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Room 104
Room 104
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Room 104
Genre
Created by
ComposerJulian Wass
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes48
Production
Executive producers
  • Mark Duplass
  • Jay Duplass
  • Mel Eslyn
  • Sydney Fleischmann
  • Xan Aranda
Running time21–29 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseJuly 28, 2017 (2017-07-28) –
October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)

Room 104 is an American anthology television series created by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass,[1] first broadcast on HBO between 2017 and 2020.

Premise

[edit]

Set in a single room of an American roadside motel, each episode explores different characters passing through Room 104, ranging widely across horror, thriller, and comedy genres.

Production

[edit]

The series received a 24-episode order and all the episodes were shot back-to-back as a cost-saving measure, and they were split into two 12-episode seasons. In a December 2018 interview, co-creator Mark Duplass revealed that the third season had already been filmed and edited, and he was writing season 4. According to Duplass, episodes of Room 104 are made for "a quarter" of the cost typically expected for HBO series. Episodes are conceived in a "think tank" by the writers where they come up with dozens of ideas, and then they reach out to filmmakers that they are interested in to direct the episodes. Episodes are filmed in a "fast and loose" manner; for example, Josephine Decker directed her episode in two days only using an iPhone. For the editing process, directors do not receive final cut, and Duplass screens the episodes to a group of 20 people who work at their company for feedback.[2]

The series debuted July 28, 2017, on HBO.[3] A twelve-episode second season aired between November 9 and December 15, 2018.[4][5] On February 8, 2019, HBO revealed that a third season had been filmed and that the network were in talks for a fourth season renewal.[6] The show's twelve-episode third season premiered on September 13, 2019.[7] Filming for season 4 was completed by September 2019.[8] HBO announced in May 2020 that the fourth season would conclude the series, which started airing July 24.[9] and concluded on October 9, 2020.

Reception

[edit]

Room 104 has received generally positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, the first season has a score of 65 out of 100 based on 22 reviews.[10] On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an 87% approval rating with an average score of 6.85 out of 10 based on 39 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "Room 104 uses its anthology structure to its advantage, telling a series of short, eclectic stories that hit their marks more often than they miss."[11]

Reviewing the entire second season, Ben Travers of IndieWire gave it a positive review with a "B+" grade. He wrote, "the variety of storytelling on display builds such tingly anticipation, each new episode is worth it even when the narrative disappoints" and that it is "such remarkable, refreshing television that even when it's bad, it's good".[12]

Episodes

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
112July 28, 2017 (2017-07-28)October 13, 2017 (2017-10-13)
212November 9, 2018 (2018-11-09)December 15, 2018 (2018-12-15)
312September 13, 2019 (2019-09-13)November 29, 2019 (2019-11-29)
412July 24, 2020 (2020-07-24)October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)

Season 1 (2017)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
11"Ralphie"Sarah Adina SmithMark DuplassJuly 28, 2017 (2017-07-28)0.249[13]

Meg is hired by a man to babysit his pre-teen son Ralph for one night in Room 104. She is initially amused when Ralph warns her that "Ralphie", a bad boy, is locked in the bathroom, and that they need to keep quiet so they do not wake Ralphie. Thinking he is an imaginary friend, Meg at first humors Ralph, but becomes scared after Ralph goes into the bathroom dressed normally but returns in only underwear and a towel as a cape calling himself Ralphie; he attacks her. Ralphie goes back to the bathroom and Ralph returns dressed normally. Ralph tells Meg that he and his dad say his mother hanged herself but he says the true story is Ralphie killed her. After talking too loudly, Ralph says Ralphie has woken again. This time both Ralph and Ralphie emerge from the bathroom at the same time. Ralphie suffocates Ralph to death on the bed and then attacks her on the floor. Meg overpowers Ralphie and strangles him to death. Ralph's father returns to find Meg strangling Ralph and when she looks to the bed sees no body there and sees the body she was strangling was dressed as Ralph.


Cast :  Melonie Diaz, Ross Partridge, Ethan Kent, Gavin Kent
22"Pizza Boy"Patrick BriceMark DuplassAugust 4, 2017 (2017-08-04)0.426[14]

A pizza delivery boy is drawn into a couple's bizarre sex game where the wife attempts to seduce the delivery boy while the husband goes to get cash to pay for the pizza. She leaves when the husband returns and he accuses delivery boy of having sex with the wife and ties up the delivery boy. The wife returns and the couple have sex, apparently aroused by their fight and by having someone watch. After sex the delivery boy is seen wearing a suit, he offers the couple pointers on their performance and pays them, the whole situation having been one of the "delivery boy" auditioning actors to perform immersive sexual role play for his voyeuristic clients.


Cast :  Clark Duke, James Van Der Beek, Davie-Blue
33"The Knockandoo"Sarah Adina SmithCarson MellAugust 11, 2017 (2017-08-11)0.438[15]

A spiritually-hungry woman is visited by a cult priest. She remembers that when she was a child, a boy showed her his penis and she hit it with a rock.


