Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1517 of ‘Supernatural’. Also, to revisit Episode 1516, ‘Drag Me Away (From You)’, click here.
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​The various definitions offered by Merriam-Webster for the word unity include phrases like “a totality of related parts” and descriptive words like “oneness” and “undivided.” All revealing that no individual thing is greater than the sum of its parts. In the Supernaturalverse, unity carries an immeasurable weight. Feeling heavier and heavier as we near the end. There are no more monsters of the week. We are only left with Team Free Will versus God (Rob Benedict) and things are about to get cosmic!! Thankfully, writer Meredith Glynn lays down some much-needed truths while also giving us a peek at what’s to come. Taking an approach not typically seen in this verse, Glynn separates the far from solidified sum into three titles – Amara (Emily Swallow); Dean; and Sam. Keeping with this trend, before you can blink, let’s spark the Divine, shall we?    

At its start, ‘Unity’ is anything but as Sam and Dean argue about Jack (Alexander Calvert) and Amara’s fate. Dean delivers a tearful moving speech on how they care for Jack, but that “Jack’s not family.” WHOA!! Jack hears the whole thing too… YIKES!! I mean. We love Jack. We REALLY do!! We especially love his warm childlike nature. But… I can’t be the only one that feels Dean is right… even just a little, no? **SIGH** Moving into our three parts, Amara sets off to intervene with Chuck. But not before telling Dean, “Like I told you when we first met. You and I will always help each other.” Um… yeah, betraying the Darkness isn’t going to end well!

​God’s sister doesn’t want to betray him! She offers balance. To merge again, as she says, “Creation and Destruction. Light and Dark. Brother and Sister united again.” And for that. I love this Goddess character all the more. Same?? God, however, wants a “hard reset” and needs Amara’s help to do it. Obviously!! He never visits his sister unless he wants something, right? Sadly, Amara’s efforts to change Chuck’s mind are fruitless, but to watch it all unfold is the doom and gloom I didn’t even know I wanted. Topped off with the average brother and sister vibe… making it more human-like is a nice touch as well. As usual, Chuck’s ego precedes him in both comedy and seriousness. Though, I do love how his jealousy for Amara’s connection with Dean is on full display as he admits he didn’t write “that part – gross!!” LOL!! This eludes to the fact that he doesn’t have COMPLETE control over his creations. Fascinating!!

​She calls him on wanting to destroy everything simply because he can’t make the Winchesters’ do what he wants. HAHAHA!! He denies it, but whatevs Chuck (eyeroll!!). This is so on brand for his “glorified fanboy,” ass, am I right? Amara’s on Earth’s side (YES!!) and uses a beautifully simple wooded area to make her plea. When that doesn’t work, she snaps them to Heaven to entice him with Angelic devotion. This has even less effect as Chuck annoyingly snaps away the pawing Angels and says, “I guess… ’don’t meet your idols’ goes both ways.” Am I right? As if on cue, I’m compelled to say, “Dammit Chuck!!” LOL!! Finally giving up on her megalomaniacal brother, Amara snaps them to The Bunker where, to Chuck’s surprise, he cannot willingly leave. “You B-word,” he says to Amara as she intends to keep Chuck trapped until “it’s time.”

Dean and Jack hit the road to Santa Fe to meet a man who can help with Jack’s final order to become the much needed “cosmic TNT.” Dean tries to say something to Jack to break the awkward silence, but Jack says he understands, and they drive on. See, even Jack himself seems to know! **SIGH**
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Reaching a southwestern shop called Jim’s Gems, things feel very much like a traditional Supernaturalverse hunt. Though, it all changes rather quickly as they’re greeted at the door by an ostensibly flighty hippie couple. Turns out. The guy is THE Adam… as in Adam and Eve! YES… THAT ONE!! And, in neither appearance nor behavior, I so love that he isn’t the traditional Judeo-Christian Adam. Rather, he’s a brown toned laid-back, Zen fellow. Which makes so much sense after – how he puts it – “going on 300,000 years.” The girl is the Angel Serafina (Cameron Moore) who also played a Doctor in 5.20: ‘The Devil You Know’ and Sgt. Miranda Bates in 9.02: ‘Devil May Care’. Hmm, I wonder – where’s Eve? And could this be the same Eve (Julia Maxwell) that’s the Mother of All Monsters, having turned evil after parting with Adam eons ago? Just a thought! Regardless, Adam and Serafina’s peace vibe and exaggerated affection towards one another are both hilarious and uncomfortable. Yet, oddly right on track for two ancient beings in human personification… LOL!! They have been waiting for Jack for ages after Serafina had a psychedelic mushroom tea dream (OF COURSE… LOL!!) predicting Jack as the key to God’s destruction.

We then learn that Billie’s (Lisa Barry) final orders are for Jack to pass a test regarding which crystal out of a group contains the “Spark of the Divine.” As he deciphers, they all do! Because God is in everything. Solving this moral riddle, Adam gifts Jack with a piece of his own rib. How Biblical, am I right? This, only after a surprising and deliciously gruesome scene of Serafina shanking Adam then reaching in with her bare hand and snapping the rib off from the inside. WHOA!! Apparently, fusing this rib with Jack’s strengthened body and renewed soul will cause an elemental chain reaction leading to “a metaphysical supernova.” Jack will then collapse into a living black hole for Divine energy, that nothing can escape. HOLY COW!! Now that’s what I’m talking about!! On the drive home, there is a touching scene where Dean finally thanks Jack for EVERYTHING, but the moment passes quickly when a text from Cas (Misha Collins) reveals that “It’s time.”

