Netflix’s Maniac: Every Episode From The Series, Ranked (According To IMDb)

Netflix’s mini-series Maniac, starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, turned out to be a huge success, thanks to the futuristic setting and the mend bending storyline. Of course, the star cast had a huge role to play in its prosperity, but that shouldn’t take away anything from the beautiful plotline and insane graphics.

The series is kind of a sci comedy-drama, which sees two very different human beings partake in a mysterious pharmaceutical trial. Any Landsberg (played by Emma Stone) and Owen Milgrim (played by Jonah Hill) have many things in common, but when the odds are against them, can they survive? Here’s how every episode from the critically acclaimed Netflix Original ranks according to IMDb.

10 “Ceci N’est Pas Une Drill” (7.2)

In the seventh episode of the series, the show gets back to its good bits, with the “C” pill taking Owen and Anna on two entirely different adventures. Of course, both of them are dealing with two separate issues but when one comes to think of it, their issues stem from the diabolical relationship they share with their respective families.

This episode, again, highlights how beautifully different a human brain is. These are dreams that do not make any sense, but that’s the point.

9 “The Chosen One” (7.4)

In the first episode of the series, everything is laid down for the fans almost perfectly. From the edgy existential crisis talks at the beginning to the demented characters, Maniac gave a good account of itself through a really good opener.

Jonah Hill as Owen Milgrim is as convincing as it gets. He is schizophrenic and the odd one out in a family that is too rich. Emma Stone’s Anna Landsberg doesn’t suffer from any disease but her life isn’t easy either. She has family problems and some of them are really bad.

8 “Larger Structural Issues” (7.6)

In the sixth episode of the series, the fans get a break from the traumatic experiences of Anne and Owen. For once, the show decides to concentrate on the people who are running this pharmaceutical trial, James Mantleray and Dr. Azumi Fujita.

It’s an important episode because it reveals the reasons why both these intelligent people decided to go on a quest of eliminating traumatic experiences from the human psyche. And it isn’t boring, at the very least.

7 “Having A Day” (7.7)

In the third episode of the Netflix series, more emotional trouble awaits Anna as she literally begs Dr. Muramuto to not flag her from the trials and let her take the “B” pill. From the looks of it, she just can’t escape the pain and it stings the viewers as well.

Owen, on the other hand, knows exactly how his brain works and while the other patients are reliving the worst days of their lives, he isn’t taking the “A” pill and going inside his already broken psyche.

6 “The Lake Of The Clouds” (7.7)

In the eighth episode of the series, Anna knows that whatever story she is in, it isn’t real and she’s finding things very difficult inside her own head, which is quite surreal, isn’t it?

Owen, on the other hand, doesn’t know that he is trapped inside the imaginations of his own mind and thus, he is trying everything he can to fit into the overwhelming reality of his dreams. It’s difficult and dangerous, to say the least.

5 “Furs By Sebastian” (7.9)

In the fourth episode of the series, the show takes a drastic turn and blows the minds of the viewers, thanks to the drug-riddled psyche of Anna and Owen.

They find themselves in a story, of sorts, and while that particular story has elements of its own, all in all, it’s about how Owen and Anna perceive the real world they live in. The subtle mentions about their real lives are very hard to grasp but they hit very hard.

4 “Windmills” (8.0)

In the second episode of the series, the most brutal things about Anne’s past come to light and it becomes clearer exactly why she is taking part in this trial. She wants the drug; because she wants to get away from feeling bad about her already dismantled life.

Her sister died tragically, her mother is missing, and her father doesn’t show. Also, the details about the study are revealed, with a super-computer tasked to monitor the patients, GRTA aka Gertie.

3 “Exactly Like You” (8.0)

In the fifth episode of the series, again, under the influence of the “B” pill, Owen and Anna take a deep dive into the 1940s trying to deal with the trauma embedded deep into their minds.

Not only does this reveal the complexities one can find inside a human brain, but it also does a great job of telling the viewers how people usually disguise their worst memories, so that they don’t have to live it again and again, as soon as they close their eyes.

2 “Utangatta” (8.5)

In the penultimate episode of the series, the trial takes a drastic turn in the real world but inside Anna and Owen’s minds, none of this matters because they are having their own battles with the worst memories of their existence.

This episode is all about Owen because he wants to be a hero once in his life. Although the events happening aren’t real, his schizophrenic brain doesn’t want to even think about it. The episode is full of action.

1 “Option C” (8.6)

The series finale lives up to the expectations and gives the characters a sendoff they deserved. For Owen and Anna, there is no complete cure but at least, in the past couple of days, they have faced their traumatic experiences head-on. They aren’t hiding from who they are anymore.

And in the end, that’s what moving on means. This series couldn’t have done a better job at describing the human psyche because it’s absolutely insane and yet, it is also wonderfully beautiful.

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