Caution: This article contains some spoilers for the Short Feature, ‘Meat Cleaver’.
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Stories that examine the afterlife and everything it might entail, follow a pretty specific formula. In that, those who ascend to heaven, quickly find themselves to be enlightened. For now, they see the universe as it stands and understand it in a manner they never did before, and the love they feel for everything makes them tempered and joyous. Of course, on the flip side of that, those who go to hell in these stories, suffer greatly and are filled with pain and regret. Because… well… they’re in hell, and that sucks. Plain and simple. But what’s interesting is how little these stories deviate from that, and that’s odd. Because it might not be the correct way to explore the afterlife.

After all, if one goes by what the good book says, we were made in the image of the almighty, and if that’s the case… then why wouldn’t what lie beyond, resemble our own world? Wherein our flaws were on full display, and our proclivities and quirks were present as well. Because that… would make more sense and that… would make for an easier transition to what lie ahead. Well, it just so happens, that a macabre horror comedy that is wrapping up its festival run, ponders deeply upon what that might look like for both halves of the equation, and well… we absolutely need to celebrate Meat Cleaver! and all the wonder it sends our way, since is shows us… what could be considered… the real afterlife.

A feat that this story accomplishes by introducing us to Wendy, at a very unique time in her life. For she’s entered an office she is not familiar with, and she is being asked to do paperwork that doesn’t make any sense. Oh, and she also has a freakin’ meat cleaver in her head. Which leads to contention and confusion and eventually, an understanding, that this is the afterlife, and she has been dead for some time now with a traumatic injury because you know… meat cleaver. But that aside, Wendy is indeed struggling to understand the sudden nature of her death so she asks the lady in charge, known as G, if she can by chance… reach out across the void and understand why this happened to her, by speaking with the monster that made it happen.

Which really does showcase, an afterlife that would reflect that ‘in thy image’ concept. Since the good G is like so many we’ve known. Smart, direct, and eager to resolve problems, and well the afterlife simply looks and feels like our world. Since we’ve all been in offices that confuse us, and if there is one thing we hate above all else, it’s not having the answers. Which leads to some quirky and hilarious moments as well. That kind that explores the flip side of the coin, in a manner that is impactful and perfectly balances out what Wendy is experiencing, complete with a Lord of Darkness that you swear looks like Jerry or Larry down in the shipping department and yet, that too works. Because it fits that a guy like that… would be downstairs.

All of which brings forth an utterly hilarious and twisted comedy short. One that really does present the afterlife in a meaningful and fun way that we’ve not seen in film or horror for that matter. Which is a testament to writer/director Jared Asher Harris’ work. For he truly brings forth a beautifully fleshed out world. One that just makes sense and that you’ve likely noticed we’ve only touched upon detail wise. Mainly because, we don’t want to spoil all the surprises in this for you, because it is that good, and you need to experience all the wonder of this story of your own accord. But the good news is, you can see it on CryptTV now or at FilmQuest if you’re there, and we hope you give it a look. Because it really is quite the brilliant feature, one that finally informs us that what lies beyond… is pretty normal.

It is definitely safe to say that excitement for Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, on AMC, only continues to grow. Simply because we have to know what lie ahead for Rowan after that epic season one finale and slowly but surely, we’ve been getting some solid first looks. Courtesy of updates from the network and some lovely first-look photos now and again. But truly, what we all want is a juicy trailer and well… at long last… we are finally getting what we want the most.
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For earlier today, AMC released a delightful trailer for the series. One that informs us of the stakes that Rowan is going to face and the great challenges she is going to overcome, and well, you don’t have to take our word for it. Since AMC was kind enough to share the trailer with us as well, so we can in turn share it with you and help build more excitement for this magnificent show, one that is clearly going to offer up one amazing season of storytelling.

