Why did Travis guard Edgar’s room in “The Afterparty?”

In episode 3 of the new season of "The Afterparty," viewers were introduced to Travis' perspective of the fateful wedding night. The narrative, steeped in the tones and tropes of classic noir cinema, was a compelling exploration of character motivations, hints of conspiracy, and a puzzle that grew ever more complex. Among the many revelations of this episode, one particular point of intrigue lies in Travis' decision to guard Edgar’s room, and the consequent implications it held for the storyline.

Travis, a character with a knack for conspiracy theories and a clear suspicion towards Edgar, arrived at the wedding with a firm belief in his own detective skills. His cynicism was directed largely towards Edgar’s involvement in a cryptocurrency scam and, upon probing further, he was convinced that Edgar was planning to scapegoat Grace in a conspiracy to vanish with illicitly earned wealth. It was this firmly-held belief that led Travis to his vigil outside Edgar’s door, as he decided to play the role of the protective guardian to a friend he believed was in potential danger.

On a deeper level, Travis' decision to guard Edgar's room was a manifestation of his character's personality and motivation. His protective instinct towards Grace, combined with his own past experience of being scammed, created a sense of urgency and vigilance within him. This urge to "right" the perceived wrongs and prevent another innocent person from falling victim to a scam, even if it was purely speculative on his part, acted as the driving force behind his self-imposed guard duty.

This choice to stand guard, however, did more than just reflect on Travis' character traits. It had a significant impact on the narrative as well, becoming a crucial turning point in the plot. During his guard duty, Travis fell asleep, and this provided a perfect window of opportunity for the actual crime to occur. Travis, the self-appointed watchdog, was ironically incapacitated at the most critical moment, leaving the field open for the murderer. This further thickened the plot, generating more suspense around the whodunit mystery.

Travis' unconsciousness during the crime could also be interpreted as a narrative device to maintain ambiguity around the identity of the actual killer. By having Travis asleep outside Edgar's door at the time of the murder, the writers ensured that no direct witness to the crime was available, which allowed the mystery to deepen and persist.

Moreover, his proximity to the scene of the crime also places Travis among the suspects. Though he seemingly had no motive to harm Edgar directly, his intense dislike and suspicion towards him, coupled with his location during the murder, might be seen as incriminating factors by the other characters or even the detectives in the story.

Finally, Travis’ decision to guard Edgar’s room and the subsequent events emphasize the complexity and layers embedded within the narrative of "The Afterparty." His guard duty did not just offer a lens to better understand his character; it also proved to be a pivotal plot point that deepened the mystery, raised more questions about the actual killer, and undeniably, set the stage for further drama and suspense in the coming episodes. As the series unravels, viewers can look forward to seeing how this decision and its implications continue to affect the direction of the story and the characters involved.