​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.
 
It is definitely safe to say that humanity has quite the love/hate relationship when it comes to religion, and with good reason. After all, religion can be quite the beautiful thing. Since it can offer hope to those who are without it, a sense of direction for the lost and forgiveness for those who have done wrong and don’t know where to find peace. And it does indeed preach love and understanding and the beauty of faith and believing in something more. Something greater that we simply cannot understand, and that is good reason to love it, cherish it, and outright celebrate what it can do for the whole of humanity.
 
But on the other hand, it has its dark history. For so many have died in the name of a God that does not resemble what religion teaches, and it has in many ways stunted our growth as a society. For far too often, the clergy and others in charge would rather maintain a status quo than embrace progressive ideas, and of course… there is great harm that it has inflicted upon communities and people, as evidenced by the many disgusting transgressions that have come to light. Which gives us, good reason to hate it, and good reason to want it gone from our lives. But alas, we simply cannot quit it, and it does leave one to wonder what it would take to leave it behind since it causes so much trouble, and likely will again.  
 
If anything, our troubled relationship with religion is top of mind today, simply because it was put on display in the next episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol on AMC. A feat that ‘Vouloir, C’est Pouvoir’ accomplished by reminding us of its power and its influence, courtesy of a grand quset for our heroes. For in the wake of the fall of the Nest, Daryl and Carol did their best to prepare for the future, and a return home. Which brought them back to Paris, to find Laurent and find Ash. The former of which, was eager to see Daryl but was not happy with the sorrowful news that Issabelle did not make the journey, and while Daryl tried his best to comfort him, he was unable to and that prompted he and Carol to worry about Ash for a bit and it was a good thing he became their focus.
 
For he went missing, and that prompted this duo to head to the Demimonde to see Anna and garner ideas on how best to find him. As it turned out, it was best to head back to the Meré, since there were clues that indicated he might have gone there and well, their voyage to find Ash is what brought about the central exploration of that love/hate relationship. Because in their absence, Losang and his reformed cult made their way to the sanctuary in Paris, to bring Laurent in and continue their hideous work and well… the good and the bad of religion was put on display in this sequence. For as Codron, who also arrived here, snuck Laurent out, Losang offered up what makes religion great. For he knew that everyone in the complex had no hope, and he gave them that.

Which did remind us of its power in trying times and how easily people can be swayed by it when fear arrives, and well… after finding Ash and getting back to the hanger to heal and rest, Daryl made his way back to the club to get all the fuel they could spare, and learned of how easily people will switch sides, and how it would not be long before Losang caused them more trouble. In fact, he wasted little time at all. Since he showed up looking for the boy, and that led… to one harrowing sequence. One where Codron and Daryl took some serious lumps in an effort to keep him safe. But for their efforts… they were able to end Losang and bring forth a brief respite. Since believers still remain. But make no mistake about it… this was a fine reminder of the darkness of religion, of its relentless nature when the wrong people are in charge and that’s just it.
 
In that, his story put forth the inherent problem with religion and why we cannot find pure peace with it. Because in the end, it is put forth by people. And we are flawed, and we are sometimes easily lost by ideas and concepts, and when that happens or the wrong person, one that is broken, takes charge of religion… this is what we get. Fury, revenge, and bloodshed, all in the name of a greater good and desire to further a personal agenda over the word of the Lord. Which makes it clear that until we can find real neutral entities, who don’t believe they speak with God or are chosen to spread His word, this kind of madness will continue. Which made for a sobering tale for certain. One that truly made it clear… that it will be a very long time before we find real peace with religion.
 
Which made for a somber episode, and that somber nature was further enhanced by the fact… that Carol was finally forced… to tell the truth. Because Daryl wasn’t good with her lying, and Ash was slowly figuring things out, so she finally opened up and spoke to the fact that she lied about everything and manipulated Ash to bring her here. Which broke her heart because before Ash really got the truth, he spoke to how this actually helped to heal him. But none the less, she did what she needed to do, and faced the consequences head on, and found real remorse in what she had done. But alas, despite making peace and despite going the extra mile to ensure that Ash would bring them home, with Laurent no less since Daryl wished that and helped Laurent understand why he should come along… they might not be able to make it back.
 