‘Just in time for Halloween, AMC Networks released today a spellbinding trailer for season two of Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches. Starring Alexandra Daddario, Jack Huston, Harry Hamlin, Tongayi Chirisa and Alyssa Jirrels, the new season will debut Sunday, January 5 on AMC+ and AMC. 
Based on Anne Rice’s Lives of the Mayfair Witches, season two of Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches continues the journey of Rowan Mayfair (Daddario) after she has unwittingly given birth to the demon Lasher (Huston). She is determined to understand what he has become – human or monster? – and to use him to fulfill her purpose as a healer, but when tragedy strikes, she must put aside her own desires and fight to protect her family.
 
Additional cast includes Ben Feldman, Ted Levine and Thora Birch, amongst others. The series is executive produced by Mark Johnson, showrunner Esta Spalding, Tom Williams, Michelle Ashford, Christopher Rice and the late Anne Rice, and is produced by AMC Studios.’

Happy Halloween everyone! We here at NTG hope your spooky day will be filled with tricks and treats, and we are also eager today, to spotlight some top-notch spooky stories with all of you. Because today is the big day, when ghouls and ghosts roam about, and when they get home with their candy, they’re going to want to watch something eerie to keep the vibe going, and we recently discovered that there is a delightful Halloween series on YouTube playing out now, that you can binge and enjoy. 
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For Secrets of the Shadows is currently running on Dhar Mann Studios’ channel on YouTube, and for the past few days, they’ve been counting down to tonight’s big candy filled evening by offering up digestible episodes that the entire family can watch, that just so offer all the best parts of the season. Since you’ll find stories that feature vampires, ghosts, and everything in between. All of which really is designed to offer up some wholesome Halloween entertainment that is in the vein of Goosebumps but catered to today’s audience. 

Plus, since they’re only about 20-30 minutes long, they can be easily binged and the quality of these tales will make that possible and as an added bonus, there will be quite the treat at the end of the binge. For tonight marks the show’s finale, because hey, it’s Halloween. So, your kids and you can go right from enjoying the primary stories into one grand finale and hopefully you give it a look. Because it is always a treat to settle in on Halloween and enjoy a good ol’ fashioned spooky story, and well, to help you decide, here is the trailer for Secrets of the Shadows, and some details on the show so you can be ready to enjoy it, in all of its glory, when the sun goes down and the ghouls come out.

“Secrets of the Shadows” – A Spine-Tingling New Series for the Whole Family
Secrets of the Shadows takes viewers on a thrilling journey into the unknown. Premiering October 21 on YouTube, this suspense-filled saga introduces a hidden world brimming with vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies, ghosts, and more. As the mysteries unfold, fans will watch twists and turns that blend chills with the heartwarming, inspirational messages they’ve come to love. Don’t miss out on the shocking surprises lurking in the dark—watch new episodes every weekday, culminating in a jaw-dropping finale on Halloween night.

About Dhar Mann / Dhar Mann Studios 
Named the “Moral Philosopher of YouTube” by the New York Times, Dhar Mann is the #1 digital scripted content creator in the world with more than 120M+ followers across platforms. In 2018, Dhar founded Dhar Mann Studios, the digital media company with a mission to share inspirational narrative content that makes a positive impact on people across the world. Today, the company produces and publishes several hours of media every week with messages of compassion, kindness, and altruism that resonate with viewers of all ages around the globe. Dhar Mann Studios partners with leading companies such as Meta and Universal to execute high impact brand integrations and live event activations. The company also operates 5th Quarter Agency, a creator services business that works with top creators to leverage their IP to further monetize on YouTube. Dhar has been recognized as a Favorite Male Creator nominee at the 2024 Kids Choice Awards, a Telly and Shorty award winner, and acknowledged by YouTube as the 2nd Top Creator on YouTube in 2021.

Please enjoy this sneak peek and synopsis of the season finale of Teacup. Which debuts on Peacock tomorrow!

