‘Servant’ Recap: ‘Eel’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 103 of ‘Servant’.

The truth is something that people are eager to seek when a grand mystery enters their lives. Simply because there is an outright thrill to be found when we work to uncover it and often times this particular quest for knowledge can be quite healthy. For seeking the truth out can indeed bring some forth some pleasant surprises, or some semblance of justice or closure, depending on what we are looking for. But at the same time, while this search is often encouraged by our friends and family, and has its benefits, it can also cause us great harm. Because sometimes the truth we seek is in fact, quite ugly and hurtful and its discovery can force us to make great changes to our lives. 

Or there is the worst-case scenario. Wherein the quest reveals terrifying and downright dangerous facts and really, pondering upon the nature of the search for truth and the troubles that can come with it is relevant to today’s discussion, simply due to the fact that it serves as one of the central themes to the next episode of Servant. For ‘Eel’ sees Julian and Sean work to figure out more about Leanne’s true identity and well, what they uncover is indeed mysterious and disturbing and somewhat terrifying as well. But what made this exploration so worth our while, is the sheer fact that it seemed quite innocent and harmless at first. Because a quick background check on Leanne revealed very little, something that held the line in regard to her ‘I’m no one special’ backstory. 

But a voyage to her hometown, where it seemed as though Julian would have an awkward encounter with her family, turned into quite the unsettling investigation. For when Julian and his private investigator friend arrived at the homestead, they found nothing but ruin. Because the Grayson home was badly damaged by a fire, one that apparently took the lives of everyone within the home and the only tie to Leanne within its damaged walls, was a funny homemade cross hanging on the wall. One that looked exactly like the one hanging in the Turner home above Jericho’s bed and the disturbing nature of this search didn’t end there. For a deeper dive into what happened in regard to the fire, revealed that Leanne Grayson was dead. Leaving one to wonder exactly who was living in the Turner home with Sean and Dorothy. 

A truth that Julian was eager to learn upon his return to Philadelphia. But when he confronted ‘Leanne’ about her lies, his search for the truth took another unexpected turn. Because despite his best efforts to maintain the upper hand in regard to this investigation, Leanne knew exactly how to manipulate Julian and disarm him. A surprise that left him speechless and at her mercy and that makes these revelations all the more terrifying. For up until now, Leanne was nothing more than a little mouse in the Turner house. But clearly, she is more than meets the eye she since exhibited incredible intelligence and cunning in this interaction, and that only builds the mystery surrounding her since now, we know she isn’t here to be just a nanny… she has a purpose and a plan in mind.

In the end however, this was just one chilling tale. For every reveal in this story was unsettling and powerful and added genuine horror to the story. For we simply don’t know at this point if anyone in the Turner home is safe and it genuinely seems as though Leanne has ties to something supernatural and that’s just brilliant when all is said and done. Because these twists and turns simply draw us into the story further, for now we too need to know the truth about Leanne and what exactly she’s up to and that is a dangerous venture for us as well. For clearly horrors untold await us as we uncover the unfortunate reality surrounding this young woman and her plans and well… that simply compels the viewer to continue the journey. Because ugly reveal or not, we have to know, and it will be interesting to see where the revelations of this particular tale, take us in the next episode and beyond. Until next time.      

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