Matryoshka

**Matryoshka** is the seventh episode of Season Two of *Russian Doll* and the fifteenth episode of the series overall. It is also serves as the season finale for this season.

## Synopsis

*On Nadia's birthday, she and Alan reunite in a familiar place. But they clash over how to handle the future (and the past)*.

## Plot

Nadia is still holding baby Nadia while chatting with Alan in the return point bathroom. Nadia rattles off about “tabula rasa,” viewing her baby self as a chance to start fresh. She can be the best mother to herself, thereby remedying the fractures in her childhood.

However, as a result of Nadia's actions, they are both back to where it all started: Nadia’s 36th birthday party in Maxine’s bathroom. Alan is furious with Nadia, noting he spent time in the past without meddling with it while Nadia royally screwed up time’s flow. Maxine calls out to them about the chicken.

So, Nadia, Alan and baby Nadia venture into the ill-fated birthday bash, mingling with its attendees. They chat with Maxine and Lizzy for a bit. Alan nervously pleads with Nadia to consider returning her baby self to 1982 before the time changes become irreversible. But Nadia’s determined to fix her past.

While Nadia and Alan attempt to leave, Alan runs into Mike Kershaw. Nadia then spots Ruth at the bottom of the stairs outside Maxine’s apartment. Nadia assists her godmother with walking up said stairs. Alan urges Nadia to peer over the railing at the plethora of Ruths on the sets of stairs below them.

But before Nadia and Alan depart, Nadia shares a tender moment with Ruth, who reminds her that “nothing in this world is easy except pissing in the shower”.

Nadia admits to Alan that she forked up, and the two escape with baby Nadia via the fire escape.

Later, they wait for the train at Astor Place so that they can return baby Nadia to 1982. Nadia spots a Metro worker slithering past, and they follow him through a door. We see it’s Horse (Brendan Sexton III). Nadia asks Horse where the train is, and Horse vows to lead them to it for a price.

While they’re walking, Horse pleads with Nadia to let him hold baby Nadia.

Nadia sees War Dog, followed by Maxine and Lizzy. Everyone’s dressed in black. That’s when Nadia’s friends inform her they’re en route to Ruth’s wake. Nadia insists it’s March 30, a.k.a. her birthday, but Maxine reminds her that it’s April 30. Nadia lost an entire month.

Alan urges Nadia to stay on course. They must reinsert baby Nadia in her respective timeline. Alan carts Nadia off the train, and they walk along the tracks together. Nadia comforts Alan regarding Lenny, even though the latter blames himself for Lenny digging that tunnel under the Berlin Wall. Alan reminds Nadia that Ruth would want her to be happy.

Suddenly, a train is heard approaching. Nadia grabs baby Nadia while not one but two trains barrel toward them from either side. They strike Nadia and Alan, and they both fall through space in slow motion. Nadia and Alan then land in locations that generally look the same — a flooded, underground room with concrete pillars.

Baby Nadia lands in Nadia’s arms after a brief delay. Alan wades through the water, finding a set of stairs leading to a door. Nadia spots the duffel bag floating in the water, and it’s filled with Krugerrands.

However, she cannot carry the bag and the baby, so she leaves the gold behind. It sinks below the water’s surface.

Alan encounters his grandmother, Agnes dressed as an MTA worker. Alan asks about Lenny and whether it was his job to stop him. He’s remorseful, wishing his prescience regarding the Berlin Wall was enough to deter Lenny. Agnes comforts her grandson, telling Alan he’s just like her.

Then, Agnes reminds Alan not to be afraid to live life. He’s so fearful of making a choice that could go awry that he makes zero choices.

Agnes reveals they’re in “The Void,” an “empty pocket of space left over from a job that was never completed”. Agnes then urges Alan to follow the blue light to the exit, taking him to the surface.

Meanwhile, Nadia finds her door, leading her to a subway train. She sees her mother, Nora, sitting alone. Like Alan, Nadia asks Nora if she’s dead.

“If you could choose your mother all over, would you choose me again?” Nora asks her daughter. Nadia then peers over at older Ruth and younger Ruth, older Vera and younger Vera. Nadia even spots her more youthful self sitting in the corner. All of the people in her life filling that maternal role, including herself.

“Yeah, I didn’t choose you the first time, but I guess that’s just how the story goes, huh, Mom?” Nadia replies. Nadia hands baby Nadia over to Nora.

Then, the lights flicker, and we see Nadia standing on the 1982 subway train while Vera, Ruth, Nora and baby Nadia walk past her. Nadia locks eyes with Vera, who seems to recognize her faintly. Nora doesn’t, on the other hand. Nadia grabs Ruth’s arm, asking if she loved her without obligation. Next, she bids Ruth farewell.

Blue light bathes the car until Nadia re-emerges in the present. She looks at her watch, once broken, to find that it’s still April 30. Nadia walks to Maxine’s apartment for Ruth’s wake, encountering Horse.

Lizzy and Maxine embrace Nadia, and she observes while a projector showcases photos of Ruth. War Dog offers her a cigarette. Nadia spots Alan standing off to the side, and she squeezes his arm lovingly before heading to the bathroom.

A bright, luminous blue marks the bathroom door, but Nadia doesn’t notice, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She smiles.

## Cast

### Starring

* Natasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov
* Charlie Barnett as Alan Zaveri
* Greta Lee as Maxine
* Elizabeth Ashley as Ruth Brenner
* Chloë Sevigny as Lenora Vulvokov

### Guest Starring

* Rosie O'Donnell voices the Subway Announcer
* Rebecca Henderson as Lizzy
* Irén Bordán as Vera Peschauer
* Brendan Sexton III as Horse
* Jeremy Bobb as Mike Kershaw
* Stephen Adly Guirgis as Peter
* Waris Ahluwalia as War Dog
* Annie Murphy as Young Ruth Brenner

### Co-Starring

* Brooke Timber as Young Nadia
* Ilona McCrea as Young Vera Peschauer
* Marc Geller as Carnival Barker