FROM Season 3 Episode 2 takes us on a powerfully emotional journey that allows us — no, forces us — to sit with the grief of losing Tian Chen at the end of the season premiere. In fact, when we talk about how television deals with loss, “When We Go” might even rival Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s “The Body.” Bold words coming from someone who grew up obsessed with that show? Yes. Deserved words, though? A thousand times yes.
This episode is not just a well-deserved long farewell to one of the series’ most beloved characters. Sure, it’s definitely that. But it’s also a real, true testament to the humanity the remaining central characters all manage to maintain, even in the worst of situations. Even in this horrible place, with its seemingly-endless supply of new ways to terrify and dehumanize its inhabitants, the people are still just that — people. And so, they still love, and they still feel loss. No matter how much death they witness, and no matter how much they may think they’re used to seeing so many lives cut short, that oh-so-fragile thing that is the human heart still beats on.
And no, you can’t just will yourself to be fine. You can’t keep telling yourself “it’s ok,” like Kenny does when he first walks into that empty diner, and make it so. Because losing a loved one never really can feel ok. And, as much of a cliche as some might think this next part is, we still have to say it: It’s ok not to be ok. Better than ok — fitting, even. This raw, human experience is a universal one. It’s one that the monsters in Fromville have witnessed from the dark corners of their domain. And it’s one they know can cut us to our very core. So, they use it as a weapon. Something to try to break Boyd, maybe even break everyone else. But does it work? Maybe temporarily, but something tells us everyone might just fight harder from here on out.
….or maybe that’s just way too much overthinking and flowery language. But with an episode of television that’s as profoundly moving as FROM Season 3 Episode 2, we kind of have to take a deep and detailed look. Which, yeah, also means trying (failing) to capture in words the poetry that we see on screen.
The body
FROM Season 3 Episode 2 features some stunning visuals. Notably, the many, many glimpses of Tian Chen’s body are absolutely haunting in a way that transcends the usual, spooky haunts that this series presents us with. It’s still a horror show, but it’s not about monsters this time. Starting with our first glimpse of her, propped up in that barn by the monsters who brutally murdered her, we can’t help but be floored by the painstaking attention to detail.
Although Boyd experiences some pretty horrific flashbacks, we don’t need to have actually seen the long, torturous destruction of Tian Chen’s body. That’s because we see the aftermath. And every time we think we’ve seen it all, the camera gives us another perspective. Every time another character sees her body for the first time and fixates on something else, we slowly take it all in with them. And, since there’s really nothing left to do — and barely anything left of her — all we can do is bear witness. Spend that time, lingering on all that blood, all that pain she must have gone through.
For some viewers, perhaps the sheer ugliness of death will resonate most strongly. Boyd’s shirt is covered in Tian Chen’s blood as he wheels her corpse through the town and everyone comes to watch. Later, when Kristi and Jade work slowly, quietly to try to make her more presentable for Kenny, there’s something extra powerful about seeing even more blood, just wrung out, even as the body is still covered in streaks of it. And, before those two even get to work, there’s the way Kristi just stops short when she sees that ripped-open, empty chest cavity for the first time. Of course, that’s just listing a few images that stood out, when FROM Season 3 Episode 2 gives us so many. At the risk of drawing attention to the monsters scratching Tian Chen up, we’ve barely scratched the surface here.
For us, though, there’s this one small thing that we’re not sure we can ever forget. And that’s the pitiful nature of Tian Chen’s one missing shoe. The shoe isn’t what’s important, of course. But just…the creatures took such pleasure in murdering her. We see that in their sick grins as they claw her apart in Boyd’s memories. They even placed her in a very particular, seated position when they were done with her. So, for as much as the cast and crew waste not one second, not one expression, not one frame, we know those things don’t do anything without reason either. And there’s just something about us seeing her one, shoeless foot — more than once! — that screams of adding insult to so many gruesome injuries. It’s tragic in the most mundane of ways, yet tragic just the same.
The other big takeaway for us is the stark contrast between how much reverence and care people like Boyd, Jade, and Kristi show for Tian Chen’s remains and the absolute nightmare her final moments — hours? — were. They know this is just a body, a broken one at that. But it’s hers, and they loved her, and she deserves so much more than what life, and death, gave her. So, in this slow, heartbreaking hour, they pay their last respects by returning that dignity and respect that was stolen from her. See also: Kenny wanting to see his mom and remember her not by the evidence of her suffering by but who she was. Sara showing up with Tian Chen’s favorite dress. Ethan laying that blanket on her during the memorial. And so much more.