All of which made, for a powerhouse episode of television. One that did what horror rarely does and explored the after of a heroic moment. Because the end of Genet, and the fall of the Nest were clearly good things. But in the wake of that, there are always lost souls looking for their next cause, and reflection and pain, and that made for a powerful tale. One that also offered up so much commentary on religion and some tough moments regarding the price of lying. If anything, the only true bright spot was Codron’s journey. Since he was a hero here that earned respect, and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this bitter tale, it’s onto the season two finale, wherein we simply don’t know if a voyage home awaits our heroes or if Europe will remain home for the time being. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Hysteria!’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that we are all supremely curious in this day and age, exactly how misinformation and fear spread so quickly in our world. Because it really does spread like wildfire, and truly does take root and when it does… we get the madness we lament. Complete with conspiracy theories and panic and outright conflict from those who want resolution on a lie. Well, it turns out, there are some simple things that help for such matters to spread, and one of which… is shock. Shock over something that seems unbelievable, since lies give us something to help us cope and give us answers to that which is impossible and how that comes to fruition was explored in the next episode of Hysteria! on Peacock and USA Network.

A feat that ‘Die Young’ accomplished by bringing forth a perfect storm for Happy Hallow. For while Dylan was headed to the station, a body was recovered. Ryan’s body in fact, and well… his passing and word that Dylan was arrested, brought about some real fear in this town. Because rumors spread fast, especially ones that revolved around Dylan carving a pentagram into his hand, and just like that… everyone was afraid, everyone was worried that something evil was happening in this town, and that worry only grew at a community gathering to discuss Ryan’s death. One where Tracy let the whole town know of the concert and that brought about great panic. The kind that Chief Dandrige worked hard to bring down, while still trying to solve the case, and that was no easy task.

Simply because fear spread fast, and everyone really wanted to believe that evil had infected the town, and that evil had been responsible for this, and that Dylan might be involved, and that fear boiled over at the worst possible time. For what should have been a somber and beautiful memorial service for the fallen, ended up being a celebration of chaos. Wherein Ryan’s parents demanded to see what happened to Dylan’s hand and that moment, combined with a falling cross… truly cemented that fear. All of which were moments that informed us that sometimes… moments happen in this world that are so heartbreaking and so shocking… that we cannot reconcile the cruelty of the world. So, we turn to conspiracies and lies and anything that gives us an answer to cope, and that happened here.

Which made for a smart episode that used that fear… to further build on the horror elements introduced in last week’s story. For once the dust settled, some uncomfortable realities came forth. Such as the fact that Spud discovered that there was no earthquake recorded in the town, and that’s eerie to say the least. Not to mention Judith offered up some cryptic words to Dylan. Specifically, about how she was eager to explore dark worlds with him, since she believed he was in a cult and of course, the return of Tracy’s daughter, also brought forth some surprises. Since Tracy hinted at some dark connections in regard to her daughter’s disappearance, courtesy of that unsettling phone call to an unknown individual.

All of which, made it seem as though the fear might be justified and that real evil might be lurking in this town. Which added to the fun of this story. Since it forces us to think deeply upon what’s real and what’s not, just like the good folks of Happy Hallow. Which is what great horror does. But it also, offers up parallels and commentary, and we definitely received that too. Since we learned so much about the origins of fear in this story and how rumors and conspiracies spread and how they heal those so desperately in need of healing. Granted, it’s the wrong way to do it, but an answer is an answer, and it will be fascinating to see what this fear does to Happy Hallow and learn if there is an evil here, as season one of this show continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes Five and Six of ‘Teacup’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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If there one particular aspect about the truth that we can all agree upon, is that once it starts coming out… there is no stopping all of it from coming forth. Because we love the truth, we crave its purity so when that first morsel of it is placed in front of us… we demand it all, and this is something that applies to storytelling as well. Because once it hits in a story, the audience or the reader simply has to know it all, and creatives understand that and often just let the floodgates open when they start the process. If anything, this is top of mind today, simply because the truth came pouring out in the next two chapters of Teacup on Peacock, and that made ‘I’m a Witness to the Sickness’ and ‘You Don’t Know What It Means to Win’ quite powerful in nature.

