The debut episode of Peacock's spellbinding series, "Hysteria!," paints a thrilling backdrop for an immersive dive into the turbulent waters of the 1980s' "Satanic Panic," unfolding in the tranquil facade of Happy Hollow. As the clock rewinds to 1989, the stage is set for a captivating ensemble of characters to become hopelessly entwined in a labyrinth of intrigue, fear, and the paranormal.
The episode bursts onto the scene with a jolt of teenage rebellion, as Faith, embodied by Nikki Hahn, indulges in a clandestine rendezvous with Ryan Hudson, portrayed with fervor by Brandon Butler. Their fiery passion is abruptly extinguished by the ominous shadow of masked intruders, setting the stage for a gripping tale that seamlessly intertwines small-town melodrama with the dark allure of the occult.
Enter Dylan Campbell, played with depth by Emjay Anthony, our introspective protagonist and a member of the struggling heavy metal band Dethkrunch. Striving for recognition amidst a world that remains indifferent, Dylan seizes upon Ryan's disappearance as an opportunity—to transform his band into a satanic sensation, capitalizing on the town's sudden obsession with the supernatural.
As Happy Hollow grapples with the shocking reality of Ryan's vanishing act, Dylan's family dinner with Linda, played by Julie Bowen, and Gene, portrayed by Nolan North, offers a poignant insight into the Campbell household's dynamics. The conversation swiftly veers towards the enigmatic events plaguing their idyllic town, with a chilling pentagram painted on the garage door serving as a macabre testament to the evil lurking beneath the surface of their seemingly serene community.
This episode masterfully interweaves the personal and the paranormal, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of emotions. Within the confines of Carol's Style Salon, Linda engages in candid conversations with her clients, peeling back the layers of the town's growing paranoia surrounding satanic cults. The dialogue is razor-sharp and tinged with satire, offering a poignant critique of the era's mass hysteria while remaining firmly rooted in the vivid realities of its characters.
As Dylan and his bandmates, led by the vivacious Jordy, enchantingly embodied by Chiara Aurelia, and the steadfast Spud, vividly portrayed by Kezii Curtis, embrace their inner shadows for the sake of their music's allure, the episode takes a captivating plunge into the realm of the gothic. Dylan's metamorphosis into a gothic icon, adorned with ebony fingernail polish and an eerie new wardrobe, elicits a spectrum of reactions, but it's his encounter with Judith that imbues his character with a deeper layer of complexity.
Intrigued by the notion of Dylan and his comrades as Satanic disciples, Judith dares him to authenticate his dark persona, igniting a climactic scene where Dylan is thrust to the brink, compelled to confront the repercussions of the macabre image he has carefully crafted.
The episode crescendos with a series of chilling occurrences that keep the audience on the precipice of their seats, their hearts racing. Linda's nightmarish visions, the ghastly discovery of Ryan's lifeless body, and the police's mounting suspicion landing squarely on Dylan's shoulders, weave a tapestry of impending doom.
The finale, with Linda enduring supernatural horrors within the sanctuary of her own home, serves as a haunting coda to the episode, leaving a lingering chill. "Hysteria!" Season 1, Episode 1 is a gripping prologue to a series destined to delve deeper into the darkest recesses of Happy Hollow. It masterfully intertwines the universal struggles of adolescence with a profound fear of the unknown, crafting a narrative that resonates both as a poignant tribute to the past and a thought-provoking exploration of the present. With a stellar cast, razor-sharp scripting, and a palpable aura of dread, this episode firmly establishes the foundation for a season that promises to delve fearlessly into the heart of darkness.
