Horror movies have been very bad at this over the years, resulting in infamous parodies like Scary Movie. Similarly, comedies use it as a parodic device with classics like Dumb and Dumber.
Season 3
But then you get stories like season 3 of Locke and Key, which essentially takes the Dumb and Dumber characters but turns them into a serious fantasy drama. This logic and insanity is ultimately the bread and butter of every issue and problem our characters face.
The aftermath sometimes makes for a difficult watch where you'll be rolling your eyes and yelling at your TV and wondering what these people are doing. It soon becomes clear that whatever magic this show had is long gone by this third season.
Now, stupid characters acting erratically can be fun to watch as a "so bad they're actually good" watch, but Locke and Key doesn't have that.
Instead, most of the season is filled with contradictions, huge plot holes, contrivances, and characters who never develop or learn anything. I'm careful not to spoil anything here, but if I had to point to one of the worst culprits for this, it would have to be Bode. How did this child travel?
From the cute, smart and curious kid in season 1 to one of the most annoying and irritating players in the entire show; expect lots of bragging, arrogance, pouting and gaslighting. Like the moral ambiguity in Hollywood, you'll struggle to tell if this person is a villain or a hero.
"So what's the story of all this?" I hear you say. Well, after Netflix's handy recap of the events of season 2, the new chapter of Locke and Key is set to get the Locke family back on track. Tyler is out of town with no clue about the keys, Nina is still intent on hooking up with Josh, and Kinsey and Bode are still brooding over Locke's house, waiting for the main plot to kick in again. And it does as soon as episode 1 rolls around.
Captain Gideon
This year's main antagonistic threat comes from Captain Gideon, who is eager to get his hands on every key in the house. To do this, he dreams up several of his minions to use the Well's power to do his bidding and invade Locke House.
Along the way, Bode and the gang run into numerous problems, most of them self-inflicted. In episode 1, Nina nearly kills Bode by abandoning her while using the new key. He is trapped in the cold in a snow globe. Now, in season 1, we learned that these switches are quite dangerous and should be used with caution.
In season 3, that's all out the window, as the scenario I mentioned above is a recurring trope throughout the series, as Bode finds a few new keys that completely change the dynamic of the entire show... because of the consequences of his actions.
There are few world-changing supplements that are handled with as much care as a toddler with a shotgun. It's actually quite impressive how much these undermine the integrity of the story.
Slow Paced Season
Despite how exciting Buttons is, season 3 is actually pretty bland and pretty slow paced. We get an entire episode devoted to Duncan's wedding, and then it disappears from the plot entirely, given the conveniently explained voicemail at the end of the game.
Meanwhile, there's a last-minute plot twist that comes out of nowhere, there's a distinct lack of action in the middle of chapters, and then, above all, the last episode rushes through the antagonistic threat so quickly that it feels like it. take a gentle ride through the amusement park before the hydraulics kick in and you round the final bend back to the station.
Locke and Key is one of those shows where it's not too bad to have fun in the moment. Sure, the characters are still incredibly stupid and make dumb decisions, but the switches are such a unique and interesting concept that you'll stick with it, hoping it gets better. Except for a few belated moments of aesthetic pleasure, it's not. When you finish this season and step back, you really realize how horribly weak this final season was. It pains me to write this because I really enjoyed the first two seasons.
Now these weren't without problems, but the imagination and visual flair on offer could have overlooked them. Season 3 is waiting for the penultimate episode before introducing us to the same talent. I can't help but feel that if this series had a little more tinkering with its visual design, it might have papered over the pointlessly stupid and unstable characters at the helm.
Below-average Season
Finally, Locke and Key is bowing out with its third season burning everything behind it. It's a story full of problems, from its world-building and narrative structure to its characters and inventions. There are a few standouts, but when judged as a full season, it's miles below par.