Sam, staying behind at the Bunker to research another way to defeat God, is joined by Cas. After nearly giving up, they realize that finding the key to Death’s Library might get Sam a face to face with Billie. As they dig, pulling out artifact after artifact, the whole thing seems very Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) like, right? Including the moment Cas alerts Sam he’s found the key as Sam appears to be fiddling with a very grail like stone goblet. NICE!! Reading the Latin incantation on the key’s box causes an outline illumination of a door and keyhole on the Bunker’s brick interior giving me all the Beetlejuice (1988; Warner Bros.) vibes. You?? Of note, Sam telling Cas to stay behind to buy him some time if Dean beats him back to the Bunker, adds emphasis to their separation. Leaving me thinking… Chuck WANTS it this way!!
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Sam opens the door and enters the cold sleek office-like archives of Death’s Library smack in the middle of the W’s, of course! It’s here we get the joy of seeing Rachael Miner reprise her role as the Meg-a-fied Cosmic Entity – which we SOOO LOVE!!! She hasn’t heard from Billie and she’s definitely not happy about it… LOL!! And here’s where things get rather interesting. Come to find out, ’Ol Billie wants to take over and promised that all beings would go back to where they came from. Angels to Heaven. Demons to Hell. And the Empty back where she’s always been – asleep. It makes so much sense it’s almost laughable. OF COURSE, Billie wants to take over! She always has!! The Empty points out, the Winchesters’ are in God’s Death Book which means Billie needs Sam. Using this, the Empty decides to hurt Sam to get Billie’s attention. NOOOO!! But, in one AWESOMELY played scene, Sam fools the Empty into believing that Billie sent him to retrieve Chuck’s book. NICE!! Returning to the bunker at the eleventh hour, Cas tells Sam… ”it’s time.”  

Converging in the common room the pace quickens. Dean leads Jack through the Bunker hallways as Sam pleads with him to stop. Sam wants to wait, but Jack, having merged with Adam’s rib, is activated and not doing so well. HOLY COW!! Making things more intense, Sam explains that if Billie takes over, everyone will go back to where they came. Apocalypse Bobby (Jim Beaver) and Charlie (Felicia Day) will go back to a place that doesn’t exist anymore!! Eileen (Shoshanna Stern) and others like her will just die… AGAIN!! Wait… what?? That wasn’t mentioned back in Death’s Library. It’s all happening so fast!! Cas, trying to look after Jack who has now dropped to the ground, looks on in fear. And to hear Dean rage that he’d trade all of it for Chuck is just… WOW!! Man, it’s hard not to agree with him on so many levels!! But pointing a gun at Sam!? WTF DEAN??? Finally, when posed with trading Sam, Dean actually shows a sliver of slowing down. Sam’s heartfelt speech about how Dean’s always protected him is EPIC, as Sam says it’s the one thing he could always count on. I’m not crying. You’re crying!! Dean finally ceases. But it’s too late…

Simultaneously, preaching to Amara, Chuck unravels Sam’s persistence and Dean’s lies. Amara, becoming discombobulated, can’t believe what she’s hearing. Dean’s betrayal is devastating. As it should be, no?? THEN… the biggest reveal of all. The whole thing – Dean with his anger and Sam with his questions – brother against brother – is Chuck’s REAL ending. He’s been manipulating the story the whole time as he states, “What part of omniscient do you people not understand?” WHOA!! Amara is so devastated; she falls for yet another manipulation – Chuck asking her to merge so they can be at peace. When really, he just wants her power. DAMMIT CHUCK!! The post-merge solid white and black eyes are a nice touch though!!

Back in the hallway, the door ahead shatters into a million pieces. Chuck appears with a sort of a "Daddy’s home and he’s angry" swagger. The whole thing is tense AF!!! He gives his “I’m over you” speech and as the boys stand their ground, he then turns his wrath towards Jack who collapses to the floor in pain. Sam, Dean and Cas rally around Jack calling his name – end scene!!

WOW those final scenes were powerful, right?!? Especially since the majority of the episode ran at a fairly calm stride. With only three episodes left, where will we go from here? Jack’s now a time bomb and Chuck’s more self-righteous than ever before! Will Amara fight back? Can she? What about some of the other notably absent characters? Someone or something has to intervene, right?? Let me know in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter and until next time… GO TEAM FREE WILL!!

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’.
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For the most part, ghost stories tend to be free of social commentary and understandably so. After all, these are tales about death, and since death has a finality to it, there’s no point in diving into concepts that explore anything outside of the nature of the end or how kindness and understanding can prevent a soul from being tortured in this life, or the next. But while it seems as though this limits what the ghost story can say, it actually is quite possible for this particular genre to stand for more and offer up some powerful commentary/observations about either our modern world, or life in general, and for proof, then look no further than the series finale of The Haunting of Bly Manor. 
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Something ‘The Beast in the Jungle’ accomplished, by wasting zero in time in resolving the manor’s ancient problem with Viola in the most unique way imaginable. For when faced with the prospect of watching Flora drown and be trapped on these grounds for all time, dear Dani Clayton offered up her body to give Viola exactly what she wanted… more life. An offer that this ancient and bitter spirit was happy to accept and pulling this particular feat off, led to quite the change at old Bly. For now, the spirits trapped there were free of their eternal prison and able to transition to whatever reality awaited them next and it also freed the Wingrave family of their pain and their memories, allowing for them and everyone that spent time within Bly’s ancient walls to live a life as they saw fit for a change.