Ep 107:  This is Nowhere, Part One (Streaming Oct. 31)
Written By: Zoe Cooper 
Directed By: Kevin Tanchareon 
Logline: Suspicions abounds as the group contends with the realization that one of the group is a danger to Arlo and no one knows who that someone is. Donald joins Ruben on a mission to take care of some unfinished business at the Navarros’.
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Ep 108: This is Nowhere, Part Two (Streaming Oct. 31)
Written By: Ian McCulloch 
Directed By: Kevin Tanchareon 
Logline: After discovering who among them is after Arlo, Maggie and James resort to the unthinkable to save their son and themselves..

​Please enjoy this sneak peek of Episode 303 of Wicked City. Which debuts on ALLBLK, tomorrow, 10/31/24!

One particular tale from the Bible that continues to captivate people in this day and age, is the Book of Revelation. For it is a dark chapter in a book about hope and love, and it features some terrifying imagery for certain. The kind that speaks to a world that we hope to never see, since people suffer and toil as evil rules the land before the Messiah returns to save all of mankind. But what’s interesting about this chapter, is how little is outlined regarding what that period would look like. Which is unique simply because the Bible outlines so much to a tee, leaving some to wonder if that means we could potentially change course and avoid the surge of evil outlined in the book or if by chance… it is up to us to imagine how bad things could get. To ensure we avoid being left behind in the Rapture.
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But such vagueness has of course, gone beyond imagination and brought about examination in popular media as well. Since some have ambitiously tried to fill in the blanks and create winding stories of good versus evil that feel very modern to make it relatable. While others have opted to tell far more grandiose interpretations of this book. Since Stephen King threw science into the mix in The Stand to shake up the mythos of this ancient tale. But what’s interesting is that few of these stories really showcase the suffering, the terror, of what this period in time is supposed to look like in the Bible. But that recently changed, thanks to the arrival of a brand-new horror feature on Shudder, Azrael. Which truly ponders upon the what the world would look like during that dark chapter.

A feat that it accomplishes by taking us into the heart of the Earth, long after the Rapture has taken place and well… those left behind are so stunned and so shocked by the fact that the Bible was real after all, that society collapses and humanity retreats to corners of the world to live in solitude to try and avoid the evil beings that now roam the countryside. While others… hope to appease them in the chance of being rewarded. Which is who we meet in this story, a colony of humans that are eager to offer sacrifice to fallen angels to keep the peace and perhaps find salvation. But one particular sacrifice, does not want to be fed to evil, and does her best to break free, and what follows for her, is a savage battle for survival, one grounded in revenge and a desire to see one more day in a hopeless world. 

Which is a plot that perfectly fills in the blanks in question, and well, we come to learn that if we applied some real-world rules to the Bible (because despite our discussions of its gravity here, it is not confirmed to be real… we must make that clear), we learn that a life, post-Rapture, would be awful. One that would be filled chaos because well… humanity simply would not be able to process the gravity and the reality of the situation and the ending that awaits all, and this is a stroke of genius storytelling wise. Because it tends to reflect some real-world truths about us when we are at our lowest and it paints a terrifying picture of a terrifying book that just about everyone has read in some capacity.
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But of course, this is more than just an examination of what that world would look like, it’s a horror story as well and there is plenty of that to be found here. Since the ‘demons’ that roam the woods are outright terrifying and savage and truly chill you to the bone with their appearance and hunger for human flesh. And since this story showcases us at our very lowest, we are privy to just… ugly… ugly moments of savagery. Of a humanity no longer concerned with the rules or taking the high road because it all doesn’t matter in the end. Giving rise to a horribly bleak horror film, one that also does not skimp on the gore or the scares, courtesy of our brutality and courtesy of those hideous monsters that roam the countryside. 

All of which makes for an amazing horror film. One that deserves our awe and our applause. For it truly is a hardcore feature, one that holds nothing back in its portrayal of the dragged-out end of everything for the wicked that the Bible has promised us, and it also forces us to sink into the horror of the moment through the use of silence, since few people speak in this tale. Which allows for Samara Weaving to shine as Azrael and sell everything through raw emotion and truly, this is that rare horror feature that unsettles you so deeply… that you are left listless when it is done. Because of its devastating nature and its stark reminder that we are indeed capable of great cruelty and when it takes root in our world… so many suffer.

