'Outcast' Recap: 'The Damage Done'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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

​It's been quite the tumultuous first season when it comes to Outcast when one considers all the incredible things that our characters have been through. They've been dragged through the proverbial wringer, facing incredible odds and challenges week in and week out. Which means one particular question suddenly arises when you think about the abuse they've been dealing with...exactly how much more of this can they take?

After all, every single person, regardless of how strong they are in life, has their breaking point and well...several of the characters reached their own on Friday night, answering that all important question, and taking us to some dark places along the way because 'The Damage Done' was an absolutely brutal episode through and through, despite the fact that this episode went light on the horror. Our first major breakdown to discuss, came by way of Megan and Mark and their ongoing saga with the nightmare that is Donnie. Megan was able to hold her own the longest, despite the fact she pawned her wedding ring and cleared out her bank accounts in an effort to pay off Donnie and keep him silent. But it was all for naught. Donnie was out for revenge, and more than happy to take the money and run and file charges regardless against Mark, leaving Megan and her husband broke and broken and where they go from here...is anyone's guess.

But while Megan's story was a devastating one, Reverend Anderson's was equally as painful to watch. Despite seeing him go through the motions of poker night with his buddies, and still doing his best to stand before the town and inspire hope on Remembrance Day, the events of last week have clearly shattered this man to his core. There's a vengeful fire in his eyes now, something we've never seen from him before and well...that's dangerous. It means the good reverend will no doubt be willing to take stupid and unnecessary risks in his quest to fight the evil massing in the shadows and for proof, well look no further than his dealings with Sidney this episode. Not only did he track the monster down to have a little bravado fueled chat with him in the barber shop, but he was more than willing to reveal to the town the Pentagram Sidney carved into his chest and call him out for being evil. Sure, we all know of course that Sidney is something quite sinister, but the town is still fitfully unaware and it was right of Kyle to call the Reverend dumb for his actions. 

Yet while Kyle is finally coming into his own and becoming the voice of reason for those around him, his story was not immune to the mental collapses happening all around him, since his ex-wife suffered a crisis of her own...she was finally able to recall what happened on that fateful night, and now we know why Kyle was trying so hard to keep that awful truth from her a few weeks ago, he knew full well she wouldn't be able to handle it. Granted how she came about the truth was outright fascinating, since it took Amber's artwork around the house to initiate a few flashbacks, but the moment she uncovered her daughter's drawing of her spewing out the evil...it all came flooding back and well, it led to the most heartbreaking moment of the night when she took Amber to Kyle...and even spent the night with him in the most romantic of fashion...before abandoning her husband and child, believing herself to be a monster and a danger.

Despite that heartbreaking and heavy ending however...there were some bright spots to be found. For starters, it's quite cool to see that Chief Giles is finally warming up to Anderson and Kyle's cause, even going so far as to chat with the Reverend about Sidney...and finally make good use of Kyle's ability by having him outright place his hands on our suspicious Fire Chief. It's like a little Justice League forming in this town, and it's wonderful to know that at long last, there are people ready and unified to fight against whatever the hell is taking control of this city. But...there is still one big question remaining, what is Chief Ogden's connection with this whole mess? He's not possessed, but he's clearly involved. Is he some kind of care taker for this evil? A man who has agreed to help Sidney do his thing? We will simply have to wait and see of course, but either way, this was one devastating episode and in all honesty, it's hard to say where we go from here since so many characters were left picking up the pieces of their lives by the end of this one. Until next time.

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