‘Servant’ Recap: ‘Tunnels’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 408 of ‘Servant’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past four seasons, the Apple TV+ series, Servant, has offered us some fascinating commentary and studies upon the human condition. The kind that has examined the power of trauma and loss, how difficult it is to come back from that… alongside a quality horror story. The kind that has left us genuinely creeped out and uncomfortable. But while that has made for some fascinating storytelling, we’ve all known deep down that there would come a point where such enriching storytelling would go the wayside and be replaced by high octane storytelling that would be eerie and dark and move us to the finish line/final showdown in the Turner home between Dorothy and Leanne. For the story has always been about their unhealthy relationship and the power struggle they’ve shared in and well… this week’s episode served as the moment, to shift the story toward that final conflict.
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For ‘Tunnels’ is a story that saw Julian and Sean… make the hard decision to finally excise Leanne from their lives. A feat that could easily be accomplished by getting her to George, provided of course, they could do the impossible and best her in combat, which others were unable to do, and provided… they could live with themselves for betraying her and sending her away. Since a year with a person does create quite the bond, and of course… beating the tar out of people and handing them over to someone they sort of know… isn’t in their wheelhouse either. But they knew that change was necessary if they ever wanted to be happy and as uncomfortable as it made them… they did it. They wrestled her down and knocked her out and handed her over to George.

Which is where… this story got dark. Because despite making it clear that this was going to be Leanne’s final night on this Earth and on this plane of existence… she refused to yield or let George get the best of her. And she used his love of the church and the God he called to, to frighten him and make him uncomfortable enough… to best him in combat. Which left George beside himself and unsure of what to do next, especially since Leanne was able to put an end to the cohorts he brought along to help, and well… once it was just he and Leanne at last… it was George that faded from this story in a brutal manner, and after his flesh began to burn, Leanne decided it was high time to deal with those that took the time to betray her.

That brought her home. Where she could look Sean and Julian in the eyes with a fury we’ve never seen from Leanne before. But she was that angry and that done with being harmed by others and well… that prompted her to use her guile and cunning to hurt both men. By sending Julian down the stairs and into the watery pit in the cellar and by finding a way to plunge a knife into Sean’s shoulder. Prompting a trip to the hospital for both men while presenting them with an uncertain future. Since Leanne made it clear she was casting them out. Leaving the household to just her and Dorothy and leaving this story on tense ground and hollow hopes. For Leanne is still hoping desperately to find love from a woman, that utterly despises her… setting that grand conflict in motion.

All of which made, for one horrifying and terrifying tale. Because this one leaned into the horror, hard, and rightfully so. Since there is nothing pleasant or pretty about what George had planned for Leanne. But it also unleashed the monster within Leanne and for the first time, we really saw the evil she is capable of and the fire that burns within and well… just like that… we are barreling toward a powerhouse end to this story. One where Leanne is ready to do whatever must be done to have the family she wants and where the family she wants… is ready to do whatever must be done to cast her out of her lives, and that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode so painful in nature. Since we simply must know how this battle is going to go and how this incredible story, is going to end. Until next time.

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