From the title alone, we knew that this episode of Locke & Key was going to be a mess. “Best Laid Plans” never end up well. They start well. There’s no doubt about that. Heroes plan, they move pieces and people into place, in hopes of winning and saving the day. But the bad guy, the one who wants to shake things up, always ends up figuring out what’s going on. Which, we get it. We wouldn’t have good drama without things going awry. But sometimes, just sometimes we wish that things turned out ok.
And in the grand scheme of things, “Best Laid Plans” ended up ok. And by ok we mean that no one died. Sure, some random teenager that no one cared about got turned into a demon that now is being controlled by Dodge. But our main group, the Lockes and Scot, are ok. They made it out alive and nearly got Dodge. That nearly matters. Because Dodge thinks she’s so good and so untouchable. But she nearly got taken down and they all know it, including Dodge herself.
It’s not just Jamie either that’s shown Dodge that she’s not as powerful as she thinks. Jamie, bless her helpful little heart, went above and beyond for Bode and the rest of the team. She put herself in actual danger to help out someone she just met. And the small part of us that was bothered by her leading Bode and the gang into the maze in “The Maze” forgave her for that. Like, we already did because she’s a kid after all. But there was that tiny part of us that was like, “Damn it, Jamie. Nooooooo.”
We’re not sure about her father Josh. We’d like to think that he would join forces with the Lockes to stop Dodge. That’d be the right thing to do right? Well…what if Dodge lies to him and tells him that she can help him reach through the Omega Door and reconnect with his wife? Grief is a powerful tool and by the way he snapped and turned into an asshole to random teenagers playing a prank, he’s still got a lot bottled up. Dodge will use that against Josh and get him to look the other way as Dodge grows her horde of demons.
And where does Nina come into all of this? Honestly, we think that she’d help her kids no matter what. She wouldn’t let her husband’s memory sully who she is now or let Dodge use it against her to hurt innocent people or her children. Do we think that she has been extremely underutilized this season? Absolutely. Do we want to see less of Josh and more of Nina? Yes, please. But *sigh* we guess they’re trying to build a bond between these two that will act eventually act as opposing forces on Locke & Key.
We’re waving our Jamie flag in response and hope that she comes through as she did in “Best Laid Plans.” The same thing goes for Scot. He was there for Kinsey. He was there for Tyler, Bode, and Duncan. And now we absolutely love him and the potential for more that kiss promised. Not only that, that scene in the kitchen where they were both trembling and finding comfort in each other…IT TORE AT OUR HEARTS! Is this what character arcs look like between actors that have chemistry?! Yes, it is.
But you know who we’re most worried about in all of this? Duncan. He’s connected with his family in a way that he’s never done so before. But his memories are dangerous. He knows how to make a key and he’s going to think that he needs to rid himself of those memories or magic altogether. And we call bullshit. Now Bode knows. Now Dodge knows. And the only way to keep each other safe from Dodge or those like her, because we’ve got no doubt there are worse beings than her out there, is my knowing.
Plus, the kids need help. They need adults and that guiding hand that comes with experience, time, and love. And Kinsey, Tyler, and Bode can get that from Duncan. And if things go as we hope, maybe Nina will be part of that too. Maybe she will have her memories of magic unlocked and help the kids stop Dodge. Because as cheesy as it sounds, that’s the only way they can defeat Dodge/Gabe and whatever they have planned for the last couple episodes of Locke & Key.
And knowing that Gabe’s promise is going to bring a lot of darkness to Matheson, is even more reason to stand tall and at each other’s side.
Locke & Key season two is available on Netflix.