‘Lisey’s Story’ Recap: ‘Bool Hunt’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Lisey's Story’.
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When we're young, we're taught by our parents and/or guardians that ghosts simply aren't real—it's understandable why our elders take the time to provide us with this lesson: It teaches us critical thinking. We now have to ponder upon what's real or not real and truly pick apart what our imagination is telling us. It also helps us to not be afraid of the unknown because it will eventually be known to us. Although that lesson is one that definitely conjures warm fuzzies in our minds, unfortunately our parents aren't completely right in teaching us that ghosts don't exist. The fact of the matter is, ghosts are real, and they are terrifying—they just manifest themselves in a manner that we don't expect. This means that parents should really take the time to teach us that spirits (likely) aren't real and that we should be afraid of the ghosts that haunt the real world and appear in the form of emotional trauma, loss, and grief.

It's these elements that hurt us and haunt us in a manner far worse than any ghost ever could, especially when the pain is raw and fresh in our hearts and souls. It's that pain that is central to the latest offering from AppleTV+. The brand-new series, Lisey's Story—one that shares the namesake of the novel by Stephen King and was penned by the maestro himself—wastes little time in plunging us into the haunting power of grief and loss and the trauma that comes with them, which makes episode one, ‘Bool Hunt’, quite the visceral affair.

This episode showcases how the final moments of a loved one can haunt us to no end. Lisey Landon sees the defining moment that led to her husband's death play out in her mind over and over again—to the point where she appears to be paralyzed by its power. To further complicate matters, because her husband Scott was a well-known and beloved writer, Lisey is repeatedly reminded of the impact that he had on other people's lives with his work. This impact is a repetitious revelation that continues to pour salt into her wounds and well… this is a brilliant way to open up a television series. The raw emotion sucks you into the story and compels you to continue because you feel for Lisey and her struggle. The most amazing thing about this opening chapter is that it has so much more to offer than an exploration of the sheer pain and horror of the ghosts that we all carry.

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This is, after all, a Stephen King story, and he's a writer who's keen to explore horrors both real and fictional—which means there is indeed a spiritual element present here, one that appears to involve Scott's talent and its genesis. It's strongly implied that Scott has a special connection with the multiverse that lies beyond; a connection that allowed him to see trouble coming for his family and work to help his beloved Lisey when his time to leave this plane of existence arrived. This element draws you further into the story simply because you have to know if Scott can indeed traverse the multiverse as implied, whether his potential ability to move between worlds is what made his writing so powerful and primal to his fans, and how—exactly-- his powerful words had an impact upon their mental health, too.

It's also made clear that Scott's fans are scary and dangerous. The introduction of Jim Dandy (as he refers to himself), speaks volumes to how this series is going to explore the dangers that can accompany losing oneself in the power of fantasy. It's clear that Jim sees Scott's work as a gateway to salvation and a way to heal his mind and the world, and his journey here led to some terrifying scenes. These scenes help us to realize that Lisey is in great danger with Jim Dandy on the prowl. Lisey is nothing more to Jim than a speed bump on the road to a literary Shangri-la, wherein Jim can receive his final fix by getting his hands on the unpublished works of the man that he believes is his own personal god—and well, that's a wonderful way to set the stage for what should be a powerful saga. A saga that one hopes lets Lisey find the peace that she so desperately craves—provided, of course, that she survives the onslaught of madness that Jim is about to send her way.
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In the end, this is a perfect series premiere—not only does it connect with the audience on a primal level, but it's a wonderfully well-written and fleshed out episode filled to the brim with poignant moments, stunning visuals, and mystery surrounding the journey ahead. Clearly, Scott Landon kept a novel's worth of secrets about Boo'ya Moon from his wife and the world, and it will be quite interesting to see what Lisey is going to learn about this fascinating place and herself as this dynamic and moving series continues. Until next time, dear reader.
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The first two episodes of ‘Lisey’s Story’ are available to stream on AppleTV+.

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