Cast :  Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris, Orlando Jones, Tony Todd, Jenny Leonhardt
44"I Knew You Weren't Dead"So Yong KimMark DuplassAugust 18, 2017 (2017-08-18)0.305[16]

A 42-year-old guest, whose wife wants to split up with him, seeks advice from the ghost of his college best friend who accidentally drowned in his early twenties.


Cast :  Jay Duplass, Will Tranfo, Frank Ashmore
55"The Internet"Doug EmmettMark DuplassAugust 25, 2017 (2017-08-25)0.393[16]

In 1997, a young Indian man desperately tries to teach his mother, over the phone, how to use his laptop to send a copy of the novel he has been writing. She accidentally deletes his novel, so he tells her to take it to a computer shop so that the staff can try to retrieve it.


Cast :  Karan Soni, Poorna Jagannathan
66"Voyeurs"Dayna HansonDayna HansonSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)0.240[16]

An episode told through interpretive dance, with very little dialogue. A middle-aged maid and former call girl reconnects with her younger self.


Cast :  Dendrie Taylor, Sarah Hay
77"The Missionaries"Megan GriffithsMark DuplassSeptember 8, 2017 (2017-09-08)0.366[17]

Two Mormons test their faith and their attraction to each other.


Cast :  Adam Foster, Nat Wolff
88"Phoenix"Ross PartridgeStory by : Xan Aranda and Ross Partridge
Teleplay by : Ross Partridge
September 15, 2017 (2017-09-15)0.375[18]

In 1969, the sole (apparent) survivor of a plane crash finds herself in the room, covered in mud, cuts and bruises. She contemplates whether to go back to her old life with her husband.


Cast :  Amy Landecker, Mae Whitman
99"Boris"Chad HartiganRoss PartridgeSeptember 22, 2017 (2017-09-22)0.333[19]

An alcoholic Croatian retired tennis player forms a bond with a housekeeper when he reveals memories of his tortured past growing up in war torn Croatia during the early 1990s while she in turn reveals her status as an undocumented immigrant.


Cast :  Konstantin Lavysh, Veronica Falcón
1010"Red Tent"Anna Boden & Ryan FleckAnna Boden & Ryan FleckSeptember 29, 2017 (2017-09-29)0.343[20]

A young man planning to detonate an explosive at a political convention is interrupted by an air conditioning repairman, causing him to reconsider his plan.


Cast :  Keir Gilchrist, Hugo Armstrong
1111"The Fight"Megan GriffithsMark DuplassOctober 6, 2017 (2017-10-06)0.307[21]

Two female MMA fighters collude to earn a bigger payout by throwing their upcoming match. They engage in a private competition to determine who will win the fight.


Cast :  Natalie Morgan, Keta Meggett
1212"My Love"Marta CunninghamMark DuplassOctober 13, 2017 (2017-10-13)0.225[22]

An elderly couple relive their first night together.


Cast :  Philip Baker Hall, Ellen Geer

Season 2 (2018)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
131"FOMO"Ross PartridgeMark DuplassNovember 9, 2018 (2018-11-09)0.216[23]

A young woman celebrates her birthday with her friends, but things go downhill when her sister arrives unexpectedly.


Cast :  Charlyne Yi, Tom Lenk, Pia Shah, Jennifer Lafleur
142"Mr. Mulvahill"Ross PartridgeMark DuplassNovember 10, 2018 (2018-11-10)0.147[23]

A man confronts his former third-grade teacher, seeking a confession about their shared past.


Cast :  Rainn Wilson, Frank Birney
153"Swipe Right"Liza JohnsonLiza JohnsonNovember 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)0.220[24]

An eccentric Russian political technologist arranges a first date with a veterinary nurse after meeting her via the internet.


Cast :  Michael Shannon, Judy Greer, Katya Zamolodchikova
164"Hungry"Patrick BriceMark DuplassNovember 17, 2018 (2018-11-17)0.179[24]

Two strangers meet to fulfill a mutual fantasy, but are interrupted by a suspicious police officer. This episode is based on true events.[25]


Cast : Mark Proksch, Kent Osborne, Michole Briana White
175"The Woman in the Wall"Gaby HoffmannStory by : Esti Giordani
Teleplay by : Mark Duplass
November 23, 2018 (2018-11-23)0.133[26]

A sickly woman seeks comfort from a disembodied voice that claims to live inside the walls.


Cast :  Dolly Wells, Leonora Pitts
186"Arnold"Julian WassMark Duplass & Julian WassNovember 24, 2018 (2018-11-24)0.127[26]

Presented as a musical, a man attempts to piece together his memories of the previous night and the woman he met.


Cast :  Brian Tyree Henry, Ginger Gonzaga
197"The Man and the Baby and the Man"Josephine DeckerStory by : Josephine Decker
Teleplay by : Josephine Decker & Onur Tukel
November 30, 2018 (2018-11-30)0.164[27]

A couple experiences difficulties while recording a video – which they plan to show their future child – of their attempts to conceive.


