Character Relationship Map: Hit by Lightning

Characters

• Danita (played by Stephanie Szostak) — protagonist

  Danita is Ricky Miller's online match and the woman with whom he falls in love. Miserably married for nine years to an obsessive, abusive husband, she initially considers using Ricky to kill him but g...

• Seth (played by Will Sasso) — supporting

  Seth is Ricky Miller's best friend, an equally single accountant who repeatedly tries to act as Ricky's wingman. He questions Ricky's relationship with Danita, attempts to deter the murder plan, later...

• Ben Jacobs / Rabbai (played by Jed Rees) — supporting

  Ben Jacobs / Rabbai is Danita's obsessive, abusive husband, an ex-rabbi-turned-author who is holding a book signing when Ricky and Seth encounter him. He offers to read Ricky's unfinished novel, notic...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Danita → Ben Jacobs / Rabbai (Family Wife) — Danita is Ben Jacobs / Rabbai's unhappy wife.

  Danita tells the restaurant manager that she has been miserably married to Ben Jacobs / Rabbai for nine years.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Seth → Ben Jacobs / Rabbai (Social Dinner Acquaintance) — Seth briefly interacts socially with Danita's husband under false pretenses.

  At the restaurant, Ben Jacobs / Rabbai recognizes Seth from the book signing and invites him to join the dinner table.

• Seth → Danita (Social Skeptical Intermediary) — Seth observes and challenges Danita's relationship with the restaurant manager.

  Seth visits the restaurant during the manager's first meeting with Danita and later questions him about the relationship.

Story Analysis

A lonely man's search for love becomes a dangerous murder conspiracy, then survives through an unlikely false confession.

Plot Progression

1. A Match Without A Face — A lonely restaurant manager pursues romance with Seth's encouragement. An E-Happily profile brings Danita into his life, and their first meeting appears unusually perfect.
2. The Marriage Barrier — Danita and the manager grow close, but her behavior becomes confusing. She reveals that an abusive nine-year marriage prevents them from continuing openly.
3. A Dangerous Proposal — Danita proposes killing Ben Jacobs / Rabbai, and the manager agrees despite Seth's attempts to change his mind. Surveillance and an awkward dinner deepen the danger.
4. The Cemetery Reckoning — Danita confesses genuine love and helps arrange access to Ben Jacobs / Rabbai. The plan ends in a cemetery shooting, followed by a desperate cover-up.
5. A Convenient Confession — Danita disappears while the couple secretly meets in a church. A mass murderer's confession removes suspicion, allowing Danita to return and complete the E-Happily testimonial.