Caution: This article contains discussions of self-harm and suicide, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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One particular topic that is being broached often in popular media, is the power of grief. Simply because after decades of bad advice revolving around how we should best handle grief, we’ve come to understand that advice has no substance. Because people cannot just power through grief or ‘get over it’ in a matter of minutes. Because it is a nuanced experience that takes us on a range of emotions. To the point where we are fine one day and broken the next. Which means that in reality… grief requires great care, great support and an understanding that the healing process from it takes an incredible amount of time and work. Because one is healing the very fabric of their soul.

Which is why shows and movies are now presenting that truth in unique ways. Either through season long examinations on the subject or powerful movies that explore specific nuances of it. In fact, this is so widespread now that even the horror genre has made grief a popular monster, and rightfully so. Because it does transform us into people that are unrecognizable at times, and it does make us scary, and it scares us to our core as well. Since it forces us to face our own mortality, and we are seeing a bevy of scary stories now ponder upon this. Some of which don’t quite stick the landing unfortunately, while there are some… that explore its power and our need to address it in a powerful and compelling manner. Such as the one that recently debuted at the Austin Film Festival. A feat that The Fetch accomplishes by well, holding nothing back in its exploration of the power of grief.

Courtesy of a heartbreaking introduction to Charlie and Nicholas, a happy couple that experiences devastating tragedy when an accident near Halloween brings about the end of their son, Jacob. Which is a dark moment that plunges Nicholas into deep depression due to his grief, to the point where he attempts to cause harm to himself by hanging himself in the yard. Thankfully, Charlie saves him and when he returns home from stint in a pair of hospitals to heal his mind and his body, he attempts to pick up the pieces, alone. Minus some visits from a grieving Charlie and his doctor, Beaumont. Which leaves him in a difficult place mentally, simply because it doesn’t take long before he starts to hear and see things in his home, leading him to believe that he is being haunted by an ancient Irish demon known as the Fetch. A being that brings doom and feeds on grief, and now it will be a race against time to confirm its existence and find a way to defeat it, before it consumes Nicholas.

Which is a plot that at first glance, appears to be nothing more than standard ghostly fare with grief thrown in for good measure. But make no mistake about it, this is a powerful film about a powerful emotion and as good horror does, it uses the monster to serve as the allegory for its central theme. Which allows for this film to display and explore grief in a stunningly detailed manner. Since we see its power on display, we feel its creeping nature lurking about the shadows and we too, feel the fear that it sends our way and the power it has over us through Nicholas’ journey. Which is a brilliant stroke of storytelling from Director and Co-Writer J.C. Doler. Because he truly gives us a tangible and real understanding of grief in this story, one that is refreshing and bold and helps us to understand its dangers, and how to overcome it.
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Yet make no mistake about it, what J.C. has assembled here, is a horror film, and that too is put on display here in an epic manner. Courtesy of some gothic horror elements, and some amazing scare techniques. Since at times, less is more comes into play and that allows for a sour and unsettling vibe to come forth. Not to mention, the effects done here are practical and they’re so sublime you get lost in the moment, and the isolated setting only adds to the terror. But truly, the centerpiece is the horror of grief on display in this tale, for it truly is a sight to behold. To the point where it is safe to say, that this may be the most visceral and raw showcasing of grief ever captured in horror., and that leads… to a scary, unsettling film.

One that outright makes your skin crawl and leaves you with a grand understanding of a matter that ironically, has lurked in the shadows for far too long. For we do fear grief, and we do see it as a monster, and that makes for a brilliant story in the end. One whose purposeful ugliness is driven by some amazing acting as well. For Logan Donovan is simply electric as Nicholas and sells the pain with a realism that wounds us, and Aleksa Palladino is equally as moving as Charlie, since she sells the struggle of dealing with life as we grieve, and Robert Longstreet truly grounds them both as Beaumont, and all of these elements bring about, a magnificent horror feature. One that stays with you long after its ended. Since it reminds us, that there will come a day where we too… shall see our Fetch, and we must be ready to face it.

