‘The Boroughs’ Episode 7 Recap – The Great Escape

The Boroughs has had a pretty high level of baseline quality all throughout, but it really kicks into gear in Episode 7. And just in time! With the finale around the corner, “Time to Go” ups the stakes in a just-right way, giving the villains an excuse to be even more evil just as it gives the heroes the opportunity to save the day. It isn’t over and done with yet, and a late turnabout offers a new rescue mission dynamic for the climax, but this is a real standout chapter of the season.

It also answers the one big remaining question about why Sam keeps seeing his dead wife all over the place. The previous episode tied up most of the loose ends, but I’d actually forgotten about this one, so it’s nice to have some clarity, even if it arguably raises more possibilities than it answers. But we’ll get to that.

Anneliese Is Dying (And So Is Mother)

The reason for the urgency on the villains’ part is that Annaliese isn’t healing properly from the gunshot wound she sustained earlier. Mother’s blood is weakening, and it’s now up to Wally to think of a potential solution.

Working with Dr. Mansour, Wally theorises that a blood transfusion from her children will help to repair Mother’s dying cells. However, it’s highly dangerous, and if the procedure is rushed, it’ll kill her. It’ll also mean fattening up the kids on the residents, which will likely cause a few deaths itself.

Blaine is adamant, though. He can’t lose Anneliese, who was stricken with polio in her youth, and he’s willing to sacrifice any of the residents to save her. When Mansour refuses, Blaine kills him, leaving Wally in charge of the procedure. But Wally has other ideas for what to do with Mother.

Mother Has Been Asking for Help

Sam, meanwhile, wakes up in the Manor after having been used as a buffet for the children for the past three days. He’s weak and trapped, but knows he needs to find a way out, so he begins to exploit what he has learned about the place during his brief previous visits to formulate an escape plan.

Thanks to Edward, Sam knows there’s a way to sneak out. But learning it requires him to befriend a mysterious sleeping woman named the Duchess, which also means acquiring some cigarettes to rouse her from her slumber. This creates a fun side quest structure where Sam has to lead a karaoke rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” as a distraction to steal the ciggies.

The Duchess explains why Sam has been seeing Lilly everywhere. That was Mother reaching out to him telepathically. She has communicated with various people, but she manifests in different ways for everyone. Mother wants to be rescued, or perhaps put out of her misery, so the overall objective is shifting from killing Mother to freeing her from her captivity.

The Great Escape

While Sam’s trying to break out, Paz, Art, Judy, and Renee are trying to break in, albeit with the intention of rescuing Sam. This spirited plot is the highlight of The Boroughs Episode 7, full of great gags and fun moments. It also ropes in Claire, who just so happened to be at Sam’s place when Kayleigh was trying to prepare it for the next arrival. When Claire turns on Sam’s TV-based weapon, it traps Kayleigh in its beam, showing her true form, so Claire realises she has been gaslit about her dad’s state of mind.

Claire immediately marches to the Manor, where Paz is posing as the receptionist. In the chaos of Sam’s escape, Paz realises who Claire is, and they both team up to break through shatterproof windows and get outside. Art arrives in the getaway vehicle – a stolen laundry truck – and the whole gang jumps inside, ready to carry out the next phase of the plan.

It’s time to save Mother.