Apple TV+’s satirical comedy The Studio takes a sharp turn in Episode 5 titled “The War”, pulling viewers away from external chaos and placing the spotlight firmly within the walls of Continental Studios. The usually confident and self-centered studio head, Matt Remick (played by Seth Rogen), finds himself nearly absent from the action, as a fierce behind-the-scenes war brews between two of his closest employees — Sal Saperstein (Ike Barinholtz), the old-school executive producer, and Quinn Hackett (Chase Sui Wonders), a creative executive with fresh ambitions. The result? A deliciously chaotic internal showdown that unfolds with schemes, sabotage, and studio politics.
Let’s dig into the full recap of Episode 5, where ambition clashes with experience, and no one walks away with a win.
CONTINENTAL STUDIOS IS RENTED OUT — AND TEMPERS FLARE
The episode kicks off with Matt Remick arriving at a very crowded Continental Studios. It’s not just the studio’s own productions causing the commotion — the company has been renting out its facilities to Netflix to help offset financial struggles. As a result, parking is scarce, tensions are high, and Matt’s day begins on an annoyed note. But just when it seems his mood may spiral, his assistant shares that Chris Hemsworth called and wants to catch up over martinis. Unfortunately, Matt’s schedule is packed, so the assistant had to decline. A frustrated Matt demands that any future opening be saved for Chris, who he clearly adores.
This brief moment illustrates Matt’s real priorities — personal clout over professional responsibilities. It also makes it clear that he hasn’t been paying close attention to the pitches being prepared by Sal and Quinn.
TWO HORROR PROJECTS, ONE SLOT
Sal Saperstein, Continental’s veteran executive producer, has been pushing a low-budget horror film titled Wink. The idea? A blatant rip-off of Parker Finn’s Smile franchise, where the ghostly killers wink at their victims before striking. Sal is in contact with Finn himself, attempting to secure him as the director, essentially convincing Finn to parody his own work. Sal believes in market-tested concepts — if Smile worked, Wink will too.
Meanwhile, Quinn Hackett, now a creative executive after years as Matt’s assistant, wants more power in the studio. She has her eyes on a promotion and plans to prove herself by developing an original horror project with indie director Owen Kline (Funny Pages). Kline’s film, backed by A24 and the Safdie brothers, had been featured at Cannes — a clear sign of promise. But her meeting plans are unraveling fast, and Kline’s agent is growing impatient.
Quinn knows she must act quickly. She brings up her pitch to Matt, but he initially sides with Sal’s Wink, asking Quinn to assist him on the project. That rejection doesn’t sit well with her.
A FIGHT FOR CONTROL
In a bold move, Quinn tries to sway Matt by criticizing Wink during a meeting, calling it “lame.” That word stings Matt — he’s always afraid of producing work seen as substandard. Sal’s idea suddenly seems less appealing. Quinn then boosts her own pitch by dropping impressive names like A24 and Cannes, which piques Matt’s interest. Now he wants to meet both Parker Finn and Owen Kline before making a decision.
Suddenly, it’s a race to win Matt over.
Sal leans into his belief that film is first and foremost a business. He praises formulaic blockbusters like Fast & Furious and insists that mainstream films, not art-house projects, are what keep studios afloat. Quinn pushes back, arguing for films that balance business with creativity. The tension grows — Sal wants to prove his seniority and experience, while Quinn wants to show she can play at the same level and bring in prestige.
PLANS UNRAVEL AS EGOS COLLIDE
Realizing that Matt’s indecision could go either way, Quinn decides to tilt the scale. Late at night, she returns to the studio and convinces Petra — the assistant responsible for scheduling — that she’s working on a special project. Once Petra (Keyla Monterroso Mejia) leaves, Quinn hacks her computer (Petra’s password is hilariously taped to the screen) and deletes Matt’s scheduled meeting with Parker Finn. She leaves that slot empty, knowing Petra will likely use it to reschedule something more exciting — like the lunch with Chris Hemsworth.
Her plan works. The next day, Petra arranges the lunch with Chris, bumping Finn off the calendar. Sal is caught completely off-guard when Matt tells him he’s heading to lunch with the actor. To cover for the confusion, Sal lies to Parker Finn, claiming there was an on-set accident. He buys a little time and reschedules for the next day.
But Quinn moves fast. She sets up her meeting with Owen Kline while Sal is scrambling. When Sal realizes what’s happening, he storms into the meeting and begins undermining Kline — questioning his ability to handle negative screening feedback and talking about how poorly scored films often get scrapped or reshot.
Matt, rather than stepping in, finds Sal’s aggressive questioning “fascinating” and lets it continue. The pressure becomes too much. Kline storms out, offended and frustrated, stating he wants nothing to do with Continental Studios.
Sal takes this as a win. He belittles Quinn and walks away feeling victorious. But the war isn’t over yet.
QUINN’S FINAL MOVE
Still determined, Quinn sets one more trap. The next morning, she parks a golf cart in Sal’s reserved spot. Security is called and, not recognizing Sal, they force him to leave and search for parking elsewhere. By the time Sal finally makes it back to the building, Parker Finn has already left. He’s furious about the delay and informs Sal that he’ll be taking Wink to Paramount instead.
In a brutal twist, both executives end up losing everything they fought for. Owen Kline won’t work with Quinn, and Parker Finn has abandoned Sal. Their mutual sabotage ensures neither film lands at Continental.
FALLOUT FOR THE STUDIO
Matt Remick, blissfully unaware of the games being played behind the scenes, may not realize how close the studio came to securing a major project — or how two of his top staff members sabotaged each other’s efforts out of pride and ambition. Episode 5 closes with Continental Studios standing still — no project, no resolution, just the cost of unchecked ego.
Quinn and Sal may have tried to win the war, but in the end, their battle left only ruins.
For more recaps, previews, and news from THE STUDIO, be sure to swing by tvacute.com again soon — we’ve got you covered.
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