Things are finally winding up for this season Chucky after the first episode’s construction of its new cast. While the first episode may have been more of a set-up for fans to get introduced to the First Family, this episode propels its main story and action forward while presenting some lighthearted moments to keep its spirits bright.
Good guys never take a short break as Chucky’s now fully out and about in the White House and up to no good. After integrating himself within the First Family thanks to Henry Collins (Callum Vinson), Chucky’s (Brad Dourif) devious plan to take down President James’ (Devon Sawa) family is in full motion.
However, after Jake (Zachary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson) and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) discover that Chucky’s back in the White House, they now take it upon themselves to do what’s necessary to put an end to the bad-mouthed killer doll.
Chucky Season 3 Episode 2 Recap Review
While the first episode didn’t have a strong focus on utilizing Chucky‘s main trio, fortunately, there is a lot more attention on their presence in this episode. Jake, Devon, and Lexy felt more like side characters as the first episode needed to catch up on where they ended up.
Luckily, they get more action here: after finding out Chucky’s ended up at the White House, they take it upon themselves to finally is put an end to his mischief with the aid of their teacher-turned-parental guardian Ms. Fairchild (Annie M. Briggs). Reasonably, she holds reservations, knowing what Chucky did to her all the way back in season 1, but it’s nice to see her come around to helping the trio as most of them passed her off as paranoid.
In order to do so, they manage to find their way through contacting Grant (Jackson Kelly) by connecting to him on a personal level via Lexy’s dead mom. As Lexy relates her similarities to Grant in her message, the episode sets up a more touching moment that could potentially build upon the grievances they share. Luckily, this moment helps the three of them get into the White House.
Not shortly after, there’s a somewhat funny scene between Jake and Devon as they try to mingle, though can’t necessarily get to. Knowing how Don Mancini integrated his past experiences into the prior seasons, this moment between the two and Fairchild, who tries to safely teach them about “consummation”, is a little spark of optimistic hope to balance out the grimly gore and bleak White House storyline.
Speaking of the White House, the First Family is still investigating agent Teddy’s untimely demise, presumed to be an accident by patriotic, yet cunning agent Warren. While James (Devon Sawa) and Charlotte (Lara Jean Chorostecki) believe that Teddy isn’t in any trouble, Warren believes that there could be something wrong with him despite his outward kindness.
Warren wants to ensure the protection of the Family, but he’s also more dedicated to the country’s concerns, which could make for a more complex character if given more time. Fortunately, it looks like Warren’s safety concerns are real after all as on one night, Chucky decides to strike again by (almost) decapitating James’ secretary in the Oval Office.
Now with two deaths on Chucky’s kill count this season, it drives James and Charlotte to reconsider whether what they’re doing for the safety of Grant and Henry (Callum Vinson) will actually help them in the end. Sawa and Chorostecki’s chemistry definitely has its promise as the two’s performances almost make this traumatic experience feel somewhat more realistic.
However, when Charlotte discovers the secretary’s body from Warren, the episode tries to set up another conspiracy line involving James’ love affairs with Warren persuading Charlotte to go through with his cover-up. In a way, Charlotte takes a more proactive role as her conflict between doing what’s right for herself or for the Office gives her substance later in the episode when she meets with Fairchild later in the episode.
The meeting between Fairchild and Charlotte does hold some emotional conviction as the two discuss how the kids are handling their own heartaches from very different circumstances, but it does feel somewhat cut short as Charlotte is redirected by Warren into his investigation once again.
In doing so, it gives Chucky the chance to strike again by killing Fairchild with the American flag around her head, which almost leaves a bitter ending for her as I really wanted to see more from her given how the previous season ended.
However, with that kill to top this episode off, Chucky finally makes his presence known to the main trio, permeating his ever-threatening presence that seems to genuinely immortalize him as the “thing that can’t be killed.”
Final Thoughts
Overall, Chucky‘s second episode in its newest season strives to move closer to balancing its multiple storylines, providing greater depth to its newer characters while heightening the stakes for the original cast. By diving into the secrecy and conspiracy behind the First Family as well as the personal connections formed through grief, it’s able to be more emotionally resonant, albeit left with more needed depth.
Related: ‘Chucky’ Season 3 Episode 1 Recap Review: White House Restart
While it does feel like the personal developments of Jake, Devon, and Lexy have taken a step back overall, their priority to stop Chucky once and for all is still worth watching with all the blood, guts, and feelings continuing to unravel in this episode. Hopefully, the next two episodes will be able to master this balance in order to insert further intrigue into these concurrent stories.
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Chucky Season 3 is now on SYFY and Peacock with a new episode releasing every Wednesday.
This review was written during the 2023 WGA (now resolved) and SAG-AFTRA (ongoing) strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series/movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
