Recap: NOS4A2 1X06: The Dark Tunnels
- Vic meets another Strong Creative
- Jolene tells Vic how to kill Charlie
- Maggie gives up
- Vic has to get out of the hospital
- Spoilers
The Hospital
Vic(Ashleigh Cummings) has admitted herself to the hospital for her mental health(which is just fine). Her therapist, Dr. Janes(Bruce Altman) suggests that she is not, and that she takes her strong anti-psychotics. Being belligerent, she is told, can extend her stay. Vic just wants to visit the banged up Maggie(Jahkara J Smith), and is told that she came through surgery just fine.
At least, the nurse tells her later, she is roomed with a non vocal, so she can have quiet time to herself. We see that the roommate is Jolene July(Judith Roberts), who knows Charlie Manx all too well. She grabs Vic’s hand and mentions Charlie Manx(Zachary Quinto). At first, Vic is confused, thinking Maggie had visited and mentioned Charlie, but clever girl that Vic is, she pieces together the truth.
Young Jolene
In a flashback, we see young Jolene(Morgan Lindholm), a roller skating waitress at a carhop in the ’50s. She knows Charlie Manx well, and he approaches her with a proposition of marriage. Jolene turns him down, and he angrily tells her to get in the car(you know which one). She tells him he mentions her being a mother to all his children, but never letting her meet them. She had followed up on his stories, and found them to be lies. A livid Charlie leaves, but not for long.
He appears after closing, when Jolene is alone. He tries running her down, but she reaches the speed she needs to activate her powers, and disappears.
Jolene’s “knife” is now her wheelchair, surprising Vic. Vic thought only one knife per creative existed. Getting it out of the closet, Vic runs with her through the hospital, finally reaching the critical speed, and they disappear.
The Dark Tunnels
Vic inspects The Dark Tunnels.
Photo credit: AMC
They reappear in a system of tunnels, plastered with missing children posters. Jolene had kept tabs on Charlie as long as she could, and tried her best to fight him. As she grew older, however, she could not get her wheelchair to go fast enough, and had been trapped in the hospital, until Vic came. She sadly tells Vic that the children are gone, even her
Vic asks her what her power is, and skilled Creative that she is, takes Vic along with her in spirit form.
Jolene and Vic in The Dark Tunnels
Photo credit: AMC
The Way to Defeat Charlie
Charlie is asleep in the Wraith, still looking young. A spirit form of Jolene blows in his ear and messes with his radio, waking him. In her spirit form, she can only do so much, and she damages the Wraith’s engine.
Watching close by, Vic sees Charlie age rapidly and fight for breath as the car’s engine smokes. when asked about it, Jolene explains to Vic that the only way to kill Charlie is to destroy the Wraith. She also explains that Charlie is afraid of Vic; he had never been afraid of Jolene. Vic talks about going back to the hospital, but Jolene won’t be going. She is free, now. She begs Vic to say whatever they want to hear at the hospital so she can be released, and fight Charlie. Vic returns to the hospital, Jolene’s body in the wheelchair.
Vic convincing her doctor that she is fine, because she is fine.
Photo credit: AMC
Maggie
Vic follows Jolene’s advice and says whatever her doctor needs to hear. She is free, and visits Maggie. Maggie tells her that she is done, she wants nothing more to do with being a creative, and goes so far as to throw her Scrabble tiles in the trash at the bus station. We see her on the bus, heading home.
Thoughts on The Dark Tunnels
- Vic couldn’t take anyone across her bridge, but Jolene could take someone. I chalk this up to Jolene’s experience. I am guessing the price she paid was her frailty.
- Static eyes were cool!
- Maggie throwing her tiles in the trash was the biggest shocker of the show so far! Hopefully she overcomes her fear, and Vic uses her power to retrieve the tiles.
- The kids, and fifties music are creepy to me. Just saying.
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