‘Locke & Key’ Recap: ‘Echoes’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM. YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Over the course of its first eight episodes, Locke & Key has done a phenomenal job of exploring some unique concepts. After all, it’s examined the importance of fighting our fears, and how alcoholism is an illness that needs to be treated instead of demonized, and most importantly of all it’s done a phenomenal job of examining the lasting impact of loss and grief. But while these explorations have been poignant and fascinating in their own right, there is a grand mystery filled with questions that have yet to be answered and clearly putting that off was always part of the plan. Because the next episode in this magnificent series, takes the time to finally address those questions and that made ‘Echoes’ quite the incredible tale when all is said and done.
​
Because it truly left no stone unturned, even going so far as to take us a year into the past, wherein we were able to learn that Ellie was the one that made the cryptic phone call to Mark, setting in motion a grand series of events, one that saw Dodge return to her life disguised as Lucas. And this hybrid monster was more than willing to make life hell for Ellie since it was the one responsible for Joe Ridgeway’s death and it was also why Ellie was in the Locke’s basement, since she was there to retrieve a strange looking crown from the rec room. But while Ellie was happy to serve this blast from the past for as long as possible, pressure from the Locke family and a horrible request for her to sift through Rendell’s ashes, prompted Ellie to open up to the family and reveal the other secrets of this tale.

Which means that it was time for a voyage through her memories via the Mind Key and by taking a stroll down memory lane, we were finally able to learn what happened at the Sea Caves all those years ago. As it turns out, Ellie and her friends used the Omega Key to open that mysterious door and sadly, something got out and entered Lucas’ body, and that thing was Dodge and she took control of him and killed two of their friends, prompting Rendell to put down Lucas. And in the wake of this horrible night, everyone left alive vowed to never use the keys again and split them up and hid them as well. But alas, a tough day for Ellie prompted her to use the Echo Key at the well and that brought Dodge back from the void and well, we know where the story goes from there.

But while it was lovely to finally get some answers as to how the Locke family found themselves surrounded by their current predicament, Dodge was still out there, on the hunt for the Omega Key. But some quick thinking on Bode’s part made everyone realize that if they could get their hands on the missing crown, they could potentially put an end to Dodge since they had the key to go with it and could in turn control her. Which meant that Ellie needed to act fast and bring that crown back to Key House so they could dispatch Dodge with ease. But unfortunately for Ellie, Dodge was already waiting for her and Rufus back at the house and once this demon realized that something mysterious and deceitful was happening in its presence, it made an aggressive move. One that hurt Rufus badly, and gave it possession of the Crown Key and sadly, Dodge is now armed and ready for war with a dark army, and it won’t be long before she makes her way to Key House.

In the end however, this really was quite the wonderful episode. Because it’s always a true treat for the fans when the grand plot is revealed, and this particular tale held nothing back and what we learned was both fascinating and powerful. If anything, this finally absolves Ellie of her secretive sins since she’s finally doing right by the late Rendell and his family and hopefully, she and everyone else will be okay when all is said and done. Because it is clear that Dodge is done messing around with the Locke family and that means the season one finale should be nothing short of magnificent. Because this is it, a final battle between good and evil and it is going to take every ounce of creativity and ingenuity that Locke kids possess in order to win this one. Until next time.  

---