(Side note: If you didn’t just sob uncontrollably both when Ethan wanted to leave the house with the blanket and when he covered her with it at the memorial, we want to know the secret to your strength.)
“Where’s…? Wait. Where’s…where’s my mom?”
While every single performance in FROM Season 3 Episode 2 deserves all the praise in the world (and then some), we would be remiss if we didn’t specifically talk about what Ricky He does here. Kenny and Jim come rushing back into town, so happy to have found a way to keep people fed until they can (hopefully) find a way back to “our” world. And when Kenny pauses, notices Tian Chen isn’t there, and starts to ask about the blood on Boyd’s shirt, it’s just chilling. From there, He takes us on this emotional journey with his character as he tries to process it all.
There’s denial as he repeatedly calls out for his mom, sounding more and more lost and hopeless as he goes. Anger when he beats the everloving you-know-what out of that jukebox in the empty diner. And anger again when he prepares to go into the tunnels and “make those f**ckin things hurt.” Depression when he breaks down in Boyd’s arms after hearing and translating his mom’s last words. (“Take care of Kenny. That’s what it means. Take care of him. He’ll be alone now.”)
And Ricky He does such an utterly brilliant job of hitting every single emotional beat, showing us so many ways to deal with grief even in each second. Our favorite scenes — if we can call anything in this painful episode a “favorite,” that is — are the aforementioned one with Boyd and just…the entirety of the time Kenny spends in that diner. He tries so hard to tell himself that everything is ok, when he knows it’s not. And the time FROM Season 3 Episode 2 spends just…sitting with Kenny in his grief, giving him that alone time, is so valuable. Add to that the moments that Kristi spends, quietly sitting in the background of the shot and blurred as if we’re seeing her through Kenny’s tears with him..and really, truly, we have no idea how to explain any of this than to say it’s a work of art.
And the masterpiece rests squarely on He’s shoulders. Make no mistake. Without Kenny as the central focal point, this would still be an emotionally-stunning hour. But the raw, nuanced, and relatable way He plays the character here just elevates every single other element that makes “When We Go” so terrifyingly good. Every single main character (eh, except Tabitha who has no idea what’s going on in Fromville at the moment) gets their moment to have a personal reaction to this staggering loss. But for Kenny, he feels every single thing combined — and so much more.
Unraveling the mystery of Fromville, with a twist
Meanwhile, in Maine, Tabitha finds herself faced with the nearly-impossible task of convincing Henry she’s perfectly sane and has a good explanation for having his long-lost son’s lunchbox. In the process, we learn about how Henry has been processing his own grief over losing his wife and children decades ago. In short, he really hasn’t. Not really. He has a gun he’s “never had the courage to load” all these years, a bedroom that’s been preserved like the kids are coming back any minute, and so much regret. But here’s Tabitha, giving him this hope — which he clearly believes has got to be false — that at least one of his lost family members is actually still alive. What a bittersweet thought, that you might have one in three still left, somewhere out there.
The exact moment when Tabitha mentions the children in the tower to Henry is a major highlight of FROM Season 3 Episode 2. Given how much is happening back in town, and because his character is new, it’s a true testament to the work Robert Joy is doing here. The recognition, the awe, the hope, even a little bit of pain — they all just blossom on Joy’s face in the moment. Not only that, but so much about the character’s demeanor and the way he acts toward Tabitha overall completely changes from that moment going forward. That’s what makes Henry show her the kids’ room; that’s what makes him share his regrets. And, from a “big picture” perspective (no pun intended, we swear), mentioning the children in the tower is also what unlocks this new piece of the puzzle for us.
Or. Well. Actually. Does it really unlock anything? Or just give us more questions? Probably more of the latter…but it’s so much fun.
Friends, here’s where we stop being so serious and ask you, simply: WTF. As in, where TF do we find some good sleuths to go through all those paintings and see what they reveal about that place, what’s familiar from Victor’s drawings, what’s familiar because we’ve seen it happen in the first two seasons (yes. We definitely clocked the kid in white — no need to point that one out to us), and what’s new? Also, we would like to be like, “LOL. WELP” about all of these paintings existing because of Miranda and Henry having one last drug-fueled hurrah. But…well. Look at this episode and this show. Kinda difficult to laugh about much of anything here.
At any rate, back to the serious part.
The ending sequence, where Henry talks about his wife’s stories about the town as the memorial for Tian Chen is simultaneously occurring, is a work of art. We already used the word “masterpiece” once here, and usually something that strong of a description shouldn’t get overused. But uh. It fits. If anything, the word isn’t strong enough. Hang this episode in The Louvre somehow, folks.