Because now we know what these poor souls are up against, and what they will have to do to be free, courtesy of a grandiose flashback. One that informed us that McNab, has a long history with these beings. One that brought forth traumas untold for him, and a grand understanding of the fact… that these creatures from another world… have been visiting us for ages, and they oft come down in pairs. One made up of a good soul, one made up of a bad soul and they simply battle it out on a regular basis and steal human souls in the process. For reasons that he was not able to figure out. But he did learn a great deal otherwise in taking part in fighting these creatures, to the point where he decided to take on others to help him fight the bad ones. Because he was desperate to make a difference.

In fact, he recruited young Travis, whom James encountered in the basement, to help fight this scourge, and he educated him on all things alien, including how they use meteors to land upon our world and can easily jump from body to body since they have no body of their own, and well… that was important to note because McNab was planning an all-out assault on the Navarro farm because he knew the evil beings were present here, and knew that Travis needed to know how to protect himself against these creatures, hence the mask. But alas, the assault went awry, leading to the moments that set in motion this series, alongside disaster regarding Travis and the other alien commando in this group, Olsen. Since Olsen didn’t survive and Travis was left bleeding and dying, and eventually perished in an awful way in front of James.

Who of course, heard most of this story before Travis left this plane of existence, which was a smooth and genius way in which to deliver these flashbacks, and after rescuing Ruben and getting a beating for sleeping with his wife, they were headed back to the Chenowith farm, with everyone else and McNab. Which brought forth the most harrowing segments of this story. Because after McNab received treatment for his wounds, he made a grand escape and left everyone shivering in fear. In part because they didn’t know if he would cause more harm, but more so because James filled everyone in on the truth, and Nicholas found some of McNab’s literature on the aliens and they came to realize they were going to be in for a long and terrifying fight for certain.
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Mainly because, Ellen claimed that Assassin left her body, and if that was the case, because we simply don’t know, especially since Arlo has snuck through Harbinger’s firewall… they haven’t a clue as to who the villain is, and that’s scary. Because now they cannot trust one another, they cannot be sure who is who and they have to find the evil within. Because it was made pretty clear here that Assassin will stop at nothing to bring Harbinger down, and well… in order to save the day… they will have to rely on what Nicholas found in the notes to survive, and they will have to do something quite awful. In that, to end the threat and to banish the evil that is Assassin… they have to drown the person that he is hiding within. Which is an ugly and hideous task to ask, one that will fundamentally change these folks for certain.

All of which brought forth, a pair of stunning episodes. That offered some stunningly hard truths. The kind that outright sets the stage for an epic finale for this show. One that will push this family to dark corners. But while we wait to see how that plays out and how this family deals with such realities, we can also celebrate one terrifying tale. For there were a bevy of tense moments in these episodes. The kind that reminded us that this series does hold not back and well, just like that… we are stuck waiting for a powerhouse ending to a powerhouse tale. One that has real potential to devastate the audience as much as the characters, when hard choices are made to keep people safe. Until next time.

Please enjoy this sneak peek of Episode 302 of Wicked City. Which debuts on ALLBLK, tomorrow, 10/24/24!

Please enjoy this sneak peek and synopsis of episodes five and six of Teacup. Which debut on Peacock tomorrow!
 
Ep 105: I’m a Witness to the Sickness (Streaming Oct. 24)
Written By: Michael O’Shea
Directed By: John Hyams 
Logline:  In a flashback episode, Travis, the man holding James hostage, explains how he ended up shot and hiding in the Navarros’ basement. Through Travis’ tale, James learns the imminent danger his family faces...
 
