‘Servant’ Recap: ‘Zoo’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 406 of ‘Servant’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the fascinating Apple TV+ series, Servant, we talked at length about how difficult it can be to excise a toxic person from one’s life. Simply because they hang on tight and more or less refuse to let go. Which causes more strife for a person that’s already over the situation and ready to move on without that person in their life. But what that episode didn’t explore… is why that toxic person is eager to just hang on. Because there comes a point where they know they’re not welcome and know they’re not wanted, so why stick around in a place where you’re despised? Well at it turns out, the next episode in this magnificent series, takes the time to answer that question.
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A feat that ‘Zoo’ accomplishes by inviting us back into the Turner home for a special day. Specifically, Jericho’s one and a half year old birthday party. After all, Dorothy was in the hospital when Jericho officially turned one, so there was no way to properly celebrate his big day. So, Leanne made a point to bring people together to make that happen. In fact, she even hired a live animal show to really make the day special, and she also made cake arrangements, the works. Granted, the whole party was a damn disaster because of the spiritual nature of the evil that Leanne now carries, since it spooked the animals and brought about trouble… but this did allow for us to come to understand why a toxic person sticks around.

Which in this instance, and probably others, relates more to the fact… that we give a toxic person something they need. A sense of hope perhaps, or a sense of family as was the case with Leanne here. Which is what she’s always wanted and rather than just walk away with her spin-off cult and live, she is opting to desperately hold onto what she has and what she believes it can become. And she is so broken and so dependent on that notion, that she will pull out all the stops to have it or have some semblance of it. Adding a tragic element to Leanne at last, one that does help us to see her in a different light. Granted, she’s still as toxic as can be, but it was nice to learn what drives a person like her to hang on.

However, while it was amazing to find a bookending lesson present in this tale, it wasn’t without its horror elements and issues with the cult. Since Leanne did come under fire from the neighbors once again, who genuinely tried to end her life to finally be done with this madness. And… we came to learn that Leanne was right to be suspect of sweet Bobby and Bev. Because, in the midst of the chaos of the party, Bev was quick to bring Leanne into the basement apartment to tend to a wound that a goat inflicted upon her. Only to reveal… that she was a member of the church, and she was ready to do what had to be done in order to bring peace and order to the church and the world. But alas, she was no match for the strange power that Leanne put on display in that fight.

Which informed us… she is far more capable than anyone ever knew when it comes to how she can inflict harm when threatened. That means, Dorothy and Sean will have their hands full in getting her out of the house, if they can do so at all. Since clearly, Leanne is digging in and of course… they still have to go through her lover to get to her. Another harsh reality that will complicate the freedom they desire. But while we wait to see what comes of those revelations, we can relish in one amazing tale. One that gave us perspective and tragedy and a hint of things to come, and well… that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode quite painful, since the tension is ramping up and the danger… is growing. Until next time.

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