Episode Grade: (8.2/10)
Wednesday’s investigation takes her to the abandoned Gates mansion. There, she finds evidence of a human inhabitant and the monster, who then emerges to attacked Wednesday and her friends. After the evidence was removed prior to the sheriff’s arrival, Wednesday finds herself on thin ice with everyone around her.
Plot (42/50)
The normie-outcast and monster storylines are beginning to converge after what was discovered at the Gates mansion. It still seems to me that the monster and Laurel Gates are different individuals, even if they are somehow connected. Whatever that connection is remains a mystery, as do the identities of the monster and Laurel. It seemed like Thornhill was Laurel in the previous episode, but Dr. Kinbott is a much closer match based on appearance at least. The flowers Dr. Kinbott brought Eugene definitely matched those that were in Laurel’s room at the Gates mansion, that can’t be a coincidence. In the search for the truth, people continue getting hurt. The mayor joins Eugene, who is still in a coma, in the hospital after getting run over on his way to discuss his theory with the sheriff. At the end of the episode, someone cut off the oxygen from the mayor’s ventilator, so he may very well be dead come next episode. Tyler also got hurt in that suspenseful sequence at the Gates mansion, but he was much better off as the monster “only” gave him a scratch, which is odd considering how the monster’s attacks have gone thus far. The monster came after Wednesday for the first time, which was another change of behavior. Xavier’s timing is suspicious, but he still seems too obvious to be the monster. The most intriguing mystery at the moment is the connection between the monster, Laurel, and Wednesday. One thing to note is that Wednesday has been driven by her visions, which we were told aren’t as reliable as they seem. Goody revealing that the visions can be navigated but not controlled only adds to that early warning about their reliability. With only two episodes remaining, I imagine we’ll be getting some answers with regards to what’s going on in the Gates mansion next.
Character Development (12/15)
Wednesday pushed her peers beyond their limits, and as a result, she finds herself alone and isolated by the end of the episode. She’s justified using her friends and putting them in harms way in the crusade for the truth at all costs. This is strikingly similar to the mayor and Weems’ logic that Wednesday has been so critical of. Ironic, isn’t it? She’s used her friends at every given opportunity for her own ulterior motives, so they’ll be excused for not seeing the big picture. Enid and Tyler finally calling Wednesday out for using them and endangering their lives has been coming for some time, it really shouldn’t have come as a surprise to Wednesday. At least she feels some regret and acknowledges that the loneliness she feels this time around isn’t a good feeling. She’s also pushed the authorities (the sheriff, Weems) to their limits. Weems was already at wit’s end, and she made as much known to the mayor, but Wednesday’s persuasive plea for another chance just about works. The other meaningful development involved Lucas and Bianca. Two bullies bonding, how original…
Theme/Messages (4/5)
- “No man chooses evil because he is evil, he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.”
- Everyone has a limit; push far enough and you’ll find it.
Acting (12/15)
Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) is doing it all by herself at this point.
Cinematography (12/15)
- Cool color contrast shot of Wednesday and Enid from behind (1:08)
- Symbolic shot of Wednesday standing in the middle of the room (43:17)