Cast :  Josephine Decker, Onur Tukel
208"A Nightmare"Jonah MarkowitzMark DuplassDecember 1, 2018 (2018-12-01)0.135[27]

A young woman finds herself unable to escape a series of increasingly disturbing nightmares, some involving her mother.


Cast :  Natalie Morales, Marlene Forte
219"The Return"So Yong KimMark DuplassDecember 7, 2018 (2018-12-07)0.146[28]

A widow brings her young daughter to Room 104 to help the girl cope with her father's death.


Cast :  Stephanie Allynne, Abby Ryder Fortson
2210"Artificial"Natalie MoralesMark DuplassDecember 8, 2018 (2018-12-08)0.186[28]

An apparent android attempts to convince a skeptical reporter of the true nature of both of their existences.


Cast :  Katie Aselton, Sheaun McKinney
2311"Shark"Mark DuplassMark DuplassDecember 14, 2018 (2018-12-14)0.106[29]

A pool shark and his disillusioned cousin clash over their conflicting views of the hustling game.


Cast :  Mahershala Ali, James Earl III
2412"Josie & Me"Lila NeugebauerLauren BuddDecember 15, 2018 (2018-12-15)0.120[29]

A playwright searching for inspiration asks her younger self to reenact the events of a harrowing night from her college years.


Cast :  Mary Wiseman

Season 3 (2019)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
251"The Plot"Macon BlairMacon BlairSeptember 13, 2019 (2019-09-13)0.274[30]

Decades in the past, a brother and sister have a tense meeting regarding the development of the hotel that will contain Room 104, complicated by the arrival of a demonic transient.


Cast :  Luke Wilson, Christine Woods, Eric Edelstein
262"Animal for Sale"Patrick BricePatrick BriceSeptember 20, 2019 (2019-09-20)0.250[31]

The irresponsible caretaker of a gorilla meets with a professional who wants to buy the animal from him, but things do not go as planned.


Cast :  Robert Longstreet, Dale Dickey, Tom Woodruff Jr.
273"Itchy"Patrick BriceMark DuplassSeptember 27, 2019 (2019-09-27)0.219[32]

A man with a mysterious skin condition records a series of increasingly revelatory video messages for his doctor.


Cast :  Arturo Castro, François Chau, Gina Gallego
284"Rogue"Jenée LaMarqueJenée LaMarque & Julian WassOctober 4, 2019 (2019-10-04)0.161[33]

Following an apocalyptic event, a traumatized teenage girl and a psychically gifted scavenger find common ground in their struggle for the future.


Cast :  James Babson, Iyana Halley, Catalina Sandino Moreno
295"Drywall Guys"Shira Piven
Doug Emmett
Mark DuplassOctober 11, 2019 (2019-10-11)0.251[34]

A man's patience is tested as he must contend with his coworker's chronic sleepwalking problem.


Cast :  Sam Richardson, Steve Little, Fred Melamed
306"A New Song"Mark DuplassMark Duplass & Mel EslynOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)0.164[35]

A tormented singer-songwriter grapples with her own insecurities - and those of her ex-girlfriend - while attempting to create a new song.


Cast :  Julianna Barwick, Atsuko Okatsuka
317"Jimmy & Gianni"Doug EmmettMark DuplassOctober 25, 2019 (2019-10-25)0.161[36]

A documentary about real-life father and son artists who, invited to use the Room 104 set as a canvas, discuss the personal struggles in their past and the nuances of their craft.


Cast :  Jimmy Ray Flynn, Gianni Arone
328"No Hospital"Miguel ArtetaMiguel ArtetaNovember 1, 2019 (2019-11-01)0.215[37]

A dying man with unique abilities attempts to settle his affairs with his daughter, who was reluctant to learn his powers, and his son, who misused them.


Cast :  Tony Plana, Angie Cepeda, Julian Acosta, Timm Sharp
339"Prank Call"So Yong KimMark DuplassNovember 8, 2019 (2019-11-08)0.256[38]

Left alone, a teenage girl makes prank calls to entertain herself, but one takes a very dark turn spurred on by her alternate personality.


Cast :  Mary Mouser, Macon Blair, Carl De Gregorio, Kristina Harrison, Meilee Condron
3410"Night Shift"Benjamin KasulkeBenjamin Kasulke & Mark DuplassNovember 15, 2019 (2019-11-15)0.281[39]

Two actors who co-created a 1970s horror television series reunite and discuss their falling out, but when old tensions resurface, the show proves to be much more than mere fiction.


Cast :  Josh Fadem, Marielle Scott, David Paymer
3511"Crossroads"Patrick BriceSam BainNovember 22, 2019 (2019-11-22)0.132[40]

Fifty years after a woman sells her soul to the devil to live a rebellious rock-and-roll lifestyle, she strikes a mutually beneficial deal with his disgruntled assistant.


Cast :  Paul F. Tompkins, June Squibb, Aislinn Paul, Jon Bass, Lily Mae Harrington
3612"The Specimen Collector"Mel EslynMel EslynNovember 29, 2019 (2019-11-29)0.137[40]

When exposure to a mysterious plant specimen transforms Room 104 into a lush jungle ecosystem, a scientist tries desperately to preserve the phenomena within.