Which means that everyone moved on, including Dani and Jamie, and their budding love affair grew into one for the ages after Bly. To the point where they eventually got married. But there was just one complication in regard to their joyous love, in that… Dani knew that eventually Viola would bubble to the surface of her soul and take control, putting this couple on borrowed time. The kind that eventually drove Dani to a horrific and sorrowful fate when that dark day finally came. And while Jamie made peace with her death and moved on in life, what matters the most about this part of the story… is that this is where said commentary came into play, and what this episode had to say about life in general, and ghosts as well, made for one powerful and poignant ending. 

Because in essence, Dani’s understanding that the end could come at any moment, served as quite the allegory for the audience. For being possessed by a spirit that will eventually take your mind and your life is no different than coming to learn that cancer is running rampant through our bodies or that some other ailment is going to rob us of the years that we expected to have. Elements that all serve to remind us, that life is short and fleeting and that we should in fact, cherish every moment that comes out way. In part because the moment will never come again, but also because… now is all we have and choosing to enjoy the present and everything it has to offer will make however much longer we have on this earth, a fulfilling and joyous experience. One that will leave us with zero regret when the time comes to bid this life farewell and that was quite the surprising message to find in a horror story, as was what this finale had to say about ghosts.
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For this particular tale made it clear that ghosts are quite real, but not necessarily in the manner that we traditionally think. No instead, this story focused upon how ghosts exist in our hearts and our memories, and how that can be a good thing. Because sometimes, closing our eyes and seeing someone that has departed from this plane can be a warming and wonderful experience. Especially when we have nothing but fond and magical moments to reflect upon in regard to them and that too relates to living it up in the present. So that when we haunt those we leave behind, they only feel that warmth and that joy and that is equally as powerful a message to inject into this story. Since it makes it clear that what we leave behind and how we are remembered are the true keys to spiritual immortality.

If anything, those particular messages and the other ones present in this series, make The Haunting of Bly Manor one of the most unique ghost stories out there. Simply because it bucked what this sub-genre of horror tends to stand for, in order to bring us a fulfilling and satisfying story about the wonder of life and how we choose which ghosts can haunt us and influence us and that’s just powerful and groundbreaking stuff for certain. Because this is a genre of jump scares and flashes of the unknown, so to enjoy a story that offers this kind of depth and maturity is downright exciting and it leaves one hopeful that Netflix is going to continue to let Mike Flanagan and his team make more of these stories. Because they really are digging into something quite special in regard to the human condition and allowing for this journey to continue, would revolutionize and reinvent how we tell ghost stories for generations to come.

​Going on a company retreat could be one of the best things to do when it comes to team building. When there are problems on your team and normal office tactics are not working, there is no better way to get things straightened out than to remove the office from the scenario and possibly add some adult beverages to the equation as well. As work seems to be secondary during these events, it is makes it easier to get all of the issues out into the light and hopefully come to a conclusion on them, so that in the long run, they will no longer be problems.

Being able to convince his higher ups that his team deserves a trip, Dale has the perfect one planned and takes his team up to an isolated lodge so they can come together with one another and nature. Zac and Meigan are the last two to arrive to the lodge and wind up getting shacked up together with no issue and they find out what everyone else is up to as well. As Tedi and Rita have their own rooms, Lira has brought her new boyfriend to the lodge for the trip and makes sure that everybody knows that she is having the time of her life in the room. With everyone safe and under one roof, Dale goes over the rules of the lodge, but most importantly, no one should go out in the woods at night because there is a terrible bear problem in the woods, and he cannot afford to have anyone get eaten. 

One night passes and while the moaning and groaning from Lira’s room has kept everyone up all night, Rita is still bright and chipper and heads out for a nature walk. But Rita does not make it back for the first of a few sanctioned meetings that Dale is holding. Dale doesn't worry about it too much though, since he knows that she knows the area better than anyone and is probably over at the caretaker’s cabin. Not returning for dinner as well, Meigan starts to worry about her co-worker and wants to try to find her, but with it being so dark outside, she would be tempting fate with the bears if she did. Agreeing to wait until morning, Meigan heads up to bed after everyone else, but spots the line for the attic hanging down and decides to go and take a look. Finding an old box that has an old tape recorder, along with some old tapes, she gives it a listen and hears a young boy yelling hateful things towards his doctor. Heading to bed with a strange story playing out in her head, she wants to know more about who or what happened in this lodge before they arrived.

Morning rolls around and everyone is dealing with a little bit of a hangover, but it is time for them to start looking for Rita. Giving everyone an assignment, Meigan is told to stay in the lodge in case her co-worker finds her way back. With the boring assignment in hand, Meigan heads back up to the attic with a fresh set of batteries and plugs back into the old tapes and finds out that the lodge was an old mental institution and that the caretaker was a sexual predator. Thinking that Rita could have been his next victim, Meigan tries to let everyone know what she has found, but it may be too little too late when the bodies start to pile up in the lodge and caretaker is trying to kill Zac in the hallway. Being able to save Zac and escape with her life, Meigan has no idea what has been unleashed at the lodge nor a clue as to who exactly she is riding home with.

