Summary
This is a stunning opener, introducing viewers to a fast-paced, brutal drama series with a real bite. Rachel Weisz is just as superb as the twin doctors, offering truly gripping character studies and enthralling dual performances simultaneously.
We recap the 2023 Amazon Prime Video series Dead Ringers Season 1 Episode 1, which contains spoilers.
What could be better than having Rachel Weisz starring in a Prime Video series? Well, how about having two Rachel Weisz’s for the price of one?
Psychological thriller Dead Ringers does just that, with the award-winning actress portraying twin gynecologists in this eagerly anticipated remake of David Cronenberg’s 1988 film.
Dead Ringers Season 1 Episode 1 Recap
The twins, Beverly and Elliot Mantle, are first seen in a diner together, discussing plans for their own birthing center. They want complete control of the birthing process and their own laboratory for further studies. While they eat, a man gingerly propositions the two sisters for a threesome.
Beverly initially humors the man but then verbally attacks the stranger. Elliot quips that she never knew twins were so desirable, stating that it feels like a superpower.
To distinguish between these identical twins, Beverly has her hair up in a ponytail, and Elliot’s hair is down. They also have very different personalities. Beverly is more serious, intellectual, and passionate, while Elliot is wild and impulsive.
The twins are next seen heading to work for another day of delivering babies. Beverly informs Elliot that she has miscarried once again. At Westcott Memorial Hospital, the twins work hard, dealing with plenty of distressed mothers, blood, and differing birthing techniques.
They tackle their work with efficiency and professionalism, but there is also a monotony and ordinariness towards their work too. After working hard, Elliot likes to party hard as well. She snorts cocaine and goes clubbing, where she befriends a man called Ryan.
Why do the Mantle twins swap identities?
Next, Beverly meets with a patient called Genevieve, who happens to be a famous actress. Beverly is disconcerted by this meeting, in awe of the celebrity, and asks to swap with Elliot. This doesn’t just mean swapping jobs but swapping identities too. The sisters change hairstyles and take on each other’s roles. Surprisingly, it feels like they’ve done this many times before.
Elliot discovers that Genevieve has a heart-shaped uterus, which could lead to future miscarriages. Genevieve is upset by the news and decides to go drinking. Elliot asks to join her, but Genevieve thinks this is wildly inappropriate.
The twins switch back. After a successful day of births, the shift turns brutal. A woman has a stillborn baby, and another dies from internal bleeding after a C-section. The premiere really illustrates the highs and lows of birthing.
Why does Elliot kiss Genevieve?
Angered by the tough shift, Elliot decides to go to the bar where Genevieve is, pretending to be Beverly. She asks the actress many questions and then goes in for the kiss. Elliot comes across as intense, but Genevieve seems to like her. Elliot relays this encounter back to Beverly. Her sister is annoyed at first but secretly grateful for the opportunity. Elliot has set her up for Beverly, who is too shy to make the first move.
That night the twins prepare to meet with potential investors Rebecca and Susan Parker. The wealthy entrepreneurs are responsible for an opioid crisis, and the twins feel like they are making a deal with the devil to get their birthing center up and running.
Rebecca states that their proposal bored her to tears. She doesn’t seem interested in their pitch at all. Beverly explains how she’s had a rough day with the stillborn and a mother dying. She blames the system for both of these tragedies.
Beverly believes the system is flawed and wants to make a real change. Unfortunately, real progress can be slow and appear boring to investors.
Rebecca is impressed by Beverly’s passionate pitch and now seems interested in the project again, but she wants to get to know the twins before agreeing to any partnership.
The twins celebrate. Beverly meets with Genevieve. The actress notices a difference in her demeanor right away. They discuss babies. It appears both are obsessed with getting pregnant.
The two kiss and return to Beverly’s apartment. Meanwhile, Elliot sleeps with Ryan, who she met at the club. Again, she is direct and intense with this stranger.
Dead Ringers Season 1 Episode 1 Ending Explained
The morning after, Genevieve meets the twin’s housemaid Greta and both twins together at once. She is surprised, unaware that Beverly had an identical twin, but she doesn’t seem that freaked out overall.
Genevieve asks Beverly if the twins swapped identities at any point, and Beverly lies, saying it was always her.
At breakfast, the twins talk about the Parkers and Genevieve alone. Beverly is besotted with the actress but refuses to tell Elliot the gory details of their encounter. This offends Elliot, who screams in the toilets on her own.
What did you think of the 2023 series Dead Ringers Season 1 Episode 1? Comment below.