Ep 106: You Don’t Know What It Means to Win (Streaming Oct. 24)
Written By: Francisca X. Hu
Directed By: John Hyams
Logline: James, Ruben, and the kids return to the Chenoweths’ with wounded McNab. Armed with the knowledge Travis imparted, James comes to a horrifying conclusion about his mother’s recent actions...

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘MadS’.
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One particular truth about horror that we don’t acknowledge enough, is that it often offers us, catharsis. Which may seem silly to read when one considers that we watch scary stories to get scared, but beyond the gore, beyond the jump scare and any other moments of terror we enjoy, there is real catharsis to be found within this genre. Because it really is a space to confront our fears and process them in a manner where we are safe. For regardless of how hard the story goes or what particular anatomy lesson we receive, we are facing our fears in that moment. We are staring down what unsettles us the most and no harm comes to us. Just a little elevated heart rate and a dab of sweat, and that really does help us to heal.

Which is why it should come as no surprise, that horror is starting to shift gears and explore some very real-world, intimate horrors on a more regular basis. To let us ponder upon the nature and the power of our traumas, our fears of losing people and everything in between. So, we can heal, so we can face those fears at last and that is also why… we are seeing some visceral stories about infection as of late. For we are only a few years removed from a global pandemic, one that scared the living hell out of all of us, and one whose traumas we may not have processed yet. So, why not let horror help us do that, and help us to move forward from that scary time in our lives, and it just so happens… that a brand-new feature on Shudder takes the time to do just that.

A feat that MadS accomplishes by taking us out for a night on the town. Wherein an everyday teenager and his friends find themselves embroiled in some scary moments. For on his way to a party, Romain has quite the scary encounter with a wounded and possibly mentally unwell woman, one that results in some close contact with her, and some terrifying behaviors from her that he tries to dismiss as mental health issues. But sadly, it is more than that. For shortly after being near her, Romain does not feel well, and nor do some of his friends that come into close contact with him, and there’s good reason for that. For that woman happens to be patient zero of a hideous virus that transforms people into violent monsters and now those free from infection must run and hide from the people they once called friends to try and survive an outbreak that no one understands or is ready for.

Which is… the perfect plot in which to explore, the emotional scars that Covid left us with. Because this story, perfectly replicates those early days of the virus. For just like in our world, information is scarce in this story, the virus moves through means that no one understands and for the most part… no one knows who has it. For there is no grand transformation here into a grey-skinned nightmare. Just moments of surprise and moments of terror, and that too, reflects that difficult era. And by putting all of this on display, the memories of those days flood back and we are faced with that terror of the unknown once more. Where we can in fact, process it, think about it and be reminded that we are safe now, and that makes for an amazing watch, one that is further enhanced by some other amazing moments.
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For this story has so much more to offer than just reflection and healing. It is at its core, a zombie horror film, one that showcases the opening hours of the outbreak and that leads… to some stunning moments of terror. The kind where we watch everyday people just transform into the violent monsters these creatures are, and oddly… lament their actions to an extent. Which is unique in its own right. Plus, we’d be remiss to not point out that one of the reasons this film is so impactful with its scares and its commentary on days gone by, is the sheer fact that it plays out in real time. Because the movie is shot a la Rope, so it looks like a continuous take. Which truly makes it feel as though we are trapped in this nightmare.

Which gives rise to an innovative and stunning horror feature. One that really does take you by surprise from beginning to end. Because you simply don’t know what to expect here. You’re confused, nervous, worried, as we were so long ago, and you’re simply at the mercy of this story and that’s brilliant to say the least. Since it really does provide us with a visceral and raw horror feature, one that truly does allow for us to process the horror we endured a few years ago, while giving us a rough and tumble zombie story that holds nothing back when it comes to the scares, including the gore. Since writer/director David Moreau knows how to integrate that perfectly into this magnificent feature. One that truly teaches us… we are simply passengers in this life, and the sooner we realize to control what we can control, the better prepared we will be for moments akin to this, where the world asserts its power over us.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say that fans of hit AMC series, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol, have been patiently awaiting two important things to happen in season two of the show. The first, is resolution regarding the villains that populate this world. Simply because evil does not win in this world, the heroes of this world see to that, so fans have been counting down the days to the end of Genet and Losang, and of course… they’ve also been waiting for the reunion to end all reunions. That moment when Carol and Daryl stand next to each other again and bring us joy and remind us of the true power of friendship in the process, and well, after three incredible weeks of commentary and tension building, at long last… the show finally worked to give the fans what they wanted during this week’s episode.

