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S4E3 — "Merrily We Go"

Air date: May 3, 2026 · Director: Alexandra La Roche · Writer: John Griffin & Kristen Layden

Synopsis

The episode opens with the funeral of Jim and the pastor, a somber gathering for the two men lost in the first episodes of the season. As the townspeople mourn, a flock of crows descends on the ceremony, unsettling everyone — an omen the residents read as another sign that the town is watching and reacting to their grief. At the diner afterward, Sophia approaches Julie Matthews and remarks that things started going downhill in town when her family arrived. The pointed comment infuriates Julie, who is still processing her father's death, and marks Sophia as a figure who seems to know more than a newcomer should.

Meanwhile, Ethan Matthews and Victor Kavanaugh set out on a quest for the Lake of Tears, the destination Jim told Ethan to find in S4E2. They are joined by Jade Herrera, who is trying to recover the memories of his past lives — the reincarnation chain that connects him to Christopher and the sacrificed children. Along the way, Victor catches sight of the Man in Yellow's clothes and is terrified, a reaction that hints at his childhood trauma and the entity's long history with him. Jade, meanwhile, discovers hallucinogenic mushrooms in the woods, a potential tool to help him remember — a discovery that will drive his arc through the middle of the season.

Back in town, Randall Kirkland helps Julie retrieve Ethan's books from the collapsed Matthews house so she can learn more about her storywalking ability. The books contain the framework Julie will use to understand and test her power. Tabitha Matthews and Henry Kavanaugh go to the bottle tree, with Tabitha hoping to return to the lighthouse — the way she escaped the town before. But the Boy in White appears and tells her she can no longer return that way, and that they are running out of time.

Boyd Stevens, still working to find any advantage, tasks Dani Acosta with creating a crime scene using objects from the dead — a macabre experiment in case the belongings of the deceased can reveal something that helps people escape. The episode closes with Henry comforting the terrified Victor, while Jade's discovery of the mushrooms sets the stage for his visions to come.

Key Events

  • A funeral is held for Jim and the pastor; a flock of crows descends during the service, unsettling the town.
  • Sophia tells Julie that things started going downhill when her family arrived, infuriating Julie.
  • Ethan and Victor set out for the Lake of Tears, joined by Jade, who seeks his past-life memories.
  • Victor sees the Man in Yellow's clothes on the journey and is terrified.
  • Randall helps Julie retrieve Ethan's books from the collapsed house to study storywalking.
  • Tabitha and Henry visit the bottle tree; the Boy in White tells Tabitha she can no longer return home through the lighthouse and that time is running out.
  • Boyd tasks Acosta with building a "crime scene" from the dead's belongings in case it yields a clue to escape.
  • Jade discovers hallucinogenic mushrooms in the forest.

Characters

New Information / Reveals

  • The Boy in White confirms Tabitha cannot escape via the lighthouse anymore, and states explicitly that time is running out — the first direct statement of a deadline for the season's mission.
  • Victor's terror at the Man in Yellow's clothes shows the entity was present in his childhood, deepening the link between the Man in Yellow and Victor's history.
  • The Lake of Tears quest becomes an explicit mission for Ethan, Victor, and Jade.
  • Jade's hallucinogenic mushrooms are introduced as a means of recovering past-life memories.
  • Sophia begins openly antagonizing the Matthews family, an early crack in her disguise.

Locations

  • The bottle tree
  • The forest — where the party finds the Man in Yellow's clothes and Jade finds the mushrooms
  • The collapsed Matthews house — where Julie recovers Ethan's books
  • The diner
  • The lighthouse (referenced)

Deaths

Lore & Mysteries