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Room 104

Room 104

Some places change you.

2017–2020Ended4 seasons48 episodes~30 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

An anthology series set in a single hotel room, where every guest who comes to stay reveals a unique set of circumstances and quirks.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Room 104?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Room 104 streaming on HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Room 104?

Room 104 earns 1 badge: Overhyped.

Reception

Is Room 104 worth watching?

Room 104's Midcredits score is the 13th percentile of all shows, from 6.8K ratings across 2 sources. 50% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

13th percentile

Better received than 13% of shows

11th percentile among Comedy13th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)12th
Approval (how many liked it)17th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

60 /100

12th percentile of all shows

12th percentile among Comedy13th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.2 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

50% liked it

17th percentile of all shows

13th percentile among Comedy16th percentile among 2010s
50% rated it 7–1050% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

88th percentile

6.7K ratings across platforms

81st percentile among Comedy88th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a wildly uneven anthology set in one room, mixing genres and tones with varied success.

Fans praised

  • highly original, unpredictable anthology with creative writing
  • strong acting and surprising twists in standout episodes
  • emotional depth and thought-provoking themes

Detractors panned

  • inconsistent quality, many episodes boring or pointless
  • predictable or weak twist endings, stories lack payoff
  • derivative of Inside No. 9 or Black Mirror, poorly executed

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive70

fresh premise, but derivative of Inside No. 9 / Black Mirror

ActingDivisive65

some strong performances, but uneven across episodes

AtmosphereDivisive65

creepy, claustrophobic single-room setting

TensionDivisive55

effective in some episodes, flat in others

Emotional impactDivisive55

some episodes moving, but often undercut by lack of payoff

Plot and storyDivisive40

stories often lack coherent arcs, weak or abrupt endings

Pacing40

some episodes drag, others feel rushed

EndingDivisive30

endings often anticlimactic or unsatisfying

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Episodes

4 seasons

Season 4 · 2020 · 12 episodes · 4.0 average across 6 rated episodes

  • S4E1

    The Murderer

    Jul 24, 202023 minTMDB rating 4.4
  • S4E2

    Star Time

    Jul 31, 202023 minTMDB rating 4.3
  • S4E3

    Avalanche

    Aug 7, 202023 minTMDB rating 4.6Season best
  • S4E4

    Bangs

    Aug 14, 202023 minTMDB rating 4.2
  • S4E5

    Oh, Harry

    Aug 21, 202023 min
  • S4E6

    The Hikers

    Aug 28, 202023 min

Watch experience

What is Room 104 like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplativeBittersweet
Heaviest: throughout
Register
PlayfulWry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Anthology episodes · 6% of showsAnthology seasons · 2% of shows
ToneThe series shifts register from episode to episode, but overall maintains a wry, observational stance toward its characters, often with a touch of the absurd.
The rideThe series weaves between tension and reflection across its run, maintaining an unsettling undercurrent while often settling into somber or wistful resolutions.
StructureEach episode tells a self-contained story within the same motel room, with no overarching narrative structure across the series.
Episode formatThe series is fundamentally an anthology: each episode is wholly self-contained with a distinct cast, story, and often genre, as confirmed by the premise.
Season formatThe show explicitly presents a new story per episode, and the anthology framing means there is no seasonal arc; the format is defined by the separable episodes themselves.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe anthology's shifting tones leave viewers both pondering the variety of human experience and occasionally unsettled by the darker tales.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeEach episode of Room 104 is a self-contained story spanning genres from comedy to horror; no single plot archetype dominates across the series.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfIsolationSociety
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% · Isolation 3% (this title) · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Society

Isolation · 3% of showsIdentity
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeEach episode examines isolated characters in a transient space, revealing varied aspects of human nature.
StanceThe series adopts a detached, observational stance toward its rotating characters, presenting their fates without overt moralizing or judgment.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
AmbientMinimal or silentBackground music · original score
SettingA seemingly average motel room that serves as the stage for its guests' diverse, self-contained tales.

Content guide

Is Room 104 okay for kids?

TV-MA

Room 104 is rated TV-MA. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (46/100), sexual content at intense (67/100), language at intense (71/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (52/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). Its language and frightening material have too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 49% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 19 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18+
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany16
  • France10
  • Brazil18
  • Austria16
  • Czechia18+
  • Hungary16
  • IndiaU
  • MexicoD
  • MY18
  • Netherlands16
  • Poland16
  • PortugalNR
  • ROAP
  • Spain18
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 71% of all showsHeavier than 49% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 28%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 73%
Profanity
Intense
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 49%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
too few votes to rank (9 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is sexual content. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Room 104 have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Room 104?

Cast

Jennifer Lafleur
as Diane
Jon Bass
as Dustin
Jenny Leonhardt
as Larry
Kristina Harrison
as Mom
Lily Gladstone
as 911 Operator
Susanna Harter
as Veronica
Jay Duplass
as Daniel
Karan Soni
as Anish
Keir Gilchrist
as Alex
Philip Baker Hall
as Charlie

More like this

What are shows like Room 104?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Room 104 include Inside No. 9 (2014), The Terror (2018) and The Purge (2018).

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