"They knew she was in a messed up situation" — Internet explores the silence of Rachel's family in Worst Roommate Ever

Season 2 Episode One of Worst Roommate Ever arrived on Netflix on June 26, 2024. Episode one of the second season explored how a wrong and toxic roommate can be hazardous. After watching the first episode, viewers empathized with Rachel. A viewer on Reddit shared their views and started the discussion about Rachael and her toxic roommate by posting:

"I actually felt really sorry for Rachel. She was in a toxic relationship (friendship). She was unwell, no money and trying to raise a child with disabilities. I can see how she got into that situation and remained there when she went back."

It continues,

"She was obviously in a very comfortable place with Janie and no matter how much you argue with someone you wouldn't think they would ever do something like that.She was isolated from friends and financially and physically reliant not just for her but her son. The end of the episode is chilling."

Worst roommate ever S2 E1 byu/silly_sosidg innetflix

In the second season of Worst Roommate Ever, Janie Ridd uses the dark web to gain custody over Rachael's child. After Rachel moves in with her, they become best friends eventually.

Another user empathized with Rachel and commented to express how they felt bad for her.

"I'm surprised there aren't more threads about this series! I also felt really bad for her, especially when the detectives were interviewing her. I also just can't believe that the judge? or whoever would somehow allow or ... to take custody of someone else's child?? I don't understand how that works. How frustrating, and just so fuc*ed up in general." The comment by the user read.

Several other users who were confused about Rachael’s situation in episode one of the Worst Roommate Ever also commented and expressed their views:

"She attempted multiple times to murder a vulnerable dependent person under her care in particularly torturous ways. She bought an actual biological weapon for that purpose. And she only gets 25 months??" A user commented.

"The fact she got out in 25 months is absolute insanity. Janie is legitimately a psychopath." Another user wrote.

"Bruh! I just finished this episode and I'm like, "SHE'S OUT?!" I hope Rachel has changed her last name or SOMEthing bc Janie made it clear in that call that she hadn't changed at all! They better keep that chick under surveillance! Another user commented."

Several other users expressed their views by saying that Rachael should have seen this coming. Many of them did not second Rachael nor empathize with her.

"I feel for Rachel & agree with everything OP said. It's crazy to think someone who she had known for 25 years would do something like that but it also just kinda reinforces the belief that you shouldn't ever ignore a red flag. The whole possessive behavior she had towards the beginning of the friendship was a huge red flag..." A user wrote.

"Unpopular option I guess. But Rachel got on my LAST nerve!!! The min my friend tries to take custody of my child behind my back. We are DONE! How dumb do you have to be, you tell your friend the way to kill someone by using insulin and then you ALMOST DIE MULTIPLE TIMES FROM INSULIN!!! GTFOH! And don’t get me started on the selfies with the duck lips laying in the hospital bed. Stop it. Rachel needs to be a better mother. Period." Another user wrote.

Several other users who could not figure out why Rachael's family in the Worst Roommate Ever did not take her also commented on the same thread for answers.

"i am in the middle of ep. 1 - why didn’t rachel’s family take her and Ryder in?? they knew she was in a messed up situation." A user wrote

"When they ended up in a shelter where was her family?! They failed her." A user commented.

"I was thinking the same but didnt assume that her family didnt want to. It doesnt seem she ever asked, tried or wanted to pursue that. She even went to a shelter instead of to her family. I wonder why." Another user commented

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Is the story of Rachel and Janie in Worst Roommate Ever real?

Yes, the Netflix series Worst Roommate Ever is based on a real-life incident. Rachel moved in with Janie Ridd and after they became best friends and co-patented Rachael’s younger son together, Rachel started falling sick very often. She could not understand the reason behind her sickness. Meanwhile, Janie tried to get custody of Rachael’s child forcefully while Rachel was injured.

As per Tudum by Netflix, the documentary series is based on real-life crimes committed by Michael Dudley, Janie Ridd, Scott Pettigrew, and Tammy Fritz.

The official synopsis of the Worst Roommate Ever series, as per Rotten Tomatoes, reads as,

"Roommates with malevolent and sometimes violent intentions turn the lives of their unsuspecting victims into real-life nightmares."

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Season 2 of Worst Roommate Ever is now streaming on Netflix.