tells Ace that if he doesn’t release the movie he will resign and go the papers and expose everything that’s happened. Ace Amberg tells Richard that he’s always defended him, even when people have called him a “fag”.
Richard proudly tells Ace that he is a “fag” and makes a passionate speech saying he’s happy now and found someone.
This was a wonderful moment for Richard, finally breaking free and being who wants to be.
What about Avis?
Surprisingly, Ace Amberg is softer since the coma. Avis tells Ace that she wants to be the co-chair of the studio and not be stuck at home serving him all the time — he agrees to the arrangement, stating he’s seen Meg and that it’s a great picture; he’s been thinking of how he wants to leave this world and that he’d be proud to release that movie. Avis and Ace kiss and agree to give their marriage another go and have a passionate night together in bed.
The next morning, Avis finds Ace dead in bed.
How does Hollywood season 1, episode 6, “Meg” end?
In shocking circumstances making it a juicy penultimate episode.
Henry takes it upon himself to edit the film; he expresses that he does not understand why the girl in the film wants to kill herself. Raymond finds Henry recutting the final picture and tells him to stop. Henry tells Raymond that they need an extra scene to understand why Meg wants to kill herself to provide a deeper meaning and it will only take one more re-shoot. Surprisingly Raymond agrees.
But that’s not the real issue. The police then show up with one of the executives, Lon, and take the film reels — Raymond tells the police he’ll ring Ace Amberg but Lon tells him he’s dead.
The police throw the reels into an incinerator.
Hollywood season 1, episode 6, “Meg” demonstrates the lengths it used to take to have a film like this, that is slightly diverse, be fully produced.
Other points
- Ellen knows Ernie runs the prostitution ring which is why he’d be perfect for the role. They rehearse together.
- Jack checks up on his wife and the babies despite the separation. He says goodbye and that he will make the divorce easy for her. He apologizes that they screwed up. His wife says they both got what they wanted and that she hopes she was a contributing factor to realizing his dreams.
- Jack tells Ernie about his pending divorce. Ernie says it is great — stating that Jack doesn’t want to be tied down.
- Archie gives Rock Hudson a house key in light of their success so they can be official.
- Jack goes out for a drink with Claire to drown his sorrows over his divorce. He tells Claire that she’s a really good friend. She tells Jack that he’s going to be a star and wants to go to the premiere with Jack — he accepts the gesture. A new romance is blossoming.
