Broken Windows Open Doors – Still covered in Father Khatri’s (Shaun Majumder) blood, Sheriff Boyd Stevens (Harold Perrineau) is putting the finishing touches on his travel gear. Deputy Kenny Liu (Ricky He) says some of the Colony House residents have relocated to homes throughout the town. He suggests a few meaningful words to help settle rising tensions. Boyd supports his idea but recommends he do it before mentioning how Father Khatri saved his family’s life when they arrived there. Rushing off, Kenny is stunned by Boyd’s putting his travels above the well-being of the town. Boyd reminds him that he will soon be the Sheriff.

Town Church – Sara Myers’ (Avery Konrad) anxious pacing is interrupted by an anxious Boyd, eager to get on the road. In a flashback, Abby (Lisa Ryder), Boyd, and young Ellis Stevens (Corteon Moore) enjoy Lyle Lovett’s “If I Had A Boat. Boyd says it would be so peaceful to ride a pony on the ocean. Abby tells him that he can listen to the song as long as he likes but it won’t change their finances. He assures her they can manage their payments. She asks if the plan couldn’t include the payments. Ellis points out that most lenders won’t prefer that type of payment plan. Boyd tells him that he doesn’t have a dog in the fight before saying his Army allies nicknamed him “Mr. Fish and Loves” for his ability to make something out of nothing. Ellis asks about Abby’s nickname, “Irony Abby.” Boyd says iron is sometimes too rigid to bend. He suggests a boat could ease their finances. Searching her purse for Chap Stick, she asks him to hold something which turns out to be a boat key. Shocked, Boyd nearly would have hit a downed tree if Ellis hadn’t brought him back to his senses.

In The Woods – Back to the modern time, Sara asks about Father Khatri’s whereabouts as they push further into the forest. Ignoring the question, Boyd asks if she can remember when the creatures used to shriek all night long. It wasn’t until the discovery of the talismans that the shrieks stopped and turned to whispers. He sarcastically says, of course, the voices wouldn’t reveal anything useful. She refuses to take another step until he tells her where Father Khatri is at. He informs her of Father Khatri’s death. When she breaks down crying, he asks if she felt the same when she left Bing-Qian Liu (Simon Sinn) defenseless. She asks if he believes she is a monster. He claims her unique connection to the town is the only reason she is there. Aiming his pistol at her, she pushes on without any more resistance

Liu’s Residence – As Jade (David Alpay) studies his latest find. Kenny provides three residents a tour of the house before stressing the importance of being mindful of the dwindling rations. After saying they don’t belong there, Jade tells Kenny that he chose the flower over the rock. Clara (Katerina Bakolias) asks if he thinks the whole thing is an elaborate “escape room.” Driving the insult even further, she asks how it worked out for him. Jade asks about Victor (Scott McCord), which leads to his discovery of his escapade in the woods with Julie Matthews (Hannah Cheramy).

Matthews Residence – Julie tells Jim Matthews (Eion Bailey), Tabitha Matthews (Catalina Sadino Moreno, and Ethan Matthews (Simon Webster) about what transpired at the Colony House. Baffled, Tabitha tries to comfort her. Once inside the tree, Victor told her that “it” was starting, but she is unable to answer her father’s question about what “it” means. She claims to have gone from being inside the tree to a giant cabinet in a root cellar. Ethan doesn’t waste a second chiming in with his knowledge of the Faraway Tree before suggesting they go search for Victor. Tabitha assures her that everything will be okay. Ethan tells her about the big hole in the basement. A quest to discover where the electricity is coming from. Jade enters the house without knocking. Jim is quick to get rid of him but not before he asks about Victor’s whereabouts. He reveals his journal findings and recent hallucinations. Slapping the photo out of his hand, Jim admits to not carrying before demanding he stay away from his family.

Jim demeans him by bringing up his psychotic break with the Civil War soldier. He claims to have had some success with the radio signal. He suggests sufficient altitude and power would render before results. Jade asks how he expects to get over the tree line. Jim tells him that he hopes to get to the high ground.

In a flashback, Boyd, young Ellis, and Abby find themselves in an eerie town where “HELP” is written on buildings. Father Khatri jumps in front of their vehicle as night approaches. He explains as best he can about the town and its creatures. He warns they will die if they don’t follow him. Abby aims her loaded pistol at the Father. He says to keep the weapon but they need to go now. As Boyd prepares to drive away, loud shrieks change his mind. Boyd, Ellis, and Abby follow him to an area where Donna (Elizabeth Saunders) and Dale (Cliff Saunders) are staying. Donna assures her that are harmless, only the creatures outside are a threat. Father Khatri promises to explain further when noises coming from above catch their attention.

Town Hospital – Fatima (Pegah Ghafoori) watches as Kristi (Chloe Van Landschoot) resets Ellis’s (Corteon Moore) shoulder. She puts his arm in a makeshift sling before asking Fatima to keep him in bed.

Colony House – Donna asks Jim and Jade what they’re doing there. Jim tells her about their radio tower which could get make the signal stronger. After saying the Colony House is the highest point around, he tells her that they should be able to broadcast the signal over the forest’s dense canopy. Donna gives them the go-ahead. Shocked, Jim asks if she is approving their radio tower. She points out that last night’s little adventure ended with 14 of her people strewn along the hillside. With no one too eager to return to the house, it might as well get some use.

In The Woods – Arriving at a little shack, Boyd forces Sara to enter. He tells her that he has some business to attend to in town before grabbing his handcuffs. She assures him that they won’t be necessary because she just wants to help.

In Town – Boyd is stunned when he sees the town for the first time after an attack. Survivors roam around aimlessly trying to identify their deceased loved ones in the street. Abby’s voice brings him back to reality.