The story really picked up when the tapes from the mental institution started to play. When young Ned is talking to his doctor and not admitting to anything that he has done, the one everyone is afraid of, takes over and the doctor is able to tell he is not the same boy. Zac seems to be losing his mind while at the lodge as well, as he is seeing the ghost of the little boy who stayed at the institution back when it was open. With the banter being more like what you would have around the workplace, I really liked how the characters all played off of each other, especially Dale being the boss and trying to keep everyone in line… and failing. Even when it seems like someone has it all together, they may have more secrets hanging behind them than you will ever know, all I know is that lying is bad in a child’s eyes, and I think that should carry on to adulthood as well. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Eight of ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’.
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If there is one universal truth that can be said about ghost stories, it is that they follow a pretty by the numbers formula. The kind that involves innocent and good people finding themselves under fire from a malicious spirit, one that they know they must defeat in order to enjoy peace in life again. Which eventually leads them to an unsettling and heartbreaking discovery. In that, the spirit in question suffered greatly in life before they died, and that pain allowed for their tortured spirit to carry on and punish others for eternity, in a desperate attempt to avenge their death. And the only way to end their reign of terror is to give them either the peace they crave or outright justice and this is a formula that we see often in ghost stories, simply because… it works.
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For audiences eat this up time and time again, since it allows for us to explore darker aspects of the human condition and it helps to remind us to be kind, always. If anything, that particular formula is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because for a time… it seemed as though The Haunting of Bly Manor was heading into that familiar territory, thanks to everything ‘The Romance of Certain of Old Clothes’ sent our way. For not only did this particular tale transport us to the 17th Century to introduce us to a pair of sisters named Viola and Perdita, that were desperate to keep their way of life going after their father died, it quickly plunged them into what appeared to be quite the love triangle. One that should have brought forth the kind of cruelty and pain that would have kept a spirit held tight to Bly’s beautiful walls.

But rather than go that traditional route, the series opted to try something quite different and refreshing, by offering up a supremely unique origin story for a spirit. For shortly after Viola had her first child, she became violently ill with a lung ailment, one that left her sickly and wheezing and weak and it should have killed her. But rather than succumb to the illness, she exceeded all expectations and forged ahead, determined to beat it and live life to its fullest. But she was never given that chance thanks to her sister, and while that makes it seem as though her sister’s choice to offer her sister ‘mercy’ was the cause of the evil, that simply was not the case. For the more time we spent with Viola in the void, the more it became apparent that she wanted to be free of her ghostly prison; in order to see the world and her daughter and experience life through her eyes and sadly… since she never got that opportunity, bitterness took hold.

Which locked her in an endless cycle of roaming the halls and the grounds of Bly Manor, in the hopes that she would eventually get the opportunity to enjoy more life with her child, somehow, and her fury over this, brought about quite the surprise. For anyone that died at Bly was stuck within her rotten desire to never let go, and they were trapped in this plane for so long, that they would eventually turn into nothing more than faceless creatures roaming about the property. Locked in an endless void between worlds simply because Viola could not and would not accept her death and refused to believe that the new experiences that life sends our way could no longer be enjoyed, and the innocent would continue to suffer that same fate until she had her way, and it would seem that poor Dani Clayton is the next victim in her centuries old fight against life itself. 

In the end however, this really was quite the brilliant story when all is said and done. Largely due to the fact that it offered up such a unique origin story for a ghost. Because the thought of someone haunting and taking lives because they were robbed of the opportunity to enjoy more of it, is quite the original twist. One that also manages to complicate the endgame for this story as well. But before we get ahead of ourselves, the other reason this story holds up so well, is the quality world-building that it provided us with. Because we truly came to understand Viola and her motivations over the course of the hour and even sympathize with her to a certain degree, since she did miss out on plenty thanks to her illness. But all of that aside, knowing her story and knowing her power, sets the stage for a powerful finale for certain, one that will take some kind of miracle to bring her reign of terror to an end. Because how does one free a spirit from this plane, when it wants the impossible? Until next time.

​Back in my day, there was something that all kids looked forward to and that was going to summer camp. While I am sure that I learned most of my colorful language there, since no parents were invited, that is pretty much what I remember most, but I also like to reflect on the fun I had with new friends that I usually only saw once a year. I however never thought about the camp counselors and what they were doing in the shadows of the camp. But I am all grown up now and I have seen plenty of horror movies about what really happens when the little ones are not around so I bet there was some funny stuff going on that would probably ruin my entire experience, but I would rather not think about that, and only focus on the good things.

On the bus to Good Friends Church Camp, all of the new counselors are ready to have the time of their lives, especially without any parents around to tell them what to do. But not everyone knows what happens behind closed doors at the camp as young horn dogs Jeff and Kellenberger are ready to get this rocks off with the new hottie Faith that has joined their group. Being new to the group, Faith knows what is happening in the real world and she sees how sheltered some of the other kids in the group have been, especially her new friend Jacqueline, who does not even know what a bag of grass is.