To watch ‘The Fetch’ please visit the Austin Film Festival website. Stay tuned for more coverage from this film, courtesy of our interview with Stars Logan Donovan and Aleksa Palladino, and Director/Co-Writer J.C Doler.

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.
 
It is definitely safe to say that humanity has quite the love/hate relationship when it comes to religion, and with good reason. After all, religion can be quite the beautiful thing. Since it can offer hope to those who are without it, a sense of direction for the lost and forgiveness for those who have done wrong and don’t know where to find peace. And it does indeed preach love and understanding and the beauty of faith and believing in something more. Something greater that we simply cannot understand, and that is good reason to love it, cherish it, and outright celebrate what it can do for the whole of humanity.
 
But on the other hand, it has its dark history. For so many have died in the name of a God that does not resemble what religion teaches, and it has in many ways stunted our growth as a society. For far too often, the clergy and others in charge would rather maintain a status quo than embrace progressive ideas, and of course… there is great harm that it has inflicted upon communities and people, as evidenced by the many disgusting transgressions that have come to light. Which gives us, good reason to hate it, and good reason to want it gone from our lives. But alas, we simply cannot quit it, and it does leave one to wonder what it would take to leave it behind since it causes so much trouble, and likely will again.  
 
If anything, our troubled relationship with religion is top of mind today, simply because it was put on display in the next episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol on AMC. A feat that ‘Vouloir, C’est Pouvoir’ accomplished by reminding us of its power and its influence, courtesy of a grand quset for our heroes. For in the wake of the fall of the Nest, Daryl and Carol did their best to prepare for the future, and a return home. Which brought them back to Paris, to find Laurent and find Ash. The former of which, was eager to see Daryl but was not happy with the sorrowful news that Issabelle did not make the journey, and while Daryl tried his best to comfort him, he was unable to and that prompted he and Carol to worry about Ash for a bit and it was a good thing he became their focus.
 
For he went missing, and that prompted this duo to head to the Demimonde to see Anna and garner ideas on how best to find him. As it turned out, it was best to head back to the Meré, since there were clues that indicated he might have gone there and well, their voyage to find Ash is what brought about the central exploration of that love/hate relationship. Because in their absence, Losang and his reformed cult made their way to the sanctuary in Paris, to bring Laurent in and continue their hideous work and well… the good and the bad of religion was put on display in this sequence. For as Codron, who also arrived here, snuck Laurent out, Losang offered up what makes religion great. For he knew that everyone in the complex had no hope, and he gave them that.

Which did remind us of its power in trying times and how easily people can be swayed by it when fear arrives, and well… after finding Ash and getting back to the hanger to heal and rest, Daryl made his way back to the club to get all the fuel they could spare, and learned of how easily people will switch sides, and how it would not be long before Losang caused them more trouble. In fact, he wasted little time at all. Since he showed up looking for the boy, and that led… to one harrowing sequence. One where Codron and Daryl took some serious lumps in an effort to keep him safe. But for their efforts… they were able to end Losang and bring forth a brief respite. Since believers still remain. But make no mistake about it… this was a fine reminder of the darkness of religion, of its relentless nature when the wrong people are in charge and that’s just it.
 
In that, his story put forth the inherent problem with religion and why we cannot find pure peace with it. Because in the end, it is put forth by people. And we are flawed, and we are sometimes easily lost by ideas and concepts, and when that happens or the wrong person, one that is broken, takes charge of religion… this is what we get. Fury, revenge, and bloodshed, all in the name of a greater good and desire to further a personal agenda over the word of the Lord. Which makes it clear that until we can find real neutral entities, who don’t believe they speak with God or are chosen to spread His word, this kind of madness will continue. Which made for a sobering tale for certain. One that truly made it clear… that it will be a very long time before we find real peace with religion.
 
