Death and Other Details Episode 5 Recap & Ending Explained: Does Viktor Sams have More of His Followers in the Cruise Ship?

Death and Other Details Episode 5 (Exquisite) Recap & Ending Explained: “Death and Other Details,” created by Mike Weiss and Heidi Cole McAdams, is a Hulu murder mystery series set on the luxury ocean liner SS Varuna. Imogene Scott (Violett Beane), who is taken in by the wealthy Colliers’ after her mother’s murder, and the ‘world-famous’ detective Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin), are forced to team up on the cruise ship to clear Imogene’s name and to find the elusive criminal mastermind. In episode 4 of “Death and Other Details,” the killer of Keith Trubitsky, aka Danny Turner (Michael Gladis), is found out: an affronted staff, Winnie (Anna Q. Riegel), also the sister of crew manager Teddy Goh (Angela Zhou). 

Yet, as the episode ends, we hear a more familiar name – Viktor Sams – who might be behind the murder and whatever larger web of schemes involving the Colliers. Viktor Sams was the name that first popped up during Imogene’s mother’s murder investigation. But who is Viktor Sams, and what’s his beef with the Colliers? The episode 5 of “Death and Other Details” dawdles around without answering that question. At the same time, it offers more perception to the characters’ seemingly odd behavior and sets up new conflicts. Unfortunately, Imogene, the protagonist, currently remains the least interesting character in the series (whose restlessness borders on annoying), and her exploits with Sunil (Rahul Kohli) in Malta are exasperatingly cliched. 

Death and Other Details Episode 5 ‘Exquisite’ Recap:

The Omnipresent Viktor Sams

“Death and Other Details” episode 5, ‘Exquisite,’ picks up where it left off: the conversation between Rufus Cotesworth and Leila (Pardis Saremi). On the night of the murder, former clickbait journalist Leila met with the victim, Keith, after knowing his secret. Leila knows Keith is Danny, and he is working for Rufus. Danny questions if Leila is onto something about the Colliers. And is it why she was scared off through the alleged accident? Leila says she wasn’t researching the Colliers but a target who has actually victimized them. Of course, who else would it be if it’s not the person whose name Leila is reluctant to say: Viktor Sams? 

She warns Danny that Viktor is always listening. But Danny didn’t heed her warning, resulting in his murder. Leila, like Rufus, also believes Viktor Sams is blackmailing the Colliers over something. Rufus wonders if it’s over ‘Captionem Blue,’ the pigment used in cloth manufacturing by the Colliers, which was banned in 1989 (see episode 3). The word doesn’t mean anything to Leila. Nevertheless, she warns Rufus that Viktor has followers everywhere (including the ship), and they might do everything to protect his identity. 

What’s the Reason Behind Imogene and Sunil’s Stay in Malta?

Sunil and Imogene dock their boat at Malta. They leave the Ukrainian refugee family with Jules’ contact. Once they leave, Imogene feels disheartened and goes on and on about her conflicted emotions. Two times within this episode, Imogene mentions growing up hating Rufus, with whom she is now working to solve the murder. She also vents her frustration about the shipment bill of ‘Captionem Blue,’ which she isn’t sure whether will provide clues about her mother’s murder. 

Sunil sympathizes with her, perhaps even finds it cute when Imogene vents. Rest assured, after many sighs, yearning glances, and emotional conversations, the two share a kiss, which might lead to something more. But before that, we have to endure scenes that sell us their chemistry, and of course, there’s also a sound reason (is it?) behind why they decide to spend a day in Malta. Rahul mentions knowing a forensic accountant in Malta who can look at the bill and unearth some vital details. 

Did Viktor Sams try to Kill Leila?

Meanwhile, at the ship’s jail cell, Rufus tries to have a conversation with Annie. He throws the name Viktor Sams and calls Annie one of his recruits. But the name doesn’t ring a bell, and Annie maintains her story. Annie only gets indifferent and hostile when her sister, Teddy, attempts to convince Annie to give up the person for whom she is allegedly covering up. Governor of Washington, Alexandra (Tamberla Perry), is distressed by the blackmail e-mail, and she shows it to the other person in those photos: Tripp Collier (Jack Cutmore-Scott). Alexandra believes it was sent by Tripp’s mother, Katherine since the same day Katherine intimidated Alexandra at the pool deck. 

Nevertheless, the atmosphere of distress leads to sex. Just as Alexandra and Tripp get into action, Anna Collier dresses up and leaves Eleanor Chun’s bed (Karoline). Leila meets Anna at their suite and asks to leave the ship with her. Anna, however, has a wary look on her face, thinking her wife is going through one of those ‘difficult’ phases. A brief flashback takes us six months back to Arlington, Virginia. While chasing after the elusive blackmailer, the journalist Leila meets with an ex-NSA contractor to talk about Viktor Sams. 

