And just like that, the show I love is back! The quality of this episode feels like an apology for five, and that’s the last disparaging comment I’ll make regarding that, promise.
We get a fast-paced, four-minute opener that feels like it could have been the intro to a Chucky movie of its own, and my gut tells me that at some point this probably was, but you won’t find me complaining about it. It’s incredibly satisfying to see the on-screen return of Andy, and more importantly Kyle who we only got the slightest glimpse of in Cult. It’s also damn enjoyable seeing the first of many shots in this episode that pay homage to iconic films like Pulp Fiction, Cape Fear, and Christine; it was cathartic seeing Andy and Kyle unloading their clips on Melty Hand Chucky from the previous film like they’re Jules and Vincent. Now all I need to know is just where is that darned, one-armed, drill wielding Chucky who we last saw sitting in the asylum patiently? Eh, that’s a problem for next season, I guess.
Alex Vincent’s acting is not great, I’m not going to pretend that it is. But his portrayal of Andy’s obsession with Chucky, which has clearly spun out of control since the last film’s events, is equal parts just cheesy enough and just weird enough to work. This kind of performance makes for a good balance when he interacts with the much more strait-laced Kyle, who is very clearly serving as a counterbalance for her traumatized foster brother and his doll induced instabilities.
A performance I can wholly praise however is Lexa Doig’s, playing Junior’s mother Bree. Doig’s last big name horror role was Rowan in Jason X (I knew she looked familiar!), but she fits right at home in this series. Both her and Sawa’s performance as they psyche themselves up, trying to muster an explanation for Junior regarding Bree’s cancer diagnosis, is not only compelling but genuinely saddening. The way she recomposes herself to comfort Junior, her explaining to him what exactly she talks about in therapy, and her bold refusal of treatment while facing her illness just makes her death even more harrowing in the end. I really hope that Doig gets a second role in the franchise the same way Michael Therriault and Adam Hurtig have before her just because of how enjoyable she was to watch.
After Bree’s death I was sure the second half of the episode wouldn’t be able to keep up, but the tension in this episode stays at a fever pitch to the very final frame. I enjoyed the slow crawl through the Wheeler mansion hunting for Chucky as the crew attempts to corner the doll strategically. Samir Rehem’s steady directing complements the scene’s mood. The showdown between them and Chucky isn’t as long I would have liked, but at this point I’m just being greedy asking for more, especially when the sequence ends with such a potent shock. Detective Evan’s death at the hands of Chucky’s second fatal push of the episode was even more of a sucker punch and left me totally stunned the first time I saw it. I’m glad to say the end of this episode still hits hard.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS: This may seem like a cop out, but I legitimately think this is the first episode where I can say everyone was just downright fantastic. All the major players got a heart-to-heart moment or piece of dialogue that showcased their talent. One performance I will always note is from Fiona Dourif, who is forced to do her stellar Chucky impression worse than it actually is to play Nica pretending to be Chucky. Meta.
VISUAL HIGHLIGHTS: The plunge Bree takes is a cut above most of kills in the franchise. It’s shocking, creative, insane looking, and all in all a brutal end. I’m not going to be forgetting the pan to Bree’s face through the broken windshield anytime soon. This episode’s title card with Chucky’s reflection in the glass shards is also my favorite out of all the episodes.
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE:
“Oh shit. That never happened in Cape Fear.”
“Of course not. DeNiro could have never fit down the chimney.”
“No dude. He was totally ripped in that.”
RATING: 10 (Maternal Murders by Falling)/10. The first perfect score since the pilot, and the last one for the season. It’s the one I’ve enjoyed rewatching the most, just for all the emotional highs and lows you’re subjected to as a viewer and all the instant classic moments we get. It’s also unrelenting emotionally, which feels like it should be a rarity for a show about a redhead killer doll.