S3E2 — "When We Go"

Air date: September 29, 2024 · Director: Jack Bender · Writer: John Griffin (story by Griffin & Jeff Pinkner)

Synopsis

Morning after the barn attack. Jade Herrera enters the barn and finds the mutilated corpse of Tian-Chen Liu — and Boyd Stevens mumbling hysterically, still handcuffed to a pillar. Jade frees him. The town is left to absorb the loss of one of its most beloved figures, and Kenny Liu, returning from the forest, is the last to learn of his mother's death.

While camping near the newly discovered settlement, Jim Matthews and Kenny had found fresh-grown vegetables — a source of food where the town's own crops have failed. They bring some back, but the small victory collapses when Kenny hears what happened in the barn. Kristi Miller and Jade prepare Tian-Chen's body for the funeral, following Kenny's instructions, and the town gathers to bury her.

Meanwhile, Fatima Hassan's pregnancy takes a troubling turn. She seeks medical help at the clinic, where Marielle Sinclair finds her severely malnourished. Back at Colony House, unable to stomach normal food, Fatima impulsively eats rotten vegetables — and finds that they satisfy her hunger, a first sign of the cravings that will define her arc.

In Camden, Maine, Henry Kavanaugh shows Tabitha Matthews a series of paintings created by his late wife Miranda. The paintings depict the town — its houses, its forest, the tower — with an accuracy that unsettles Tabitha. Henry explains that Miranda claimed to see visions and believed she had been chosen to free the "children in the tower." Tabitha, who has seen those children herself, begins to believe she was chosen too.

After Tian-Chen's funeral, Boyd asks Ellis Stevens to help him capture one of the creatures alive — he wants answers, and he is willing to take risks to get them. That night, the phone rings in the Matthews home. Jim answers, and the voice on the other end claims to be his dead son, Thomas.

Key Events

Jade finds Tian-Chen's mutilated body and a hysterical, handcuffed Boyd in the barn, and frees him.
Jim and Kenny return from the settlement with fresh vegetables, only for Kenny to learn of his mother's death.
Kristi and Jade prepare Tian-Chen's body for burial per Kenny's instructions; the town holds her funeral.
Fatima's pregnancy shows complications; Marielle's check-up finds her severely malnourished.
Fatima impulsively eats rotten vegetables, which satisfy her hunger.
Henry shows Tabitha Miranda's paintings of the town and tells her Miranda was chosen to free the children in the tower.
Boyd asks Ellis to help capture one of the creatures alive.
The phone rings at the Matthews home and a voice claims to be Jim's dead son, Thomas.

Characters

New Information / Reveals

Miranda Kavanaugh painted the town before ever seeing it; her paintings depict the houses, forest, and tower with exacting detail.
Miranda believed she had visions and that she was chosen to free the "children in the tower" — the same children Tabitha has seen.
Fresh vegetables grow at the settlement even as the town's crops rot.
Boyd's grief pushes him toward a more aggressive plan: capturing a creature for interrogation.
The town's phone lines can carry voices impersonating the dead; Jim receives a call from a voice claiming to be Thomas.

Locations

The barn — site of Tian-Chen's death
The settlement
The clinic
Colony House
Camden, Maine — Henry Kavanaugh's home
The Matthews home

Deaths

None. The episode centers on Tian-Chen Liu's funeral; no new named character dies.