The last time we saw Jade and Tabitha, they were deep in the tunnel, frantically digging up the bones while surrounded by the creatures—the Season 4 finale cuts off right as they try to escape. According to Sophia’s conversation, they do manage to get out, but we won’t get visual confirmation of their fate or what they do with the bones until Season 5. The finale also gave no clues about how anyone might finally get home. Instead, it piled on even more mysteries and several deaths.
Episode 10, titled “If a Tree Falls in the Forest…”, opens with Boyd and his group preparing to pull down the bottle tree while Tabitha and Jade continue digging up the bones as fast as possible. Once the bones are finally unearthed, they give the signal for Boyd’s team to topple the tree and lower the ladder. Unbeknownst to them, Sophia had already sabotaged the ladder, so it was only a matter of time before it broke. As the creatures close in, Jade and Tabitha grab the rope ladder and try to climb out, but it snaps. They fall back into the tunnel with no choice but to run and search for another way out.
On the surface, the moment the bottle tree crashes down, the sun vanishes, and the sky instantly turns dark, as if night has suddenly fallen. The creatures immediately begin their attack. Boyd and his group barely manage to survive and escape the forest. The same cannot be said for the clinic. Through her vision, Fatima sees the Smiley creature heading toward the clinic, but she is powerless to stop it. The talisman is missing from its usual spot, allowing the creature to enter unchecked. It comes inside to confront her mother. Mari steps in to protect her and is slashed across the stomach. She becomes yet another victim of the sudden night.
Here’s an expanded and more detailed version: Meanwhile, Sophia is methodically carrying out her plans with cold precision. Elgin, caught by his own reckless stupidity, is confronted by Sophia. She offers him a deal: if he joins her mission, she will send him home, the same promise she had already made to Clara. Desperate and cornered, Elgin agrees. The two then begin chanting strange phrases together. Almost immediately, Elgin starts bleeding heavily from his eyes and mouth. Within moments, he collapses and dies right in front of her. The last time we see Elgin, he is lying dead on the ground. Sophia, completely unfazed, calmly instructs Clara to get rid of the body. At the Colony House, Ethan receives the devastating news that his mother, Tabitha, was unable to escape the tunnel. In another room, Henry suddenly snaps. In a desperate attempt to return to the real world, he pulls out a gun and tries to shoot Victor. Victor quickly overpowers him, grabs the gun, and forces Henry to stop. He then holds Henry and speaks to him firmly, trying to make him understand that this nightmarish town is real and that it is deliberately playing tricks on his mind. Henry, shaken and confused, is left struggling to accept the truth.
After the sudden night of terror finally ends, Boyd receives a radio signal confirming that Tabitha and Jade are still alive, but trapped inside the tunnel. Along with Fatima and Ellis, Boyd takes an alternate route in an attempt to rescue them. However, before they can reach them and pull them out, the creatures launch another attack. In the middle of the chaos, the show delivers its biggest reveal of the season — though it’s still unclear whether this discovery will ultimately help the residents or simply add to their problems.
The finale felt somewhat underwhelming, as it didn’t reveal much that viewers didn’t already know. However, it did confirm that Victor was right to stop everyone from uprooting the tree. The atmosphere, music, and cinematography were excellent, building a strong sense of anticipation that something major was about to unfold. The lightning strikes, earthquakes, and violent tremors shaking the Colony House made it clear that the town itself was angry and that the story is now heading into its endgame. By the end of the episode, Sophia had successfully gathered and destroyed all the talismans from both the town and the Colony House. With no protection left, the residents are now completely vulnerable and just one night away from being wiped out. Season 5 is expected to open with a catastrophic night as the characters get closer to uncovering what the true endgame is.
Overall, the finale ended on a major cliffhanger. Sophia has consistently been one step ahead of everyone and has already succeeded in making the entire town vulnerable. I didn’t see any hint of a new plan that could protect the residents from either Sophia or the creatures. The show also did not indicate what the children’s bones are meant to do. Julie’s story-walking storyline is still unexplored, and it might eventually provide some important clues. It’s still too early to make strong theories, but I have a feeling that the same day that once left Victor all alone is going to repeat itself.
Final Score - [7.5/10]