In the name of all that’s unholy, this may be my favorite episode of CHUCKY thus far. It has it all: laughs, tenderness, absurdity, blood, and unexpected twists. Just when I thought the show couldn’t take the craziness any further, they went ahead and took it there.
Jake and Devon continue to grow more and more distant, torn apart by a third wheel that’s so adorable and creepy at the same time I can’t possibly divulge it in a spoiler-free review. Lexy has a beautifully-acted, tender moment with Nadine, and Tiffany (pretending to be Jennifer Tilly) sees her world fall down around her in a performance that, in my opinion, should not be forgotten come award season. All this leads to a shocking cliffhanger because…of course, it does.
What’s impressive to me is the series’ ability to show us new and ridiculous iterations of the same schtick. By now, after 34 years, seven films, and one and a half television seasons, you’d think we’d have seen it all. The show’s strength is its ability to laugh at itself and embrace its ridiculousness. Many say the franchise jumped the shark at BRIDE/SEED OF CHUCKY, and maybe it did, but taking it back to its scary roots with CURSE/CULT OF CHUCKY, then blending it all for the TV show has proven to be just what everyone’s killer doll needed. The series continues to entertain, shamelessly going over the top week after week, yet maintaining momentum and continuity. It’s brilliant, bloody camp at its finest. Kudos to you, Don Mancini!
CHUCKY airs Wednesdays on SYFY. (I catch it on Thursdays on SlingTV because I’m a millennial without cable.)