For ‘La Paradis Pour Toi’ wasted little time in letting us know that Carol was going to be okay after being thrown in with Genet’s new batch of angry walkers. Since she smartly figured out how to hide among the corpses Genet created, and she managed to avoid dealing with the horror of the serum. All so she could escape post haste, with Codron no less, who was carted out as living bait for the dead… and make her way to the Nest. Wherein, pure chaos erupted. Mainly because Genet began her all-out assault on the place and that brought forth some of the patented action and adventure we’ve come to enjoy from this series. For the dead were everywhere, and terror was the order of the day and that brought about… sorrow and joy within the compound.

Sorrow from the fact that Losang’s darker tendencies were put on display in this tale. For while his world began to collapse, he continued to push Isabelle for information regarding Laurent’s whereabouts and when that did not go as planned, since Isabelle fought back… he was quick to stab her and leave her for death and resurrection shortly before leaving to fight the monsters in his stead. Which did not go well, for the variant walkers were tough and so many of Losang’s flock suffered and it truly seemed as though we were about to bid farewell to a character we love and eventually… we did. For Isabelle did not survive her injuries, but she was able to at least say goodbye to her love and be with Daryl one last time, simply because he escaped and that… led to the pure joy in this tale. 

Because once Daryl was out of his makeshift cell and causing good trouble, he ran into Carol and thus… came that big moment we were waiting for. Wherein two best friends, no longer separated by an ocean, were able to reunite and know that bond again, and that led… to an epic escape from the Nest and some powerful moments for certain. The kind that showcased how best friends don’t miss a beat when they reunite after some time, because this duo were quickly back to their quippy ways, and they were able to catch up and fill each other in using minimal words because of the trust they harbor and this reunion also allowed for us to learn, that Daryl has some emotional work to do in this story as well. Since clearly, he was shattered by losing Isabelle and Laurent and needs to process that pain as much as Carol.

But of course, there was mention of the fact that this story also resolved some darkness, and it accomplished that feat, in a supremely unique manner. Because eventually, Daryl and Carol were able to find a small village that Laurent traveled to with Fallou on their way back to Paris, and this was a fascinating place. For it was filled to the brim with people that were just plain older than everyone else, and because of that, they had a pact regarding death. In that, when someone passed in this quaint little village, those that went on, simply locked the fallen in their yard and let them live their second life. Giving rise to an eerie main street, one that was balanced nicely by the sweet couple that our heroes encountered along the way.
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For in this village was a loving couple, filled with a measure of hope and acceptance we’ve never seen in this universe before. They simply understood the rules, made peace with everything and just enjoyed the moment. Which was something we can all learn from, and sadly, one half of them wasn’t as gentle as the other. For the old man they spent time with here, was ready to turn Daryl and Carol over to Genet, to enjoy more hot meals and more time on this Earth, and that brought Genet herself to their humble abode to deal with the mess at hand, and that led to a tense and sorrowful sequence. One where the sweet old lady in this house perished and where… Carol dealt with Genet herself. For when there was a window to strike true, Carol used the very serum Genet created to end her in a violent and oddly satisfying manner.

But while it was lovely to see good triumph over evil again in this story, one cannot forget that sometimes… one fallen monster can easily be replaced by another, and that happened here. Because Genet did not kill Losang after seizing control of the Nest. Likely to keep him around for information and a rainy day as she was wont to do, and that… was problematic for our heroes. Because without a leader, Genet’s scattered forces turned to Losang to step in and guide them, and of course… he was more than happy to help with that. For now, he could spread the good word further and use vast resources to find his messiah and continue to propagate his lie, and bring suffering in the process. Spelling nothing but trouble for our heroes down the line.

