On to episode 3, where we learn more about the Helstrom siblings’ dear ol’ dad. No, he’s apparently not Satan, at least not like in the comics. But then, none of these characters are like their comic counterparts anyways, so does that really make a difference? What matters is if they pull it off well, and in this case… ehhh.
1. Sins and Trauma
As mentioned in a prior review, Helstrom is very much focused on trauma and how it impacts characters. This episode exemplifies that, as we’re shown the impact of a traumatic experience on multiple characters.
There’s Zoe Richards, the one person to ever survive the Helstrom father on his killing spree. She survived, yes, but is burnt and disfigured, then more or less kept locked away. In the end, the trauma drives her to try to take her own life by burning herself alive, just as she was was once nearly killed.
Then we see how it impacted her sister, Aubrey. Her trauma comes from the fact that she wasn’t there for her sister and couldn’t help her when she was kidnapped. This leads her to not only keep her sister locked away for her own protection, but to make very poor decisions in an attempt to get revenge.
Finally, we see its impact on Ana, who her father used as bait to kidnap Zoe. There’s clearly no small amount of guilt attached to the role she played, but in Ana’s case, it manifests more as anger.
Even when Daimon’s group goes to talk to Zoe, Sister Gabrielle claims they’re visiting her while doing research into psychological trauma. When she states Daimon and Ana have endured similar experiences, well, she’s not entirely lying.
2. Caretaker Takes Care
Meanwhile, Dr. Hastings and Caretaker meet up. There’s a lot to unpack from their conversations, but they clearly go back a long way and care about each other. At the same time, they have different opinions about how to deal with Victoria Helstrom, and it’s unclear how much they know that the other knows. Are they a part of the same mysterious organization? Unlikely, but not impossible.
This is also where we get confirmation that Dr. Hastings is indeed dying. She’s got lung cancer, and has opted against chemotherapy. She’s tired of fighting, as she put it, and has brought in Sister Gabrielle to serve as her replacement once she’s gone.
So we’ve got some more character drama added to the mix, adding to interconnected character storylines. I will say that after about three episodes of Helstrom family drama, I can’t blame Dr. Hastings for being ready to just let it end.
3. Sister Gabrielle Takes Charge
We’ve been told a fair amount about Sister Gabrielle over these past few episodes. Dr. Hastings spoke highly of her education and capabilities, although Daimon was less than impressed himself. Meanwhile, Ana just tries flirting with her.
Well, we learn a bit more about her this time, as she takes a more active role in the case. For starters, she tells Ana that she was more of a partying type in the past, before she found fulfillment in her faith. It’s not much, but it does add another dimension to the character.
She’s also the one to come up with the idea to approach Zoe Richards as if they’re doing research about trauma, then knows just when to walk away. As the outsider to the whole Helstrom situation, she’s still the one that we learn about the family and everything relating to these demons and possessions. That helps make her one of the more interesting characters, at least as far as the ones in Helstrom go.
4. Ana Goes Clubbing
Meanwhile, how does Ana deal with all the many difficulties and frustrations coming her way? She goes to the club. Mind you, she’s not there to dance; it just puts her in close proximity to people, allowing her to easily use her powers to see if anyone is a murderer. It just so happens there is one there, who we instantly know is an asshole because he immediately grabs her butt.
Remember, folks: consent is essential. Don’t go touching people without their permission.
Continued belowWell, we already know Ana likes killing people who have blood on their hands, we saw it in episode 1. So it cuts the chase by having her quickly just off him with her vaguely defined psychic powers and walk away, in the middle of a crowded club. Naturally, the other people there start freaking out, but they’ll likely assume it’s an overdose or heart attack of sorts.
Why does she expedite the murder then walk off? Because she saw who she thought was Zoe in the club. At first, I wondered why she’d even be in the club to begin with. Then we learn she’s there as bait, which then makes the question how she knew Ana would be at that specific place during that specific time.
Behold, the magic of plot convenience.
5. Just Wait ’Til Dad Gets Home
After all the buildup, we finally get to see the Helstrom father. There’s a mile-long list of things that make him a monster, from the abuse he put his family through to the many, many murders. He’s built up as a terrifying entity, who can’t be killed by fire and whose return is a cause for dread.
When we first see him, he’s walking through a frat house covered with corpses, although you’d think he’d wear something more along the lines of “cultist robes” more than a hoodie.
Well, this still gives us a decent fight scene between Ana and her father. In spite of the scene being at night and in a dark garage, the lighting isn’t too bad, and the fight choreography gets a nice balance between fighting and telekinetically throwing people about. We’re also shown how he won’t be easy to kill when Ana throws a pipe right through his stomach and he simply pulls it out.
The question, then, is what’s his endgame? He defeats Ana, but just lets her lie there as he kills Aubrey instead, using the same “chest splitting open into a gigantic maw” method we saw at the end of episode 2. Naturally, that gives Ana time to escape.
Also, while my first thought was how that method of murder reminds me of Gluttony from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, I realize now that it’s also very close to a method of murder from “Among Us,” so pick whichever reference suits you.
At any rate, we now have what we assume will be the big bad of the series. He’s no Satan (yet, at least, maybe that will change) but we’ll see how it goes in episode 4.
