I actually feel like I understand Laurie, Patti, the GR and their motivations better after this episode. I think the character development was great and it was fascinating to see these people as they were before the event. This episode would have had nowhere near the impact if it came near the beginning of the season. I completely disagree with that idea. After being on the fence all season, I very much enjoyed this episode and will watch the show next year.
If you experienced this event, everything you thought you knew about the world would be shattered. I can totally understand the idea that, if this happened, everything we used to believe is/was bullshit. That nothing matters and everything is a shitty illusion so there's no point in doing anything except smoke a bunch of cigarettes and wait to die. I can actually understand this mentality when I think about it. Since they don't have an explanation for the event, an event which called literally everything everyone knows into question, the GR has decided no one can move on with their lives and forget this event. I may not agree, but I do understand better.
And the idea that the GR was recruiting before the event is fascinating to me. I want to know more about that.