Getting their assignments when reaching the camp, the groups split up to work on their chores before the kids are scheduled to show up in the morning. While the pairings seem to be proper, everyone is looking for some way to get away from doing their job and find something more to their liking. But what the group does not know is that there is a killer in the woods that is looking for them to make any mistake so he can add them to his batter of terror. Awakening once every thirty years, the Lumberjack Man knows exactly what bad people do and by adding them to his menu, he will go to sleep once again with a full stomach and no buttery regrets.

Only one man knows the secret behind the Lumberjack Man, Dr. Peter Shirtcliff, who has a plan to stop the massive flapjack eating killer once and for all. Knowing that his killing spree will never end if he finishes his massive flapjacks soaked in the blood of his victims the good doctor tries to get the camp evacuated, but no one will listen to his warnings, until the bodies start piling up. With only one way to kill the pancake harvesting killer, Peter unleashes his secret weapon of normal maple syrup, but will anyone be willing to use it against the breakfast loving Lumberjack Man?

Don’t let the food references in this review fall by the wayside, this movie is about one of the things I love the most, pancakes! This is just a fun homage to all of the camp killer movies that you have no doubt seen and it brings a pancake loving killer back to life to feast once again. I love the storyline, especially when it all comes down to pancakes. All of the counselors are just great as they run amuck doing what their hearts desire, even in a bible camp. With plenty of sex, drugs, pancakes and blood, this is really just a joyride that you don’t want to get off of, especially when a flapjack is used to kill. Stay Scared!

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of 'The Haunting of Bly Manor'. 
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Thus far, our journey through The Haunting of Bly Manor has allowed for us to explore some supremely unique concepts. For this non-traditional ghost story has taken the time to examine the nature of trauma and loss on a deep and intimate level with its characters, all while taking the time to explore what life after death might be like since that’s a topic that ignites our imagination. But while it has been quite wonderful to get to know the characters that populate this rich world and what has driven them to Bly, at some point in time the story has to begin to come together and lead us toward some kind of goal/resolution and it just so happens, that after six episodes of world-building and psychological exploration, that unity finally started to come to fruition in episode seven.

For ‘The Two Faces, Part Two’ made it clear that all of the explorations we’ve been upon were part of a grand plan. One designed to tie all of these explorations together, while finally revealing the truth about this mysterious home and why spirits roam its halls. But not before examining one last element about the Afterlife. For this story also made sure to explore the flip side of what happens when we pass on. Because it turns out that being trapped between worlds can in fact be its own unique hell, as Peter Quint’s ghostly journey in this tale taught us. Because he was miserable as a ghost, and despite doing his best to be near Rebecca after revealing himself to her, he simply had zero control over the spirit world’s ability to suck him into memories in the same manner that Hannah suffered through. Except in Peter’s case, he was trapped in dark and twisted memories, the kind that forced him to face his sorted and broken past and far worse.

Because eventually he came to discover that one of Bly’s big secrets, involves the fact that the ghosts that populate this place, eventually lose their identity for reasons unknown to us, as of yet. But the prospect of spending the rest of eternity as a lonesome and faceless spirit was more than he could bear, and he opted to do some radical things to change that little problem. Such as possess Rebecca and lead her into the water so her spirit would join his, a move she wasn’t good with after her death and to top it off, he had quite the scheme in mind to escape that horrific and empty fate… by finding a way to live again, through the children. Which is why Rebecca has been toying with Flora’s memories all this time. So that the children would be ready to receive Rebecca and Peter into their minds, so these star-crossed lovers could live a new life through Miles and Flora's eyes. 

Which is a dastardly plan for certain… one that Peter has brought to fruition, by way of the nature of trauma and loss. Because these broken kids miss their parents dearly and are desperate to see them again and locking them within a memory involving mom and dad is how Peter secured his and Rebecca’s future. But while this plan brought Peter nothing but joy after he slipped into Miles’ mind, since it gave him new life and allowed for him to cause trouble for Hannah by reminding of her true state, Rebecca decided to not follow through when it comes to her possession of Flora. For she viewed this as wrong and by not stepping into the young girl’s mind, she gave Flora a fighting chance to survive away from the madness and the evil of Bly Manor. Something that Dani became acquainted with in the closing moments of this tale, since the mysterious monster that ended Peter’s life was quick to wrap its rotten hands around her throat.

Which of course, is quite the cliffhanger to end this story upon. One that did a wonderful job of blending together so many storytelling elements. Because it was simply a stroke of genius to transform the trauma of power and loss into something quite dangerous in this particular tale and it was equally as brilliant to revisit the afterlife in order to inject a unique twist into the plot. All while taking the time to reinforce how the ghosts we carry drive us to do horrible things, even in death, as evidenced by Peter Quint's sorrowful journey here. But what matters more, is that just that like that we are now barreling toward a powerful finale. One that is going to bring everything together in a horrifying manner as Bly’s secrets and outright power are finally revealed to us. Until next time.  

