Chucky – S2 E3 – “Hail, Mary!”
We are back with Haunted MTL’s continuing coverage of the Chucky franchise. This week, we talk about Chucky S2 E3, “Hail, Mary!” While the previous episode teased two significant legacy characters in Glen and Glenda – we also had a dangling plot thread involving a dead detective. All that goes out the window this week as we spend our entire runtime at Incarnate Lord.
Worry not; this episode is some of the wildest stuff to happen in the Chucky franchise in a long time.
Chucky – S2 E3 – “Hail, Mary!”
A few keystone moments in the Chucky franchise radically shift the series’ trajectory. First was the introduction of Tiffany. Then there was the introduction of Glen/Glenda. The idea of soul-splitting also created a radically new direction for the franchise. This week, the series posits a question: Can you brainwash Chucky?
The episode spends the entirety of the runtime at Incarnate Lord exploring moments of characterization while eliminating some possible narrative angles. The A-plot involves the Chuckybusters trying to brainwash their captured Scout Chucky to get some answers regarding his mission. However, their brainwashing is much more potent than intended and creates a surprising new version of Chucky that is new to the franchise. A good Chucky.
Of course, the writers also enjoy complications – but don’t we all? Hence, the arrival of a new delivery truck to the school featuring a familiar box. This arrival introduces another variant of Chucky – perhaps the strangest one yet.
All the while, character relationships are explored, and power dynamics are established. Father Bryce (Devon Sawa) learns something new about the kids and sets to work punishing them. Sister Catherine (Andrea Carter) is the coolest adult in the current season, and Sister Ruth (Lara Jean Chorostecki) is the worst. Meanwhile, Lexy’s bully, Trevor (Jordan Kronis), gets to work to assert control over her, but this does not last long.
All the while, Jake and Devon clash over guilt and distrust, Nadine’s character grows more intriguing, and Nadine and Lexy seem to bond.
How Was It?
Samir Rehem’s fourth directed episode of the series proves to be fun and a good follow to last week, which he also directed. The direction is solid, and some interesting cuts and camera tricks create some fun variation in an episode locked more or less to a couple of locations. One criticism is that this episode was overly dark when it came to light, especially compared to last week. Some of the scenes in Jake and Devon’s room could have benefited from a touch more brightness.
Rachel Paradis and Nick Zigler get the opportunity to write one of Don Mancini’s long-standing ideas of a Good Chucky, make it work, and garner sympathy for the little psycho during the A Clockwork Orange brainwashing segment. Sympathy for Charles Lee Ray; who knew that was possible?
“Hail, Mary!” is Paradis’ second series writing credit since “Little Little Lies” in season one. Zigler serves as one of the go-to writers for the show, with this episode being his eighth writer credit on Chucky. He penned most of season one’s episodes.
However, as new possibilities open up, the episode does close the door on a character that could have created some solid dramatic potential. It’s a risky move, but I feel the show thrives when it throws caution into the wind.
Highlights
I won’t factor in my disappointment to be drifting away from the Glen and Glenda developments from last week in scoring the episode. This largely single-location episode provided exciting developments that could radically shape the franchise.
I do feel the episode’s lighting was an issue, and I am still unsure how to feel about removing a character from the overall narrative. However, the moments of character building combined with the utter insanity of how various Chuckies seem to become their own unique entities is fascinating.
(4 / 5)
Chucky – S2 E3 – Kill Count and Spotlight
So far, two more kills have been added to the list for season two, bringing the season total to five. One kill returns Chucky to his roots as “the Lakeshore Strangler.” However, the more dramatic and jaw-dropping kill this week involves a Mortal Kombat fatality and is one of the franchise’s messiest and craziest kills.
Seeds of Chucky
As always, each review features some notes on references and continuity in the whole Chucky franchise.
- SyFy’s post-show featurettes have been a delight, and if you head over to Syfy.com, they should be available to watch.
- Part of the fun of those, beyond the behind-the-scenes reveals, is that Chucky hosts them. I hope Brad Dourif runs away with a heavy paycheck week after week.
- Speaking of reveals – Don Mancini confirms he’s been thinking about a good Chucky for a while.
- Also revealed – the prosthetic worn by a character for a death scene smelled like vinegar.
- This week’s title card features crucifixes. We’re firmly in religious horror now.
- I am annoyed we’ve swerved away from Glen and Glenda’s reveals this week, but I can also see why they would do that.
- That was the most Irish priest I have ever seen.
- Mentions of MKUltra this week. And no, not Mortal Kombat Ultra.
- Speaking of… Chucky needs to be a DLC character in a future Mortal Kombat… he just has to be after tonight’s episode.
