‘The Shards’ Episode 8 Recap: Susan’s Freedom, Thom’s Threat, and Robert’s Dark Turn

The penultimate episode of "The Shards" Season 1, titled "Hamlet," raises the stakes ahead of next week's finale, featuring a 50-minute runtime and major plot developments involving character Susan's release from jail and a confrontation with Thom. The episode reveals Susan has been freed after Rhonda recanted her testimony, and she breaks up with Thom, who threatens self-harm with a steak knife. A new English teacher appears, and the show references Bret's un-optioned novel, while a manila envelope signals trouble for his character. The episode strongly hints that Robert is the Trawler, includes a scene with gay sex, and features a cameo by Constance Zimmer. The recap also notes the show's meta commentary and themes of 1980s homophobia, with one character stating he'd rather be outed as a killer than gay.