Summary
Episode 6, “Toys”, shows the height of Colin’s manipulation of Heidi in the present day, with the jigsaw pieces slowly coming together in another intriguing episode of Homecoming.
This review of Homecoming Episode 6, “Toys”, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
Colin Belfast (Bobby Cannavale) is completely manipulating Heidi Bergman (Julia Roberts) in “Toys”, spending the day with her at a laundrette, initiating what he calls a date. He intends to woo her into a false sense of security so that he can squash her as a witness from the homecoming facility. It’s an uneasy watch, especially with the knowledge that you know Heidi does not remember Colin’s past behaviour at the facility. Episode 6 got insanely weird.
“Toys” chooses to move away from the facility and instead focuses on Walter Cruz’s (Stephan James) mother who is the latest character to be highly paranoid about the homecoming facility; she learns that the company that owns homecoming also runs other subsidiary companies that sell the likes of cleaning products, orange juice and food. I’m with her; it’s implausible that a company that sells that type of product will genuinely care for her son. Regardless of all the paranoia, we still know nothing new on this facility, and I am starting to think that is the point.
Walter’s mother decides to travel to the facility herself so she can take her son back home. Heidi approves the visit, giving both mother and son some space while they talk the arrangement.
As “Toys” ends, Colin manages to sweet talk Heidi into more dates, and eventually, they sleep together. I could not help but feel agitated by the situation Heidi has found herself in. The character has become so lost, unguarded and mentally wounded that allowing a predator to weave his way in feels like a betrayal from the writers. Homecoming is leaving Heidi vulnerable, feeding into Colin’s controlling word, and leaving the audience more paranoid.