Which made for a somber episode, and that somber nature was further enhanced by the fact… that Carol was finally forced… to tell the truth. Because Daryl wasn’t good with her lying, and Ash was slowly figuring things out, so she finally opened up and spoke to the fact that she lied about everything and manipulated Ash to bring her here. Which broke her heart because before Ash really got the truth, he spoke to how this actually helped to heal him. But none the less, she did what she needed to do, and faced the consequences head on, and found real remorse in what she had done. But alas, despite making peace and despite going the extra mile to ensure that Ash would bring them home, with Laurent no less since Daryl wished that and helped Laurent understand why he should come along… they might not be able to make it back.
 
All of which made, for a powerhouse episode of television. One that did what horror rarely does and explored the after of a heroic moment. Because the end of Genet, and the fall of the Nest were clearly good things. But in the wake of that, there are always lost souls looking for their next cause, and reflection and pain, and that made for a powerful tale. One that also offered up so much commentary on religion and some tough moments regarding the price of lying. If anything, the only true bright spot was Codron’s journey. Since he was a hero here that earned respect, and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this bitter tale, it’s onto the season two finale, wherein we simply don’t know if a voyage home awaits our heroes or if Europe will remain home for the time being. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Hysteria!’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that we are all supremely curious in this day and age, exactly how misinformation and fear spread so quickly in our world. Because it really does spread like wildfire, and truly does take root and when it does… we get the madness we lament. Complete with conspiracy theories and panic and outright conflict from those who want resolution on a lie. Well, it turns out, there are some simple things that help for such matters to spread, and one of which… is shock. Shock over something that seems unbelievable, since lies give us something to help us cope and give us answers to that which is impossible and how that comes to fruition was explored in the next episode of Hysteria! on Peacock and USA Network.

A feat that ‘Die Young’ accomplished by bringing forth a perfect storm for Happy Hallow. For while Dylan was headed to the station, a body was recovered. Ryan’s body in fact, and well… his passing and word that Dylan was arrested, brought about some real fear in this town. Because rumors spread fast, especially ones that revolved around Dylan carving a pentagram into his hand, and just like that… everyone was afraid, everyone was worried that something evil was happening in this town, and that worry only grew at a community gathering to discuss Ryan’s death. One where Tracy let the whole town know of the concert and that brought about great panic. The kind that Chief Dandrige worked hard to bring down, while still trying to solve the case, and that was no easy task.

Simply because fear spread fast, and everyone really wanted to believe that evil had infected the town, and that evil had been responsible for this, and that Dylan might be involved, and that fear boiled over at the worst possible time. For what should have been a somber and beautiful memorial service for the fallen, ended up being a celebration of chaos. Wherein Ryan’s parents demanded to see what happened to Dylan’s hand and that moment, combined with a falling cross… truly cemented that fear. All of which were moments that informed us that sometimes… moments happen in this world that are so heartbreaking and so shocking… that we cannot reconcile the cruelty of the world. So, we turn to conspiracies and lies and anything that gives us an answer to cope, and that happened here.

Which made for a smart episode that used that fear… to further build on the horror elements introduced in last week’s story. For once the dust settled, some uncomfortable realities came forth. Such as the fact that Spud discovered that there was no earthquake recorded in the town, and that’s eerie to say the least. Not to mention Judith offered up some cryptic words to Dylan. Specifically, about how she was eager to explore dark worlds with him, since she believed he was in a cult and of course, the return of Tracy’s daughter, also brought forth some surprises. Since Tracy hinted at some dark connections in regard to her daughter’s disappearance, courtesy of that unsettling phone call to an unknown individual.

