The Devil Himself Visited This Place – As the episode opens, Bernice Mott’s nude, (Cindi Davis) contorted body lies on a gurney in the morgue. Dr. Gaines (Robert Curtis Brown) informs Detective Dawn Reeve (Deborah Ayorinde) of Bernice’s injuries, including 25 broken bones. Detective Ronald McKinney (Jeremy Bobb) insists 16-year-old Malcolm (Deion Smith) did not act alone in killing Bernice. Glancing at Reeve, Gaines doubts teenagers could do this much damage with lead pipes and compares the injuries to that of a victim who collided with a train. Dawn explains how she ruled out a commercial trash compactor. McKinney says if Malcolm murdered Bernice, he could have frightened the other foster kids into not talking. Gaines suggests it is possible to avoid bruising by waiting until Bernice was deceased to pose her body but she died of neurogenic shock (complications of spinal cord injury). Dawn asks if Bernice died instantly. He says within the minutes she was alive, it would be impossible to scream because her vocal cords were paralyzed from a broken neck.

While McKinney stuffs his mouth, Reeve listens to the recording of her notes from the Mott murder. She stresses the need for DCFS records of the visits to the Mott foster home. He assures her that DCFS will give them the runaround and the obvious is Malcolm who had access to Bernice. Seeing her staring at him, he laughs and agrees to request the files. She accuses him of not caring about the victims. McKinney claims to have dated a black woman.

Natalie (Sarah Grace Elliott) tells Kelvin “Kel” Reeve (Joshua J. Williams) that she hates cops. Kel claims cops messed with him. He passes her a joint and takes off.

Upon arrival at a crime scene, Reeve encounters Detective Marsh (Darin Cooper) who reminds her that it is Southside, out of her jurisdiction. She tries to talk to the locals but faces resistance and criticism. She spots a familiar face, Curtis Maynard (Darnell Jordan) in the distance. He says, “It was him. You are all gonna die” before dropping his bag and fleeing. He has a handgun in his waistband. McKinney curses when he sees her in pursuit. She pursues him to a residential area where he enters an apartment. The residents are startled to see her and order her to leave. A young boy fires an empty gun at her. Outside, Reeve encounters a growing crowd of agitated locals when she spots Curtis fleeing into a second-floor apartment. She goes in after him. A man demands to know what she is doing in his apartment. As Reeve continues to frantically search the apartment, Curtis leaps off the second floor landing onto a car, and flees. A woman calls Reeve a “pig b**ch” and shoves her down a flight of steps. Getting to her feet, she makes her way across the lane while being pelted with bottles.

Seeking safety inside an apartment, Reeve finds Curtis holding an infant. He complains about being watched and claims to have run because he was afraid and had to get back to his son. McKinney barges into the apartment and accuses Curtis of cooking drugs. He orders Curtis to flip the mattress and empty the chest. When McKinney jerks a sheet off a window, Curtis tries to stop him but gets beaten in the process. Reeve comforts Curtis’ son. McKinney refuses to stop until Officer Terrence (Brian Ashton Smith) intervenes.

Head in a plastic sack, Edmund Gaines (Luke James) seals the bottom with his hands and inhales and exhales to the point of suffocating. Jerking the bag off his head when the phone rings. After several deep inhales, he answers the phone to hear Beatrice say his request could not be located. He claims to have spoken with Marjorie on the 7^th. She informs him of Marjorie’s departure from the company. He stresses the need to get the request processed. After a brief hold, she returns to tell him that his request was located but it will take two to four weeks to process. Elsewhere, Kel opens the door to his bedroom to find it strangely neat and tidy. The light switch doesn’t work.

Edmund receives a call from Rhonda (Tamika Shannon) informing him of the lead in a slasher film. When she calls him a “sweet guy,” he says, Don’t be fooled by appearances.”

Athena (Pam Grier) finds a crime scene photo of Beatrice lying on the floor. Elsewhere, Reeve is having a drink with Reggie Marks (Charles Brice). They dance and get intimate in the pool.

Curtis cooks drugs while his son plays in a nearby highchair when the police arrive. Unable to flush all the drugs down the toilet, he races back to put his agitated son in his crib, turns, and puts his hands up. All is quiet, he has a look outside to find nothing out there. The baby bottle is boiling on the stove as he makes his way to his son’s room. Crunching and grunting noises can be heard coming from the room.

Curtis’ mother believes the killer is not human and claims the devil was there. She claims Curtis was frightened and asks Reeve if he looked scared when she saw him. Assessing the crime scene, Reeve suggests the killer forced Curtis’ son to watch. A short time later, Curtis’ contorted body is removed from the apartment on a stretcher.

McKinney suggests Curtis and Bernice knew their killer who he believes is Malcolm. Reeve argues that a 16-year-old did not commit the killings and reminds him that the killer left no fingerprints, DNA, fiber, or hair. She warns that the killer will strike again. Lieutenant Schiff (Wayne Knight) stresses the need for more evidence before declaring it a serial killer. Reeve suggests a press conference and transparency but Schiff refuses to budge. Reeve returns home to find Kel watching a news report about the Rodney King beating. She tells him about the cops beating her friend, Troy. He asks why she became a cop. She claims to have vowed to prevent police brutality on her watch. She notifies LA Weekly of a serial killer actively targeting victims in the Southside. Zabriskie recognizes her voice. Reeve asks to remain anonymous and tells her the victims, Bernice Mott and Curtis Maynard claimed to have been followed and watched. Zabriskie asks why a press conference has not been organized. Reeve says the department wants to wait before ending the call.

Edmund paints his face and puts a stocking over his head. Pulling the stocking tight, he screams into the mirror. Elsewhere, Kel wakes up and hears the TV in the living room. Making his way downstairs, he believes Reeves is lying on the sofa until he flips the light on to see it is a blanket. After several attempts to turn off the TV, he unplugs the electric cable. Looking at his reflection on the screen, his face looks distorted.

Dressed as Cheddar the pig and armed with a knife, Edmund walks through the restaurant causing the patrons to scatter. Rio (Brandon O’Dell) orders him to put the knife down and calls him an idiot. Removing the costume head, Edmund looks at the knife in disbelief. Rio fires him and leaves to call the police. The knife brings a smile to Edmund’s face as the episode ends.

 

Them: The Scare Review

The screenplay steers further away from the plot as the propaganda is piped up a notch. Not much of a story from the get-go, the show is becoming one massive agenda. Unfortunately, it fails to get its point across because of a strong fundamental bias.

In the process of making white male cops look unsympathetic, unmotivated, and violent, the lead is portrayed as an impulsive, incompetent, reckless black female cop. The portrayals are far from flattering on both sides of the aisle.

Luke James’ performance is outstanding. He is a believable psychopath. Edmund is the only interesting character in the series.

 

The episode deserves a 5.2 out of 10. Get more of Them: The Scare recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss a variety of topics, including books, TV shows, movies, and sports.