‘Servant’ Recap: ‘Camp’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 307 of ‘Servant’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One unfortunate lesson that each and every one of us will learn at some point during our journey through life, is that the problems that we choose not to resolve, will eventually come back to haunt us. Because when they lie unresolved, they grow in power and gain momentum and when the moment is right, they will explode upon the scene and shock us and sow chaos in our lives and hopefully teach us a valuable lesson, when the dust settles... about handling our problems the instant they arrive, so we never have to deal with this kind of trouble again. If anything, this particularly difficult aspect of the human condition is top of mind today, simply because it served as the central conflict for the Turner family in the next episode of Servant on Apple TV+.
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For when we catch up with the family in ‘Camp’, Dorothy is making every attempt that she can to keep things peaceful around this humble abode, and that involves getting Leanne back in line. But the newly confident Leanne just isn’t keen to do anything that anyone else says anymore, not when she has a flock of followers that are eager to worship and adore her and that leads to great conflict within the home. Because Leanne takes Jericho into the park to meet her congregation, despite Dorothy’s wishes for her to stay away from them, and well, that’s when a prior problem came back to haunt this already broken family. For if you recall, season one and season two of this series, oft explored the fact that Sean and Julian did Dorothy, and themselves… a great disservice.

In that, they did little to try and get her to confront the reality that Jericho was in fact, dead, and that she had a hand in ending his life, and by enabling her and indulging her toxic behaviors, they allowed for a monster to be born within their home. One not lethal by any means, but one that understood that it could always get what it wanted… when it so desired, and to deny this monster would bring about a penance and it most certainly did in this tale. Because when faced with the reality that Leanne wasn’t going to obey, and that no one would ‘stand up’ to her and keep her in line, Dorothy went to extremes and decided that Leanne should disappear for a couple of months at a dance camp. A move that of course, sent everyone into a tizzy… but complaints mattered not.

For Dorothy had spoken and she was going to get her way and for a time… it really appeared as though the end of the Turner/Grayson partnership was at hand. Especially since a stunned Leanne came within moments of leaving her new home behind. But… when she snapped out of her funk, and realized this was indeed happening, Leanne let her power shine through and fired a warning shot at Dorothy. One that involved removing Jericho’s spirit from the doll… to make it clear that without Leanne in this household, there would be no joy or happiness or Jericho for that matter as well. Which means we just bore witness to the opening salvos of an epic showdown in the Turner home. One between a power hungry and spoiled mother and a burgeoning leader that is quickly becoming drunk on power.

All because of the fact that Sean and Julian refused to do their part and get Dorothy the help she needed, nor did they properly stand up to her unhealthy behaviors and well, the show deserves a round of applause for going this route storytelling wise. Since it brought a long-standing problem around full circle all while growing the legend of Leanne and what she is capable of and well, this is a story that will definitely leave us counting down the minutes until next week’s tale. So that we can see what kind of surprises and shocking moments await us, when this power struggle undoubtedly kicks into high gear. Until next time.

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