Cast :  Cobie Smulders, Aasif Mandvi, J.P. Giuliotti

Season 4 (2020)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
371"The Murderer"Mark DuplassMark DuplassJuly 24, 2020 (2020-07-24)0.091[41]
An eccentric, troubled musician performs for a group of five friends, but his dark past causes tension.
Cast :  Mark Duplass, Hari Nef, Logan Miller, Pablo Castelblanco, Kenton Chen, Michael Sturgis
382"Star Time"Karan SoniMark DuplassJuly 31, 2020 (2020-07-31)0.165[42]
A woman with an extensive history of drug addiction must confront and learn from her past mistakes before it's too late.
Cast :  Jillian Bell, Jon Bass, Bernard David Jones
393"Avalanche"Ross PartridgeMark DuplassAugust 7, 2020 (2020-08-07)0.183[43]
A therapist tries to help her patient, a retired professional wrestler, remember the specifics of traumatic events in his past.
Cast :  Dave Bautista, Natalie Woolams-Torres, Tim Gilbert, Eric Girard
404"Bangs"Jenée LaMarqueJenée LaMarque & Lauren ParksAugust 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)0.231[44]
A magical pair of scissors helps a recently divorced woman come to grips with her desire for stability in her life.
Cast :  Melissa Fumero, Vivian Bang, Finn Roberts, Adam Shapiro, Breeda Wool
415"Oh, Harry!"Mel EslynMel EslynAugust 21, 2020 (2020-08-21)0.228[45]
A confused man finds himself stuck inside a 1990s sitcom with a family he does not know.
Cast :  Kevin Nealon, Erinn Hayes, Sadie Stanley, Ron Funches, Jason David, Skylar Gray
426"The Hikers"Lauren BuddLauren BuddAugust 28, 2020 (2020-08-28)0.292[46]
Two friends taking a break from a cross-country hike must reconcile a potentially permanent rift in their friendship.
Cast :  Shannon Purser, Kendra Carelli
437"Foam Party"Natalie MoralesBryan PoyserSeptember 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)0.152[47]
Things go awry during a mid-1990s foam party when the foam turns out to have bizarre, unforeseen qualities.
Cast :  Benjamin Papac, Alison Jaye, Timothy Granaderos, Olivia Crocicchia, Harvey Guillen
448"No Dice"Patrick BriceJulian WassSeptember 11, 2020 (2020-09-11)0.274[48]
An arrogant game show host gets more than he bargained for during an arranged meeting with his self-proclaimed biggest fan.
Cast :  Linda Lavin, Jennifer Kim, Terrence T. Terrell, Gary Cole
459"The Last Man"Julian WassMark DuplassSeptember 18, 2020 (2020-09-18)0.161[49]
Told as a musical, a pair of time-traveling warriors build towards a climactic and revelatory final battle.
Cast :  Kevin McKidd, Desean Terry, Suzanne Nichols, Tom Michelsen, Zakary Risinger, Michael Ray Taylor
4610"The Night Babby Died"Jenée LaMarqueJenée LaMarque & Julian WassSeptember 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)0.224[50]
A man attempts to use an old video game to revive his relationship with a childhood friend, but the two must confront some uncomfortable truths in the process.
Cast :  Leonardo Nam, Lily Gladstone
4711"Fur"Mel EslynMel EslynOctober 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)0.099[51]
Presented in an animated format, two teenage girls in 1987 must use the abilities at their disposal to defend themselves against an unruly high school boy they invited to their hotel room.
Cast :  Jordyn Lucas, Natasha Perez, Jake Green
4812"Generations"Sydney FleischmannJulian WassOctober 9, 2020 (2020-10-09)0.168[52]
After decades of painful experiences aboard a spacecraft as part of a lifelong mission, a man reluctantly prepares for a culminating ceremony.
Cast :  Ntare Mwine, Rebecca Hazlewood, Susan Park, Kristina Hanna, Saidah Ekulona Arrika, Christopher Farrah, Kaya Rose Davis

See also

[edit]
  • Hotel Room, another HBO series with a similar premise, which aired in 1993
  • Inside No. 9, a British series with a similar premise, produced by the BBC

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
is an American anthology television series created by brothers and for , which premiered on July 28, 2017, and ran for four seasons until October 2020. Each of the 24 episodes is set in the titular motel room, featuring standalone narratives involving diverse guests and spanning genres such as , horror, and experimental formats like . The series employs a rotating cast, writers, and directors for every installment, emphasizing creative freedom and unpredictability in storytelling. Praised for its versatility and evocation of classic anthology styles akin to , Room 104 garnered a cult following despite mixed critical reception and modest viewership metrics. Notable episodes highlight the show's range, from poignant family dramas to unsettling thrillers, though it faced no major controversies and concluded without significant awards recognition.

