‘Lodge 49’ Rewatch: Lost and Found

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

The Power of Loss and Trauma Present in ‘As Above, So Below’

‘We lost everything.’
- Sean ‘Dud’ Dudley

​It is funny, how revisiting a story offers up a vastly different experience for the reader or the viewer. Because now you know how the whole thing ends, and you know exactly what said story was trying to accomplish and that more or less changes everything that plays out before your eyes. For now you see the subtle nuances present within the framework of the story, the kind that tie what seemed like innocuous moments to bigger plot threads and future events, and that allows for the tale to take on a new life and well, this is on my mind today, simply because this is what I encountered as I began my rewatch of the late but incredibly great series, Lodge 49.
 
Because when I first settled in to watch this series a couple of years ago, I found it to be quirky and delightful and it simply felt like something new. As though it was really going to try and give us a unique slice of everyday life, one that threw a little mysticism into the mix. But this time around, it didn’t take long for me to realize that ‘As Above, So Below’, was filled to the brim with powerful themes and concepts, the kind that do indeed tie into the now early and unexpected series finale. And I was honestly unprepared for how many heavy moments were present in this series premiere because this sucker… well it turns out that it worked overtime to present the immediate power of loss and trauma in fierce and devastating fashion.
 
Granted I probably should have caught on to this sooner, but Dud’s ability to bury his pain and find ways to celebrate his father’s life, alongside the sheer quirky nature of this series, disguised some of it. In fact, you kind of think that Dud is just a love-able loser at first glance, as he tries to get by like the rest of us. But seeing Dud’s arc over two years and seeing how much his father’s death impacted him adds a new level of somber depth to this opening chapter in his journey. For now, the pain and isolation he’s currently experiencing, bubbles to the surface of Wyatt Russell’s brilliantly nuanced performance and the ache in his soul and his desperation to be close to his father and find closure in regards to his death, takes on a new life the second time around and you truly feel his pain.   

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If anything, it’s obvious now that Dud is more or less at rock bottom in this story, and he’s there because he simply doesn’t know what to do now that everything important in his life has been taken away from him, and that’s painfully relatable for so many of us. And while that alone could have carried this episode, the story takes his shattered nature one step further by doing a fine job of showing us just how lost he is, and how being that directionless prompts us to sometimes make odd and desperate decisions when it comes to the relationships in our lives. After all, he’s putting walls up when it comes to his sister, to likely shield himself from the painful memories he cannot escape in the first place, yet he’s also desperate for a connection since he tries to hang out with Beth and her fiancé and of course, the Lodge lights him up like no other and well, all of these elements simply fascinate me the second time around.
 
Because this is the kind of raw and painful stuff that television tends to shy away from, but this show put the erratic nature of a broken soul on full display and that allowed for us to immediately connect and root for Dud because we want nothing more than to see him get better. Plus, I love that the premiere takes the time to show us that he’s not alone in struggling since Ernie is clearly living two lives, as demonstrated by the façade he puts on at work while he struggles with his demons and his own pain when alone or with Connie. And I also love how Liz is introduced in this story since we learn in subtle fashion that she is indeed the rock of the family, and she’s projecting that air of calm and confidence to keep her brother comfortable and level, but she knows exactly when to let it down in order to connect with Dud, as demonstrated by her admission of worry when papers are served at her apartment.
 
However, while all of this is fascinating and powerful and moving to watch all over again, what matters the most here is that the Lodge and everything it represents gives Dud a new lease on life, and the fact that no one judges him when he opens up in raw and honest fashion is what helps to set the foundation for the journey ahead. For this immediately reminds us of the fact that this series focused heavily on how those we love, including our extended family, are always there for us and will lift us up in our time of need and that makes the ending of a harrowing tale quite uplifting. Since it sees Dud go from lost to found in a matter of minutes and seeing him find a sense of peace reminds me why I’m back in the thick of this series one more time. Because it always found a way to remind us that everything is going to be okay and that eventually life will get better and honestly, I am stunned at every missed detail I discovered/rediscovered in the series premiere and truly, I cannot wait to see what other wonders await me as I make another journey through the hallowed halls of Lodge 49. Until next time. 

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