Welcome aboard to the world of the supernatural, Southern fried style – – it’s Robert Kirkman’s Outcast, the Cinemax adaptation of his 2014 -2018 Image Comics series. Set in Rome, West Virginia, Outcast is the story of Kyle Barnes, a man haunted in many ways by demonic possession throughout his life, and his return to his hometown of Rome to solve these mysteries after separating from his wife and daughter after his wife’s own demonic possession was misinterpreted as a domestic violence situation. In Season 2, the mysteries of Rome deepen for Kyle, and he’s thrust into the dual roles of demon hunter and caretaker for his young daughter Amber and traumatized sister Megan.
Kyle’s dead, Giles has survivor’s guilt, and Amber keeps telling the adults things (like, she has her dad’s gift) and the adults aren’t listening. Let’s dive into “Fireflies” – – and as always, spoilers within.
1. Oh Good, Kyle’s Okay. Or Is He?
Over at the local hospital, there’s a team fighting to save Kyle’s life after that battle-with-a-possessed-Giles-in-midair-crash-to-the-ground thing, when his heart rate spikes. He then wakes up in the operating theater, and this wouldn’t be a show about the supernatural without a good ol’ fashioned out of body experience, right? Right. Now this could have been a moment in which Kyle does meet his father and maybe receive some wisdom about the family history in demon hunting . . . but nope. It’s his mama, who gives him a nice guilt trip about how he had the power to stop this thing but he let Giles get to him. A little more guilt tripping, some strangling, a threat about how his family isn’t safe, and some fire out of Kyle’s mouth . . . and then we have the opening credits.
I’m disappointed that this moment was squandered, especially after the setup a few episodes ago of Mr. Barnes the Elder’s history with demon possession in Rome. Here was an opportunity to push that door open further, and it was not taken. Instead, we get a whole lot of mama issues and platitudes about how he has the capabilities but not the motivation.
Listen, if I wanted to travel, I wouldn’t take a guilt trip.
Oh by the way, Kyle’s dead. On the operating table.
2. Survivor’s Guilt
Poor Giles, wrestling with the dual bombshells of being possessed and Kyle’s death – – the former resulting in the latter. He’s shut down and put himself on a permanent leave of absence from the police force. Rose – – and later the Reverend – – is attempting to rally him to pick up and Do This For Kyle, but Giles isn’t biting. The timeline for this suggests that this conversations takes place shortly after people receive the news of Kyle’s passing, and while time is of the essence in this spiritual battle, I’d like a little room for grief, please. You can’t fight the devil when your soul is only half there.
3. Is This What Heaven Looks Like?
Kyle wakes up again, this time in a hospital room, but a locked hospital room. It’s an old condemned wing of the hospital. And he’s in pain, but pushing through trying to MacGyver a way out of this room. Knowing that he’s dead, this has to be a metaphor for heaven – – or hell once Sidney appears. It’s hell on earth, as Dr. Park, working with Sidney, transferred Kyle somewhere else so that Kyle can serve Sidney. But no one knows that ’cause to the rest of the world, he’s dead.
So good news, Kyle’s alive. Bad news, no one knows where he is. And Sidney’s fixing to get to his little firefly.
But that’s a word you shouldn’t say to Kyle. Especially when he’s angry. You won’t like him when he’s angry.
4. Whose Side Are You On?
Remember when I said that the Church of the Beacon could be an unexpected ally for the Reverend? I . . . might be taking that back. Anderson (loudly) confronts Dakota, wanting to know more about her church, looking for the mystical Messiah that saved Dakota and her flock, revealing that Kyle died. After he leaves, Dakota is texting someone asking to speak with them “immediately. About Kyle.” Is this mystery texter (in Kentucky, or with a Kentucky area code based on the number) a friend or a foe? The mysteries of this church and who they really serve continue to deepen, and we only have four episodes left.
Continued below5. And a Child Shall Lead Them
All this episode Amber has been saying things to the adults and they have just been patronizing her. Like hey, my dad’s still alive, and I can do the same stuff he does. So it’s no surprise Amber is the one that finds her father and reveals Dr. Park’s association with Sidney, thus revealing that “fireflies can see other fireflies” (that she has the same abilities as her father) while the adults fart around for just too long than they should have.
Can we give the kid her own show?
Kudos as well to Madeleine McGraw (Amber) for a performance that added weight to the few words that she spoke throughout, and body language that spoke volumes.
Sidney tells Aaron “Children can never be patient,” but Amber proves just the opposite.
6. Aaron, You Asshole
Aaron, Aaron, Aaron. You teased Eleven 2.0 by spilling milk on the ground and left him to die, you’ve been rude and insolent to every adult around you, and oh yeah, YOU KILLED YOUR MOTHER. You’re certainly not in the running to get any awards, so to see you get your just desserts – – or is that just dinner? – – in the final minutes was so well deserved.
Afterthoughts
– Uncle Reverend Anderson giving Amber chips for dinner is perfect, except that it’s not as much of a treat as he thinks since “Daddy makes an exception most of the time.”
– Is it just me, or does Amber look and sound a lot younger than in earlier episodes?
What did you think? Sound off on your own thoughts in the comments (but be mindful of spoilers)!
