Continuing the cliffhanger from the previous episode, Castle Rock delves deeper into its horror-drama mix with its third installment in Hulu's chilling series. As Abdi manages to break free from his restraints and makes a beeline for the hospital with Pop, begging for help, we are also treated to a spooky encounter from Annie as she ventures to Jerusalem's Lot. The concrete has dried, covering the spot where she fell, and her desperation for answers leads her to Marsten's, where she encounters a man muttering to himself and consuming a raw egg. He bears a striking resemblance to the man killed by the scythe, but before any answers can be had, Annie hurries away.
Chance shares the news of the murder with Joy, suggesting they venture out to find the body. After some deliberation, Joy agrees to join the others on their journey to the lake. They have a great time, but Joy's happiness is short-lived when she returns home to find her place in disarray and her mother staring into the mirror, convinced she's been poisoned. It's here that Joy learns the truth about the murder and how Ace is stalking her from beyond the grave. As she stares out the window at the road, Joy slowly reaches for her phone.
At the hospital, Ace arrives to confront Pop while he lies in bed. Lamenting his continued existence, Ace walks away unblinking and drives home. The police stop him, but he curses them nonchalantly and remains seated in his car. Ace's arrival prompts Chance to message Joy, confirming his own survival and further fueling Joy's suspicions that Annie has slipped further into her psychosis. Tied to the bed, Annie pleads with her daughter but Joy takes control and refuses to release her.
As Joy looks up visual hallucinations on her phone outside, Annie takes desperate measures and smashes a glass under her pillow, intent on trying to break free. However, she holds off when Joy enters the room again, asking about the truth. After a speech about the monsters, a knock at the door startles Annie and she begs her daughter not to answer it. However, as she heads out, she notices the pills on the floor and ignores her mother in disgust, approaching the rapping at the door instead.
It emerges that it's Nadia, who inquires about Annie's well-being. Joy, after evading her questions, retreats to the bedroom to find Annie freeing herself from her restraints with a shard of glass. Desperate to halt her, Joy leaps onto the bed, only for her mother to lash out, slashing her arm. Annie flees the house in a desperate attempt to escape, only to spy a shadowy figure approaching the residence. She hastily re-enters, slamming the door shut and squeezing her eyes shut tightly. However, the figure approaches, menacing her with the ominous threat of ending her life.
With another cliffhanger to keep audiences on the edge of their seats and Easter Eggs sprinkled throughout the episode, Castle Rock does an excellent job of paying homage to old Stephen King novels. The most notable nods include Gerald's Game and The Green Mile, continuing Castle Rock's trend of weaving everything together within King's universe. So far, the storyline is filled with enough intrigue to keep things captivating.
While the future trajectory of this episode remains uncertain, Castle Rock is shaping up to be a truly exceptional series.
