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S3E4 — "There and Back Again"

Air date: October 13, 2024 · Director: Jack Bender · Writer: Kristen Layden

Synopsis

In the town, Ethan Matthews takes the phone from his father and speaks to the voice himself. It tells him that Tabitha will need to be rescued — a message that seeds hope in the Matthews household but also deepens the mystery of who is calling. Victor Kavanaugh reveals to Sara Myers that as a child, after the massacre that emptied the town, he collected the belongings of the dead residents, and he now uses those objects to try to remember the past.

Camped at the settlement, Kenny Liu, Jade Herrera, and Kristi Miller spend the night reminiscing about Tian-Chen and the effect she had on their lives — a quiet moment of mourning before the storm. Meanwhile Randall Kirkland agrees to help Boyd Stevens capture one of the creatures. Randall notes that the creatures normally repeat the same routines every night — but that night they are strangely absent, an anomaly that unsettles both men.

The ambulance carrying Tabitha Matthews, the unconscious Henry Kavanaugh, and two drivers — accompanied by police officer Dani Acosta — reaches the town. The creatures have laid a trap: they attack, killing the drivers, and the ambulance crashes. Acosta flees on foot to Colony House, pursued by creatures, and in the chaos accidentally shoots the resident Nicky.

Jim and Tabitha reunite. With Boyd's help, the group gets Henry into Colony House, but Randall is left behind after becoming surrounded by the creatures. Inside, despite Marielle Sinclair's efforts, Nicky succumbs to her gunshot wound. When she is alone with the body, Fatima Hassan impulsively drinks Nicky's blood — her cravings growing beyond rotten vegetables. Outside, the creatures torture Randall at length, then leave him alive at the door of Colony House.

Key Events

  • Ethan speaks to the voice on the phone, which tells him Tabitha will need to be rescued.
  • Victor tells Sara about collecting the belongings of the town's dead as a child to remember the past.
  • Kenny, Jade, and Kristi camp at the settlement and remember Tian-Chen.
  • Randall agrees to help Boyd capture a creature and notes the creatures are strangely absent that night.
  • The ambulance arrives in town; the creatures spring a trap, killing both drivers.
  • Acosta, chased to Colony House, accidentally shoots resident Nicky.
  • Jim and Tabitha reunite; Boyd helps get Henry into Colony House, but Randall is left behind, surrounded.
  • Nicky dies despite Marielle's efforts; Fatima drinks her blood when alone.
  • The creatures torture Randall and leave him alive outside Colony House.

Characters

New Information / Reveals

  • The voice on the phone speaks to Ethan and claims Tabitha will need to be rescued — an apparent prediction, not just a taunt.
  • Victor's collection of the dead's belongings is a deliberate memory aid; he has used it since childhood.
  • The creatures deviate from their nightly routines, setting a coordinated trap for the ambulance — evidence of planning and patience.
  • The outside world can deliver people directly into the town: the ambulance carrying Tabitha and Henry arrives, completing her return.
  • A police officer, Acosta, enters the town as a new resident.
  • Fatima's cravings escalate to consuming human blood.

Locations

Deaths

  • The two ambulance drivers — killed by the creatures in the ambush.
  • Nicky — shot accidentally by Acosta during the chase; succumbs to the wound despite Marielle's efforts.

Lore & Mysteries