All of which brought forth, a stunningly epic episode. One that truly delivered on everything we’ve been waiting for. For at last, Genet paid the piper for her special evil, Codron played the hero, and of course… the greatest best friends in the history of television are together again, and that’s a good thing. Because one evil has replaced another, one that flat out will be more ruthless than Genet ever was since he believes that God is on his side, and Laurent will need their strength to stay safe. But while we wait to see what that battle looks like; we can celebrate just an incredible story. One that really did deliver on that big moment and made it worth our while and special, and it was just a real treat to see Daryl and Carol together again and doing what they do best, and that will make the wait for next week’s episode quite painful, since we are now more than eager to see them continue to do good in this faraway land. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Hysteria!’

​One particular question we are asking often these days, is how did we get to this point? Which is a broad question that applies to a bevy of concerns. For instance, our society is super polarized, with people making politics a huge part of their identity now and there are folks digging in hard from a religious standpoint. Not to mention, people are doing some fascinating things when it comes to the desire to be seen and noticed by the world. For instance, cosplayers will pay tribute to the death of a famous person by posting a ‘tribute’ in costume that draws attention to their skills, rather than just paying respects, and others will do stupid stuff to enjoy clout. All of which just leaves us scratching our heads because this doesn’t seem like behavior we should see in our modern world, and we don’t know how it came to this.

But there are answers to this, and honestly, we merely need to look back at our past to better understand how such behaviors took root and are rampant now, and it just so happens that Peacock and USA Network are now home to a horror story that will examine such matters, while scaring the hell out of us. A feat that Hysteria! accomplishes by transporting us back to the past. To the year 1989 to be exact, in the small Midwest town of Happy Hallow to be more precise. Wherein we meet a trio of teenagers named Dylan, Spud and Jordy, who yearn to be popular and would love for everyone to appreciate their band, and they find quite the opportunity to make that happen in ‘The Satanic Panic’. For a jock goes missing in this story, and the strange circumstances surrounding his exit speak to the possibility that something evil is happening in this small town.

That, and a surprise moment between Dylan and his crush, prompts the band to go dark and tie their music with satanic death metal. Which piques everyone’s attention and gives them the clout they so desire. But there are problems that come with hitting the limelight in such a manner. For their desire to do this in the midst of a crisis, prompts so many to begin to wonder if something genuinely evil is happening here, and that brings stunning fear to this town, and some strange occurrences as well. That speak to something sinister hiding in the shadows of this town after all. Which is… the perfect way to explore the central theme present here. Since that does indeed showcase why people are willing to do sink to low levels for clout, and it involves, being marginalized. Because that’s hard to reconcile, not being someone that is seen or matters… so those folks believe that it is worth their while to go for it and see what it is like to be noticed regardless of what type of attention it brings.

But what’s amazing about this intelligent and delightfully 80s story, is that it also harbors, some genuinely unsettling moments of horror. After all, the opening sequence where the jock is kidnapped, is about as scary as it gets and harkens back to the slashers of the era. Not to mention, the lurking darkness in this town is also unsettling. Because there really does seem to be something quite evil hanging out in Happy Hallow and it would seem a lot of what happened here, has awakened it. As though bringing harm to an innocent allowed for this darkness to thrive. Not to mention that ending, and those visuals really do leave add to the mystique of the story. Plus, it is also quite exciting that the show has more commentary waiting in the wings regarding that central question we are all asking in 2024.

