‘NOS4A2’ Recap: ‘Bats’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘NOS4A2’.
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For the most part, horror stories tend to offer up endings that are quite formulaic in nature. Wherein our hero or heroes, finally face off against the monster or the villain in the most epic way imaginable. So that the audience can finally see evil suffer and suffer greatly before it is defeated, and once good conquers evil in that wonderful manner, we quickly rush to the end credits. Because that is it. Everyone got what they wanted. For the monster/baddie is in the ground until the sequel finds a way to resurrect it/them, so it is best that the story just bring everything to a close because this is the brightest moment in the story, so we might as well hang onto the good memories and the big victory. Which is, a fine way to end a scary story since so many love a happy ending and really, what else is there to explore after evil is laid to rest?
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But that’s really where horror stories shortchange themselves and the audience, even the great ones. Because sometimes, when our protagonist or protagonists are well developed and genuinely relatable, there is more story to tell after evil falls and not exploring that does the story and the audience a grand disservice since we don’t get a proper and fleshed out ending, and that’s precisely why last night’s season two finale of NOS4A2 was so wonderful and powerful and downright satisfying. Because ‘Bats’ took the time to go beyond the traditional horror ending and offer us a taste of what comes next for a hero when they’ve defeated evil, a feat that this story accomplished, by wasting zero time in giving the us final showdown we have so desired for so long.

For when we catch up with Vic and Maggie in this particular finale, they’re working hard to get the hell out of Christmasland with Wayne. An act that has to be completed in stages since Vic can only transport one person at a time to the real world. But once she and Maggie are headed back home; they’re quickly tailed by Charlie Manx and his horrifying Wraith and that leads to a standoff inside The Shorter Way. Wherein Vic finally takes control of her Inscape and her future by using this unique world to damage and destroy the Wraith by sending it into the static void. Putting an end to Manx at last, and the good vibes that come about from that, don’t end with watching Charlie plunge into nothingness. For back in our world, Tabitha and Lou both figure out a way to finally free young Wayne from the power of Christmasland.

Because if by chance a child’s ornament is smashed, their soul is restored to their body, and once Bats’ ornament is in pieces, he begins to purge the evil within and return to normal. Meaning that at long last, this family can begin to heal, and as an added bonus; more lives are saved by this discovery. For Tabitha ends up destroying as many ornaments as she can and every time she does, a child that was trapped in Christmasland re-appears, restored and normal and eager to be reunited with their families and well… that’s exactly where this story decided to take the ending in a vastly different and more powerful direction. For instead of playing some bittersweet musical sting while the McCarmody family holds one another tightly before fading to black… we dug right into what comes next for the survivors of such a harrowing ordeal, and how this kind of traumatic experience can leave people in a tough place.   

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After all, poor Wayne had his psyche twisted by Charlie, and tapping into his pain and enjoying the power of evil, left him shattered. For at times after this nightmare, he wanted nothing more than to return to Christmasland. Even going so far as to hang out with Millie to reflect upon its wonder. Plus, his temper was left enhanced by his experiences with Manx. Yet at the same time, he was still the loving and bubbly boy we met in the season premiere and that left Vic in a tough place as a mother. Because she simply didn’t have a clue how to reach him and help him and that motivated her to seek out her mother’s advice for a change. Which helped her come to understand, that in order to save her family and her son, she needed to heed her father’s advice in regard to forgiveness, and she needed to confront her problems head on, rather than bury them and pretend as though everything was going to be all right.

Which led her to stand alongside her family when the Wraith was finally crushed to bits. For it and Charlie’s mottled body were discovered in Haverhill one random day. And watching that car be reduced to scrap, whilst learning that Manx’s body was burned to ashes, offered closure at last on a dark chapter of their lives, and that in turn allowed for her to finally be the mother she’s always wanted to be. For now she felt ready to reach out to Wayne and be open with him about her experiences and her pain so that he would hopefully reciprocate and have a quality conversation with his mother about what he was feeling and what he needed going forward and well, it worked, and this was a brilliant stroke of storytelling for certain. For it served to remind us that we just don’t magically heal from traumatic and horrifying experiences, we need love and support and bravery to face and heal from our pain.

If anything, seeing that message come to fruition made for one satisfying and powerful ending, one that quite frankly… should keep us happy in the event that this wonderful series doesn’t receive a third season. Because that really is a perfect way to close out this series since it is incredibly hopeful and inspiring. But in the event that this isn’t the end, this episode also gets serious credit for doing a fine job of setting up the future as well. For Maggie is of course diving deeper now into the world of strong creatives and who knows what other horrors await in that particular part of the universe and of course, Millie Manx is still out there and is still consumed by the darkness of Christmasland and wreaking her own brand of havoc, since she dreams of returning to an Inscape where limitless freedom awaits her. Yet what’s truly fascinating about the ‘setup’ segment of this story, is that it too carries an air of finality if the worst-case scenario comes to fruition. Because it helps to remind us that good and evil will continue to endure as they have always done.

But ideally, a third season would be welcome. For this series is truly a breath of fresh air and is outright revolutionary and brave since it continues to turn the tropes of the horror genre upside down, all while offering up powerful and intimate storytelling, the kind that moves the audience for certain. But while we wait to hear of the fate of this series, we can bask in a flawless season and a perfect finale. Since every single story this season was an outright tour de force, and the surprises and emotions it sent our way will not be easily forgotten. Because this was horror at its finest. Since it put the nature of evil and the struggles of good on display in the most unique manner imaginable; by using the horrors of the real world to properly tell its sweeping and powerful tale. Until next time. 

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