Concept and Format

Premise and Setting

Room 104 is an anthology television series in which each self-contained episode unfolds entirely within the confines of a single motel room, designated as Room 104, presenting diverse narratives involving various guests who occupy the space. The stories span multiple genres, including drama, comedy, horror, and thriller, often delving into intimate human interactions, psychological tensions, or unexpected twists triggered by the room's isolation. This format allows for experimental storytelling, with episodes typically running about 30 minutes and focusing on the guests' personal conflicts, relationships, or bizarre circumstances without broader external locations. The setting is a nondescript, average American roadside , where Room 104 serves as a neutral, liminal space that attracts an eclectic array of occupants, from everyday travelers to those entangled in extraordinary events. The room features basic furnishings such as two double beds, a small or table, a vanity mirror, a television, and minimal decor, creating a claustrophobic yet versatile backdrop that amplifies the intimacy and immediacy of each tale. This unassuming environment underscores themes of transience and anonymity, as the 's generic quality mirrors the fleeting nature of the characters' encounters within it. Certain episodes hint at the room's deeper history or eldritch undertones, with references to events occurring decades prior, such as guests recalling stays from 56 years earlier, suggesting the space transcends ordinary time and routine life. One installment explores an for the itself, involving familial betrayal and elements tied to its founding, further enriching the setting's lore without contradicting its surface-level ordinariness. This dual nature—mundane on the surface but conducive to profound or eerie revelations—forms the core appeal of the premise, enabling the series to probe universal human experiences through the lens of a single, unchanging location.

Anthology Structure and Genres

Room 104 employs a strict format, with each half-hour episode presenting a standalone confined to the titular motel room, featuring entirely new characters, settings within the room (such as varying decor or time periods), and plotlines unconnected to prior or subsequent installments. This structure, spanning four seasons from 2017 to 2020, typically consists of 12 episodes per season, emphasizing brevity and self-containment to explore diverse human experiences without serial continuity. The series' genres exhibit wide variability, drawing from comedy, drama, horror, sci-fi, thriller, fantasy, and mystery, often blending elements to subvert expectations within the motel's mundane confines. Specific episodes demonstrate this range: for instance, "Ralphie" delves into pulpy horror, while "The Knockadoo" incorporates trippy spiritualism, and others adopt heartrending drama or nostalgic romance. Experimental formats appear, such as one episode rendered in modern dance style or musical comedy, alongside psychological thrillers and sci-fi mysteries. This genre fluidity, enabled by the anthology model, allows guest directors and writers to test unconventional storytelling, from supernatural tales to grounded interpersonal conflicts, all anchored in the room's isolation.

Development and Production

Creation by the Duplass Brothers

Room 104 was conceived by brothers and as a half-hour featuring self-contained stories set exclusively within the confines of a nondescript room, allowing for diverse genres, tones, and creative contributions from guest directors and writers while maintaining a fixed location to emphasize narrative constraint and ingenuity. The , known for their independent filmmaking roots and prior collaborations like Togetherness, developed the concept under their overall deal with the network, aiming to create an experimental, lower-budget format that functioned as an "incubator" for emerging talent by pairing the room's mundane setting with varied storytelling approaches, likening the process to " for television" where ideas and creators were matched to the premise. As showrunners and executive producers alongside Xan Aranda, with Sydney Fleischmann as producer, the Duplasses prioritized simplicity in production to highlight "magic in the seemingly mundane," selecting directors they trusted to interpret the room's potential independently rather than imposing a unified style, which enabled episodes to range from to horror without departing from the core location. This approach stemmed from their desire to diverge from more traditional series formats, fostering collaboration with indie-circuit filmmakers and actors to produce unpredictable, voyeuristic tales that exploit the intimacy and anonymity of the setting. issued a straight-to-series order for the project on August 4, 2016, leading to its debut on July 28, 2017.

HBO Commissioning and Filming Process

HBO greenlit Room 104 as a straight-to-series order on August 4, 2016, commissioning the half-hour comedy from creators Jay and of . The series was conceived as a contained format exploring diverse characters and stories within the confines of a single average American room, allowing for experimental narratives without expansive sets or continuity demands. The production process prioritized ultra-low-budget efficiency, emulating the constraints of a $100,000 independent rather than traditional television workflows, which enabled rapid iteration and creative flexibility. Doug Emmett noted that costs were minimized by forgoing elements like drivers, rental trucks, and extensive set dressing, relying instead on a static location to streamline . This approach facilitated a "reverse " model, where episodes were developed post-concept with guest directors, emphasizing and minimal . Filming for Season 1 occurred primarily in a single, purpose-built room set slightly larger than standard dimensions (approximately 18 by 22 feet), with 11 of the 12 captured over three days each under strict 11.5-hour daily limits to avoid overtime. Small crews utilized lightweight equipment, including Skypanels for and a board for quick adjustments, while varying cinematographic styles per to avoid repetition and align with each story's tone. Challenges included the confined space, which demanded precise blocking, and maintaining a deliberately mundane aesthetic as envisioned by , with Emmett overcoming initial reservations about shooting in a "bland hotel room for two months." Subsequent seasons retained this guerrilla-style efficiency, supporting swift turnarounds between and seasons.