Because clearly, the desire for some to have everyone return or join sweet baby Jesus, alongside the fear present in this town and the distrust that is growing… speaks volumes to some deep discussions on Modern America and the division we are currently battling, and the origins of it, and all of that makes, for a magnificent series premiere. For this is horror at its finest. After all, it has something for everyone. Because there’s scares abound and intense moments that chill, plus there’s fine commentary to be found within the framework of the show and above all, there are some horror legends present here. Since Anna Camp is True Blood royalty, and Bruce Campbell needs to introduction, just our awe. Because Hail to the King, baby. All of which just makes for a delightful watch, one that has us ready for more and ready for answers regarding what the hell is happening in Happy Hallow. Until next time.

To learn more about the creation of this series, visit our interviews with Co-Showrunners Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman, and cast members, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, and Kezii Curtis.

It is definitely safe to say that modern pop culture is heavily influenced by the 1980s, for several reasons. After all, a great deal of creatives who grew up in that epic decade, are now in charge of storytelling and are paying homage to the best parts of the 80s in their work. Not to mention, the decade really did offer up some iconic stories, the kind that we are still in love with today. To the point where children of the 80s are showing their kids the stories they grew up on, making those epic tales generational in nature and course… it was also… a super important decade in horror history. Since it was filled to the brim with groundbreaking horror features whose elements and tropes are still in use to this day.
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In addition to all of that, the nostalgia for the era is at an all-time high, and that’s allowing for stories set in that decade to come to life often, allowing for this decade to dominate pop culture in the 21st Century. And it just so happens that a brand-new series on Peacock, serves as the perfect tribute to all the best parts of that era, including the genre that dominated the day. A feat that Hysteria! accomplishes by offering up a story that is not only set in 1989 but is a horror story in its own right. One that plunges us into the lovely town of Happy Hollow at the height of the Satanic Panic, and well… something dark is happening in this lovely town.

For one of the most popular kids in school has gone missing, and there are many who wonder if some sort of evil force from outside of the town has brought about his disappearance. A fear that only grows when a local band, comprised of everyday teens, seek to piggyback on that notion by posing as a band that is all about that Satanic lifestyle. But when the darkness in this town grows and more strange occurrences take place, questions rise regarding this band’s role in the whole mess. All of which gives rise, to a fantastic horror series. One that really does impress in so many ways. Starting with the fact, that it really is a perfect tribute to 1980s horror. Since it gets the vibes right, and the look right as well. In fact, just about every single shot in this story has that perfect glow and VHS wash that everyone associates with 80s horror. But the wonder of this story goes beyond its ability to fit into the zeitgeist of 2024 nostalgia.

Because this is also a hyper intelligent homage, one that puts the Satanic Panic on display, something that was a weird and wildly big deal in the late 1980s, and while it thankfully burned out in the early 1990s, the paranoia and the division it created has relevance here. Since there are moments in this series that feel eerily reminiscent of today, and the division we currently harbor from a political standpoint, and even the strange push from the church to be relevant and dominant in matters both political and moral in 2024 finds root here, giving rise to commentary on the cyclical nature of our society. Not to mention, even the band just hopping on the bandwagon has its own bit of commentary, regarding our current obsession with trends and clout. Which in turn just adds to the majesty of this series, because good commentary like that is often found in great horror and that’s really what this series is, and it backs that up… with some stunning scares as well.

For what happens in this town is genuinely creepy, and the scares are both original and familiar. Thanks to moments that either pay homage to the slasher and horror stories of the 80s or offer something refreshing and new, and all of these elements blend together to bring forth a must-see series for Halloween. Because it really is something quite special and something quite delightful. Since it is the perfect blend of scares and intelligence, and the tribute to a beloved era is never overwhelming. Courtesy of some amazing writing that’s been put forth by co-showrunners Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman, and it also doesn’t hurt that this series boasts a stunning cast. One that features Anna Camp and Julie Bowen, and even horror legend Bruce Campbell gets in on the fun, and the principal cast, consisting of Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, and Kezii Curtis hold their weight as well.

