‘Hysteria!’ Recap: ‘Can I Play with Madness?’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

HYSTERIA! -- "Can I Play With Madness?" Episode 103 -- Pictured: (l-r) Aline O'Neill as Tonya, Emjay Anthony as Dylan Campbell, Chiara Aurelia as Jordy -- (Photo by: PEACOCK)

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Hysteria!’ To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It really is quite a wonderful moment, when you realize that a television series that is loaded with unique and fascinating concepts is going to take its time in exploring said concepts in a supremely detailed manner. Simply because it means you’re going to get a quality story that truly is eager to offer up a quality lesson or lessons regarding something important, and that is why Hysteria! on Peacock and USA Network is a show that deserves our attention and praise. Because… it is that show. It wants us to properly understand how fear spreads and how it grows in strength, so we can try to stop the cycle of madness that keeps happening in our world, and it had plenty for us to ponder upon in its next episode.

For ‘Can I Play with Madness?’ took the time to further explore how fear spreads and in turn how it inspires movements and calls to action, something we’ve seen happen in our modern world and well… as it turns out… a lot of that is related to some key behaviors. Wherein scared individuals don’t feel as though their concerns are being heard, and since no one will listen, someone has to take action. So, they step up and push back and others who feel the same join them, and away we go… and this was put on display in the simplest manner, by way of Dethkrunch’s second concert. Which took place at the Campbell homestead and leaned hard into the order of the hour… which was Judith’s desire to be part of a cult.

Because during that concert, the one person that wanted no part of this, Tonya, pushed back upon what was happening because of those golden Midwest values, and was embarrassed by Jordy. Who wanted to teach Tonya a lesson for picking on her at one point and for not going with the flow, and that truly spoke to the lesson at hand and how it creates the problem at hand, as evidenced by the fallout of that moment. Since Tonya, spread fear and cried foul and demanded to be whole again, and this was further explored by Tracy Whitehead’s actions here. Who gathered townsfolk, including Linda, to talk about the evil in this town, and give it a face, which was Linda, and sadly… this plan did work and let fear breathe and grow and well, those were fine lessons for certain from a show that really is diving deep into such matters… while still scaring and unsettling us.

Because once again, the unexplainable took place here, and some questions were raised about Tracy and her role in the genesis of fear in this town. Since a surprise body part showed up in the Chief’s home, one he was looking for, and that seemed to awaken something in his own home. Not to mention poor Faith came to realize that her mother was lying to her. Because Faith realized the inhaler that Ryan used had been removed by her mom, and that it should be in the hands of the police. Which Tracy claimed she would turn in, after admitting that she removed it an effort to clean up the horror left behind from the kidnapping. But she didn’t, and that forced Faith to dig about the house and the town, and discover her mom bought a car from the very man that kidnapped her. Which was quite the shock and well, related to the central theme as well.

For there is always someone that wants to stoke fear and sow disdain to truly be heard and what better way to do that, then to force their concerns into existence if it gets them what they want. Which is a sad truth that leaves us wondering if any evil exists in this town, or if Tracy is the problem. But then again, the rash now appearing one people’s bodies, and what Chief Dandridge dealt with, keeps that wonder of something evil alive and well, all of these elements made for a great episode. One that truly explored its central themes to a tee and really set the stage for tough times in this town. Because everyone is on edge, everyone is vying to be heard and seen, and that is a recipe for disaster. One that we are steadily barreling toward as frustrations grow, and it will be interesting to see how this comes to a head in the weeks to come. Until next time.

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