Chucky's latest episode, "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss," begins to build on some of the series' largest looming tensions. As the episode preceding the season finale next week, "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss" also begins to change the circumstances for Devon, Lexy, and Jake. In the series thus far, none of them have experienced stakes quite as high as these, meaning they are walking into the finale with a new outlook.
Following the deaths of two parents in the last episode of Chucky, "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss" is properly titled. "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss" focuses more on Junior's grief than Devon's despite both boys losing their mothers in Chucky's previous episode. Even the opening credits of "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss" work to remind everyone of the losses that have taken place, building the title card out of tombstones. However, the loss of their maternal figure largely impacts the decisions both boys make in "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss." These decisions made by Junior and Devon are what alter the course of the series just before the finale.
The episode begins with Bree's wake but the focus isn't on the loss of Bree. Instead, it focuses on Jake, Devon, and Lexy deciding not to team up to fight Chucky anymore. Still upset with Jake, Junior punches him, shocking some and serving as an obvious sign of grief to others. Junior's anger takes a turn for the worse when Tiffany arrives at the wake and interacts with Logan, going as far as to kiss him. The tension between Junior and his father has grown consistently over Chucky's previous episodes, but Bree was often the buffer between them. Now that she's gone and a mysterious new woman has entered the picture, Junior's distaste for his father comes to a serious head.
After confronting his father about the woman, Junior returns to his room and finds Chucky, with whom he forms an unlikely bond. Much like Chucky did with Jake early in the series, the killer doll attempts to coax Junior to become a killer. He first uses Junior's growing animosity toward his father as his prevalent example, but quickly expands it to Lexy and Jake. Aware of the competition between Jake and Junior, Chucky encourages Junior by reminding him that he can be better than Jake if he finds the guts to do what Jake couldn't. By the end of "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss," Chucky gets his wish once Junior uses the doll to beat his father to death. The alliance between Junior and Chucky poses a dangerous threat for Devon, Lexy, and Jake in next week's finale.
As Junior finds a guide in Chucky, Devon has a much tougher time following the loss of his mother. Once finding solace in Jake, he now struggles to look at him without reminding himself of his mother's death. Devon reveals that he has contemplated running away from Hackensack to avoid the foster care system, but before he can do anything, he is pulled back into Chucky's twisted game. Devon ventures to Charles Lee Ray's house (which was bought by Tiffany last week) and discovers Nica tied up. He frees her, only to have the unfortunate discovery that he actually freed Chucky. Devon is then tied up in the chair facing an army of Good Guys dolls.
Other crucial elements of "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss" involve the Mayor's announcement of the upcoming G-rated horror charity event. In Hackensack, the chances that the horror-themed event will actually remain G-rated isn't very likely. The impending plans of Chucky, Tiffany, Junior, and the army of Good Guys dolls also don't bode well for the event or any of Hackensack's residents. However, it may lead the people of Hackensack to finally learn the truth about Chucky.
Andy (who was introduced to the series last week) leaves Kyle behind at a gas station, setting off to arrive in Hackensack to take care of the Chucky problem once and for all. He is last seen arriving at Junior's house shortly after he killed his father. Now, Andy is not only facing death at the hands of Chucky and Junior, but any army of the Good Guys dolls that he and Kyle have set out to destroy. The lingering presence of Tiffany and Nica in Hackensack also means he won't have it easy, but there is a chance Kyle will catch up with him.
In the grim episode that is "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss," it does manage to have some positive moments. After Jake arrives at Lexy's house with the Billy Good Guys doll, Lexy becomes offended that Jake contemplated skipping town. She reminds him that even though his biological family is dwindling, he has found a chosen family in her and Devon. Considering where Jake and Lexy started off at the beginning of Chucky, this is a huge development for their characters in just seven episodes. It also presents a much-needed united front prior to the huge battle they will have on their hands next week.
"Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss" is one of Chucky's least gorry episodes, but is one of its better ones narratively. It does a great job setting up the finale for next week without making it seem that there is a set way the series must conclude. The growth Jake and Lexy have experienced together along with the strain on Jake and Devon's relationship, and even Lexy and Junior, means that the finale has the potential to offer a heartwarming conclusion (or as heartwarming as an ending any characters in the Child's Play universe can get). Now that Chucky has finally gotten one of the kids under his thumb, the series is embarking on new terrain.
While it may seem unwise to introduce this new element so shortly before the finale, it is the best choice for Junior's character. This development for Junior has slowly been built over Chucky and it makes sense. Should he find out that Chucky is who is actually responsible for his mother's death, he will likely find himself caught between a rock and a hard place. Like Junior, Devon struggles to deal with his mother's death and what that means for him in the present. While both become entangled with Chucky amidst their grief, only Junior is on the side of a killer. "Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss" beautifully shows two very different sides of grief in the horrid circumstances that surround Hackensack, making it one of Chucky's most poignant episodes.
Chucky is now streaming on SyFy and USA Network.