There is plenty to be said about being alone. While sometimes it seems like the best way to stay out of the way of life, it can also help to drive you mad. Minimal contact with other people seems to be something that keeps many of us from making the leap to madness, but some people are able to make it without any contact at all. There may not be a correct way to live your life when it comes to talking to and being around other people, but having the choice is something that nobody would ever like to have taken away.
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Nine years after an outbreak that turned the world inside out, survivors Patrick, Jack and Lu have made a little home for themselves in Harmony. While the winter that never ends ravages on in the town, Jack and Lu have a cozy home, but never seem to have enough to eat, while Patrick goes out on daily runs and has more than enough food to sustain a bad hunting trip many times over. While the men do not talk, much less acknowledge each other, young Lu is happy to have made a friend with Patrick’s dog and makes sure to give him daily treats whenever she can. Nine years has taken its toll on the older men and while Jack seems to have his wits about him, Patrick is slowly diving into the hole of madness.

With the nights in the town being dangerous, young Lu wakes up from a nightmare and hears something lurking outside. Seeing a monster outside the window, Lu tries to hide from what she has seen, but her dad will make sure to get the story out of her one way or another. Hearing the description of the monster Lu had seen, Jack dismisses it as a nightmare as well, but little does he know that the monsters that everyone feared many years ago have evolved to the elements and continue to be on the hunt. While heading out to the local shop for supplies, Patrick gets a quick peek of a monster as well and this one is ready to attack the living man. Being able to escape the shop and make it within earshot of Harmony, he lets his neighbors know that they are not safe and to hide from the threat.

Seeing the monster attacking his neighbor, Jack is not able to pull the trigger to keep him from being bitten. Waiting for his neighbor to become infected from the bite, Jack has all the more reason to keep him further away from Lu than he previously did. But something has changed, and Patrick has not changed into a monster like everyone else did nine years ago. Patching himself up and burying his dog, he is as healthy as ever, but his mind is starting to play tricks on him. When Lu sees that her friendly dog has been killed, she tries to pay it some respect, but the monster that killed it is waiting in the darkness. Seeing that she is going to be attacked, Jack tries to keep the monster from hurting his young one and gets torn up in the process. When Patrick sees what is happening outside of his door, he shoots the monster and tends to his neighbor's wounds as best he can. With new information about the infection that killed the world and a helping hand, Patrick is ready to try and rekindle the relationship he had with Jack and get to know Lu a little bit better before all of their time runs out.

Truly more of a character piece than I would have expected, but it was pretty good, especially when dealing with the end of the world. The hatred between Jack and Patrick is a one-way street and as the years have gone by, Jack has never forgiven his former friend for letting Lu’s mother die. Patrick really wants to connect with his neighbors, and he runs a radio show at night because he is yearning for someone to talk to, he only wants contact with another human, if only for a couple minutes. Both of the men are having issues in dealing with the end of the world, while Patrick is starting to hear voices telling him to do evil things, Jack is too afraid to leave the safety of his home and see if there is anything else out there. All the while young Lu wants to see the world and learning plenty from Jack, she is ready to take the next step and be a grown up. Each character has their own demons to face and while they can go at it alone, they have a better chance of survival if they face them together. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’.

​Of all the emotions we express and carry, there is only one that we truly lament and that would be; fear. Because that particular emotion is one that tends to create a great many problems for each and every one of us. After all, this is a feeling that keeps us from living life to the fullest from time to time. For it can motivate us to not ask out the person that we truly believe might be the one for us, out of a fear that we aren’t good enough. Or it can keep us from applying for a job we know we would love, simply because we fear we aren’t qualified for the gig, and the regret we feel from letting it take hold, if only for a moment; is why we despise fear through and through. Because we know we are better than it and that we shouldn’t listen to it. 
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But while it is easy to hate fear and wish for its absence, this is an emotion that quite frankly, gets a bad rap. For the fact of the matter is… fear is something that can actually be quite useful and healthy. For it can keep us out of ugly and dangerous situations when it takes hold, and it can be used as a learning tool as well, since it teaches us to not do stupid or silly things ever again. But perhaps the most important positive aspect when it comes to fear, is the sheer fact that it can actually push us to be better people and to grow, since its paralyzing power motivates us to overcome it. And all of this is relevant to today’s discussion… simply because fear, and all the good and that bad that comes with it, was put on full display during this week’s episode of The Walking Dead: World Beyond.

For ‘Madman Across the River’ saw this rag tag group of Campus Colony survivors, arrive at an important point in their journey; the Mississippi River. A waypoint that Felix believed would be the point of no return for their voyage and that motivated him to push harder to turn this group around, which was no easy task. Because despite all of the bridges being destroyed by the U.S. Military during Operation: Cobalt, the group was fired up that they made it this far, and that prompted them to continue to make miracles happen by building a boat that could ferry them across the river. Which meant that the plan to turn them around, and Elton’s involvement in it, finally came to life in a sour and rushed manner and having the plan put on display, is what brought about this grand exploration of fear.

For we came to learn that Elton has actually seen some horrible moments firsthand when it comes to the nature of this new world. Because on the night that everything fell to pieces, Elton was left alone while his father went for help, and when he finally emerged from his hiding space… he found the mutilated remains of his reanimated father. And knowing what this world is capable of and knowing how badly people can die in the open, gives him great worry for the safety of the people that he cares about and values and that’s why he agreed to the plan in the first place. Because if things started to fall apart, he could provide his new friends/surrogate family with solid and logical reasoning as to why they should turn around and retreat to their homes.  