The former Federal employee is spooked because Viktor Sams ruined his personal and professional life. He warns Leila that the minute he knows you are onto him, anything can happen to you. Right after interviewing her source, Leila’s car GPS starts malfunctioning, leading to her accident. While Leila has survived, her mental faculties were put into question after the event. Even now, Leila’s concerns are carefully dismissed by Anna, who thinks they need to have a call with the psychiatrist. 

Imogene and Sunil’s Rendezvous with Caravaggio

Interpol Agent Hilde (Linda Emond) relaxes in the pool deck since the murder case is solved. The Colliers’ lawyer, Llewellyn Mathers (Jere Burns), approaches her, whose penchant for punishment desires Hilde’s touch. By the end of the episode, Hilde does seem to give in to his craving for ‘punishment.’ Rufus tries to work his angle with Katherine Collier (Jayne Atkinson). As if she anticipates Rufus to drop the name, Viktor Sams, she asks him to give up the ‘goose chase.’ 

Imogene and Sunil roam the sun-drenched alleyways in Malta, admiring its stone and rock architecture. Sunil speaks of his admiration for Malta’s artist, Caravaggio. He takes her to see Caravaggio’s famous oil painting, “Beheading of John the Baptist.” Through his reverence for Caravaggio, Sunil seems to be saying ‘something’ to Imogene. Later, Sunil also confesses his secret, i.e., he is broke. Sunil has put all the money he has and borrowed more to renovate SS Varuna. Is there more to his secret, or is he simply opening up to Imogene because he likes her? 

What does the Chuns Demand to Sign the Deal?

Anna confronts her mother, Katherine, regarding her affair with Father Toby (Danny Johnson). Anna wonders why her mother didn’t leave her father, especially since there’s a good prenup arrangement. She questions what she gets by continuing in this long-dead relationship. Katherine evades the questions and speaks of a promise she made to protect the family. While something makes Katherine not break her married relationship, Anna feels unsure about her relationship with Leila.  Leila feels Anna doesn’t trust her fully. So, she spells it out clearly that she wants a divorce. 

Anna is unsettled by Leila’s demand, but before discussing it, she needs to meet with the Chuns to confirm the deal. Tripp Collier, the family’s black sheep, continues to embarrass himself. He asks for a million dollars from his dad, Lawrence (David Marshall Grant), to secure his business endeavor. The Collier patriarch casually dismisses his son. Later, the Colliers, their lawyer, Llewellyn, and the Chuns gather around a table to sign the revised deal. 

But the Chuns have one final demand. They are all ready to infuse a three billion dollar fund into Collier Mills, and in exchange, Chuns will acquire 51 percent of Collier Mills. The future CEO, Anna, is appalled by this demand and vehemently rejects it. But Lawrence Collier doesn’t seem to have a problem with it. In fact, to Anna’s dismay, he shakes hands with Celia Chun, agreeing to their demand. 

Death and Other Details Episode 5 Ending Explained: 

Imogene Meets the Forensic Accountant

Meanwhile, Leila persists in her quest to find any listening devices or cameras in her suite. Fortunately, Leila succeeds as she finds a camera, which Teddy Goh confirms wouldn’t be placed by the crew in any of the guests’ suites. Rufus and Leila believe this is the work of Viktor Sams. The detective asks Teddy a list of everyone who was on board before the ship set sail. 

At Malta, Imogene and Sunil eventually meet the forensic accountant. She promises to find out everything about the person who sent the shipment bill. But she needs the original bill for her investigation. Imogene expresses her concern since it’s the only clue left that can solve her mother’s murder. Eventually, Imogene trusts the forensic accountant with the bill and leaves with Sunil to the ship. But before they make the return trip, Imogene spots a man in a white suit, whom she believes has been following them throughout the day. They cleverly evade the guy and escape in a taxi. 

What does Rufus Discover in the C-Deck’s Narrow Walkways? 

Alexandra confronts Llewellyn about the blackmail email. He assures the Colliers had nothing to do with it, though she finds that hard to believe. In her suite, Alexandra takes a court document from her safe concerning the Collier Mills. In the security room, Teddy checks the list of staff with a key card to access deck five (where the guest suites, including Leila & Anna’s, are situated). While Teddy is engaged in the activity, Rufus is gripped by some thought as he looks at the world map in the room. He also looks at the ship’s blueprint and inquires about a deck, which Teddy says is C-Deck. 

With an axe in his hands, Rufus roams the narrow corridor in the C-Deck, followed by Leila and Teddy. He stops at a point and starts chipping away at a barricaded space, which soon emanates blue light and electronic noises. Rufus thinks this is the space from where Viktor Sams runs his whole operation across the world. He says the man has been hiding in plain sight. But who is Viktor Sams, and who are his confederates on the ship? The ending of “Death and Other Details” episode 5 leaves us with more questions than answers.

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Death and Other Details Episode 5 External Links: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes

Death and Other Details Episode 5 Cast: Violette Beane, Mandy Patinkin, Lauren Patten, Angela Zhou, Pardis Saremi, Karoline, Rahul Kohli, and Annie Q. Riegel.