- Regarding movie references this week, we have a huge one with A Clockwork Orange. Also, films used in Chucky’s conditioning seem to include The Thing and Psycho II.
- Something that made my millennial heart flutter – a direct reference to Child’s Play.
- Also, we can confirm My Little Pony exists in the Chuckyverse.
- Nadine is the coolest. “I’ve got this bitchin’ knife.”
We’re continuing to cover the Kids’ Stuff – A Chucky Podcast show. However, unlike these written reviews, our discussion show contains plenty of spoilers. If you missed the latest Kids’ Stuff about S2 E2, “The Sinners Are Much More Fun,” you could listen to it wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode three of Wheel of Time was easily my favorite so far. It’s dramatic, dark, and speaks to the growing concerns about evil invading the world.
Let’s discuss.
The Story
Let’s begin with Nynaeve. After showing little to no progress, Liandrin thinks she’s ready to go through the Trial of The Arches. This is an initiation that all Aes Sedai have to go through to become a sister. It’s dangerous, not totally understood, and doesn’t have a great survival rate.
One would think some cooler heads would prevail and not let the very new person do this so early. Especially since Nynaeve seems to have some issues with impulse control.
But she goes into the trial, seeing first a scene from her childhood where her parents are attacked.
The point is to walk back through the arches, leaving her family behind. This she does, but doesn’t look very happy about it. Her second trial involves finding herself back in Two Rivers, where a horrible plague has ripped through the people. Again, she has to walk away from the people that she cares about and come back to reality.
The third test is a little more tricky. It appears that Nynaeve comes back covered in blood, with no memories of what happened.
Terrified, she runs from the castle only to find Lan waiting for her.
In the real world, where Liandrin and the others are waiting for her, she simply never returns.
This shakes Liandrin. She decides she’s done holding Mat against his will, and lets him leave. Excited, but also smelling a trap, he takes Min with him.
Still not sure why she had him to start with, but I guess it’s cool that she let him go.
Meanwhile, Rand is working with a familiar face at his hospital. It’s Logain, who we might remember as the false dragon from season one.
Rand would love some advice about channeling as a man. But it appears that Logain might really have lost his mind.
What worked
My favorite scene in the episode was the one involving Perrin and Lady Suroth. This scene was perfect.
First off, the character design for Lady Suroth was just perfect. Without moving more than a hand and the crook of her mouth, she manages to be terrifying.
The massively scary nails help, as does the headdress that is both beautiful and reminiscent of an insect. The sort of insect that seems likely to bite and lay eggs under the skin of a victim.
Her absolute authority was terrifying. Uno certainly learned that.
What was more scary, of course, was who was standing next to her. Does she think she’s the one in charge? Or is she perfectly clear on where stands?
What didn’t work
One thing that I don’t love about this season is, unfortunately, not likely to change. It’s true in the books, and it’s true in the show.
The ensemble cast structure doesn’t work for me.
It fractures the story in too many directions. It’s too busy, there’s too much going on. At the same time, there isn’t enough going on with individual characters for me to establish an interest in all of them.
I care what’s happening with Egwene and Nynaeve. I care what’s happening with Perrin.
I don’t care as much about Rand right now. And she wasn’t as involved in this episode, but I don’t care about what Moiraine is going through either.
That could be because the world is coming to an end and they’re refusing to be team players. But maybe that’s just me.
Overall, this was a fun episode. It feels like pieces are being put into place. The characters are getting ready for something big. Something that we can only see the beginnings of.
Something that they clearly don’t think they’re ready for.
(3.5 / 5)
American Horror Story Delicate began last night, Killer Queens. And it was, well, a complicated episode. This makes sense because this season is about a complicated topic.
Just in case you didn’t know, this whole season is based on the novel Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.
The Story
Anna Victoria Alcott is an actress who just got her big break. She was in a horror movie that no one can stop talking about.
Except Anna herself. Because this career success couldn’t have come at a worse time. She and her husband Dex are in the middle of the difficult IVF process. It’s expensive, time-consuming and painful. Ironically, so is trying to win an Oscar.
But Anna has other things to worry about. Someone is messing with her. Several women are watching her in public. Worse, someone appears to be getting into her home, slashing notes she leaves for Dex, and removing her vital IVF medication from the fridge so it spoils. Her calendar is hacked to move her doctor appointments around so she misses them. Worst of all, someone broke into her home and crawled into bed with her.
Of course, no one takes any of these concerns seriously. Her agent, Siobhan, is focusing on getting her an Oscar. Her husband, Dex, doesn’t seem to give a shit about her except for when it comes to having a baby. He’s frequently dismissive of her concerns and only seems to want her around when it’s convenient for him. He goes so far as to kick her out of his show opening because she’s on edge.
