Summary
“Zoo” is the most eventful installment of the season so far, as the Church of the Lesser Saints steps up their assault. There are some fascinating home truths in this episode as well, as pent-up issues finally reach the surface—a highly entertaining half-hour of TV with some breathtaking action sequences.
In Servant Season 4 Episode 5, Sean (Toby Kebbell) and Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) attempt to aid the other cult members in capturing Leanne (Nell Tiger Free), hoping to be rid of her finally. In retaliation, their nanny unleashed her most extraordinary supernatural powers, causing a sinkhole in the middle of their street. In “Zoo,” Leanne takes back control of the Turner home and organizes Jericho, an impromptu year-and-a-half birthday party celebration. It’s an eventful occasion, as the Turner family argue with each other while Leanne battles new and old rivals.
Servant Season 4 Episode 6 Recap
The sinkhole of Spruce Street has reached the news, yet Leanne is still adamant about throwing Jericho an eighteen-month birthday bash. Julian races over with party balloons, and a mini zoo is erected in the back garden. Goats, spiders, and snakes are among the many creatures on display. It’s an odd affair, seemingly random strangers thrown into this forced celebration; even though an apparent earthquake has left the street uninhabitable, Julian must park a few houses away.
This odd setup isn’t lost on Sean or Dorothy; they are fully aware that Leanne is punishing them for trying to get her kidnapped. They are hostages in their own homes. Dorothy refuses to be involved in the shindig, and Sean anxiously watches from the sidelines in horror, unsure of their next move. Sean considers getting Julian back on their team, but he seems even more infatuated with Leanne than ever. The crazed nanny orders him about and instigates every segment of the day, desperately trying to keep up this forced fun and happy family facade.
Why was Jericho’s birthday party delayed?
Leanne delivers a speech, thanking everyone for coming. She explains the odd timing, calling this party a gift for Dorothy. They couldn’t celebrate Jericho’s first proper birthday as Dorothy was in the hospital then, so it was delayed.
Leanne has decided to throw a party now Jericho is 18 months old as a kind of power move. During her speech, Leanne subtly implies that she is aware of Dorothy’s plans to oust her, relishing in her new authoritarian role. Leanne orders Julian about, asking him to go and get the party hats. Sean tries to reason with Julian in the kitchen, but he’s well and truly under the thumb. Their conversation turns into an all-out argument, blaming each other for Dorothy’s downfall.
Who are the secret cult members?
Back in the makeshift zoo, Leanne is attacked by a snake, and a goat gnaws at her dress. Leanne goes upstairs to change and is distracted by a baby crying. She goes to investigate and finds a baby crying alone in a bathtub. It is a trap; three individuals attack Leanne from the Church of the Lesser Saints. The secret cult members turn out to be the two men and the woman from the cocktail party, who happens to be a mother, who Leanne suspected back in season three, no less.
They pin her down and mark her, but Leanne fights back. She stabs the younger woman with scissors and defeats the other two with brute strength. Leanne calls for backup and then gets dressed into a new outfit, hiding her emotions well.
Julian defends Leanne downstairs while she fends off defectors upstairs. He talks about her lousy upbringing and the brutality of the pageant circuit. Leanne sees the love in the Turner family and wants to be loved just the same. Julian is then ordered to retrieve the birthday cake, although they can’t find any candles. While they frantically search, a goat escapes and smashes through the glass door into the kitchen. Julian drops the cake in shock. Even with all the animals turning on Leanne, Julian remains blissfully ignorant of his girlfriend’s powers.
How is Leanne tricked?
They head outside, and Leanne forces everyone to sing along, even with a ruined cake and no candles. Then the scene descends into absolute pandemonium. The dog bites Leanne, the cake is truly ruined, falling onto Julian’s chest, and all the animals escape. The nurse, Bev, invites Leanne into her apartment so that she can treat the dog bite, and Leanne follows. This is, of course, just another ruse, a trick; Leanne is attacked for the second time. Bev injects Leanne with a syringe and then ties her up. Leanne thought Bev would tend to her wounds, but she was drugging her.
Meanwhile, Sean and Julian continue their argument in the kitchen. Julian ignorantly defends Leanne, rationalizing all the chaos laid out before them. He tells Sean to take some accountability and then turns things personal. Julian says that Sean chose TV over his family, which led to Jericho’s death. Sean then hits Julian, stating that Dorothy’s brother should have been there for her in her time of need. Sean sees red and loses it. He calls Julian an addict with no life, obsessed with the one person destroying the family. Julian hits back, and the two grown men scrap in the living room on the floor.
Servant Season 4 Episode 6 Ending Explained
Leanne has a different fight on her hands. She wakes in Bev’s apartment to find the nurse whipping herself. She talks of religious injustice and then grabs the dagger, ready to perform the ritual.
Julian and Sean notice smoke coming from the cellar and rush to see what is happening. Julian saves Leanne and knocks the dagger out of Bev’s hands. But Bev was already taken care of. Leanne had managed to freeze her enemy, who slowly swelled and collapsed on the floor. Sean races in and quickly calls 911.
In the aftermath of this second assault, Bobbie, the other nurse, apologizes to Dorothy in person. She admits that she didn’t know Bev was in a cult and then quits her duties in shame. She warns Dorothy about Leanne and her extreme obsession with Dorothy. The mother looks through all her old recordings and finds the DVD of the children’s pageant. She watches the clip where Dorothy meets Leanne for the first time. Is this where that obsession started from?
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