Guest Directors and Casting Approach

The Room 104 production team adopted a guest director model to ensure stylistic diversity across its anthology episodes, assigning a unique director to most installments while occasionally involving creators Mark and Jay . This approach drew from the ' network of independent filmmakers, prioritizing collaborators who could deliver intimate, low-budget executions suited to the single-room constraint. Frequent directors included , who helmed six episodes spanning 2017 to 2020, and with four; others, such as Doug Emmett, contributed to multiple seasons. For season two, the lineup featured , Jenee LaMarque, , Ben Kasulke, , , and , reflecting a deliberate curation of voices from indie cinema to experiment with tones from to horror. Sydney Fleischmann emphasized in interviews that this rotation fostered innovation, with directors often co-writing their episodes in a streamlined "reverse " process that minimized traditional development hierarchies. Casting followed a parallel per-episode strategy, assembling fresh ensembles without recurring roles to underscore the standalone nature of each story and avoid audience expectations tied to familiar faces. This enabled rapid, tailored selections that prioritized authenticity over star power, often sourcing actors from the ' indie ecosystem or open submissions for emerging talent. described the method as an opportunity to amplify underrepresented performers, stating in a 2020 interview that the series intentionally spotlighted "newer artists" to challenge conventional TV casting norms. While most episodes featured relative unknowns—like or Jon Bass in early outings—select installments incorporated genre-adjacent guests, such as in season four's "The Murderer," but always in service of narrative specificity rather than draw. The low-overhead ethos extended to auditions, conducted efficiently to fit the show's accelerated shooting schedule, yielding unvarnished performances that aligned with the creators' commitment to raw, human-centered storytelling.

Broadcast Seasons

Season 1 (2017)

Season 1 of Room 104 premiered on on July 28, 2017, airing weekly on Fridays at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT and concluding on September 29, 2017, with a total of 10 episodes each approximately 30 minutes in length. The season established the series' core format of self-contained stories unfolding within the confines of a nondescript room in , drawing on everyday scenarios that veer into unexpected territory such as interpersonal conflicts, encounters, and moral dilemmas. Episodes featured rotating casts and directors, emphasizing low-budget, intimate production values that prioritized narrative ingenuity over visual spectacle. The season's episodes include:
No. overallNo. in seasonTitleOriginal air date
11RalphieJuly 28, 2017
22Pizza BoyAugust 4, 2017
33The KnockadooAugust 11, 2017
44I Knew You Weren't DeadAugust 18, 2017
55August 25, 2017
66VoyeursSeptember 1, 2017
77The MissionariesSeptember 8, 2017
88PhoenixSeptember 15, 2017
99BorisSeptember 22, 2017
1010September 29, 2017
Critical reception for the season was mixed to positive, with an aggregate score of 87% on based on 39 reviews, where the consensus highlighted the series' ability to find "magic in the mundane" through its structure. Reviewers commended the ' commitment to unpolished, character-driven tales that spanned genres from horror to , though some noted inconsistencies in execution, with certain episodes feeling underdeveloped or overly reliant on familiar tropes. For instance, described the premiere as capturing "the awkward intimacy of strangers in close quarters," while acknowledging the format's risks of tonal whiplash across episodes. Viewer engagement data specific to the season remains limited, but the series' niche appeal contributed to HBO's renewal for subsequent seasons.

Season 2 (2018)

Season 2 of Room 104 premiered on on November 9, 2018, airing the first two episodes back-to-back, with subsequent episodes released weekly on Fridays through December 14, 2018, for a total of 12 installments. The season adhered to the series' model, presenting standalone narratives confined to the motel room, spanning genres including interpersonal drama, , and subtle horror, often emphasizing interpersonal tensions and unexpected revelations among occupants. Filmmaking for the season involved a rotation of directors, incorporating both Duplass brothers' contributions and guest helmers such as , , , , , and Jonah Markowitz, who brought varied stylistic approaches to the constrained setting. Writers and casts changed per episode, with high-profile guest stars including in episode 2 ("Mr. Mulvahill"), in episode 6 ("Arnold"), and others like and appearing in select stories.
EpisodeTitleOriginal air date
1FOMONovember 9, 2018
2Mr. MulvahillNovember 9, 2018
3Swipe RightNovember 16, 2018
4HungryNovember 23, 2018
5Woman in the WallNovember 30, 2018
6ArnoldNovember 30, 2018
7The Man and the Baby and the December 7, 2018
8A December 7, 2018
9Josie & MeDecember 14, 2018
10December 14, 2018
11A Box of MackenzieDecember 14, 2018
12VacationDecember 14, 2018
The episodes collectively highlighted the room's role as a microcosm for human vulnerability, with stories like "Swipe Right" examining digital-age through a staged online encounter and "Arnold" delving into and via a family's confrontation with loss. Production emphasized low-budget and authentic performances, aligning with the Duplass of naturalistic within the fixed location.