You know, maybe because she’s clearly being stalked by someone who is trying to keep her from having a baby.
What worked
AHS Asylum had a lot of dark and important things to say about mental health care in America. AHS Coven had a lot of dark and important things to say about race and gender relationships.
Last season, AHS NYC wasn’t so subtle. Yes, there was a killer. But the real historical horror of the AIDs epidemic in the 80s was the focus of the season. And that worked very well.
This season, the story is clearly about female body autonomy. Anna is a woman struggling with so many issues that modern women face. The balance between our careers and our families. Feeling like growing old is the most unforgivable thing a woman can do. And of course, the fact that our bodies often feel like they don’t belong to us.
I was also pleased to see some AHS alumni. Denis O’Hare as Dr. Hill was delightful. Leslie Grossman and Billie Lourd will be involved soon, and they never bring anything less than their A-game.
This episode also did something I never thought could happen. It managed to scare me with a calendar notification. That was a special moment for me as a horror fan and calendar-obsessed person.
What didn’t work
Here are some things I didn’t love. First off, the main character Anna is a pushover. She can’t say no to Dex, Talia, Dr. Hill, or Siobhan. No one gets a no from this woman!
Anna didn’t act like that in the book. She stood up to everyone all the time, it was great. She wasn’t getting any support, but she was advocating for herself! That was such an important part of her character, and I’m sad to see that she’s lost that here.
I also hate the changes made to Siobhan and Talia. Now, please understand that this isn’t me complaining that the book was different. That’s not my point. Siobhan was a kind, loving woman who supported her best friend even while dying of cancer. Talia was a smart, business-oriented woman who was still kind. She was trying to start a family with her transgender husband, and bonded with Anna over their IVF journeys. These were vital characters in the story.
I feel like they’ve been railroaded.
All that being said, this was a decent start to AHS Delicate. It’s not the best start of a season we’ve had. But it’s okay. I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season is going to bring.
(4 / 5)
Episode two of Wheel of Time, widened the divide between the show and the books. Things are happening out of order, people are acting out of character. Whether this is to the detriment of the show, however, has yet to be determined.
The story
One character missing from episode one was Rand. You know, our main character. But we finally catch up with him now.
He’s living in a city with a woman named Selene. They don’t have what I’d call a super healthy relationship. She spends a bit too much time talking about her ex.
Yes, for those of you who didn’t read the books, this is going to be important.
Rand is also working at an insane asylum. He’s kind and patent with his charges, but not all of his fellow caregivers are.
Meanwhile, Lan and Moiraine are recovering form their Fade attack from last episode. Rather than taking the time to actually heal, Moiraine decides to head out to find Rand. Her team comes with her, which seems to really bother her.
While that little hissy fit is taking place, Nynaeve is causing issues. Not by anything she’s doing, but by what she’s not doing. As none of the regular novice teacher have been able to get her to use the One Power, Liandrin offers to try. No one, including me, is thrilled with this. But, the Aes Sedai are desperate. They know that The Dark One is around, and they need Nynaeve to be ready. So, they let the person who’s driven other students to their deaths and actively committed multiple hate crimes take over.
What could go wrong?
What worked
The special effects in this episode were really well done. I especially liked the dead fade nailed to the wall.
I was also pleased with the introduction of Elayne. Ceara Coveney is playing her, and doing a fine job. She’s warm, kind and sweet. I am thrilled that she’s around.
One of the greatest things about Wheel of Time is the friendships between the characters. Rand, Perrin, Mat, Nynaeve and Egwene legitimately care about each other. Elayne seems to care for Egwene right away. I really love that.
What didn’t work
One thing that bothered me in this episode, and frankly the last episode, was Liandrin keeping Mat in prison. I feel like this wasn’t adequately explained. Why does she have him? How did she trap him? What in the hell is she trying to get from him? Perhaps I simply missed something, and please let me know in the comments if this is the case. But it feels like some poor writing to me.
I also don’t love how Moiraine is portrayed in this episode. Really, in this season so far.
I get that she’s never exactly been a warm person. She’s not personable, open, or kind. Some (most) fans of the book would likely agree that she’s kind of a bitch.
But she’s not a bitch for no reason. She certainly isn’t the sort to lash out at the people who love her because she’s in pain. And that’s what she’s doing through this episode. She’s taking her pain out on Lan. And that’s just out of character for her.
It feels very much like a lot is being skipped over from the Wheel of Time books. But, so far at least, I don’t feel like anything vital has been missed. It feels more like the story is being streamlined.
Yes, I understand how this might go horribly wrong. I think we’ve all seen that. But as of right now, the changes make sense for the switch in mediums.
Now, let’s see if it stays that way.
(3 / 5)