Which is a noble line of thinking for certain, but at the same time, it doesn’t explain why he’s out here in the open, if he’s that afraid of his friends being hurt and that storytelling conundrum is what allowed for us to explore the positive side of fear. Because in essence Elton wanted nothing more than to be free of his terror and coming out here and facing it in person, was a healthy thing to do, as was harnessing his darkest fears to drive him forward. Since having their lives on the line when the dead arrived, prompted Elton to face them all head on and overcome them in a brave and bold manner and for his efforts and his bravery, he saved his friends and allowed for them to see another day and this was just… a brilliant exploration when all is said and done.
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For Elton’s journey really did offer upon an honest exploration of fear and how it can help us and hinder us, and it was nice to see the series look at both sides of the proverbial coin in a frank and non-judgmental manner. Because going that route allows for the viewer to view an emotion we think of as an enemy in a new light, and that perhaps it can serve us far better than we give it credit and the wonder of this tale didn’t end there. Because this story also deserves some serious kudos for having Huck and Felix finally get on board with the search for Joe. For such a move reinforces the overall message that this series seems to be working toward, in that… putting it on the line for our fellow man is about the most noble thing we can do and it is nice to see that this back and forth will no longer be an issue, so the story can focus on other elements of the human condition, and the other twist introduced in this tale. 

Because once the danger had passed and once Hope had forgiven both Felix and Elton, something quite dire happened in the closing moments of this tale. In that, Hope saw a wonderful bonding moment between she and Elton ruined by a picture. For it turns out that a portrait of Elton’s mom is included with her manuscript, and Hope got a good look at that photograph and came to realize… that she shot Elton’s mom on that fateful night. Which means it is only a matter of time before that particular and unfortunate truth comes to light, and who knows how Elton is going to respond to that. Because that’s just devastating to learn and it will be interesting to see if Elton can forgive her for what happened that night, or if their friendship will be irrevocably damaged from the truth.

In the end however, this was quite the magnificent episode when all is said and done. In large part because it offered up one incredibly comprehensive examination of fear and how it impacts our lives. But also, because, the series may have tipped its hand as to why these explorations are happening now instead of later. For the dead are starting to become a more common problem for this group, and the challenges are getting bigger both emotionally and physically. Which means that the horror aspect of this series is likely about to take hold. So, now is the time to really come to understand what these characters are all about and what makes them tick. So that we understand their decisions and their thought processes when the CRM and hordes of the walking dead, challenge them like never before. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 604 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’.
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Thus far, season six of Fear the Walking Dead, has taken the time to explore some truly fascinating concepts in regard to the human condition. For not only has it dug deep into how hopeless individuals find hope in a desperate situation, it’s also gone so far as to explore whether or not decent men can remain just that during an indecent time and that has led to some powerful examinations for certain. The kind that have left us pondering where some of our favorite characters from this franchise are going to end up emotionally and mentally when their struggle against Ginny has come to an end. Since they are making some difficult and challenging choices for certain, the kind that won’t be easy to shake off or justify in the slightest. 
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But while it has been lovely to see the characters in those stories have their morals and what they stand for challenged to some degree, there has been some level of familiarity to their respective plights. After all, Dwight and Al have been pushed to the brink before and of course, both Morgan and Victor Strand have lived comfortably within the gray area of life from time to time. Which to a certain extent, makes it seem as though the overall story is simply pushing these characters harder, rather than outright challenging their fundamentals on a level we’ve never seen before. But as it turns out, going the easier route in pushing some of the characters was all part of a grand plan. One that was designed to ease us into some far darker and heavier explorations, as evidenced by last night’s episode.

For ‘The Key’ is a story that was intent on pondering upon how good men lose their way, and how hard it is for someone that is pure to find their way back to the light when they’ve surrendered their morals for all the wrong reasons. And it accomplished this particular exploration, by putting John Dorie through that journey. For when we catch up with gentle John in this story… he’s truly immersed himself that the grand lie that Ginny is selling. Because not only has he embraced his role as a ranger/constable of Lawton, he’s beginning to preach that Virginia’s ideals might not be so bad after all. Quickly making it clear that sometimes, when a good person has spent a long time fighting for what’s right and has seen some losses along the way, they’re willing to make some moral compromises in the name of safety and security.

But it doesn’t take long for old John Dorie to make an appearance in this tale. For once another ranger dies in what appears to be an accident, his training and his morals bubble to the surface, and he quickly uncovers the fact that he’s stumbled onto a murder case. One that is quickly solved in an outright suspicious manner and that’s where the grand conflict begins for John. Because all signs begin to point to Ginny’s involvement in this murder, and John is eager to solve this case and bring the culprit to light, regardless of whether or not it’s the leader of this tiny little berg, since it is the right thing to do. But the constant attempts to pull him off of this case, by both Virginia and Strand to a lesser extent, begin to frustrate John in a manner we’ve never seen before. 

Mainly because he feels complicit in regard to what's happening in Lawton. For hiding behind three squares and a bed has allowed for Ginny to tighten her grip on Lawton and perform horrible acts. Plus, playing along and being complacent has also enabled her to manipulate John to her liking so she can continue to do whatever she wants. But he is also frustrated, because… one cannot hide from their true self forever. For his moral core kicks into overdrive when he realizes that he could be doing more, and that motivates John to push himself harder to try and set things right in both Lawton and within his own soul, a decision that makes it seem as though he is headed for ruin in the name of the greater good. Something he is comfortable with, simply because perhaps his sacrifice will serve as a grand penance for enabling evil. 