Season 3 (2019)

Season 3 of Room 104 premiered on on September 13, 2019, and consisted of 12 episodes airing weekly on Fridays until November 22, 2019. The season maintained the series' structure, featuring standalone stories set in the titular motel room, with guest directors contributing to episodes such as for the opener "The Plot," which starred and as estranged siblings reuniting at a potential . Other episodes incorporated diverse genres, including suspense in "Drywall Guys," directed by Doug Emmett and and featuring Sam Richardson and Steve Little as workers uncovering a hidden issue behind the walls. The season emphasized experimental storytelling, with episodes like "Animal for Sale" exploring interpersonal transactions and "Itchy" delving into psychological discomfort. Directors varied per installment, aligning with the Duplass brothers' approach of collaborating with filmmakers like Shira Piven to bring fresh perspectives, though specific credits for all episodes were not uniformly documented in production announcements.
No. overallNo. in seasonTitleOriginal air date
251The PlotSeptember 13, 2019
262Animal for SaleSeptember 20, 2019
273ItchySeptember 27, 2019
284RogueOctober 4, 2019
295Drywall GuysOctober 11, 2019
306A New SongOctober 18, 2019
317Jimmy & GianniOctober 25, 2019
328No HospitalNovember 1, 2019
339November 8, 2019
3410Night ShiftNovember 15, 2019
3511November 22, 2019
3612RedNovember 22, 2019
Guest casts included recurring collaborators and newcomers, such as in "Drywall Guys," contributing to the season's focus on intimate, character-driven narratives within confined spaces. Production adhered to the low-budget, improvisational style established in prior seasons, filmed primarily on the standing motel set in .

Season 4 (2020)

The fourth and final season of Room 104 premiered on HBO on July 24, 2020, airing 12 self-contained episodes weekly on Fridays at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT through September 18, 2020. HBO announced in May 2020 that the season would conclude the series, with the citing a desire to end on a creative high after exploring diverse narratives across four seasons. Directors for the season included series co-creator , along with guest filmmakers such as , , Jenée LaMarque, , Lauren Budd, Natalie Morales, and , maintaining the show's approach of blending established collaborators with new voices to interpret standalone scripts. Episodes featured varied tones and genres, from intimate character studies to surreal scenarios, all confined to the motel's Room 104, with stories involving performers, hikers, addicts, and families confronting personal crises or alternate realities.
No.TitleOriginal air date
1The MurdererJuly 24, 2020
2Star TimeJuly 31, 2020
3AvalancheAugust 7, 2020
4BangsAugust 14, 2020
5Oh, Harry!August 21, 2020
6The HikersAugust 28, 2020
7Foam PartySeptember 4, 2020
8No DiceSeptember 11, 2020
9The Night Babby DiedSeptember 11, 2020 (double episode scheduling noted in some releases)
10The Last StrawSeptember 18, 2020
11We're All VampiresSeptember 18, 2020
12The GetawaySeptember 18, 2020
Specific episode premises, as detailed in HBO promotional materials, included a retired wrestler using therapeutic dolls to recall a traumatic match in ""; a woman grappling with intrusive nightmares and maternal figures; college graduates on a hike confronting strains in "The Hikers"; and an insecure housemate hosting a chaotic in "Foam Party." The season's scripts were primarily written by , emphasizing unexpected human encounters within the room's mundane setting.

Reception and Analysis

Critical Reviews

Room 104 received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its innovative format and the ' willingness to experiment across genres within the constraints of a single motel room setting, though many noted the inherent inconsistency of the half-hour episodes. On , the series holds an 88% approval rating based on 49 reviews, with a consensus highlighting its adventurous storytelling. aggregates a score of 65 out of 100 from 28 reviews, reflecting a mixed but favorable response that lauds the show's risk-taking while critiquing uneven execution. Critics appreciated the series' low-budget authenticity and genre versatility, from horror to , which allowed for bold, unpredictable narratives unbound by traditional . The Hollywood Reporter's Daniel Fienberg described it as a series with "few rules and few real restrictions," emphasizing that even weaker episodes benefit from short runtimes under 30 minutes. called the debut season a "low-budget HBO experiment" that proved a "grand success," crediting the for transforming the mundane room into a space of infinite possibility. Seasonal reception varied, with early seasons faring better than later ones amid the anthology's hit-or-miss nature. Season 1 earned an 87% on from 39 reviews, praised for suspenseful entries like the premiere but faulted by some for amateurish elements in writing and acting. Season 2 improved to 90% approval, with highlighting tight, disturbing horror episodes such as one featuring , though noted it could bore or terrify unpredictably. Later seasons saw declining scores: Season 3 at 58% and Season 4 at 50%, with Entertainment Voice observing bolder, stranger content in the third but a lack of dramatic focus, and commending the finale's ambitious despite variable results. Common criticisms centered on inconsistency, with some episodes dismissed as mediocre or underdeveloped due to the format's reliance on standalone stories and guest directors, leading to occasional lapses in performance quality or narrative payoff. Despite these, reviewers valued the experimental ethos, with noting Season 4's episodes that "soar" amid stumbles, underscoring the series' role in showcasing emerging talent within HBO's prestige framework.

