Bed of Roses

"Bed of Roses" is the first episode of the animated Netflix series Rose and Thorn. Written by showrunner Chesire Castro Smith and directed by Cecilia Aranovich Hamilton, the episode was released on December 22, 2035, to positive reviews and strong audience views.

Synopsis
After a loss of time and a series of confusing events, Rhosalyn Thorn begins a search that will change her life forever.

Plot
During a night in the city of Metropolis, a group of men assault a politician, whom they murder. Their leader then gloats that now one will stop them.

The following morning, Rhosyn "Rose" Carton wakes up and gets ready for school. She finds her house's keys on her room, and assumes she must have take it the previous day and forgotten about it. She then greets her mother, Elizabeth, and the two have a talk, where it is revealed that Rose' father, Daniel, was murdered 10 years ago. Rose is secretly depressed over losing her father at 5 years old. Rose's mother reminds her of returning from school in time. Shortly after breakfast, Rose runs to school, where she gets anxious while around most people, except for her best friend, Melinda. However, as the two catch up for their plans for tomorrow, they witness the school's most popular girl, Skye, who has never noticed them. The two however, don't let that bother them, seeing each other as "all the company they need". After a day of regular classes, Rose and her mother go to a tour througth town, travling to her father's favorite places in honor of his memory.

Rose wakes up with a mysterious pain througth her body. As always she greets her mother on breakfeast. Her mother asks if she "feels better now", to which Rose falsely says yes, and that "grief does that to people". As she leaves for school, her mother tells her to "speak to [her] if [she] has anything going on right now". Rose then goes to school and, much to her shock, she is greeted by Skye, who acts rather friendly towards her, and calls her "Thorn". She is then confronted by Melinda, who reveals to her she missed their entire plan and was dismissing of her "yesterday". Rose is confused by all this, and discovers througth the day that she somehow missed an entire day. While in the bathroom, she notices tow tattoes saying "Thorn" and "Troy". Knowing that's the name of Skye's ex, she asks her of what happened last time. Thinking she was just drunk, she shows her a video that confirms she was with Troy. She is also perturbed by her behavior, which is contrary to how she usually is.

Confused at what is going on, Rose goes to Troy's house. Upon arriving, Rose learns she tried to interrogate Troy's father into giving her a list of names. After giving her the names she demanded, which she learns are of the criminals connected to her father's murder, Troy's father commits suicide, claiming is "better than if they found out". After witnessing his suicide, she begins to suffer a headache, while she calls for a taxi. Rose then locates one of the names, Amanda, and goes to see her. Rose tearfully begins to ask her about her father's murder. As Amanda refuses to give information, Rose demands and becomes uncharacteristically demanding. Amanda agrees, and she begins to give some vague information, before attempting to shoot her. As Rose escapes, she begins to feel dettached from reality, and suddenly black outs. When she wakes up, she finds herself back at her home, with a DVD that says "Watch me" on its cover.

Overome at how her father's death has been a constant presence over the last few days, Rose breaks down in tears, which her mother overhears. Rose opens up to her mother over how she wishes her life was OK, in control, and with her dad, while also trying to conceal what has been happening to her. Elizabeth tells Rose she herself wishes Daniel was alive, but he's gone and they must accept it, even if she wishes she could have done something to prevent it. Rose, however, feels she could do something by bringing down the responsibles, and chooses to watch the video and dsicover what is happening to her. Much to her shock, Rose discovers that a girl named "Thorn Canton" filmed it, and that she is another identity of hers.

Main cast

 * Alice Eve as Rose Forrest / Thorn Canton
 * Wendie Malick as Elizabeth Forrest
 * David Tennant as Mysterious Figure

Guest cast

 * Chloe Bennet as Melinda
 * Kari Wahlgren as Skye
 * Charles Martinet as Daniel Forrest
 * Fred Tatasciore as Troy's Father
 * Eric Bauza as Troy
 * Tara Strong as Amanda

Writing
Showrunner Chesire Castro Smith saud tjat she wanted to potray Rose as someone "in denial" and that "she refuses to accept anything is ever wrong". She also wanted to showcase how having DID is affecting her life, but without havimg that aspect of the episode's plot not overcome the exploration of Rose's denial.

Trivia

 * The episode is loosely based on National Comics' Rose and Thorn #1.