The Dirt Locker – As the episode opens, Bat Lady (Tovah Feldshuh) has a flashback of being young inside a crowded train. Emerging from the train, the children are surrounded by butterflies. The children encounter Lizzy Sobek (Addyson Tabankin) standing with her arms up near a tree. Back to the present, Sunglasses Man (Hunter Emery) asks Bat Lady why she told Mickey Bolitar (Jade Michael) that Brad Bolitar (Kristoffer Polaha) is alive. She quickly changes the subject to Ashley Kent (Samantha Bugliaro). He pulls up a photo of Mickey and Ashley on his laptop. She says they will do whatever is necessary but everyone may not survive.

Dr. Shippee (Robin S. Walker) tells Shira Bolitar (Constance Zimmer) that Kitty Bolitar (Narci Regina) cannot have any contact during this phase of her treatment. Mickey asks Shira if Kitty’s depression is why she did not want Brad to marry her. She says it was complicated. Elsewhere, Rachel Caldwell (Sage Linder) has a flashback of her encounter with Octaface (Manuel Uriza). Back to the present, she breaks down sobbing.

As Mrs. Friedman (Didi Conn) calls out Mickey and Rachel’s names, Buck (Antonio Cipriano) takes a photo of an empty desk to send to Troy Taylor (Brian Altemus). Seeing the photo, Troy leaves class against Mrs. Morris’ orders. Elsewhere, Arthur “Spoon” Spindell (Adrian Greensmith) asks Emma “Ema” Winslow (Abigale Corrigan) if she has heard anything about Mickey. She suggests he is with Kitty. He claims to have gone to Mickey’s but no one was there. After he leaves, Whitney (Alex Mareka) approaches Ema to make small talk when she spots her butterfly drawing. She urges Ema to post her artwork on uDOu.

Ellen (Adrienne Barbeau) and Allen (Peter Riegart) show up unexpectedly at Shira’s with supplies for their wedding anniversary celebration. Allen says they canceled their trip to the Bahamas after Kitty’s incident. Shira asks what time is the party scheduled. He says in five hours.

Kasselton High School Assembly – As Friedman leads the assembly, Buck mouths, “I love you” to Ema who flips him the bird. She announces Mr. V (Geoffrey Cantor) left to deal with a family emergency. Curtain Call selects Angelica Wyatt (Stephanie March) to sponsor Kasselton’s “Phantom of the Opera.” Later, Mickey informs Ema and Arthur of Kitty being back in the hospital. Spoon escorts him to the Spindell Spot, formerly a boiler room. He admits to hacking the security system. While going through the footage, Mickey sees his and Ashley’s Spanish demonstration. After Ema takes his place, he returns home to find Allen and Ellen’s wedding anniversary party in progress. Rachel tells Allen that their history project is Lizzy Sobek. Allen says Lizzy rescued children on a train to Auschwitz.

While going through the security footage, Ema sees Ashley hiding behind a wall. A closer look shows her crying.

Shira is surprised when Chief Ken Taylor (Lee Aaron Rosen), Troy, and Hannah (Missi Pyle) arrive at the party. Rachel approaches to greet them. Ken asks if she has been busy with cheerleading because she has not been around the house. She claims to have lots of homework before rushing out the door with Troy in tow. Troy demands to know why she has been ignoring his texts and missing school while spending time with Mickey. She tells him that they are working on a history project. He assures her that he can help with her stress. During an embrace, she is offended by something he says. As she walks away, he grabs her arm triggering a violent flashback. She slaps him while orders him to get away from her. She immediately apologizes but he walks away. In a flashback, Octoface is chasing her when she falls. Brandishing a handgun, she orders him to get away from her.

Back to the present, Allen breaks down while talking about Brad. Troy asks Shira if she and Ken dated in high school. Shira says yes. He says she and Hannah were best friends. Shira tells him that she went away after high school. Ellen boasts of Ken and Hannah’s wonderful marriage and children. She reminds Shira that her uterus has an expiration date. Shira assures her that she never wanted children. Later, Hannah joins Shira on the rooftop. Hannah suggests starting all over.

Mickey listens to a distraught Ellen explain to Allen how she keeps from breaking down after losing Brad. In a flashback, Mickey finds Brad washing his bloody hands. Brad warns that there is no time to pack up their camp. He explains how he and Kitty help vulnerable people. Back to the present, Mickey tells Allen and Ellen that Brad would not want them to argue. Allen asks Mickey if he is going to try out for the basketball team. Mickey confesses to no longer wanting to play.

Security footage, Spoon and Ema watch two cheerleaders bullying Ashley. She runs away.

While playing a game of horse, Shira admits to believing Kitty was not a good fit for Brad. Mickey asks why. She claims after Brad met Kitty, he started changing his plans for the future. She ensure him that Brad would have wanted him to play basketball. Later in the boiler room, Mickey watches footage of someone wearing a hoodie breaks into Ashley’s locker. Spoon points out that the “William the Hippo” magnet is the only thing left. A closer look reveals the intruder’s identity as Sunglasses Man. Mickey tells them that he is going to get answers from Bat Lady.

Shira is cleaning up when Hannah arrives. Hannah kisses her on the lips. They share several passionate kisses.

Mickey is at Bat Lady’s when a car pulls into the garage. He rushes into the garage before the door closes. Accessing a cellar, he discovers an underground tunnel. He utilizes a metal ladder to enter the house to find Sunglasses Man waiting for him.

Spoon suggests Mickey is trying to save Ashley because he could not save Brad and Kitty.

Mickey confronts Sunglasses Man about his breaking into Ashley’s locker. He demands to know where Ashley is at. Bat Lady says they were hoping he could tell them. He reminds her of what she said about Brad being alive. Bat Lady asks if he can live in the darkness and remember exactly how the darkness was. He assures her that he is ready. Sunglasses Man disagrees. She asks if the “magical butterflies” were part of Friedman’s story about Lizzy Sobek. She says the butterflies led the children to Lizzy because she was there to witness it. In a flashback, a young girl rubs her fingers across a butterfly etched into a tree when three armed men approach. The other children run toward Lizzy when gunshots ring out. Young Bat Lady muffles a girl’s screams with her hand. Back to the present, a tattoo of numbers is revealed on Bat Lady’s forearm. She says of 49 children, only six escaped. He suggests she is Lizzy Sobek before demanding to know what it has to do with Brad and Ashley.

Bat Lady tells Mickey that the “Butcher of Lodz” killed the children. She admits to choosing that specific train because her father’s killer was on it. Holding up a photo, she says the man killed her father. He remembers seeing the man at the crash site.

Security footage, Ema and Spoon see Rachel raking Ashley’s things from her locker. Elsewhere, Ashley looks at a photo of her and Mickey. In what appears to be a flashback, she overhears Brad telling Mickey that he and Kitty help vulnerable people. Someone grabs her from behind as the episode ends.

 

Harlan Coben’s Shelter Review

Three episode in, the story veers away from the plot. It added little to the story. I don’t find the family drama important or interesting. It is just filler to get more out of the series.

The episode deserves a 5.2. Get more Harlan Coben’s Shelter recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, learn more by speaking to our customer support.