Somewhat unsurprisingly, the new Netflix supernatural teen drama Lockwood & Co., based on the series of novels by Jonathan Stroud, has become a major hit. The distinctly British series, adapted for the screen by Attack the Block’s Joe Cornish, has a fascinating premise that shunts kids and teenagers to the forefront of a battle against vengeful spirits, who have returned to haunt the living in what is described colloquially as “The Problem”.
A crucial aspect of the Problem is that the specters, of which there are various Types based on severity and intentions, can only be seen and fought by children. Most – though crucially not all – children are blessed with Talent, abilities with which they can sense or see spirits that adults don’t possess. As children age into adulthood they actually lose their Talent, so both private and government agencies have been established to train youngsters and send them on missions to vanquish so-called Visitors.
The titular Lockwood & Co. is one such agency, though it’s controlled (almost) entirely by its members, Anthony Lockwood, George Karim, and Lucy Carlyle. They operate out of 25 Portland Row, a sprawling house left to Anthony by his parents, who we’re to understand are both dead. The property functions as both the agency’s headquarters and a home for Anthony, Lucy, and George, though it, like Anthony himself, is not without its secrets.
What is behind the door in Lockwood & Co?
One such secret is a mysterious door that nobody is allowed to open. We’re first introduced to it in the premiere episode when Lucy is given a tour of the premises. Nobody goes in there. The door stays locked. Throughout the season, while we can glean brief snippets of Anthony’s backstory, the actual contents of the room are still never addressed. Eventually, both Lucy and George accept that it is obviously something important to him but otherwise leave it alone.
After the events of the season finale involving Joplin and the bone glass, Anthony decides that the kids can no longer have any secrets from one another if they want to be successful as an agency. Thus, he takes Lucy and George upstairs and opens the door. Frustratingly, the season ends before we get to see what’s inside.
Since we don’t have confirmation of what is behind the door, we can only speculate. But we know it’s something very important to Anthony. The defining aspect of his backstory is the loss of his parents and sister. His parents’ ghosts were, apparently, the first he ever fought, but the death of his sister may be even more crucial since he clearly still holds a degree of personal responsibility for it.
Anthony’s sister died when she was going through their parents’ things, a task that Anthony refused to help with (presumably to avoid having to deal with the loss and grief). While doing this, though, she accidentally broke an Indonesian ghost pot which released a spirit that ultimately killed her. Anthony was too late to save her. The logical assumption is that Anthony’s sister was killed in the room beyond that door.
My personal theory is Anthony is preserving the room as a kind of memorial, but I also strongly suspect that the ghost of his sister is perhaps in there, either with or without his knowledge. If Netflix decides to renew the show, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Anthony’s sister become an actual recurring character, though certainly the matter of the room’s contents will be addressed.
So, that’s what’s behind the door in Lockwood and Co – or at least what might be behind it. Do you have any theories of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
Additional reading:
- Who is Bobby Vernon in Lockwood and Co?
- Who Plays Norrie in Lockwood and Co?
- Is Lockwood and Co on Netflix okay for kids?
- Do Lockwood & Lucy get together in Lockwood and Co?
- Who is Joplin in Lockwood and Co?
