As Castle Rock's second season reaches its climactic crescendo, Hulu's original offering returns with a leaner episode, clocking in at a taut 35-minute run time. The episode is a masterclass in building tension and action, setting the stage for the final two episodes and the inevitable dramatic conclusion.
Annie and Joy are brought to Marsten House by the police, while the masses of entranced Castle Rock residents begin their march toward Jerusalem's Lot. Back at the house, Ace coaxes Annie to stay, reminding her that the outside world is no longer safe for Joy. Alone, Annie pleads with Joy to leave with her, but Joy refuses to budge. As Joy turns her back on her mother, Annie is once again haunted by the voices.
Meanwhile, Nadia battles Chris in her house before managing to knock him out and take him to the hospital. It's here that she realizes the town is completely abandoned. As she brings him back from the brink, Chris implores her to leave. "They're coming for you, Nadia," he whispers.
Joy's drawings catch Ace's attention, and he realizes that Annie is not the vessel after all – Joy is. After asking numerous questions about her drawings, Annie leads Ace to the basement, questioning why it's locked. Soon after, Annie has a nightmarish vision, while Joy runs into Ace and asks about the falling man she drew. Grabbed by Abdi, Ace prepares her for the ritual at hand while Annie sneaks down to the basement and sees piles of dead bodies.
Determined to leave the house, Annie grabs a knife and stabs one of the women in the house before slamming a sledgehammer across the face of another, repeatedly asking where Joy is. Eventually, she finds her daughter, but as they escape the house, Annie stands back in horror as the entire town stands silently in front of the house.
Chris continues to fight against the man possessing him, teaming up with Nadia and stopping the threat from two men who arrive at the hospital. Unfortunately, in the ensuing scuffle, he's shot in the chest and dies. Back at Marsten House, Joy and Annie are separated outside as the stationary townsfolk suddenly start walking purposefully away. It seems Joy has seen the statue, and as the episode closes out, she hypnotically walks with them while Annie is held back.
In comparison to the inaugural season, Castle Rock has taken on a markedly more purposeful and captivating form this year. The infusion of tension is palpable, and Annie Wilkes, the protagonist, is a solid pillar of strength. Lizzy Caplan portrays her with a perfect balance of maniacal instability and purposeful determination, making it effortless to root for her. Her drive to do right by Joy is particularly compelling, leading one to imagine a not-so-rosy ending for Annie and Joy potentially becoming a casualty in the finale.
What lies ahead in the coming week remains a mystery, but for now, Castle Rock bows out with another episode that leaves an indelible mark.
