Okay, so I tried at transcribing the background dialogues of Taylor, Courtney, Dana, Justin, Daniel, Logan, Juliet, Zachary and Samuel, so here goes (with some thoughts, but this isn’t meant to be a serious meta - it’s more of a log, maybe?):

Taylor: (Mentions of a black credit card?) Courtney: (Something about instagram? Max’s monologue covers it up) Taylor: Because Max wants everybody to see how hip she is. Courtney: As if! She plays it so shy. Taylor: She’s so fucking shy, she takes selfies with a giant camera.

The shade and sarcasm…I get the vibe they are parroting Victoria here, based on the scene prior and how this conversation echoes with what Victoria says at the stairs. I also didn’t notice how Max draws Victoria in her notepad in my previous playthroughs (with ”yes yes yes Mr. Jefferson ♥” written next to it). Such petulance xD

This also shows how much of an enigma Max is to her fellow classmates. Max hardly speaks before she acquires her time powers, so people around her can only assess her through her actions. What registers to most people is an aloof and self-absorbed person with implicit ease (that can be misinterpreted for arrogance).

Kate lending The October Country is her trying to get a better reading of Max after only knowing her for a few weeks (how very Kate). It’s also sweet that Dana’s probably seen Max’s photo wall at this point.

Justin: I’m serious! I couldn’t even get off the couch! Dana: When can you? Justin: I have to get my education on - and see you. Dana: You should take a smoke break. Justin: Dana, I have! I haven’t smoked since! I haven’t smoked since I woke up at seven! Dana: What’s the point of even coming to class if you’re baked? Justin: What’s the point of coming to class, period? Dana: Okay, rebel. Justin: Besides, why do you think they call it “high school”? Dana: You’re such a dork. I can never get mad at you. Justin: Hehe, want to take a quick help from my new fire OG?

RIP Justin. While Dana sounds extra sweet, she’s also deflecting Justin’s overt flirtation (which makes sense, since she walks to Justin from Trevor’s direction). I wonder if it’s intentional that Dana sounds weary here, despite her body language. Probably. It works. The next we see of her is the sexting fiasco after all. Dana is truly a fake-it-til-you-make-it girl. The fact that we cannot experience this when Max has her earphones on works for Max’s character too.

Also, what is Justin even doing at Blackwell? I bet his parents are rich if he can afford this kind of attitude. Imagine him in a suit for a family picture. He’s the student who studied to get in Blackwell but slacked once he was admitted.

Logan: Yo Daniel! You remember that it’s payday? Boy: Yeah, payday! Logan: I know you didn’t forget you owe us cash! Daniel: I forget for what? Logan: For making sure nobody kicks your ass! Boy: Yeah, your ass! Daniel: Logan, seriously, leave me alone. Logan: You’re not the boss of me, bro! Boy: You’re not the boss, bro! Daniel: No, I’m, I'm…I’m just trying to go to class.

Daniel actually sounds intimidating near the beginning. I’m impressed. Combined with Max’s “He’s so nice!” and his calm shortly afterwards, he seems like a pretty solid dude. I’m glad we can push him to go to the End of the World Vortex party. Maybe he’d integrate in Alyssa’s group afterwards (if there is an afterwards…).

Logan is seen pushing another dude into the locker before Max’s first rewind so this must be how he garners the money to score from Frank and Nathan. That and he wants to follow Zachary’s example. His insecurity is so transparent from his choice of victim, it’s gross.

Brooke: Fourth place!? That’s bullshit! Grand prix!

I love you, Brooke.

Juliet: You didn’t tell me how cute I looked yet. Zachary: I was about to! You always look cute. Juliet: Just cute? Zachary: Hot. Juliet: I might send a special picture during class. Zachary: Don’t even tease me. Juliet: You know I don’t tease! Zachary: I hate that science class with those nerds! Juliet: What’s that got to do with anything? Zachary: Because if you send me a picture, I wont be bored. Juliet: You suck.

WELL. I’m not sure why Juliet is angry at Zachary when Max first leaves the photography room. Maybe she’s filled in by Victoria already, but she’s hoping to hear out Dana first? Thus, the angry flirting revolving around a future sext? Juliet does seem a bit insecure about herself so maybe she’s already comparing herself to Dana at this point (cute vs hot).

And/or I wonder if Zachary was in Kate’s video? His guilt after Kate’s incident is kind of random since the football dudes only seem to bully guys (i.e. Luke and likely Warren in Zachary’s case, based on this dialogue). Which begs the question, what is he apologizing for on his slate in EP4? Maybe that’s part of why Kate is facing her back to him outside the dorms. I feel like Juliet would say something about it, but… Either way, the “Bigfoots will win the next game for you!” post is insensitive at best, because some of the team members must have been the dude-bros that took advantage of Kate that night.

Samuel: Poor girl…nobody should vanish like that. Samuel: I don’t mind the mopping…but can’t you pick up your damn feet. Samuel: This is an excellent mop however…I keep it clean. Samuel: I feel like a ghost to these kids. They barely see me. Samuel: Dragging dirty tracks everywhere.

Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever heard Samuel being so negative towards people? I don’t have much to read into here, but. Maybe I’ll have some more thoughts once I wrap my head around his presence in the school halls of the nightmare sequence.

Sidenote: I wonder if Kate’s friends are low key waiting for her in this scene? It’s a good juxtaposition with Taylor and Courtney that are lingering around for Victoria. Kate’s known friends are dispersed around campus after the alarm goes off but we know Kate wants to be alone at that point.