Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Servant” ends with a twist but lacks the battle that was hinted at or promised for damn near the entire series.
| Aired (Apple TV+) | March 17, 2023 |
| Director(s) | Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala |
| Writer(s) | Laura Marks |
| Previously Noted Characters | |
| Sean | Toby Kebbell |
| Dorothy | Lauren Ambrose |
| Leanne | Nell Tiger Free |
| Julian | Rupert Grint |
| Officer Reyes | Victoria Cartagena |
| Tobe | Tony Revolori |
Recap
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So, What’s Your Decision, Dorothy? – Sean, Dorothy, Leanne, Julian
Dorothy is truly torn between leaving with her family or entertaining Leanne’s proposal, and she needs a minute. It is a big decision, and you can’t do things on a whim when dealing with Leanne. While she may come off as meek and shy, she is a force to be reckoned with, and while not pure evil, making deals with her is akin to making a deal with the devil.
So while Julian and Sean leave, as Dorothy requests, Leanne tries to make her case, and the more she pushes, the less Dorothy seems interested.
If I Can’t Have You The Way That I Want – Dorothy, Leanne, Julian, Sean
Ultimately, Dorothy decides, while she loves Leanne for giving her not just a chance or moment with Jericho again but months, she can’t go back. She knows the truth now and doesn’t want to live a lie. And it seems the more Dorothy accepts the truth, the more mobile she becomes.
It is strange how Dorothy’s mobility hastily comes as Leanne realizes she is losing her. But she doesn’t seem to lose her totally. As the storm rages on, for one reason or another, Dorothy invites Leanne to join her, Julian, and Sean in leaving to go who knows where.
Leanne says she agrees, but then she goes back inside, preparing to die.
This Is Goodbye For One, Hello To Another – Officer Reyes, Julian, Dorothy, Sean, Tobe
How? Well, by fire. Since the death of her parents, which she blames herself for since she didn’t help them, she has felt a certain amount of guilt. Guilt that was partly alleviated by Uncle George, and we saw what happened to him. So rather than live and continue to fight, she sets the house on fire, with her upstairs in a place where, even if she had second thoughts, she likely wouldn’t be able to get out.
During this time, as Julian, Sean, and Dorothy wait in the car, Leanne makes amends with Uncle George’s corpse, talks to the mannequin, which reminds her of her mom, and asks it what it feels like to burn. Also, she calls Tobe and allows herself to have one last happy moment – the idea of going out on a date with a boy she really likes and who could be good for her. However, in time, the building falls apart, the floor gives way, and Leanne’s body melts and falls farther than Dorothy did, into a dark abyss.
This leads to Officer Reyes and others showing up and seeing only the Turner’s house burnt to the ground, with the others barely touched. It is a miracle of sorts, but also it’s not. Losing the house and all those memories is both a bane and a boon. But at this point, Dorothy is ready to start over with Sean and leave Spruce Street behind.
As for Julian? He sticks around and doesn’t join his sister or brother-in-law in leaving town, and as he exits a coffee shop, Officer Reyes approaches him. She talks about him OD’ing last December and earlier mentioned to Dorothy how she, Officer Reyes, died, for a moment, after a 100 mph car crash. The two stories we learn are connected because that is when she became part of the Church of Lesser Saints, and when Leanne revived him, Julian, he seemingly joined as well. And now, from Officer Reyes to a lot of unnamed people in the street, he is being watched and likely will be called upon if the Church needs him to repay his debt. Even if Leanne is the one who gave back to him life.
Things To Note
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- Are most Church of Lesser Saints members revived by those with powers?
Review
Highlights
It’s A Definitive Ending
With the Turners leaving and no desire to return, this story is over. Yes, the Julian reveal and the Church of Lesser Saints still having its mysteries leaves the door cracked for more, but it doesn’t seem like this show wanted to leave the door open, a window unlocked, or any means to return to this story. We just got a twist because it’s a production with M. Night Shyamalan’s name attached – there is an obligation to have a twist.
On The Fence
We Never Got The Battle That Was Promised
In the end, the battle ended up all being internal. Leanne was fighting herself – between who she wanted to be, what she was, and the perception so many had of her. Thus, like many of us in our teen years, maybe even 20s, she manifested chaos. But, unlike you and I, who maybe made some bad decisions, got a bit of debt, or had friendships or relationships that weren’t beneficial, the chaos inside Leanne created a massive storm that was destroying the area.
Now, am I disappointed we didn’t get a fight akin to her going back and forth with Aunt Josephine? Specifically, her and Aunt May going toe to toe, with Leanne’s misfits backing her as Aunt May has the CLS? Absolutely. But, sometimes, I forget that “Servant” is a rather small show, world-wise. Everything has happened in that house, and we haven’t really gotten past a park that you can see from an upstairs window. So to expect some wild, potentially expensive fight where Leanne would probably kill, and get killed, a massive amount of people? That might have been too much to expect.
Yet, you have to admit, with Leanne constantly presenting the idea something or someone formidable was coming, her not facing whatever that would be was a disappointment.
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