“…fighting a battle they knew they couldn’t win. She said they were holding onto hope. And when that hope was gone, they held onto each other. It all sounded like riddles. Gibberish. She said that, of all the people who would find their way to this place, she was the one who had been chosen to…free the children.”
…and the way these beautifully-written lines landed as we saw everyone together, after what Donna told Boyd (in yet another fantastic scene) earlier in the episode)? Wow. No words. Anyone who isn’t watching this show is missing out.
More on FROM Season 3 Episode 2
- The opening sequence, when a resigned Jade has to go look in the barn and we get that version of Boyd…wow. Just wow. My main note was, and I’ll quote, “Harold Perrineau is going to kill people with this.” I stand by that, even with how much better the episode gets from there.
- Absolutely cruel, seeing all that joy and hope from Kenny when we know what’s in store for him if/when he gets back to town. Oof.
- Love the Tabitha/Henry dynamic. Don’t blame him one bit for not believing her, yet can absolutely understand and feel her frustration and desperation here since we, as viewers, know she’s telling the truth.
- The way the entire mood just drops when Sara tells Kristi about Tian Chen.
- The snow, the score, the whole town just gathering to watch that slow walk down the street with that body…remarkable stuff. This is reason 23847398743 I hate when other shows try to rush things like this. Look what you could have!
- “We should bring her her blanket. She’ll be more comfortable when she has her blanket!!” It’s giving Vada with Thomas J.’s glasses. I didn’t need that kind of feeling ever again. Thanks.
- “We can’t help her! She’s dead! She’s dead, Ethan!!! People! Die here!” The emphasis when Victor slams that bag on the floor…my God. And with him usually being such a gentle, fragile soul…oof.
- “You want me to believe you just happen to be the one person who somehow managed to escape this terrifying place?” He gets me. Brilliant of Tabitha to show him stories about her missing family and others. But…yeah. Why her???
- “No, Boyd! We. Are all we have. Us. These people, this family — that is all we’ve got. And now, we’ve got one less.” Blanket statement: Any time you see Elizabeth Saunders and Harold Perrineau sharing screen time, it’s fantastic. Specific statement: Love when Donna finally breaks down on these lines instead of lashing out at Boyd in anger/trying to play the blame game. Also really love when he throws it right back at her and reminds her about how she was about to give up the day before.
- The scene by the pool is another great one. These people have seen so much death, they can’t even keep track of it anymore. Just a beautiful quiet moment in an hour full of them. And it also really highlights how important Tian Chen was to everyone in the town, that so many people are rocked by her loss despite the fact that they should be numb to this sort of thing by now.
- …but is Boyd really going to stop feeling like it’s somehow his fault? Unlikely.
- “Whenever things got really bad here, sh— she used to always say… ’no matter how bad it gets, we’ll never have this day again.’” The fond, bittersweet smile here is a killer.
- FROM Season 3 Episode 2 actually came at a time, for me, when I’d recently found out I lost a former mentor. That smile from Kenny when he talked about his mom in the diner…I had one of those when I thought about my person. Just incredibly raw, relatable work in this episode. Truly.
- And Kenny asking if his mom suffered, when he knows this place??? PAIN.
- At least he gets to choose how he remembers his mom. That’s such an important little detail, especially since some folks don’t get that gift.
- “…all I could…remember, even now, was that the last words I said to them: ‘clean your room or no TV.’ Then, I went to work. When I came home. They were gone.”
- “She made me tea.” Sobbing.
- …not Fatima eating all that rotten food when she can’t eat anything else. We’re thinking demon baby, right? Right.
- Something about Donna working on preparing that cow for everyone to be able to eat, drenched in blood, as she’s the only one who really takes time with Ethan.
- Also: Ethan asking if that’s what Tian Chen looked like on the inside…holy crap, kid. Chill!
- The way Sara’s voice breaks on “the day we all went home.”
- “There’s one thing I do know. This is how they want us — angry. Stumbling around in the dark. I also know this: Hey. If we find them, there’s a good chance we are not coming back. But if this is what you want to do, I will go with you. Side by side. And we will take out as many of those motherf***ers as we can.” I just love them?
- …annnnnd we’re crying again.
- The tension when they wait for Kenny to come and see his mom’s body, worried it’s not good enough…
- God, I love the pacing on this show.
- Not a phone call from the ghost of Thomas. Or whatever that thing is…
Thoughts on FROM Season 3 Episode 2 “When We Go”? Leave us a comment. We really want to hear your thoughts about those paintings, that baby, and the phone call!
New episodes of FROM release Sundays on MGM+.