Town Diner – Boyd is baffled to learn the residents must “hide and pray” every night. Father Khatri says it is their only option. He and Donna deny knowing anything else about the town. Boyd suggests getting the residents to cooperate. Donna assures him that it wouldn’t be that easy. He says they should gather all the town’s resources and make sure the residents don’t use the same hiding place twice. They initiate their new plan.

Matthews Home – Tabitha asks Julie if she is hungry. After saying no, Julie asks about the divorce. Tabitha says her question doesn’t have a simple answer. Julie says they obviously love each other before suggesting she is the problem. Tabitha assures her it has nothing to do with her but she will never understand until she becomes a parent. She admits to feeling as if she failed as a parent when Thomas died. She explains what led up to Thomas’ death. Thomas was on the changing table when the phone rang. While Jim answered the phone and she went for a diaper, Thomas rolled off the table. Sometimes all Tabitha can see when she looks at Jim is the ringing phone, nagging at her.

At The Diner – Tian Chen Liu (Elizabeth Moy) tries to keep Tom (Reid Price) and Eli (David Christoffel) out of the diner. Boyd intervenes to discover Tom and Eli are fearful of the Colony House residents hoarding the town’s already limited supplies. Boyd assures the men that nobody will be raiding anything. Eli points out that the creatures were never supposed to get into the Colony House either but they did. Boyd convinces the men to retreat when Tian says they are just scared.

In a flashback,  Boyd tells Father Khatri more about himself. Knowing the creatures aren’t mobile during the day, he should scout out the area for resources. Father Khatri warns it will be difficult to convince the others to roam around in the wild. Boyd explains his 30-year stint in the Army. Abby, on the other hand, is the “badass” of the family as a former Marine.

On the other side of town, Abby uses her time wisely to learn more about the town through personal observation. Those quiet observations are soon interrupted by an inquiring Ellis, who is soon ordered to go help his dad.

Police Station – Boyd and Kenny discuss the near-catastrophe at the Colony House last night. After Donna approaches, Kenny reminds Boyd about what he said about him being ready to step in during his absence. Kenny suggests the talismans are nothing more than a temporary solution. He warns they will end up like Father Khatri if someone doesn’t find a way home. Donna asks about Boyd’s travel plans.

In Town – In a flashback, Boyd leads the town’s first animal, a goat, through town when he encounters Father Khatri. He explains his plan to set traps after collecting the chickens. He suggests grabbing some of the locals to shore up the corral around the old barn. Young Ellis admits to being concerned about his venturing into the woods. Boyd assures him that he is also terrified but the resources out there cannot be ignored. Ellis says he needs to see what is going on with Abby. Boyd says she wasn’t nicknamed “Iron Abby” for nothing before agreeing to discuss it later.

In The Woods – Boyd encounters a stray German Sheppard. Any attempt to encourage it to come fails when the canine flees. He takes off after the animal to find himself lost in the woods at night. Screeching creatures terrify him as he keeps his loaded weapon drawn. Stumbling into what looks like a cave, he meets a creature that continues on its way. He contributes his luck to an ancient talisman embedded into the walls of the cave. The amulet is adorned with what looks like some kind of hieroglyphics or ancient language. Upon further inspection, he discovers several more talismans.

Town Hospital – Back in modern times, Boyd tells Ellis about his travel plans. Ellis describes his travels as aimlessly wandering before reminding him how well it worked out for them last time. Boyd tells him that he can hate him if he wants but he is going to say his piece and he is going to listen. Warning that he may never return from his journey, Boyd says he doesn’t want him to live the rest of his life with things unsaid. He admits to being proud of how he has turned out. Upon leaving, Donna assures him that Ellis will come around. He thanks her for looking out for his son. Donna reminds him of how much he has down for the town.

Fatima assures Ellis that what happened isn’t his fault. She says even though she wasn’t there, she has been around Boyd long enough to know his principles. She suggests while he is angry, Boyd has been shouldering the burden.

In a flashback, after surviving the night in the woods with the talismans, Boyd makes his way back to a town full of hysterical residents. In a trance-like state, Abby is surrounded by dead bodies. Donna tries to help an injured resident while Abby assures her it is nothing more than a nightmare. Boyd tries to reason with her. Before busting into a rendition of Lyle Lovett’s, “If I Had A Boat,” she tells him to wake up. Ellis grabs her attention while Boyd shoots her twice.

In The Woods – Merely feet away from the shack, Boyd realizes Ellis followed him from town. Ellis says the talisman saved him and Fatima during a close encounter. He tells Boyd that he made the right decision. Boyd embraces him while he weeps. Ellis says he couldn’t let him leave without saying goodbye. Boyd assures him it isn’t goodbye when Sara emerges from the shack. Boyd promises to tell him everything when he returns, for now, he needs to trust him. Ellis heads back to town.

Town Diner – Kenny explains his plan to the residents. He suggests if Boyd can risk his life, at least, they can cooperate. He is doing away with the Colony House/Town mentality and merging the two factions as one community. Donna assures them that the Colony House will be put back together. She informs them of Jim’s radio tower. Jim says the sooner it is erected, the sooner they might go home. The residents deliver supplies and tools to the Colony House. Boyd puts handcuffs on Sara as the episode ends.

 

FROM Review

What an incredible episode! This one easily gets 7. So much was revealed, it almost felt like a finale or premiere. That being said, episodes like this can leave reviewers questioning why so much was revealed and what could it possibly mean for the future of the series. In addition to this, nothing felt too cryptic to be misconstrued. Of course, the appearance of the German Sheppard and the etched writing on the amulets, as well as their magical abilities, raise questions, but other than that, things could not be much more straightforward.

It’s going to be incredibly interesting to see how the cast and crew choose to build on these revelations. Get more From recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Ask about our onsite advertising by reaching out to customer service.