But the best news of all, is that you don’t have to wait to enjoy this series, in fact… you have a bevy of options when it comes to watching it. For all eight episodes are on Peacock now, and if you don’t have Peacock, but do happen to have cable, you can watch it weekly on USA Network starting tonight, and we hope you give it a look. For this really is quite the unique horror series, one that truly blends together so many wonderful elements of nostalgia and commentary, about a wild moment in time. Courtesy of a grand exploration regarding how Americans struggle to adapt with the ever-changing times.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes Three & Four of ‘Teacup’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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Often times in horror stories, two things ring true. In that, the characters will rarely deal with the shocking fallout of the horrible things they are experiencing, and answers won’t come in the story until late. Simply because… horror stories want to keep that tension rolling, so not giving people a chance to breathe and reflect adds to that terror and offering surprises at the end of the story, provides the viewer with pure shock value, the kind that brings forth an epic finale, and this has been commonplace for ages on end. But in this new era of storytelling, there are stories now pondering as to whether or not such matters can change and enhance scary stories for the better and Teacup on Peacock is proving, that is most certainly the case.

For the next two episodes in this saga, ‘Quite for No Reason’ and ‘In the Heart of the Country’ took the time to do both of those things, while still finding new ways to surprise us and scare us and it really did waste little time in giving everyone a moment to breathe. For a fair chunk of episode three allowed for everyone to just rest for a bit and reflect upon their new normal. Wherein they could process the reality of the situation, and many of the revelations that came forth in the last episodes. Allowing for real and genuine reflection to take place, the kind that was relatable and powerful, and familiar. Since this sequence once again felt akin to the horrors we experienced not that long ago, and it was refreshing to see this kind of humanity on display. Since it truly isn’t something that shows up in horror enough.

But there was mention of some answers to be found here as well, and much of that was handled via Arlo. Who revealed that whatever entity he now carried, was named Harbinger, and that it wanted to offer up some measure of help. Which was why it led Meryl and Nicholas into the woods to reveal the being’s origins and offer up a fix. As it turned out, Harbinger was a being from another world, and residue from its landing would allow for everyone to leave if they consumed just enough of the goop. But alas, that might not happen now because of a wild encounter with McNab, who apologized and offered grace to Harbinger, since they are in fact, old friends. One that McNab is eager to help in any capacity, provided of course… he can survive the wound inflected upon him in this tale. 

Plus, more answers came forth by way of a surprise on the farm. In that, law enforcement arrived and the agent that stepped onto the property provided some insight into what the heck was going on. In that, whatever this creature from the heavens was, created a harmonic field in its presence. One that would rip anyone to shreds if they crossed the border of that field, hence that blue line, and of course… he wanted to meet the being and deal with it violently. Something Maggie was not good with since she knew it would mean the end of Arlo, and she also didn’t trust the man in the slightest. So, she knocked him out, isolated him and came to learn he had big plans for Arlo. But before she could discover what that was, a massive surprise came into play.

In that, the man was also infected with whatever came down from the stars, and he transferred that essence into Ellen, who destroyed her former body. Making it clear that Harbinger has enemies, and that moment helped to usher in… the terror. Because McNab was right, no one can be trusted, and it is shockingly difficult to discover who is who in this story and that’s terrifying, and the scares didn’t end there. Since we don’t know if James and Ruben are safe. For they went out to a neighbor’s farm to check on that family and perhaps enlist their help. Only for them to find death and destruction before Ruben was locked away in a silo, one that harbors a living surprise from these aliens and James… encountered a bloody and wounded survivor that wanted believable answers… or James’ life.

All of which gave rise, to a pair of magnificent episodes, that really did do the impossible. Because we really did watch these folks deal with the horror of their situation and reflect upon it and offer a measure of grieving for the loss of their freedom, which was refreshing. Plus, it was equally as fascinating to enjoy a little science fiction twist in this tale and get some answers. Not all of them mind you, to keep the mystery going. But it was nice to finally have an idea of what’s going on and what everyone is up against, and it really did accomplish all of that while creeping us out. Because the neighbor farm scenes were just unsettling and terrifying and the reveal that another like Harbinger is on the farm, was chilling and compelling. Enough that we are undoubtedly counting down the minutes to next week’s episodes, to see where this incredible series is headed next. Until next time.