‘Locke & Key’ Recap: ‘Alpha & Omega’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘Locke & Key’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, the Netflix series Locke & Key, has done a phenomenal job of avoiding horror tropes and clichés in general. Courtesy of its whip-smart writing and unique ideas and fascinating commentary on rarely discussed aspects of the human condition. But while that has made for a refreshing and dynamic storytelling experience, one that keeps the audience guessing through and through and on the edge of their seats, there are simply some horror tropes and concepts that are unavoidable. Such as say, the march to the final showdown with the twisted and evil villain. Because preparations have to be made and the characters have to steel their nerves to duke it out with pure evil and well, that’s precisely what the next episode of this fascinating franchise focused upon.
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For ‘Alpha & Omega’ truly sets the stage for what should be a powerhouse showdown between good versus evil and it accomplished that feat by bringing forth a cliffhanger and by revealing some options that the family could use to fight Gabe in the battle ahead. Now the cliffhanger was surprisingly handled by Eden and Josh, since she snuck him into the caves to the Black Door in the hopes of using him to unleash its power to build her own army to fight Gabe. But Gabe’s arrival and his summoning of the dark power in this place, led to chaos when the cave began to collapse, which damaged and opened the door, and had it not been for Bode and Jamie, Josh might not have made it out alive. But what matters more here, is that Ellie managed to escape the void and the cave before the collapse accelerated, giving our heroes the potential for a bold ally in the fight ahead, provided of course that dark place didn’t corrupt her soul in the slightest.

But while we wait to see where Ellie is mentally, hence the cliffhanger, there was mention of opportunities and options presenting themselves to the family for the forthcoming fight. The first of which came about by way of Kinsey's harrowing journey. For Gabe swung by the house and informed her that if she didn’t come willingly to his side, her mother would die a terrible, terrible death. Which left Kinsey beside herself since she had no real way to stop Gabe from doing so and that likely meant her time as a human was coming to an end, regardless of her brother’s push to make a key. But a strange signal from beyond, one that led her to an Angel vest and a key to go with it, gave her hope that perhaps now she had a weapon to fight back against Gabe, lifting her spirits and renewing her determination to resist his unholy demands. 

Speaking of weapons, another one for the fight against Gabe was forged here. For Tyler followed his uncle’s direction to a tee and was able to forge the Alpha Key. Which was designed to separate the demon from the person it inhabited, and in order to ensure that it would free people from Gabe’s special brand of evil… he had to test it out on someone, and his first choice was Jackie. So that he could have his love back and cement his future with her and at first, the key worked like a charm. But it didn’t take long for Tyler to come to learn that freedom from a powerful evil comes with a great cost, since Jackie didn’t survive the purging process and died in Tyler’s arms in the middle of the night, making it clear that this fight between the Locke’s and Gabe/Dodge… is going to be brutal and devastating. 

But all ominous clues aside, the stage is indeed set, and the Locke family appears ready. For Kinsey has some kind of weapon to use against Gabe and his machinations and the Alpha key will easily tear through Gabe’s burgeoning army, and regardless of the cost… the kids will have no choice but to use it. For to let any demon remain threatens all of mankind and well in the end, this was quite the powerhouse tale. Because it was in fact, quite bleak and quite uncomfortable and that was likely a conscious choice in the writers’ room to offset the use of a classic trope here. Since we are supposed to be excited for the final fight, but we aren’t 100% sold here. Mainly because we have no idea how much devastation is going to come into play when it begins and well… the only way to find out, is to continue the journey and see how the Locke family handles Gabe at last. Until next time.

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