Castle Rock season 2, episode 9 recap: Caveat Emptor

In episode 209 of Castle Rock, Pop and the others make a last stand against Augustin. Also, Annie Wilkes proves deadly with syringes.

Previously on Castle Rock, Annie Wilkes (Lizzy Caplan) was pushed to the limit while Joy (Elsie Fisher) got lost in the crowd of a hypnotized parade. Also, Nadia (Yusra Warsama) lost Chris (Matthew Alan), though he did fight off brainwashing, thanks to some prescription meds.

However, Augustin (Paul Sparks) is still trying to take over both Castle Rock and Jerusalem’s Lot. Augustin is very curious about letters written by former Shawshank Warden Dale Lacy (Terry O’Quinn).

To help get answers, he meets with the Warden’s widow, Martha (Frances Conroy). They end up discussing the mysterious figure, often known as “The Kid” (Bill Skarsgård). The Lacy letters reveal that Dale knew about the cult’s mysterious disappearance.

Meanwhile, Reginald “Pop” Merrill (Tim Robbins) meets up with Nadia, and Pop tries to put their recent differences aside (she learned he had killed her mother during a military campaign, which is why he adopted her out of guilt). She doesn’t indicate forgiveness but pledges to move out of Jerusalem’s Lot and never look back. As if to encourage that, Augustin’s cult begins chasing the two down, shooting at them as well.

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They happen to meet Chance (Abby Corrigan), too, who joins them mid-escape. Nadia’s brother, Abdi (Barkhad Abdi), crashes into the cult’s truck with his much larger construction truck, allowing them some time. The three take shelter in Pop’s antique shop, but the power is promptly cut.

As they grapple with questions like, “How come we didn’t get hypnotized?” Pop assures everyone that the place rigged with explosives (never leave home without ’em!).

The swarm

Augustin’s followers threaten to swarm into Pop’s shop, and that’s what they fear is underway when they hear people entering through their basement. However, it’s only Annie and Jamal (Isayas J. Theodros) breaking in. Still, for understandable reasons, the two are interrogated (while the threat of instant explosion fends off an external attack).

Under pressure, Annie confesses to killing Ace and dumping his body under the Marsten House. Interestingly, Pop doesn’t even seem to mind, as Ace (who is now Augustin’s vessel) was an overall crappy guy (both in Castle Rock and if you’ve ever seen Stand By Me). Pop seems to assume it was probably self-defense instantly.

With the interrogation in full swing, everyone noticed that Jamal no longer has his earring — and the hole has even healed. Rather than try to explain the situation, Jamal attacks Pop. Attacking Pop, of course, proves foolish, prompting Nadia to shoot. They strap Jamal down, and he threatens them. Nadia proposes using Adderall to help Jamal become his old self again, which worked in fleeting moments with Chris.

Jamal’s vague threats include a warning that “Tomorrow at dusk, she returns.”

Also, as we’ve seen often in Castle Rock, beetles show up. Augustin soon calls pop on the radio, urging Pop to hand over the Lacy letters. As this goes on, Nadia and the rest discuss an odd plan to escape using a passing train as cover. She mentions that she and Abdi used to do this to hide from Ace.

Annie Wilkes’ enhanced interrogation techniques

Anni Wilkes’ true colors come out once more when she decides to extract info from Jamal. At first, he assumes she’s just an average person.

However, as Annie notes: “I have put down quite a few of your brothers and sisters tonight, so maybe that carries some weight.”

Before very long at all, she ends up jamming syringes into his eyeballs. While it’s hard to sympathize with whoever took over Jamal’s body and brain, the scene makes the others question Annie’s personality (she’s killed numerous people on Castle Rock and, of course, is known for killing others and kidnapping author Paul Sheldon in Misery).

As this goes on, Augustin continues speaking to Pop, taunting him over the radio. For example, he notes how Pop has no kids of his own but still messed up four (savage burn!). To layer on the shame, Augustin notes that he started with nothing and ended with less than nothing.

In other words, Augustin is not the most exceptional negotiator. As Pop’s shop is in danger of exploding, Annie saves Chance from some of Augustin’s people, who are now swarming the basement.

During this scene, action movie rules apply: All of Augustin’s followers seem to be lousy shots, but Pop’s crew are at the top of their game (although Kate Avallone’s relatively minor character, Evelyn, gets sacrificed for credibility’s sake).

When Pop’s explosion doesn’t successfully go off, Augustin shoots him. The others indeed escape under cover of the passing train. Good job!

What are your thoughts on Season 2, Episode 9 of Castle Rock? What did you think of the season overall? Let us know in the comments!