Locke & Key‘s 2×06 “The Maze” is the hardest episode to watch so far of this standout season. Not because it’s bad. That’s far from the truth. It’s because it was such an amazing episode with unforgettable performances by those we have come to know as playing the Lockes & Co. Seriously, we cried, held ourselves still as we watched in anticipation, and cheered on our heroes for (for once) being a step ahead of Dodge.
A huge part of being ahead for the Locke children is the fact that they have adults by their side. Until now, they’ve been doing it all on their own while the adults around them remembered nothing, were in a comatose state, or were leading their lives independent of Key House. With Duncan in the know, they have a chance at making it out of this alive and beating Dodge at her own game.
Which, Duncan was so different in “The Maze.” He was fun, free spirited, and looked like he had the weight of years off his shoulders. Truly he is a new man and everyone around him feels it. The kids feel it in the way he reassured them that they had no idea that it was Ellie they threw thought The Omega Door. And even Erin felt it when she expressed her concerns about Dodge and he told her that it was more than ok for her to go and live her life.
This is where things take a darker turn. Not that they weren’t dark already. But the death of Erin, someone they had come to care deeply for and who Duncan knew since his childhood, it puts things into perspective. Dodge isn’t playing around. She’s out for blood and she doesn’t care who she takes down or how many hearts she breaks. And it’s unfortunate that those hearts that are breaking all belong to the Lockes.
And before anyone comes at Jamie for leading them all down this path in “The Maze,” remember that she’s a child. She thought her friend was acting weird and she wanted to cheer him up. And like a kid, she didn’t know when to let up. She just kept going until they were all in the maze and it was too late. But again, she’s a child and shouldn’t have anything held against her. The house of cards was always going to come crashing down no matter where they all were.
At the center of all this destruction, and the one that should be blamed for it all is Gabe aka Dodge. She started this. She got the ball rolling. And she is the one everyone should be focused on. Because the mess she started…it’s not going according to plan. She doesn’t know that but she will very soon. And hopefully our favorite Lockes will put her in her place aka back through The Omega Door before she causes more destruction.
And we don’t care that there was a brief flicker of humanity in Gabe’s eyes as he crushed Erin’s windpipe. He’s an echo of those before him and it makes sense that he would have some of the memories and feelings of those that came before him. But that doesn’t make him human or an actual good person. That just makes him someone who remembers what it was to love Erin and think of her as a sister before he ended her.
So, sorry not sorry. But we’re not giving Gabe any sympathy or hoping that his love for Kinsey changes him. It hasn’t yet and I truly think it never will when it really comes down to it. Because that isn’t Gabe. It’s never been Gabe. It’s Dodge dressing up as a young boy and robbing Kinsey of her consent when it comes to knowing who she’s dating, sharing secrets with, and who she’s smooching as well.
If anything, we hope that Kinsey, Tyler, Bode, and Duncan kick Gabe’s ass for the way that he ingrained himself into their lives. Because he has changed them all and made it so they’re not going to trust as easily ever again. And that is a tragedy because not everyone is like Dodge. But they’ll be waiting and wondering at every person who enters their life, just wondering if they are the boogieman in disguise.
Locke & Key season two is available on Netflix.