Viewer Ratings and Viewership Data

Room 104 garnered modest viewership figures throughout its four-season run on , consistent with its late-night anthology format and niche appeal, as measured by Nielsen live + same-day ratings. The first season, premiering on July 28, 2017, averaged a 0.11 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 333,000 total viewers per episode. The second season, which aired starting October 31, 2018, saw a marked decline, averaging a 0.04 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 157,000 viewers, representing drops of approximately 64% and 53% from season one, respectively. Detailed averages for the third season, beginning September 13, 2019, were not publicly detailed in standard tracking reports, though the series continued to underperform relative to HBO's broader lineup. The fourth and final season, premiering July 24, 2020, averaged a 0.03 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 189,000 viewers, down 35% in the demo and 9% in total audience from season three.
SeasonAverage 18-49 RatingAverage Viewers (Live + Same Day)
1 (2017)0.11333,000
2 (2018)0.04157,000
4 (2020)0.03189,000
Analyses of the show's performance highlighted its lack of mass appeal as a ratings driver, prioritizing artistic experimentation over broad audience draw.

Strengths and Specific Criticisms

Room 104 has been praised for its anthology structure, which constrains storytelling to a single motel room and half-hour runtime, fostering concise narratives that contrast with expansive serialized television. This format enables genre experimentation, from psychological horror in "Ralphie" to emotional dramas like "My Love," allowing diverse directors and voices to contribute without overarching continuity. Critics highlight how the brevity encourages creative visual techniques, such as innovative framing and close-ups, to maintain engagement within the static setting. Specific episodes like "The Knockadoo" succeed through strong performances by actors including Tony Todd and Orlando Jones, building a queasy atmosphere effectively. The series aggregates positive critical reception, with an 88% approval rating on based on 49 reviews, reflecting appreciation for its boldness and occasional emotional depth, as in a 1997-set episode featuring . Reviewers note its role in onboarding new talent, akin to a low-budget experimental platform that rewards viewer investment despite variability. Criticisms center on the anthology's inconsistency, with not all episodes achieving success, leading to occasional "duds" or "speed bumps" amid the 48 total across four seasons. Some setups feel tedious, as in "," where extended tech support scenes drag before a late payoff, or "," marked by repetitive elements despite elaborate choreography. Conclusions can confuse, such as in "The Knockadoo," while characters in "The Fight" lack depth, yielding predictable outcomes despite crisp pacing. The lack of continuity renders experiences fleeting, potentially diminishing cumulative impact for audiences seeking sustained narratives. Overall, while adventurous, the format's reliance on episodic quality results in tiresome moments when premises falter.

Cancellation and Legacy

Decision to End the Series

announced on May 12, 2020, that the fourth season of Room 104, set to premiere on , 2020, would serve as the series' final installment, concluding the after 48 episodes across four seasons. Co-creator described the conclusion as "bittersweet," expressing disappointment despite possessing "100 ideas" for additional episodes, while crediting for sustaining the low-budget production through four seasons in a competitive landscape dominated by high-profile serialized dramas. The decision aligned with the series' evolution from ' personal storytelling to a platform amplifying emerging filmmakers, potentially reaching a natural creative ceiling amid 's strategic shift toward subscriber-driving tentpole content. The anthology format's inherent challenges, including limited long-term viewer retention compared to ongoing narratives, contributed to its niche status without mainstream breakout success, though its modest production costs had previously enabled renewal. No official HBO rationale cited ratings or financial metrics explicitly, but the network's announcement framed the end as a deliberate close to the Duplass brothers' experimental venture rather than an abrupt termination.

Cultural Impact and Retrospective Assessments

Room 104's retrospective assessments emphasize its role as an experimental anthology that prioritized artistic risk over conventional storytelling, with creators and critics highlighting its facilitation of creative freedom on a premium network. Mark Duplass described the series' conclusion after four seasons and 48 episodes as "bittersweet," crediting its format for enabling unpredictable narratives that connected with niche audiences despite limited mainstream appeal. IndieWire retrospectively positioned it as a low-budget endeavor akin to The Twilight Zone, praising its genre-blending episodes—from sci-fi to documentaries—that unfolded within the confines of a single motel room, thereby arguing for unbridled creative liberty in television production. The series' cultural impact remains modest, lacking the broad societal influence of HBO's flagship dramas, but it garnered appreciation for launching opportunities to first-time directors, writers, and actors, fostering an inclusive pipeline for independent talent. Executive producer noted its family-like collaborative environment, which extended to addressing timely issues such as #MeToo and diversity in Hollywood through intimate, room-bound vignettes. Specific episodes, like those exploring LGBTQ themes or Mormon experiences, prompted niche discussions on identity and repression, though without spawning wider cultural movements or adaptations. In legacy terms, Room 104 endures as a testament to the viability of contained, low-stakes formats, influencing subsequent indie projects by demonstrating how minimal resources could yield diverse, self-contained tales. Duplass expressed optimism for future iterations, potentially in non-TV media like short stories, underscoring the untapped potential in its modular structure. Its 2017–2020 run, ending on October 9, 2020, reflects HBO's willingness to sustain experimental content amid shifting viewer metrics, though its absence from top-tier retrospective rankings signals constrained long-term prominence.

References

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