‘The Mosquito Coast’ Recap: ‘Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The Mosquito Coast’.
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Thus far, the AppleTV+ series, The Mosquito Coast, has been a masterclass in examining what drives people away from mainstream thinking and into the realm of the conspiracy theories that are currently plaguing our nation. For the first two episodes of this series dug deep into how failure and marginalization and a sense that the system is against a person, can motivate some people to immerse themselves in the theories and illogical line of thinking that so many of us lament. But what the series hasn’t quite done just yet, is show us exactly how a person that has fallen into that mental abyss, draws others into their maddening world. Since that is indeed paramount to properly understanding how to potentially combat this epidemic of misinformation. 

But thankfully, the series is indeed going to take the time to explore that as well and its first foray into such matters, came about during its next episode. For ‘Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere’, established the fact that often times, men like Allie Fox suck others into their wild world… by outright gaining the trust of their inadvertent targets. Which seems like a simple solution to something so incredibly complex, but it is often the simplest answer that makes the most sense. Because when we implicitly trust someone, we follow their lead often and without question, because we believe they can do no wrong. And if by chance they're in our lives during a dark time, and they can promise to lead us through hell and make good on that, we’ll follow them anywhere since security means a great deal to us. 

Which is precisely what Allie does in this tale. For when we catch up with the Fox family here, they’re broken and worried and scared and understandably so. Because they’re in the middle of the desert, with minimal water supply and without a solid plan for survival, they’ll die. Which motivates Allie to spring to action and put together a dangerous plan to get the family to safety and well, the sheer and raw danger of this voyage, allows for Chuy to begin to question the Fox family about their father and his intentions. To the point where there are brief moments where it seems as though the family has actual concerns about their father and his wild ways of thinking, leading one to believe that perhaps this, quite frankly, stupid journey, might finally motivate them to step away from the danger and live a somewhat normal life. A hope that is further enhanced by the fact that this family is brought to its absolute breaking point thanks to a lack of water and food and an injury to Chuy.

Since those elements should make it clear, that the time had finally arrived for them to separate themselves from Allie and his toxic line of thinking and actions. But that’s when the story hammers home how trust does indeed change everything for people that spread lies and misinformation. Because eventually, Allie is able to bring them to salvation, by delivering on his promise to hot wire an emergency migrant beacon to get them aid and safety and well… just like that, the family understands that dad will indeed keep them secure and that he is likely right about everything he says and that makes what should be a happy ending… a heartbreaking one. Because the safety and security he brought them will help them to wipe away any of the doubt that Chuy put into their minds, since now they know to trust Allie at any cost and undoubtedly, that will bring forth more heartbreak and sorrow. 

But while it was indeed fascinating to see how trust solidifies our belief in a person and everything they have to say, this episode also deserves serious credit for taking us upon one harrowing journey. Because this was forty-eight minutes of devastating storytelling. The kind that genuinely saw this family face death in just about every way imaginable. Since they were also able to see how many people didn't complete the journey they embarked upon and really, had it not been for Chuy and Allie’s technical prowess, they would have been added to the nameless litany of the dead peppering the desolate landscape. But all of that aside, this terrifying part of their journey has indeed come to an end and now we will get to see what kind of new life Allie has planned for his family, and if he can in fact… maintain the strange hold he has over them, now that they are away from the environment that has fueled his lies. Until next time.

‘The Mosquito Coast’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

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