Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 6 Review: Ellis Can’t Have Two Final Girls

Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 6 pays homage to the slasher genre, specifically the one horror franchise I love dearly that also gets meta and pays tribute to its own genre. So, if we take only the case elements and the many, many ways they line up with parts of various Scream sequels, requels, and TV adaptations, the hour is an absolute delight. As our very own Max Mitchell, Vanessa Morgan gets to embody all the nerdy pop culture knowledge of the great Randy Meeks. (Or, if you prefer, his next-generation counterparts Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin.) Then, in the big killer reveal scene, she steps seamlessly into the snarky-when-cornered shoes of Sidney “don’t F*** with the original” Prescott.

The murderer’s identity is obvious, especially if you know the (Randy voice) “…very! Simple! Formula!” But it’s still absolutely pitch perfect in the charismatic, yet utterly deranged, delivery. Michael Taylor-Dallamore does the unmasking scene so well, in fact, it really, truly feels like watching a supercut of Ghostface confessions. Pick your favorite reveal. Taylor-Dallamore manages to channel a little bit of all of them after spending so much of the hour as the sweet, agoraphobic survivor of the previous Corkscrew Killer’s bloody rampage. It’s almost enough to fool the audience—but if you’ve seen these films enough times, only almost. And that’s exactly in line with how a story like this one should go.

But where Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 6 “Return of the Corkscrew Killer” fails is in the same way this series has failed all season. Jessica. Maybe in the Scream franchise, you can have more than one Final Girl, but that’s because they’re all are such complete and total BAMFs. Sidney is the ultimate, and absolutely nobody can deliver a sharp “your lemon squares taste like a***” like the one and only Gale Weathers. In the fifth and sixth franchise entries, the Carpenter sisters are, well, sisters. They’re an undeniable, inseparable pair. Max and Jessica, however, are not. Jessica is basically a spare character, one who’s here to delay an ElliMax relationship endgame. She’s someone who, during her completely chemistry-lacking “romantic” breakfast on the boat, would absolutely be one of the first casualties of any serial slasher.

…and yet. Here we are. Stuck with her. Indeed, she even helps save the day with Max’s partner Detective Dope. That’s…not how this works. Sisters, and even enemies-to-frenemies-to-besties, stick together forever. The romantic third wheel representative of the genre Wild Cards itself represents doesn’t make the final cut. For this series to completely get what makes fans love so many different films, styles of music, and even these quirky Bones and Castle-like procedurals, only to then repeat all their mistakes, continues to be frustrating. And for so much of this investigation to have split ElliMax up, with Ellis even scoffing at her survival rules in true Stu Macher—read as: villain—fashion is just…an annoyance. And it’s an unwelcome distraction, one that takes anyone who adores all things Scream out of what could have been the most timely, fun episode of the season.

For what. We all know where this is going; we all know this relationship isn’t going to last. Even the lack of chemistry is probably on purpose, to signal to viewers—who are too smart to need the handholding—that this isn’t at all endgame. As long as we’re doing a Scream tribute here, let’s go ahead and quote Sidney Prescott one more time. Because, well. “It’s insulting.”

MORE: Now that Ellis knows about Max’s mom showing up when she was on her way to meet him, shouldn’t Jessica go bye bye bye?

More Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 6 reactions

Fitting that they used the inferior mask from the Scream TV show and not something closer to the actual Ghostface mask, seeing as how The Ellis and Jessica Show is TEMU Wild Cards.
In which the Corkscrew Blowout is basically the anniversary Stabathon in Scream 4.
Also, I would 10/10 like all of this merch.
“Nice try, Nixon.” Hm. Let me pull up my massive Scream brain and think of all the times we we had “nice try, [character name]” when it was, in fact, Ghostface on the other line. Amazing.
I mean, there’s always a murder in these episodes, but the second that guy’s name was a Casey Becker tribute…good thing we didn’t find him hanging from a tree limb, his insides on the outside. Much.
Nice cut from the blood spatter on that poster to the breakfast stuff. Too bad the breakfast stuff is…this.
He kept Vivienne’s mug. And yet, and yet, AND YET.
Marc the Cat’s judgmental glare is basically how I feel watching this. Also: Weird how Detective Dope is much less grouchy about the third wheel girlfriend’s kilt book than he was about Dead of Night…
“Ricky’s on a mission to find a hat that Marc will tolerate for more than four seconds. I’m shocked he hasn’t ripped it to shreds, honestly.” Uncle Ricky rarely does things just because. So, like, is Marc in on the heist? PLEASE SAY YES.
Thank you to the phones and the murders for interrupting this bland B story.
Eh…not even B.
“If I’d been attacked by a crazy killer, I would do more than start a podcast. I’m talking book series, big budget movie with collectible merchandise…” Gale Weathers approved!
A DEWEY TRIBUTE.
Justice for Dewey Riley.
“Primrose is like Salem. Or Amityville. We’ve turned something dark into a positive.” No. It’s like Woodsboro.
“The cute nerdy ones in the movies always die first.” …false.
“How much for that? You never know when wine o’clock is gonna hit.” Yeah, especially if you have to watch the Jessica sideshow.
…when your detective is pretty but also pretty dumb, to the point of not knowing that “CK” stands for Corkscrew Killer.
Also, the vlogger chick…Mindy-coded? Gale-coded? Both? Either way, this character totally outsmarts Ellis.
Actually cheered for Max’s “rules” moment. Yes. “A cop always dies, too.” Again, I say: JUSTICE FOR DEWEY RILEY.
“H—how do you know my passcode.” Ok, Sir Grump.
“Oh, you’re cute.” (All condescending-like. Which. Good.)
Marc the Cat wallpaper!
…this man has never heard of a voice changer, huh.
“What are you doing here?” “You didn’t know she was going to be here? Did you know that we were gonna be here? Do you live here? I have so many questions.” Imagine directing the answers to Max’s questions to Max and not to Detective Dumb-Dumb.
Also: Imagine if Jessica would stop appearing when and where she’s not expected.
“But. You live here.” “Nooo, I don’t live here.” “But. Why…” Yes, my thoughts exactly: WHY. Just. WHY.
Tag yourself. I’m that tone on “well, isn’t this cozy.”
Prank calls around the anniversary, afraid to leave the house. We have now reached Scream 3.
But why is there always an awkward beat when Max speaks? She belongs here. This is her gig.
So, usually, when Detective Dopey snarks about Max’s pop culture knowledge, it’s good-natured and kinda fond. Here, he’s just rude. “She’s seen too many horror films.” “I’ve seen the right amount of horror films.”
She’s a reporter, he’s a cop…and no, they are not Dewey and Gale. GTFO.
“If McKiller Crazy Pants is a main character, then so are you!” Truth.
I could do without a whole Jeep scene between these two—is nothing sacred???—but like. At least they’re having trust issues. I’ll take it. If I have to.
“I know that you’ve been burned before, and I would never do that to you. At work or at home. I hope that you know that.” Ok, but he’s an idiot. Max didn’t burn him. (And she totally doesn’t know Max is the one, huh.)
Literally getting nothing from whatever “sexy” thing she’s allegedly whispering in his ear. Zero chemistry. None. Not even an interesting third wheel scenario.
“There’s nothing in here but rocks.” Weirdly, Ellis is talking about the evidence box, not his own head or his “relationship.”
Ah. The dad is basically Scream (2022) Dewey. Which is…weird AF, considering “young” Dewey gets murdered while “old” Dewey is there in the trailer, messed up…
More chemistry between Max and Finneas than between Ellis and the girlfriend. Yikes.
“Hey, do your, um…serial killer survival rules say anything about motels?” “Don’t watch any videotapes you might find…Oh. If the owner’s obsessed with taxidermy, get out of there, quick. And don’t touch the couch cushions. It’s not a rule. They’re just…gross.” Solid advice.
“I know what that’s like to carry around all of that unresolved trauma. It’ll really pull you under if you let it. I’m telling you, if I didn’t solve Daniel’s murder, that could’ve easily been me”. YES AND WHO HELPED YOU DO THAT. “I don’t believe that. I don’t think you ever would’ve given up.” “You didn’t know me back then.” YES AND WHO CHANGED YOU ELLIS. WHO.
The camera work for this whole motel sequence with the soda can and setting not-Dewey up to be the killer, only for Max to find him dead, is so spot on. Beautifully done. Especially that part where we’re watching from the perspective of a stalker, creeping up on Max.
“Having fun without me?” Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve been the text. (And no, we’re not having fun without her.)
The jump scare!
….but WTF even.
“…don’t open it up for anyone except for me. Or Ellis. Or the pizza I just ordered because I don’t want it to get cold.” Priorities!
“Oh, jeez, what’s the rules for this?” I hear shoving your finger up your nose while you ask the killer what you’re doing right now makes for a great bit.
“‘Nice try. It’s our killer. He’s taunting us.” “Hey. Maybe it’s a woman. Keep an open mind.” Correct! Especially since this is a sequel! The Corkscrew Killer is returning, after all.
Ellis calling this guy “Stu” instead of Stuart is another Scream tribute. I don’t make the rules.
I just think that showing up at your temporary boyfriend’s place of work and calling him by his first name, when he has a title he goes by there, isn’t remotely respectful but sure.
“Usually, journalists don’t make it in the building this far.” Someone stop Chief Li right there.
Detective Max.
Another Scream tribute: Max immediately doing the dumb thing she knows what not to do. See also: Sidney Prescott running up the stairs when she should be running out the front door, among countless other examples.
“If this were a horror movie, everyone would be screaming at me to not go in there. And yet, here I am.”
“Sequels are never as good. Why not do something original?” We already had this conversation at Windsor College. There are exceptions to this rule. (You’re literally spoofing several of them right now.)
“..this time, I’ll be the main character…” Jill and Roman have entered the chat.
“I’ll be the killer who overcame so much in the name of love. It’s the perfect story. And this time, I’ll get to write it.” Like, even his tone is spot on. Amazing.
Well, at least he stabbed himself in the arm instead of throwing himself into a glass table or stabbing his partner in crime too deep…
The entire exchange about the knife and needing to make sure the killer is dead is some great ElliMax content. And right in front of Jessica—even better!
“Oh, the mayor just got here. I need a quote for my story.” Yes. Please. Go away. No need to come back!
“Hey, thanks for saving my butt.” “Anytime. You would’ve done the same” Women supporting women!
…but Jessica can go be supportive somewhere else.
Why are Ellis and Max looking at each other like that while they talk about Max making it “easy” for him and Miss No Chemistry?
“I’ll buy you a fresh slice. How about that? You’ve earned it.” As he puts his arm around her??
LOL so much for “eating healthy” with Jessica.
Should’ve said he’d send her a copy so she could punch him.
This end scene. Ambulances and all. Been there, seen it. (Complimentary.)