: The episode is praised for its "crazy good visuals," particularly the haunting parallels drawn between David’s victims and his mother.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners | Episode 8 - Stay [Highlight Reaction] YouTube · Mapocolops
The episode centers on the tragic irony of David and Lucy's relationship:
: David begins showing clear symptoms of cyberpsychosis, including tremors and hallucinations. He suffers from intense trauma after killing a corporate secretary who reminded him of his mother, a moment that signals he is losing his humanity.
: Lucy is revealed to be working behind David's back to fry the brains of Arasaka agents trying to recover data on the "Cyber Skeleton". Her motivation is to keep David from becoming a test subject, though her secrecy inadvertently leads to their downfall.
: Viewers describe the experience as "devastating," as every decision made by the protagonists seems to dig their graves deeper while the corporations remain untouched.