‘Servant’ Recap: ‘Mama’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season three finale of ‘Servant’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Whenever someone that means to the world to us, stumbles and struggles in life… we are quick to drop everything to help them and it makes sense as to why. For they are supremely special in our eyes, and we only want the best for them, and stepping in and giving them the assistance or direction, they need… allows for that to happen. Not to mention, being there in their time of need strengthens our relationship and of course, it helps us too… since we will feel good about making sure that someone that matters wasn’t going it alone during a difficult time in their lives. But while this particular choice on our part tends to end the way we want it to, with our loved one pulling through, this isn’t always a decision that ends in happiness. Because sometimes stepping in to help can cause more harm than good… or produce an unfortunate result.
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Mainly because, the person we are trying to aid resists our help and fights us every step of the way, and that definitely leaves one in a stunned place mentally. Since that is not how an act of kindness is supposed to be reciprocated. But the fact of the matter is, when the problem at hand for the person we care about is vast and troublesome and has fundamentally rattled the person in question, they might not be ready for help or to change the course of their life. Or they simply don’t want help or salvation and having to realize that… is heartbreaking for certain. Since it means the person we love will languish and spiral for far longer than we like… or forever if they never decide they want to leave their dark place and well… that tough lesson is of note today because it’s one that Sean and Julian were forced to learn in the season three finale of Servant.

But it sure didn’t seem as though that was going to be the case early on in ‘Mama’. Because while Dorothy was initially still hesitant to accept help and the medications the doctor prescribed her, she eventually began to relent to everyone’s wishes and lowered her guard and opened up to her family, and for a time it really appeared as though… she was ready to turn over a new leaf and deal with the darkness within and be the person Sean, and Julian and Leanne knew she could be. In fact, she was so comfortable in the house once again that she was back to spending time with Leanne and she let her play with Jericho, and she even went so far as to make the family a stunning dinner. As a symbolic thank you of sorts. But alas… all this wonderful behavior was nothing more than a ruse.

Because in silence, Dorothy was fuming. For she couldn’t believe that her family ‘turned’ on her and demanded that she be ‘better’ when she believed she had done nothing wrong. Making it clear that she didn’t want their help and support. She wanted their complacency and silence so that she could quietly plan the ultimate betrayal. One that spoke to the fact that no amount of love or help or care was ever going to change her. For she was so broken and shattered by what happened a year ago, that she accepted her negative feelings as the norm and there would be no deviating from that since she genuinely thought she knew best. Which led to a horrifying ending in this tale, wherein the plan to take Jericho in the middle of the night came to fruition and well… that incurred the wrath of Leanne and allowed for Dorothy to suffer some grave injuries for certain.

The kind that we don’t know if she will recover from, and to make matters worse… Leanne’s old Uncle George is back in the mix and planning who knows what. Meaning that dark clouds are gathering on the horizon for this family. But while we wait to see what kind of storm awaits, we can offer up a round of applause for one supremely bleak and poignant tale. One that finally brought a reckoning forth for the Turner family for enabling Dorothy’s inner demons and for never once getting her the care she needs. Since such an act plunged her into total darkness, and it will be fascinating to see what will come out of this twist and the revelation that evil has returned when Servant returns to Apple TV+ for its fourth season. Until next time.   

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