All of which, made it seem as though the fear might be justified and that real evil might be lurking in this town. Which added to the fun of this story. Since it forces us to think deeply upon what’s real and what’s not, just like the good folks of Happy Hallow. Which is what great horror does. But it also, offers up parallels and commentary, and we definitely received that too. Since we learned so much about the origins of fear in this story and how rumors and conspiracies spread and how they heal those so desperately in need of healing. Granted, it’s the wrong way to do it, but an answer is an answer, and it will be fascinating to see what this fear does to Happy Hallow and learn if there is an evil here, as season one of this show continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes Five and Six of ‘Teacup’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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If there one particular aspect about the truth that we can all agree upon, is that once it starts coming out… there is no stopping all of it from coming forth. Because we love the truth, we crave its purity so when that first morsel of it is placed in front of us… we demand it all, and this is something that applies to storytelling as well. Because once it hits in a story, the audience or the reader simply has to know it all, and creatives understand that and often just let the floodgates open when they start the process. If anything, this is top of mind today, simply because the truth came pouring out in the next two chapters of Teacup on Peacock, and that made ‘I’m a Witness to the Sickness’ and ‘You Don’t Know What It Means to Win’ quite powerful in nature.

Because now we know what these poor souls are up against, and what they will have to do to be free, courtesy of a grandiose flashback. One that informed us that McNab, has a long history with these beings. One that brought forth traumas untold for him, and a grand understanding of the fact… that these creatures from another world… have been visiting us for ages, and they oft come down in pairs. One made up of a good soul, one made up of a bad soul and they simply battle it out on a regular basis and steal human souls in the process. For reasons that he was not able to figure out. But he did learn a great deal otherwise in taking part in fighting these creatures, to the point where he decided to take on others to help him fight the bad ones. Because he was desperate to make a difference.

In fact, he recruited young Travis, whom James encountered in the basement, to help fight this scourge, and he educated him on all things alien, including how they use meteors to land upon our world and can easily jump from body to body since they have no body of their own, and well… that was important to note because McNab was planning an all-out assault on the Navarro farm because he knew the evil beings were present here, and knew that Travis needed to know how to protect himself against these creatures, hence the mask. But alas, the assault went awry, leading to the moments that set in motion this series, alongside disaster regarding Travis and the other alien commando in this group, Olsen. Since Olsen didn’t survive and Travis was left bleeding and dying, and eventually perished in an awful way in front of James.

Who of course, heard most of this story before Travis left this plane of existence, which was a smooth and genius way in which to deliver these flashbacks, and after rescuing Ruben and getting a beating for sleeping with his wife, they were headed back to the Chenowith farm, with everyone else and McNab. Which brought forth the most harrowing segments of this story. Because after McNab received treatment for his wounds, he made a grand escape and left everyone shivering in fear. In part because they didn’t know if he would cause more harm, but more so because James filled everyone in on the truth, and Nicholas found some of McNab’s literature on the aliens and they came to realize they were going to be in for a long and terrifying fight for certain.
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Mainly because, Ellen claimed that Assassin left her body, and if that was the case, because we simply don’t know, especially since Arlo has snuck through Harbinger’s firewall… they haven’t a clue as to who the villain is, and that’s scary. Because now they cannot trust one another, they cannot be sure who is who and they have to find the evil within. Because it was made pretty clear here that Assassin will stop at nothing to bring Harbinger down, and well… in order to save the day… they will have to rely on what Nicholas found in the notes to survive, and they will have to do something quite awful. In that, to end the threat and to banish the evil that is Assassin… they have to drown the person that he is hiding within. Which is an ugly and hideous task to ask, one that will fundamentally change these folks for certain.

All of which brought forth, a pair of stunning episodes. That offered some stunningly hard truths. The kind that outright sets the stage for an epic finale for this show. One that will push this family to dark corners. But while we wait to see how that plays out and how this family deals with such realities, we can also celebrate one terrifying tale. For there were a bevy of tense moments in these episodes. The kind that reminded us that this series does hold not back and well, just like that… we are stuck waiting for a powerhouse ending to a powerhouse tale. One that has real potential to devastate the audience as much as the characters, when hard choices are made to keep people safe. Until next time.