Susan has embarked on the task of selling Mitch's house, keeping her involvement a secret from him. Her actions, however, betray her true intentions as she scans the premises with a keen eye, searching for who knows what. Given Mitch's eagerness to offload the property swiftly—perhaps even contemplating accepting the very first bid, a decision that raises a multitude of red flags—it seems he too is withholding secrets from Susan.
The presence of locks adorning his son's door piques Susan's curiosity, while an inexplicable sense of unease permeates her interactions with Mitch. An intriguing sidenote: Jalen, portrayed by David Webster—the very same actor who brings Teen Elliott to life in "The Way Home," with his distinctive lisp that gives him an unmistakable flair.
Our recent episode delved into the realm of werewolves, and the scene where Jalen awakens to find scratch marks adorning the walls and wardrobes toppled over inevitably evokes the same eerie suspicions. But turning a blind eye to such occurrences would avail him nothing if indeed he were grappling with supernatural forces.
Jalen's life has been marked by tragedy: his mother perished in a car accident, and years ago, he himself teetered on the brink of death after a severe illness. Ever since, sleepwalking has become a recurring nightmare in his life, which Mitch chalks up to stress. However, when Jalen's friend catches a glimpse of him, it becomes apparent that Jalen is engaged in an internal battle of monumental proportions. The guttural growls and his contorted posture echo the very essence of werewolf lore.
Armed with Auggie's cutting-edge MED device, Luke and Susan venture into the house once more. They witness Jalen bending the iron bars, an exhibition of strength they assure Mitch is far from ordinary, transcending the boundaries of human capability.
The profoundly heart-wrenching reality is that Mitch was fully aware of Jalen's demonic possession, for it was he who had conjured the malevolent force into existence. Imagine, grasping at straws after enduring immense loss, trading your son's soul for a semblance of life may initially seem a plausible gamble, yet withholding this harrowing truth from your own flesh and blood is a decision fraught with peril. Jalen's reaction to witnessing the recording of his possessed self fell far short of the expected extreme. The demon, having initially "consumed" the cancer like a ravenous beast, offered respite for a fleeting period. But in the ensuing six months, it turned on itself and Jalen, causing his nails to proliferate abnormally and compelling him to hurl himself against walls with ferocious force. Is the demon seeking escape or eliminating Jalen to liberate itself from its earthly bonds?
Mitch's preference leaned heavily towards an unhappy son, torn asunder by a demon, rather than losing him to the clutches of cancer. Conversely, Jalen yearned for nothing more than a mundane, albeit potentially fleeting, life of normalcy. Who could possibly fault him for that? The ultimate blow came when Mitch remained oblivious to Jalen's descent from self-harm to harming others. Confronted with this grim revelation, instead of seeking the expert guidance of Luke and Susan, he attempted to flee, thus plunging Jalen into a perilous abyss of greater danger.
Fortuitously, upon recognizing the dire situation, Luke promptly reached out to Auggie. The device Auggie brought proved to be a lifesaver. Mitch survived, and Jalen, for the time being, is safe.Remarkably, Jalen even managed to talk his friend's father out of a desperate act of violence, having earlier been on the brink of causing harm. A heartwarming conclusion, indeed!
Rochelle is poised for a pivotal role at ASDRA, a move that promises to uncover every hidden detail of her past, including the secretive work Auggie undertakes for Luke on the sly. How does his clandestine assistance to Luke clash with his responsibilities at ASDRA? As I recall, their ventures are worlds apart, with ASDRA's executives often dismissing his ideas with derisive laughter. I harbor a deep distaste for situations where a career collides with a loved one's personal endeavors.
Rochelle played a crucial role in August's decision to sever ties with Luke and revert to ASDRA. Yet, his demeanor does little to suggest contentment. Isn't it evident to her? If she's actively discouraging him from aiding a friend, then clearly, she overlooks this aspect, a revelation that further diminishes my regard for her. Auggie thrives when collaborating with Luke; why would anyone seek to deter him from such fulfillment?
It's worth noting that he did once risk everything by taking something from ASDRA to liberate Jalen. When confession finally came, Rochelle dismissed him summarily, her annoyance palpable, utterly disregarding the profound impact it had on both Auggie and Jalen. I sincerely hope this marks the last we witness of her. There are far more worthy endeavors to fund with that budget.
Audrey, the newest recruit at the Roman Ireland Agency, exudes an air of exceptional competence, leaving me momentarily perplexed. An aside: What possessed Susan to devise a filing system with an astonishing 109 color-coded designations? During her orientation, Audrey inquired about SMEP—an acronym for Specialists in Metaphysically Engaged Properties. Luke casually described them as "homes haunted by unique challenges in finding buyers," an understatement if ever there was one!
It strikes me as odd that Audrey wasn't fully briefed on the agency's peculiarities before accepting the position. They conveniently omitted any mention of past fiascos linked to their work. If they're withholding such crucial information and employees are resigning upon discovery, honesty should be their policy from the get-go.
When the truth about SMEP was finally unveiled, Audrey embraced it wholeheartedly, even lending a hand in liberating Jalen from his demonic woes. Yet, her decision to resign remains a mystery. My closing thoughts will elaborate on potential reasons behind her departure.
