See Me Feel Me Touch Me Heal Me – As the episode opens, Mickey Bolitar (Jaden Michael) and Octoface (Manuel Uriza) are in a physical dispute. Rachel Caldwell (Sage Linder) shoots Octoface. As Octoface flees, they return to the pool house to find Ashley Kent (Samantha Bugliaro) gone.
Mickey is staring at a charm on a necklace when Emma “Ema” Winslow (Abby Corrigan) and Arthur “Spoon” Spindell (Adrian Greensmith) climb through the window. Mickey explains what went down at Rachel’s. He stresses the importance of finding Ashley before Octoface. Ema admits to breaking into Dr. Kent (Gary Lee Mahmoud) office. Spoon says Kent was Dylan Shakes’ (Jack Casey) pediatrician 27 years ago. Looking at Dylan’s file on Spoon’s phone, Mickey sees his extensive injuries. She points out that Dr. Lawrence Kent didn’t document Dylan’s final visit on September 8, the same day he went missing. Spoon spots a Little League photo of Dylan, Brad Bolitar (Kristoffer Polaha), and their teammates. Mickey tells them that Dylan and Brad were best friends with they see the Head Coach, Martha Friedman (Didi Conn) on the far left in the photo. Mickey suggests Friedman took Dylan to see Dr. Kent after an incident during the game.
During breakfast, Shira Bolitar (Constance Zimmer) calls Mickey to breakfast. She asks where he was last night. He admits to being at Rachel’s house. She asks if he and Rachel are dating. He claims they are working on a history project. She gives him a pep talk for the impending basketball tryouts. A text from Hannah Taylor (Missi Pyle) invites her on an outing.
Spoon shows Friedman Dylan’s Little League photo. He asks if Kent was Dylan’s pediatrician. She admits to taking Dylan to Dr. Kent because he was being abused by his father. She explains how Dylan played with a cracked rib from where his father kicked him. He asks if she took Dylan to Dr. Kent’s office on the day he vanished.
Shira enters a vacant restaurant where Hannah is waiting for her. Hannah boasts of signing a the lease an hour ago. After complaining about never getting to fulfill her dreams, Hannah says Chief Ken Taylor (Lee Aaron Rosen) doesn’t love her. Shira assures her that Ken loves her.
Angelica Wyatt (Stephanie March) inspects the costumes for the play while Whitney (Alexa Mareka) does Ema’s makeup. Ema tells her that she downloaded uDOu. Whitney claims to have joined uDOu for attention. She says Buck (Antonio Cipriano) played basketball while she had nothing. Ema reminds her that she has more followers than any other uDOu makeup artist. She confesses to thinking Whitney was “awesome” before uDOu. When Whitney turns her to face the mirror, Ema says it is “perfect.”
At basketball tryouts, Mickey and Troy Taylor (Brian Altemus) goes toe-to-toe when Troy elbows him in the nose. A dispute breaks out. Spoon takes down Buck. Removing her shirt, Ema hands it to Mickey while confronting Troy. When she turns to walk away, Mickey sees her butterfly tattoo. Coach Leslie (Tisola Logan) orders Mickey and Troy to her office.
After testing Hannah’s dish, Spira says it is amazing. Hannah accuses Spira of messing with her. Spira admits to being glad she is opening her own restaurant before kissing her.
Kasselton High School – Ken calls Mickey a “troublemaker.” Spira reminds him of Troy elbowing Mickey. Troy claims it was accidental. Coach Leslie assures them that it didn’t look like an accident. Hannah demands Troy stop lying. Coach Leslie threatens to kick them off the team if they breath the wrong way.
Gemma (Cosima Ho) tells Spoon that Dr. Kent woke up from a coma. After giving her the key to PetSmart, he asks if she can get them into the hospital. She says if he read her references, he knows better than to ask. Later, Mickey informs Spoon of Ema’s butterfly tattoo. Spoon assures him that Ema is not involved with what happened to Ashley. Mickey suggests they follow her. Spoon warns that it would violate her trust. Spoon claims Ema’s family is into drugs. Mickey says that could be the connection to Octoface.
Mickey and Spoon follow Ema through the woods. They arrive at a mansion when Ema approaches from behind. She accuses them of following her. Mickey asks why she brought them there. She says it is her home. She escorts them inside where they see Angelica Wyatt, Ema’s mother. She voices concern about being treated differently if people knew. Mickey confronts her about the butterfly tattoo. Claiming Agent gave it to her, she says they told her about the Goddess Abeona. Mickey says Kitty Bolitar (Narci Regina) worked for Abeona Charity. She tells them at Agent’s tattoos are temporary but the butterfly will not come off. Spoon assures her that they are her friends.
Wearing a disguise, Spoon tells Agent (Brandon Curry) that he is 36 years old. When Agent jerks off his fake moustache, Spoon says 16. Agent informs him that the law requires him to be 18. Spoon suggests a temporary tattoo like Ema’s. Agent asks if he is okay with the spirits guiding his tattoo design. Spoon says sure as Mickey sneaks into Agent’s office. Mickey discovers an album with a photo of Brad and Octoface. Spoon sees him leave. Agent claims to sense a darkness in Spoon who passes it off as “gas.” Agent warns that he can expect more loss in his life before offering to add a name to his tattoo. Spoon declines the offer.