But alas, in the end, John is unable to make things right in the manner he desires, and he is even hailed as a hero by Ginny once this mess comes to a close, to the point where he is rewarded for his inaction. Since June is transferred to Lawton and allowed to move in with her love. All as part of an attempt to placate his morals further, and in essence, John views the return of June as punishment for certain. Because he didn’t earn her return into his life. He was handed it as thanks for letting Ginny do whatever she wants, and now he has to live with the fact that an innocent person was allowed to die on his watch and that he’s given into all the lies that Ginny is selling, and that is a brutal punishment indeed, and his journey made for one bleak and powerful story when all is said and done. 

Simply because normally, morality tales in this vein end with the hero triumphant, not lamenting their journey. But this tale once again speaks volumes to how life never quite works in the black and white manner we think it does and how sometimes, it really is easy to lose ourselves in creature comforts when we know we should be fighting harder for something personal or professional or greater in general. If anything, this story sets the stage for John Dorie’s potential redemption down the line since clearly, he is carrying a great deal of guilt over what happened here, and hopefully he gets said redemption. Because he is a good man that allowed for himself to disappear into the ether for a bit and perhaps that is the best lesson of all in this tale, in that… if such a thing can happen to a straight arrow like John Dorie, it can happen to any of us if we aren't vigilant.

In the end however, this was simply another fascinating episode, one that continues to demonstrate that season six is going to offer up some supremely unique storytelling for certain. Because back and forth morality tales and moments of weakness are elements you just don’t see in zombie themed storytelling, and it is making for some refreshing and ponderous tales. The kind that stay with you for a while. Which is making season six one incredible journey, one that is also building to something special for the characters and the overall plot as well, as evidenced by the closing moments of this tale. Since Morgan ran into those mysterious dudes we met in the premiere, the ones that love to preach ‘the end is the beginning’ and it should be quite interesting to learn the significance of the key that Morgan has around his neck and how these dudes will tie into these morality tales as season six continues to unfold. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Eli Roth’s History of Horror’.
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If there is one unfortunate aspect about our modern society that we don’t talk about enough, it would have to be the fact that women are treated and viewed as second class citizens. Which may seem like a silly or outlandish statement to make but it is… downright fact. For women were unable to vote for far too long, because short sighted people believed that they should not be involved in decisions that impacted the future of the nation. And even in 2020, there are still short sighted and close minded, male politicians, that believe they somehow need to have a say in what women do with their bodies. But while there is a continuing fight for women to become the equals they actually are in the real world, in fiction, there are stories that celebrate the power and the wonder of women and elevate them to the first class standing they deserve. Such as horror movies, believe it or not.

Because in scary movies anything can happen, and in a world of fictional terror, women are often the ones who save the day by outsmarting the monster or they drive the story by way of discovering the hidden power of the supernatural and oddly enough, said power, served as the focal point of this week’s episode of Eli Roth’s History of Horror. For ‘Witches’ explored how magic has made women a force to be reckoned with, in the genre and sadly… even that particular feat, took a while to achieve. Because early cinematic witches tended to reside within stereotypes, complete with an outright bitterness and hideous appearance. Something that ties into how powerful women are viewed as sour or evil. But thankfully, that all changed as time marched on and eventually, the witch transformed into quite the powerful being.

The kind that would instill fear in the hearts of the characters and the audience by using their power to prey upon our fears of the unknown and express some measure of revenge for how women have been treated by society and for proof, look no further than The Blair Witch Project. For this story did a phenomenal job of exploring the sheer raw power of a witch, one that took no prisoners or offered zero forgiveness for how the world treated her back in the day. Which makes the witch more than a stereotype here, since she’s strong and dynamic and she wasn’t the only one in the 1990s to offer up an empowering vision of this horror legend. Because the witches of The Craft were all about using their power to shape their world, and while there was some measure of revenge present in this story as well, it also features a witch that fights for forces of good. A twist that shattered all kinds of stereotypes about this particular ‘monster’ and added a measure of equality to this sub-genre.

Because it took a witch to defeat other witches, not some quirky plot device, or a man for that matter and it just so happens that The Craft isn’t the only witch-themed film out there to remove men from the storytelling equation. Take Suspiria for instance. For the original 1977 film and the 2018 reimagining are completely female centric, allowing for female main characters to deal with the witches in question and outright save the day and that is definitely a refreshing take to see in horror. The kind that definitely speaks to how women can be equals and handle problems on their own and hopefully we continue to see more horror films that do this as time goes on, and maintain the unsettling scares that are present in the films we’ve outlined as well. Since every single story we’ve highlighted today really does leave the viewer in an uncomfortable place.

In the end however, this was just a wonderfully detailed exploration of a segment of the genre that needs to be spotlighted more. Because this episode made it clear that there are some quality and powerful stories to be found in regard to witches, the kind that offer up incredible commentary on our world and our past and also offer relatable moments that people can connect to. Which makes this sub-genre critical to the success of horror and kudos to this show for taking the time to highlight everything that witch movies have to offer, and for continuing to show us how this genre ties into so much of our everyday lives and our experiences. And now that this exploration has come to a close, once again we are left counting down the minutes until next Saturday’s entry, so we can learn more about this dynamic genre and everything it has to offer. Until then.