Locke & Key - Crown of Shadows

I hadn't read the comic series Locke & Key was based on, and had no real epectations about the series going in. What I found was one of the most solid seasons of any Netflix original show and a welcome surprise that turned out to be far smarter than I would have guessed. The final episode of Locke & Key's First Season offers a glimpse behind the mysterious Black Door as Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and their friends fight to defeat Dodge (Laysla De Oliveira) who has the Crown of Shadows. The episode makes good use of misdirection here before providing even more surprises in its final moments as that attempt to throw Dodge into the portal has unintended consequences none of the Lockes will become aware of until Season Two.

The choice for Eden (Hallea Jones) to become infected in the same way that drove Lucas mad and join the dark side works well offering Dodge another ally whose selfish personality should help shield the true intentions of the entity controlling her. I guessed at the twist of who the Lockes through the door, but I'll admit to being surprised and the episode's final reveal that offers insight into just how much of a long game Dodge has been playing. While the family finally settles down a bit more comfortably, even Nina (Darby Stanchfield) seems a bit more at home by the end of the episode, the craziness apparently has just begun.