Echoes Season 1 Episode 7 Recap

Falls – The show begins with Gina (Michelle Monaghan) and Leni (Michelle Monaghan) caught in a dangerous house fire. Gina suggests they get their father, Victor McCleary (Michael O’Neill), and go. Leni tells her it is only the two of them like always. When Gina lunges for something, Leni kicks it underneath a piece of furniture. Leni grabs a hatchet before following Gina upstairs. After busting into the bathroom, she has a flashback of Maria McCleary (Tyner Rushing) lying in bed. Gina tries to open the bedroom room as Leni hacks away at the door.

In a flashback, teen Leni (Madison Abbott) sets a church fire after catching teen Gina (Victoria Abbott) and teen Dylan (Clayton Royal Johnson) making out. Shocked by the sight of Robert Craghorne, Leni gradually backs out of the room.

Back to the present, Leni unlocks the bedroom door. Gina squats on the roof out of view as Leni stares out the window. Leni searches through the room when she hears a noise outside the window. Gina flees on a horse when Jack Beck (Matt Bomer) approaches. When he starts asking questions, Leni takes off running. He calls for emergency assistance.

Gina injures her ankle while getting off her horse. Leni arrives on horseback as Gina hobbles into the woods.

Sheriff Louise Floss (Karen Robinson) asks Jack if he’s seen, Victor. He tells her that the house was engulfed in flames and the twins fled on horseback. She suggests they not go after them. He describes the twins as “trouble.” She agrees with him.

As Gina struggles to make her way up the trail, Leni reminds her of their poison ivy allergy. After promising to have a plan that doesn’t include Jack, Leni suggests they move away from Mount Echo. Everything goes black. In a flashback, child Leni (Hazel Mason) and child Gina (Ginger Mason) repeat a quote together.

Back to the present, Leni wakes up on the ground as Gina makes her way deeper into the woods. The twins finally meet in the river. Leni pleads with her to come home. Gina tells her that she has no home when Leni attacks her. A struggle ensues with Leni pushing Gina down into the water. A premonition of Maria prompts Leni to let Gina go. Leni promises she was only protecting her that night. Gina demands to know which night she’s referring to. In a flashback, young Gina sees Victor drowning Maria in the bathtub before rushing back to her bed. She lies very still as Victor leans over her in the bed.

Back to the present, Leni informs Gina that Maria was killed by Victor. Gina claims Maria and Victor developed a plan. In a flashback, child Gina watches as Victor scoops a very sick Maria up in his arms. Back to the present, Gina tries to convince Leni that Maria wanted it that way by reminding her of the apple blossoms. Leni pleads with her to come back with her as Gina falls backward over the waterfall.

Floss and Deputy Paula Martinez (Rosanny Zayas) search through the remains of Victor’s burnt home. Floss shows Jack a piece of jewelry from the debris. He claims it was Gina and Leni’s when they were children.

Leni informs Floss of Gina’s murder confession. Floss says there’s no evidence to support the claim that Gina murdered Dylan James (Jonathan Tucker) or Victor died before the fire started.

Charlie Davenport (Daniel Sunjata) demands to know what happened to Gina. Leni tells him that she professed her love to Gina in the forest. Charlie admits to knowing they were hurt inside. She asks why he never said anything. He assures her that it was real for him. She asks how he feels now. While tears stream down his face, he explains how he imagines Gina now before calling her death unresolved. He tells Leni that she is and isn’t Gina. She apologizes to him. He promises to have never judged them. They profess their love to each other.

Holding up a burnt bracelet, Floss asks Paula to pull the church fire evidence. Paula questions why she wants to go through the evidence again. Floss says she is beginning to think of the twins as one, meaning they both could be guilty. Paula asks have it is possible to prove it. Floss tells her that she needs evidence that proves Leni was responsible for starting the fire.

Paula searches through the church fire evidence. She comes upon an Evidence bag containing a replica of the bracelet Floss discovered in the house fire.

Ernest (Charles Green) tells Leni that Floss will probably file murder against her. She denies murdering Dylan. He reminds her of how Floss never takes any chances when it comes to murder cases. She admits to switching lives with Gina. He offers her a divorce attorney referral. She asks if he believes Jack will get custody of Mathilda “Mattie” Beck (Gable Swanlund). He tells her that he wouldn’t risk a guess.

Echo Echo Café customers are questioning why Leni isn’t in jail. Paula informs Leni of what Floss said about finding evidence that will link her to the church fire. Leni asks why Floss cares so much. Paula warns her that Floss is building a big case against her that extends past Dylan. Leni is surprised when she gives her the bracelet from the church fire. Paula assures her that Floss will eventually discover the bracelet and evidence page are missing. Leni tells her that will be in trouble when Floss finds out. Paula says it will probably only be a minor infraction. Paula alerts Floss that Leni took the bait. When Leni goes missing, Floss orders Pearson and the other deputies to find her. Leni tosses the bracelet in a trash bin.

Leni visits Mt. Echo School to tell Mattie that she is leaving. Mattie says Jack said not to speak to her. As they continue to talk, Mattie’s friend (Zoe Davis) asks her to look at something. Leni kisses her hand before leaving.

Floss and the deputies rush into Jack’s house. He tells her that Leni isn’t there. She orders the deputies to search the house. He leaves Leni a voicemail while a miniature lion statue captures Floss’s eye. Jack says Maria nicknamed her “Leni the Lion.”

Leni checks in at Richmond International Airport with a fake ID. The TSA worker  (Anisa Nyell Johnson) asks if she checked her in yesterday morning. Leni asks where the passenger was going. The worker tells her that she was heading to Kansas.

Charlie gives a reading for his book, “Leni and Gina” in a bookstore. A female in the audience asks if the sister’s body was ever discovered in the water. He tells her that Gina’s body was never found. Another attendee asks a question. When Charlie looks back up, the woman is gone.

Charlie returns home to find one of the twins in his home. He asks if she was at the reading. She claims to have been there for the past hour. He assures her that he will eventually identify her. She tells him that she may not know her true identity. He asks why she came back. She says there are scores to settle, starting with him as the episode comes to an end.

 

Echoes Finale Review

I found the finale implausible and boring. Gina and Leni dilly dallied inside a burning house for what seemed like forever. Gina goes out the bedroom window while Leni walks right out the front door without a scratch.

There was never any urgency to solve the case. Leni and possibly Gina escaped right under Floss’s nose. It’s questionable why she chose not to follow the twins into the woods. If they were trying to replicate a real-life scenario, they failed miserably.

Throughout the series, Gina nor Leni paid much attention to Mattie. So, why have Leni risk getting caught just to stop by the school to tell Mattie goodbye. Was it lazy writing to ask Ernest if the judge would give Jack custody of Mattie?

The cinematography, acting, editing, directing, and writing was subpar. It felt like Leni was going around in circles from start to finish. When you break the story down, not much really happens. Some scenes felt repetitious with very similar goals and obstacles.

I wasn’t totally disappointed with the finale. With this said, I was taken aback by the twin’s last comment about having scores to settle. Since miniseries are ineligible for renewal, it felt like a cheap shot.

The finale deserves a 4.5 Get more Echoes recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.