Castle Rock season 2, episode 7 recap: The Word

In episode 207 of Hulu’s Castle Rock, we learn more about the strange man possessing Ace, Annie is under suspicion and The Kid returns!

Previously on Castle Rock, Rita (Sarah Gadon) returned to find Joy (Elsie Fisher) and exact personal justice on Annie (Lizzy Caplan). Annie and Joy killed Rita, however, and the police showed up ready for an arrest. Also, the host body of Ace Merrill (Paul Sparks) expanded his strange little cult, with a fresh crop of people murdered to become vessels for someone else. Episode 7 begins with Ace’s reassurance that Annie Wilkes shall be a new vessel, and we get much more insight into the whys and hows of it.

Flashback to New Jerusalem in the year 1619. A holy man named Augustin (David Alpay) gives a speech. An attendee named Amity (Mathilde Dehaye) convulses before the congregation, immediately arousing suspicions of witchcraft. Although Augustin urges them to not attribute her problem to spirits, it turns out their superstitious fears are oddly accurate. After Amity and Augustin are booted from the community, Amity hears an eerie howling sound in the woods.

Soon she is met by a tall, unknown stranger. Amity does return, and somehow the crops become fertile again. While some treat Amity like a witch, others regard her as a holy profit of good fortune.  In the present, we see that Ace is Augustin’s vessel and that they are planning something big for the parade for the 400th anniversary of Castle Rock.

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Annie’s dishonest confession/Pop seeks answers

Annie confesses to killing Rita Greene but claims it was self-defense. In a way, she’s not being= entirely dishonest in that claim.  Rita did indeed attack her first, and would have survived had she stayed here she was.  However, Annie does lie by claiming Rita was trying to rob her. It’s also not a very good story. Why would Rita travel all the way to Jerusalem’s Lot just to rob someone who’s not even rich? Still, Annie is smart when noting that many have probably touched the syringe used to drug Rita. The police also mention that they traced a phone call to Rita from their town. Annie also denies that Joy had anything to do with Rita’s death, which is another lie.

Meanwhile, Reginald ‘Pop’ Merrill (Tim Robbins) meets his father, John (John Diehl), who’s serving a life sentence in a prison other than Shawshank (which was closed last season). “Pop” tells John that only has weeks to live and he forgives him for killing his sister. John hesitates to accept the apology and it almost triggers an argument. However, all that is dropped after John says Ace visited him earlier. He also adds that a guard named Jimmy (James Harvey Ward) knows about it.

Jimmy tells Pop that Ace paid money to visit “the hole” in Shawshank’s Block F. While they don’t exactly know why, we know he was most likely looking for The Kid (Bill Skarsgård), who we know from season 1. Pop also learns that Ace has been at the Marsten’s place. Startled, Pop later meets Abdi (Barkhad Abdi) with suspicions that something strange is going on. Unfortunately, Abdi tells him to leave, using a gun for emphasis.

A crazy vessel for some crazy people

Ace/Augustin’s strange cult has a problem: The police have their desired vessel, Ms. Annie Wilkes. “Castle Rock” then shows us just how far Augustin goes to have his way. In another flashback, we see that he and Amity had former town leaders burned on upside-down crosses. There are also limitations to how well they can possess.

The vessel formerly known as Patrice (Matthew D. Matteo) reminds us that Annie can’t be a clear vessel while under medication. In other words, they’ll have to take away her medication (which, in the recent past, proved to be a risky thing). Things get weirder and darker, though. We see that, in the past, a statue commands Amity to stuff beetles in people’s mouths then slit their throats — including children! Then, after Amity says they are to ree-merge in 400 years, she undergoes the procedure herself. Fun!

Now, on the big Castle Rock 400 year parade, Augustin’s plan has a chance to truly begin. Fortunately, someone other than Pop recognizes strange things happening. Abdi sees bodies burning on upside down crosses! In the parade, the statue that possessed Amity’s mind is unveiled, and Castle Rock citizens now seem entranced. Also, in another brief flashback, we see that Amity’s angel was somehow The Kid!  Ace gives a speech, seeming assured that a new dawn has risen.

One final note: This Castle Rock episode has a brief appearance of Christine, the possessed and deadly Plymouth Fury, known to Stephen King fans! Yes, Christine is quite noticeable in the parade. It’s not exactly a buried Easter egg, but it’s something a person might miss if they’re distracted for a moment.

What are your thoughts on Castle Rock? Let us know in the comments!