The last episode marked a dramatic turning point in “Chucky” with major strides in multiple plot threads. Paths started to converge with the arrival of Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) and Nica (Fiona Dourif), and smaller loose ends sought closure in Jake Wheeler’s world. Flashbacks into Tiffany’s first meet-cute with Charles Lee Ray ran parallel with the present-day reveal that Nica still battles with Chucky over control over her body. It’s full steam ahead with “Cape Queer,” as more legacy players enter the fray, and the body count starts to hit very close to home.
Allies Jake (Zackary Arthur), Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), and Devon (Bjorgvin Arnarson) remain hyper-vigilant on tracking down Chucky after realizing their mistake. So much so that Lexy isn’t fully present when Junior (Teo Briones) learns the truth about his mother (Lexa Doig), and Devon realizes mom (Rachelle Cassius) shifted Miss Fairchild (Annie Briggs) to the top of the suspect list for Hackensack’s murder string. But Chucky isn’t slowing down anytime soon, so Jake asks for help from Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent), who’s on a cross-country mission with Kyle (Christine Elise McCarthy).
CHUCKY — “Cape Queer” Episode 106 — Pictured in this screengrab: Alyvia Alyn Lind as Lexy Cross — (Photo by: SYFY/USA Network)
Episode six takes one small step backward with the flashbacks, giving a random glimpse from Tiffany and Charles’ past that doesn’t contribute much to the overarching narrative. The voiceover work in the flashbacks continues to distract. Luckily, “Cape Queer” has too much ground to cover to dwell much in the past this go-round.
The arrival of Andy and Kyle makes for a welcome sight. In the same monologue, Andy makes sly references to the franchise canon but drops significant bombshells about the series’ future. Kyle once again establishes herself to be the more levelheaded, reliable presence of the pair; Andy’s lifelong dealings with Chucky have taken a toll. Meanwhile, Tiffany and Nica-Chucky see surprising progress in their fittingly unpredictable relationship and raise intriguing questions. Whereas Andy and Kyle mean serious business, Tiffany is having a ball playing a sadistic game of house.
CHUCKY — “Cape Queer” Episode 106 — Pictured in this screengrab: Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany — (Photo by: SYFY/USA Network)
Tilly, who takes over for Brad Dourif in “previously on Chucky” voiceover duties, manages to steal every moment and scene in which she appears. That’s probably not much of a surprise to franchise fans, but it is worth mentioning considering just how monumental “Cape Queer” is in catapulting the season towards its endgame. Tilly manages to make even the most psychotic of characters absolutely charming and occasionally heartbreaking.
Relationship growth is the theme of this episode, for better and worse. Every major player gets a moment or two to move forward or backward in crucial relationships that help set the stage for the final episodes. That also means some significant goodbyes.
The revelations dealt with in this episode close the doors on certain avenues and raise some critical questions for the series’ future. The stakes grow even higher for Hackensack, teasing a thrilling, bloody showdown between good and evil, with Jake and friends caught in the middle. No one seems safe, which bodes well for an insane and insanely fun finale. As long as the final two episodes maintain this breakneck pace, we’re in for a fantastic journey.
“Chucky” airs on USA and Syfy on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