Angelica admits to being glad Ema invited friends over. Ema denies inviting them. Angelica reminds her that Spoon and Mickey were her friends before they found out about her. Ema texts Whitney.
Mickey shows Spoon the photo of Brand and Octoface. He questions what his parents were mixed up in. Spoon assures him that he knew his father. Mickey admits to be too afraid to visit Brad’s gravesite. Spoon offers to go with him. Later, Mickey asks Rachel if she can convince Troy to run a license plate connected to Octoface. Rachel says it would be illegal. He suggests it would help them find Ashley. She stresses over shooting Octoface and lying to Troy. She warns that his “hero complex” is dangerous.
Hannah serves Ken and Troy her new recipe. After a few bites, Troy says it is okay while Ken suggests more cheese. Ken accuses her of selling out Troy. She assures him that she only wanted him to tell the truth. He says Troy was telling the truth. She demands Troy look Ken in the eye and swear he accidentally elbowed Mickey. Troy just looks at them. Ken asks this is about her “ridiculous” plan to open a restaurant. She informs him of the restaurant lease. Troy goes outside to meet Rachel. He invites her to the local diner. She asks if he would run a license plate. He reminds her of how she has been ignoring him and spending time with Mickey. She admits to helping Mickey look for Ashley. He accuses Ken of having an affair with Shira.
Ema tells Whitney that her mother is Angelica Wyatt. Whitney claims to have liked her since she first moved there. They kiss.
At Brad’s gravesite, Mickey tells Spoon that he feels empty. He says it is like Brad is not there.
Valley Hospital – Spoon tells Ema that he met Gemma through the Janitorial Offspring Network. He adds that Gemma’s father is a custodian at the hospital. He boasts of their infiltration capabilities. Spotting Sunglasses Man (Hunter Emery) helping Dr. Kent into an SUV, they try to intervene but it is too late.
Rachel and Mickey are parked outside Octoface’s mansion. She informs them of the vehicle being registered to Antoine Lemaire who might be Octoface. Mickey questions the need for her gun. She admits it makes her feel safer when Ashley’s kidnappers emerge from the house. They follow the vehicle to a location where the goons (Eric Santiago, Chad Knorr) meet some people. She warns against going inside because it may be a trap.
A distraught Hannah tells Spira that everything is falling apart. Spira embraces her while she cries.
Whitney tells Buck that Ema’s mother is Angelica Wyatt.
Friedman hangs up a flier for Dylan’s vigil. In a flashback, young Billy Shakes (Taso Mikroulis) confronts her about reporting him to social services. She tries to convince him to give Dylan to her. He says, “Over my dead body.” Back to the present, Billy Shakes (Dennis Fitzpatrick) looks at the flier. After a swig of alcohol, he recalls Billy pleading with him to not do it. The episode ends.
Harlan Coben’s Shelter Review
Mickey visits Rachel’s house to see Ashley when Octoface arrives. A physical dispute ends with Rachel shooting Octoface. Ashley runs away. Ema and Spoon fill Mickey in on Dr. Kent seeing Dylan on the day he vanishes. Gemma informs Spoon of Kent being awake. He gives her a PetSmart access key in exchange for her getting them into Kent’s hospital room. When they arrive at the hospital, Kent is leaving with Sunglasses Man.
Ema tells Mickey and Spoon that Angelica Wyatt is her mother. When she tells Whitney, the girls confess to liking each other. Whitney later tells Buck.
Hannah signs a two-year lease on a restaurant property. Ken is none too thrilled with her decision. Spira, on the other hands, is very supportive. Troy believes Ken and Spira are having an affair.
Mickey sees Ema’s butterfly tattoo. She tells him that Agent gave it to her for free but it wasn’t supposed to be permanent. Agent told her that the Goddess, Abeona. Kitty worked for Abeona Charity.
Spoon asks Agent to give him a temporary tattoo. Mickey sneaks into Agent’s office to find a photo of Brad and Octoface. A license plate search connects Octoface’s vehicle to Antoine Lemaire.
The episode deserves a 6. Get more Harlan Coben’s Shelter recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
Shows not half bad. It’s turning out to be better than then last 2 seasons of Stranger Things. At least they aren’t forcefeeding a millenal’s interpretation of 80s culture at every turn. Though they are sort of feeding LGBT themes, which I have nothing against… I just feel it is a little forced. If it weren’t for Mickeys constant whining amd that facial expression like he just pissed his pants ALL the time it would be much better.
It is watchable especially for a Coben show considering I’ve usually hated them. Probably one of the better ones if that says anything. About those force-fed tropes, writers are eventually going to have to come up with new ideas instead of just going deeper and deeper into the ones they’re so adamant about using. You’d think even the most hardcore liberal would get tired of the same stories at some point. I’ve become null to it and politics in general at this point probably because I consume so much trash TV. My brain is probably half rotten.