‘NOS4A2’ Recap: ‘The Night Road’

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 the past year or so, we’ve talked at length about how the AMC series NOS4A2 defies the conventional structure of the horror genre and there’s good reason that. Because week in and week out, this show is breaking down some particular trope by way of its character development and outright genius plotting and that makes this series the most brilliant horror saga on the air right now. For everything that it presents the audience with is supremely human and supremely relatable and that’s just rare for this genre. For this is a place where we are supposed to be scared mightily before we return to our everyday lives, and we’re not supposed to feel for the characters or be reminded of some of our own pratfalls and mistakes.

But this series refuses to back down from its bold mission to be frightfully realistic, and for proof that this is indeed a standard for this series, then look no further than last night’s episode. Because ‘The Night Road’ looks at a multitude of fascinating elements about the human condition, specifically how we can never escape the past, and how we handle the consequences of our actions, and that made for one powerful tale. One that quite frankly, offered sympathetic depth to some of our villains in this tale, something that shouldn’t be possible because Manx and his cadre of children are about as twisted as they come. But once again, this show found a way to make the impossible happen, by having little Millie Manx explore the outright power of the past.
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For shortly after her father left to meet with Bing at the end of last week’s tale, she gave chase to the Wraith. Because she didn’t want to spend any more time away from her father and that led her outside of the gates of Christmasland and what she found beyond its glittering walls was quite incredible. For far off in the distance, was a lonesome light, shining bright in the darkness of the night and that light called to her like a beacon, and when she arrived at her destination, she found the house she briefly grew up in, and despite the dust present, it was just as she left it. Save for the fact that something was lurking within its walls with her, and that thing turned out to be her mother. Or rather, some semblance of her mother. For this poor being sported a scarred and damaged face, but she seemingly knew Millie at first sight and this stunning surprise led to a phone confrontation between daughter and father. Because she demanded to know who was hiding within that house, leaving one to wonder if the memory of her mother has faded from her mind after all this time.

But what matters more, is that dear old dad’s frustration and demands that she stay away from that place, only motivated her to investigate further. Which means sour memory or no, she will eventually learn more about her mother, and how the idea of her, or her very soul has been trapped in this twisted place and her actions in this tale is what brings about the sympathy in question. For these are the actions of a frustrated and lost child, one that has been outright robbed of a normal life and the curious explorations of the world we all enjoyed growing up, and to complicate matters further, she only has a bare bones understanding of family or love and that’s heartbreaking for certain. Which all serves as a fine reminder that ol’ Chuck is indeed a monster and his inability to nurture or care for his daughter, alongside being unable to let go of the past in general, may bring about more trouble for him than he is aware of. Something that is supremely relatable, since we all learn or have learned that hanging onto the darkest parts of our past will always come back to haunt us.

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As for how this story explored consequences, well that was handled by way Vic’s journey in this tale. Because the last time we saw her, she was on her bike and off into the night and it turns out that she brought herself back to Haverhill, in order to take a moment to clear her head and hopefully regroup. But instead, all Vic found back home was more guilt and more sorrow for her actions. For her father has left his drinking problem behind and offered up a little disappointment over the fact that his Baby Brat took up his habit, and her mother finally got her life together as well and made a point of calling out Vic for running instead of standing tall. And the realization that she genuinely abandoned her boys in a time of need, is really what kept Vic in a dark place for quite some time in this story, because she failed them, and that sense of failure motivated her to keep drinking and pondering upon what the hell went wrong with her life.
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Which serves as a brilliant setup for the theme in question. Because Vic was in essence faced with a choice, we all face when we’ve screwed up. In that, we can either sit back and wallow in pity and sorrow over the consequences of our actions, or we can stand tall and make things right. Thankfully, after a quick chat with her mom, and the harsh truth that Manx would be coming after her family on a consistent basis (more on that in a moment), moved her to choose the latter option. And she used her Knife to track Charlie down to Parnassus, wherein she made it clear that she wasn’t afraid of him and was happy to take the fight to him. A message that was likely wasted on Manx’s resurgent ego, but an important one to send his way none the less. But while this made for some powerful television, a fast strike against one’s enemy does not completely absolve one of their sins and thankfully, Vic was quick to make that happen as well. For she brought Lou and Wayne to Haverhill, and put them in a safe place and while she still has a lot of work to do in order to win their trust back, making the man that attacked them think twice about doing it again, and making an effort to show how much she cares is a step in the right direction.

Speaking of that attack, well that’s important and relevant to this episode, simply because that is where the horror part of the story came into play. Because Charlie and Bing wasted no time in going after Team McCarmody and that made for some supremely chilling moments in this tale. Because there was a genuine sense of danger surrounding these two men as the dynamic duo of evil worked to subdue them and this move served as a fine reminder of how formidable both Charlie and Bing are as opponents. Because despite Lou being able to stand up to Bing, he simply kept on coming thanks to his stamina and physical prowess and well, Charlie came damn close to luring young Bruce Wayne McQueen into the back of the Wraith. And had Vic not prepped her loves for this exact situation, there is a fair chance that evil would have been successful and the tension here, and the worry it put into our minds, made this is a supremely effective sequence for certain.

In the end however, this was simply another brilliant chapter in this magnificent saga. Because it genuinely did not feel like a traditional horror story. For once again, the monsters we carry inside us took the center stage, for the most part, and clearly their defeat is what will lead to the end of Charlie Manx. Because if Vic cannot find internal peace and forge a way forward, Mister Manx will indeed best his nemesis and carry on with his evil ways. But all themes and deeper meaning aside, this episode was also quite unconventional in its storytelling as well. Because you just don’t see the hero and the villain clash this early in their battle to best the other, but it happened here none the less and this early battle royale, and the fact that Manx wasted no time in going after Wayne and Lou, means that unconventional moments await us as season two rolls on. Which will make for some powerful storytelling, the kind that may stun us and rattle us as Vic McQueen works to rid the world of evil and her demons. Until next time.

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