‘Servant’ Recap: ‘Balloon’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘Servant’.
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For the most part, season finales have now become a fine science, thanks to the wonder of peak television. Simply because there are so many examples out there now of what a quality finale looks like, allowing for everyone to borrow from what has become quite the satisfying formula. Wherein every plot thread introduced within the framework of the season is addressed in a proper and pleasing manner for the audience, or where big surprises come into play to prepare everyone for next season’s thrilling storylines. But while a vast majority of shows subscribe to this particularly wonderful structure, there are still some out there that are eager to buck the trend and try something new.
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Take Servant for instance. For this is a story that was building toward some big-time answers for its season one finale. Such as why Leanne chose to help the Turner family and whether or not she would remain loyal after learning about how Jericho died. Plus, we also seemed primed to learn every detail there is to know about Leanne’s incredible power, such as whether or not she can raise the dead, and how she obtained this power and why she has it in the first place. But rather than go the traditional route and provide the audience with all kinds of incredible revelations and stunning moments that satisfy our curiosity, ‘Balloon’ is a story that was mostly devoid of answers. Instead this particular tale opted to world build as much as possible. 

But before we break down said world-building, let’s take a moment and discuss the answers that we actually did get in this finale. Because it was nice to outright confirm that Leanne is not a villain after all, but someone that really does want to help people with the incredible power that she carries at her fingertips. For this episode also did confirm that Leanne can in fact, raise the dead by means we still don’t fully understand. But while the how and the why in regard to her power wasn’t revealed here, it was nice to establish her intentions and finally feel something for her other than suspicion. In fact, the only thing the audience could feel for Leanne in this story was pity, since we also came to learn that she’s something of a pawn. 

For this story took the time to introduce us to her disturbing and eerie Aunt May, who decided now was the perfect time to show up with Uncle George and reclaim their baby girl and that’s where the world-building came into play. Since it was revealed that Leanne more or less escaped some kind of wild cult, one that believes that Leanne’s power should be used at their discretion and they genuinely believe that the wicked and unjust should be punished. A belief that we came to discover by way of the fact that Jericho’s revitalized spirit disappeared from the doll by the end of this tale and that Sean can no longer feel any pain, thanks to a little prayer session with Uncle George and the other important element we came to uncover about this cult, is that they are also quite powerful. Because it seems they are able to teleport on a moment’s notice and well, seeing that in action, made for one wild ending to this tale.

Because it in essence, leaves the audience confused and curious and out of sorts since we were expecting resolution and progress storytelling wise, and while some will definitely lament this ending, this reviewer is happy to applaud it. For this is a bold move storytelling wise, since it embroils the Turners in a situation and a world that they don’t understand. And now that they’ve been robbed of happiness and feeling and Leanne’s kindness, it sets the stage for a redemption arc down the line. One where they need to prove their worth to themselves and perhaps the universe before they find closure. Plus, this cult is something of serious interest since they clearly have a grand plan and powers at their fingertips and that leaves one eager to enjoy season two of this series. Because clearly, there is a long-term storytelling plan in place, and it will be incredibly interesting to see where this wild tale takes us when year two gets underway. Until next year.

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