Summary
You’ll have seen these types of high school romances and cliched sports sequences a million times before, but Harlan Coben’s Shelter still manages to just about get by with its more endearing qualities. Unfortunately, when the show drops its more absurd segments, it barely has anything else to offer.
We recap the 2023 Prime Video series Harlan Coben’s Shelter Season 1 Episode 5, “See Me Feel Me Touch Me Heal Me,” which contains spoilers.
Stepping away from the more outlandish elements of the series, “See Me Feel Me Touch Me Heal Me” concentrates more on the human aspects of this teen adaptation.
Episode five sees Spoon and Ema (Abby Corrigan) preparing for the school musical and Mickey (Jaden Michael) trying out for the school basketball team while the teens simultaneously continue their investigation into Ashley’s (Samantha Bugliaro) disappearance.
Harlan Coben’s Shelter Season 1 Episode 5 Recap
Carrying on from the cliffhanger ending in the previous episode, Mickey fights with Octoface, who is at Rachel’s home to kidnap Ashley. Mickey battles valiantly, but Rachel has to step in and shoot at Octoface to save the teen’s life. When they race to Ashley’s aid, she’s already bolted.
Mickey updates Ema and Spoon on these revelations. The friends return the favor, informing Mickey about Mr. Kent’s relationship with Dylan Shakes. He was the kid’s doctor.
Mickey shows them a photograph of Dylan’s Little League team. Mickey’s father was also part of this team, and Mrs. Friedman was their head coach.
Did Mrs. Friedman take Dylan to his final doctor’s appointment?
Spoon pays her a visit next for further answers. Mrs Friedman acknowledges that Dylan’s father, Billy, was abusing his son, leading to a broken rib, but she denies taking Dylan to that final doctor’s appointment on the day he went missing. Mrs. Friedman is suspicious of Spoon’s meddling. The teen flees, though, before revealing anything more.
Afterward, the teens go about their normal school day, putting the investigation to one side for the time being. Ema and Whitney bond at musical practice. Then Mickey tries out for the school basketball team. He performs well, but Troy ruins his momentum by elbowing him in the face.
READ: Will there be a Harlan Coben’s Shelter Season 2?
This quickly turns into a fight. Troy and Mickey scrap in the gym. They are soon joined by Spoon and Buck. The coach takes her time but eventually splits them all up.
Hannah and Shira are then summoned to discuss this fight. They were ironically socializing with each other when they received the message. Hannah was showing Shira around her new restaurant.
At school, the two families argue. Hannah urges Troy to admit to what he’s done, although he says it was just an accident. The coach gives both Troy and Mickey their final warning.
If they step out of line again, then they are both off the team.
Who is Ema’s mother?
During the game, Mickey spotted Ema’s secret butterfly tattoo. He tells Spoon this unsettling update. They decide to spy on Ema for answers. They follow her home, discovering that she lives in a swanky mansion and that her mother is actually celebrity Angelica Wyatt.
The trio of teen friends discuss the tattoo and Ema’s monumental secrets. Ema explains that she lied because she didn’t want to be judged about her family’s wealth and status.
She also explains how the tattoo was Agent’s idea. Ema didn’t know the connection and then didn’t want them to suspect her.
The trio makes amends. During this discussion, Ema brings up the Abeona butterfly and its hidden meanings. Mickey states that the charity his parents worked for was named after the butterfly as well.
They surmise that there must be a reason this butterfly is linked to everything in Ashley’s disappearance case.
What does Mickey find at the tattoo parlor?
Spoon and Mickey infiltrate Agent’s tattoo parlor next, looking for clues. Mickey finds a photograph of his father and Octoface socializing together. This surprise connection causes Mickey to freak out. He feels a sudden numbness towards his dad, unable to even cry at his grave.
Mickey uses the license plate in the photograph to track Octoface to his mansion home. This task involved Rachel and Troy. The school bully, Troy, used his dad’s police database to run the license plate.
Together, Rachel and Mickey follow Octoface. This leads them to a seedy nightclub. Rachel recognizes the men there who tried to kidnap Ashley.
Harlan Coben’s Shelter Season 1 Episode 5 Ending Explained
Elsewhere, Ema opens up to Whitney about her secret home life. The couple then kisses. Ema seems to have found someone that she can trust. But later, Whitney tells her brother Buck about Ema’s secrets anyway.
Spoon is told that Mr. Kent has woken from his coma. With Ema’s help, they head down to the hospital to confront the man. However, he is abruptly taken away in a car by some mysterious men before they get the chance.
The episode ends with a montage of sequences. Hannah confides in Shira after an argument with her husband. And Mrs. Friedman remembers arguing with Dylan’s father, Billy Shakes, all those years ago. A much older-looking Billy stalks Mrs. Friedman in the present.
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