Somewhat randomly, we start by watching a doll being made
in a factory (something which makes the doll even creepier than it is), it
being bought and dressed up as baby Jesus for a nativity scene. After a few
days of being out in the open, the Jesus doll goes missing
Over to Kevin interviewing Patti, leader of the Guilty
Remnant who, predictably, is completely silent (she does twitch a little that
almost suggests a smile). There’s a library fundraiser coming up and Kevin
would like the GR to skip protesting this one. He says he won’t protect them
because it’s the holidays and no-one has any time for their shenanigans and
people want to spend time with their families. She writes back “there is no
family.” When he asks her to clarify this cryptic statement she just takes down
a picture of Laurie (and Gladys) and puts it on his desk. In between mentioning
how eager they are to arrest the GR, one of his officers tells Kevin the baby
doll has been stolen. Unsurprisingly, Kevin really doesn’t care.
Kevin makes one of his many calls to Tom – only to hear
his phone isn’t in service (Wayne destroyed Tom’s phone).
At home, between digging out Christmas ornaments, Kevin
tries to ask Jill about her brother – but she claims ignorance. Aimee and Jill
also disapprove of Kevin’s plan to replace the baby Jesus doll; Kevin’s clear
that it’s certainly not worth his time for more drama with Jill.
What is Kevin’s responsibility is a dance at the school
where they will be able to arrest the GR if they show up. The mayor also shows
up and argues with Kevin over replacing the Jesus doll with Mayor Lucy telling
Kevin to fake finding it because he needs something to improve his reputation.
But when Kevin goes to the shop he decides not to buy a new one and to find the
original instead.
While driving, Kevin’s car cuts out on him but he manages
to stop safely (spooky music plays because car failure is spooky now). This
means he has to drive around suspicious guy’s truck instead which he uses to
harass the Frost twins because they hang around with his daughter and for some
reason he’s decided Jill stole the Jesus doll. Also because one of the suspects
was wearing a hoody (in winter? No, surely not Kevin!) one of the twins calls
that profiling (no, really really no. Absolutely not)
And time for a late night party where, yes, Jill did take
the doll. Aimee insists, again, on trying to be the voice of reason (or what
passes for reason in their group). Jill doesn’t listen and plans to burn the
doll – then decides not to.
Kevin goes home to find Meg and Laurie on his doorstep.
He invites them in and tries to remember his awkward manners. Laurie’s written
a letter for Meg to real aloud to him. During the recital Laurie describes
Kevin as a good husband and we learn that Tom is her son from a previous
relationship. Kevin tries to stop Meg talking and address Laurie directly but
Meg keeps speaking. This is all a precursor to divorce papers Laurie is
carrying. Kevin is not exactly thrilled to have Laurie refuse to contact him
for 6 months then come home with divorce papers. He demands Laurie say their
marriage is over – not Meg, Laurie. Laurie stays silent as he shouts at her –
and Jill walks in. She takes a present from under the tree and gives it to
Laurie, before leaving. Kevin asks Megan and Laurie to leave.
They leave and Laurie opens her present – inside is a
lighter engraved with “don’t forget me”.
Meg tells her to keep it, that she won’t tell anyone. Laurie drops it
down a drain
Back to Kevin who angsts a while in Tom’s room, where all
his things are boxed up, before trying to talk to Jill which never works. At
least as he leaves the Frost twins have dumped the Jesus doll on his doorstep (and
tried, with ridiculous ineptitude, to run off without being noticed).
He heads to the dance, shows off that he got the doll
back (no-one cares) before having a moment with Nora; it’s cute and friendly
and kind of awkward since they talk about cheating spouses (Nora’s Departed
husband and Kevin himself). And the GR does show up to protest but carefully
avoids stepping on school grounds. Kevin arrests them anyway and plans to lie
about where they were stood. Patti seems quite amused by being arrested – and Kevin
realises only a few of the GR are actually present.
The rest are breaking into people’s houses and stealing
all family photographs. As they drive back Laurie chooses to walk – and tries
to recover the lighter from the grate but can’t reach it.
Kevin tries to return the doll but Rev Matt has already
returned it. Since the doll is creepily staring at him, Kevin dumps it.
Tom is in Texas with Christine, waiting for Wayne to call
and getting a little fretful since it’s been 6 weeks since they heard from him.
A random half naked man appears and asks Christine why she’s in his dream – he
knows her name. He suddenly, randomly, says “you walk over the dead” and starts
strangling her. Tom fights him and he adds “they’re all in white” to his random
ranting. Orderlies separate them and the man continues to rant “I know what’s
inside you.”
They move on (and seem to run into another cult, this one
painting bullseyes on foreheads) and Tom blames Christine for talking to the
guy in the first place; he looks awfully menacing and threatening doing it and
she becomes loud and angry with him.
Christine is pregnant so they go to see a doctor to get an ultra-sound: the doctor noticing extensive bruising on Christine’s stomach (I think from the raid). The doctor asked what happened and Tom speaks over Christine to say she was attacked by a random guy. The doctor gives him suspicious eyes and talks about checking Christine in. When she leaves, Tom tells Christine they have to leave as he’s guessed he is suspected of hurting her – Christine demands Tom say it wasn’t her fault she was attacked before she’ll move. He says it without a crumb of sincerity and she refuses to accept it. He gets more and more agitated and then runs, chased by security.
He ends up on a bench at a bus stop staring at Wayne’s phone
and being smoked at by two GR members. He begs the phone for a sign, for Wayne
to call him and tell him why he’s doing it – and just before he throws it away
it rings. It’s a telemarketer. Tom laughs hysterically. He doesn’t get on the
bus.
He returns to the hospital, pretending to be one of the
bullseye cultists (making a telling comment about being “abandoned by his
father” at one point) and returns to Christine. She welcomes him back but
despite his promise to protect her, he’s cold and distant.
The next day they’re on the bus which is stopped because
the road is blocked by an accident – a truck load of fake bodies (replicas of
people who Departed) has crashed on the road. They’re all in white – which Christine
says is just like the man who accosted her’s dream
Ok, I get this show likes to work in metaphors to a
degree – but I have no real idea why so many people cared so much about a
missing doll. Jill, I could see, maybe just to be contrary which seems to be
her oh-so-not-endearing reason for existence. Even Lucy wanting to replace it I
can see. But Aimee? Kevin going to this much effort? I think the whole thing is
meant to speak volumes about Jill’s conflicted edginess but it hasn’t really
added anything
The Manpain is riotous in this episode. I’m not saying
that Kevin and Tom don’t have many many reasons to be stressed, angry and upset
– oh yes they do – but as is so classic when it comes to Manpain, their pain is
given as a reason for them to rant and rage at others (specifically women)
around them. I think Laurie, without saying a word, did a better job of
broadcasting pain and, yes, as she calls it, brokenness.
We still have a few hints of the weirdness around the
edges to keep suggesting more is going on
