So far, “Chucky” has toggled between Jake Wheeler’s life thrown in chaotic disarray, thanks to the murderous doll, and flashbacks that fill in the gaps of Charles Lee Ray’s ascension to serial killer. Episode five, “Little Little Lies,” pushes both elements forward in pivotal ways but finally brings the arrival of two legacy players. How they fit into the series remains to be seen, but the series’ ability to juggle the franchise’s past, present and future so seamlessly continues to impress.
The looming threat of a Chucky on the loose united Jake (Zackary Arthur) and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) as they enlisted Devon (Bjorgvin Arnarson) as an ally in the fight and cast aside their differences. While the trio’s repeated attempts to track down and stop Chucky bring them closer together, “Little Little Lies” gives us a deeper look at the beginning of a productive relationship for Charles Lee Ray in the ‘80s. It all sets the stage for major characters to make their long-awaited return.
CHUCKY — “Little Little Lies” Episode 105 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Zackary Arthur as Jake Wheeler, Björgvin Arnarson as Devon Evans — (Photo by: USA Network)
Cult of Chucky’s ending blew open the world of franchise possibilities, but it also left a dangling loose end for the central characters. It’s meant a steady increase of anticipation in “Chucky,” with fans dying to know just what’s next for Nica (Fiona Dourif) and Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). But creator Don Mancini smartly focused on the “Cult” aspect and the ripple effects of what that would mean on a larger scale, beyond our familiar franchise players. With Chucky splitting his soul across numerous vessels, it opens the franchise up to new blood and fresh ideas, and “Chucky” emphasizes that through Jake Wheeler’s grim coming-of-age story.
“Little Little Lies,” in many ways, feels like a turning point in the season. Jake’s relationship progress with Devon and Lexy means seeing him happy for the first time. The episode also lays some groundwork in tying up minor loose ends to be dealt with in the future. All are signs that the torch may be passing from Jake to the titular character, Chucky, and a methodical convergence of the major plot threads. Accountability shifts more firmly toward the teens’ parents, as well, for a satisfying change.
The flashbacks to Charles Lee Ray’s rise from little sociopath to serial killer hasn’t always worked; memories of Charles’ childhood occasionally felt superfluous and out of place, even when used as a parallel to Jake’s story. The flashbacks in this episode succeed as fan service and a bridge between Chucky’s past and present. However, it is a little visually jarring to see another actor play the adult Charles, especially with Dourif providing the voice work. That gets exacerbated by the episode’s end.
CHUCKY — “Little Little Lies” Episode 105 — Pictured in this screengrab: (l-r) Zackary Arthur as Jake Wheeler, Alyvia Alyn Lind as Lexy Cross, Björgvin Arnarson as Devon Evans — (Photo by: USA Network)
As Jake is finally coming into his own, so too is Chucky. Cult of Chucky saw its eponymous villain effectively separating his soul into numerous host bodies, plastic and otherwise, and “Chucky” found a clever way to continue that thread without Nica or Tiffany. However, their grand entrance is more than welcome, and Mancini rewards patient viewers with an intriguing revelation that looks to even the playing field for an inevitable confrontation.
If the first four episodes were a steady rise, accumulating potential energy in their ascent, episode five feels like the turning point that will unleash that energy in a kinetic race toward the finale. “Little Little Lies” doesn’t just deliver a dramatic shift in the narrative; it establishes a Chucky no longer able to hide behind a teen, which will pose a new set of problems for Hackensack’s residents. As always, these problems promise to come with a body count.
“Chucky” airs on USA and Syfy on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
