‘Goosebumps’ (2023) Recap – ‘Night of the Living Dummy: Part 2’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Justin Long as Mister Bratt in Episode 109 of ‘Goosebumps’ (2023). (Photo Courtesy of David Astorga/Disney.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘Goosebumps’. (2023). To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous Disney+ and Hulu series, Goosebumps (2023), we pondered upon what lie ahead for the good people of Port Lawrence. After all, two generations, tied together by the death of Harold Biddle, put his soul to rest and defeated the evil that is Slappy. Giving rise to an early end to a harrowing story. Which opened up some fascinating possibilities for the remainder of season one of this show. Wherein the story could either move in a bold new direction, since everyone was now free of the darkness, and/or give the evil that is Slappy a new unique way to return to prominence and well… as it turned out… ‘Night of the Living Dummy: Part 2’ opted to surprise us, by taking us down both paths in a single episode.

For when we caught up with the group in this story, they were enjoying life without terror in their hearts, and they were getting back to their normal routines, exploring new love and new opportunities and they were finally living again. The same went for the parents, and of course… living again means thinking about the future and for Margot, that meant making a decision about where she was going to live next. Because her mother offered her a chance to move to Seattle for her senior year, and her friends tagged along on a weekend trip up there to see what it was about, and help Margot decide if this was right for her. Which brought about moments of bonding, and moments of heartbreak, since it became clear that not everyone saw the move as good.

Which really did bring forth, a unique path for the characters post battle royale, one that let them grow and inch closer to adulthood and independence and well, it was wonderfully complemented by exploring, the life and times of Mister Bratt. Because we also came to learn in this tale, that he was in a dark place before this incident put him in an even darker place. Because he wanted to be a writer and do something special with his life, but instead just kept stumbling and taking losses before his move to Port Lawrence, and well, let’s be honest. He took an L after the move, too. But surviving that incident… was what he needed to find the creative spark, and he wrote a book about his experiences, and wouldn’t you know it? The spooky story of Slappy caught the eye of a publisher and Bratt was oh so close… to finally having what he wanted.

But alas, his publisher informed him, that the ending needed a punch up, and that Slappy was a little two dimensional. So, he was tasked with putting together a little more meat on the page regarding Slappy and the ending, and that put Bratt in a tough place. Because just like that… he was on the cusp of everything he ever wanted in this life, and yet… he could not get into the head of the monster because he knew little of him. Which he could have likely invented and refined to seal the deal. But Bratt wanted his story to be perfectly authentic, and he wanted this sale, badly. Bad enough to cut corners and do what he needed to do in order to know thy enemy. Which prompted him… to go out into the woods and bring Slappy back home. Wherein the evil was awakened and where… it evolved. For Slappy convinced Bratt to finish the spell his ancestor would not, and that gave life to a new evil, one that set out into the night the first chance it received.

Which made… for a brilliant episode really. One that did more than just fade to black at the end of the monster. It gave us a chance to see what comes next for those who survive such harrowing events. Not to mention, it reaffirmed that evil loves to prey on weakness, as evidenced by how it enticed Bratt to bring it back to life in the name of comfort and self-worth, with awful results. For now, the town is in real danger. Courtesy of some bold moves from this show. The kind that allowed for the story to move in an amazing new direction while finding a way to bring evil back in a creative fashion and now… we are forced to wait until next Friday, to see how this tale of terror comes to a close. Until next time.

---

 Watch ‘Goosebumps’ (2023)

Powered by JustWatch