As a general rule, I've learned quite a bit to expect the unexpected when it comes to M. Night Shyamalan's twisted horror drama Servant. After four seasons, Servant is still flirting with the kind of mysterious and attractive qualities that many showrunners would reject. The sheer boldness of its atmospheric tension is raised to even greater extremes in the premiere, "Pigeon." Prepare to be reunited with the perfect Turner family and their little bundle of joy, Jericho, destined for a heartbreaking conclusion!
At the end of season 3, we leave Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) for the last time throwing herself off the broken railing eaten by termites and plummeting to her presumed death. The presence of the Church of the Lesser Saints loomed everywhere, but ultimately it seemed to be Leanne's mysterious powers that led to Dorothy's unfortunate accident. As Dorothy fell, Leanne apologetically snatched Jericho from her grasp just before the two could escape in Dorothy's waiting Uber. In "Pigeon", the audience is quickly given the answer as to whether Servant would actually kill one of the main characters of him before the endgame begins.
Creator: Tony Basgallop
Stars: Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free
Naturally, the answer is a resounding “no, not yet”. A giant "WELCOME HOME DOROTHY" banner hangs as Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) prepares for the matriarch's return from the hospital. As a housewarming present, Leanne is making Dorothy's favorite cake. However, there is a calm before the storm: the church is coming for Leanne in a way so aggressive that it has to be seen to be believed. Before Dorothy returns with Sean (Toby Kebbell) and Julian (Rupert Grint) to the family brownstone, Leanne endures unspeakable horrors as she comes closer to accepting the reality of her growing powers.
Dorothy remains the core of this piece, even in a more incapacitated state. Her road to her recovery is a long one, and Lauren Ambrose imbues Dorothy with the same ferocity and sheer willpower that she has brought to previous iterations. The indescribable torment Dorothy feels at not being able to respond to Jericho's cries when she needs her the most truly broke my heart. Just as good is Nell Tiger Free, keeping Leanne's complexities and secrets close to her chest. Leanne lashes out at anyone and anything that might get in the way of the Turner family and her own well-being; the cracks apparently caused by Leanne's powers spread catastrophically everywhere. Julian and Sean especially seem to take a backseat to the main action. However, Julian has a funny moment when he finds an unexpected set of vibrators while he's snooping around.
Apple TV+ teases that the final season of Servant will present answers to the big questions, namely: "Who is Leanne Grayson and who is the kid in her house?" Certainly this viewer feels like Shyamalan and the team are building to an epic confrontation. Although critics have only been given the first three episodes, Servant offers an excellent appetizer plate of what's to come. Ferocious pigeons, swarms of bedbugs, and questionable old ladies color this trio of episodes in the trademark strangeness for which this series has become known.
Season four of Servant treats us to a shiny new rain-soaked intro, accompanied by the eerie score we've come to love. He walks the walls and ceiling of Turner's brownstone before finding Leanne and Jericho perched there as the rain continues to pour down on them. Though whether or not Servant actually lands remains to be seen, it has become one of my favorite Apple TV+ shows during its run. With phenomenal performances, gruesome gothic imagery, dark humor, and stunning cinematography, Servant serves up a hot meal of psychological thrills with ease.
The creepy final season of Servant debuts Friday, January 13 on Apple TV+.
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