Netflix’s simultaneously whimsical yet dark series, Locke & Key, follows the Locke family as they move into their recently deceased father’s childhood home, Keyhouse. The Locke siblings; Tyler Kinsey, and Bode soon discover that hidden in the house are keys with all sorts of magical powers.
They quickly learn that the keys unlock more than just fun adventures, as demons from a mysterious dimension crawl their way out from the shadows, willing to do anything to get their claws on the Lockes' keys. The series charmed viewers with a creative premise, captivating visuals, and an amazing soundtrack. With the story of the Lockes' concluded, here are ten of the best quotes to look back on.
Spoilers Ahead!
10 “Yes, I Can Get Hungry. I Get So Hungry Sometimes.”
This is one of Dodge’s, the show’s primary antagonists, first lines of dialogue and one that defines not only her character but the demons residing beyond the Black Door as a whole. Their first instinct after locking onto a human form is nearly always to shovel food down their new throats, and when their stomachs are full, they pursue their desires free of inhibitions.
In Dodge’s case, she salivates for power. She never hesitates, and she never stops, not until the Lockes put her down. But even then, she rarely stays down for long.
9 “Is It Weird I Think You Look More Like Yourself When Your Hair Is Dyed In That Unnatural Color?”
Nina hits the nail on the head with this observation that she makes upon seeing Kinsey and her new entourage of hot pink highlights. This is the moment in the series that Kinsey, for better or for worse, has decided to quite literally kill her fear and start going for the things she wants.
Although viewers can’t go into their heads and take out their inhibitions, many can relate to the feeling of expressing who you are through a change in appearance, especially when that change is unconventional.
8 “Our Brains Are Imperfect Machines. They Do All Kinds Of Crazy Stuff All The Time.”
Scott comforts Kinsey in this scene, who’s berating herself for having warped memories of her mother. He reminds not only Kinsey but the viewers as well, that human minds are not camcorders. They are subject to bias, alteration, and misrepresentation.
It’s important to, as Scott adds, not to be too hard on oneself for not having a steel trap of a mind. But it’s also crucial to remember that because one’s mind is imperfect, one must be ready to have those imperfections called out in hopes of making a correction.
7 “There’s A Reason Why No One Loved You, Sam. It’s Because There’s Nothing Special About You At All.”
Sam Lesser has committed unforgivable crimes, but it’s difficult to not feel a shred of sympathy for him when Dodge delivers this cruel line right after sticking a knife in his stomach, especially after learning his backstory. Sam fears his fate is to matter to nobody, even his last name seems to imply how little value he holds in the world.
Although it doesn’t excuse the hurt he caused them, it’s easy to see why he envied the Lockes who seem to embody love and wonder. In a few lines, Dodge affirms every insecurity Sam has ever had and moments later, he is left only a ghost, gazing at the Locke family united in the distance.
6 “My Grandma Always Has Ice Cream Cones And Magic Shell. Like, At Her House.”
Locke & Key is a series that blends childhood magic with cruel realities. Jamie’s recollection of her trip to her grandma’s house provides a refreshingly sweet and humorous moment to indulge in pure preadolescent joy. In the midst of unimaginable chaos consuming the Lockes, this line takes the viewer back to more innocent times, when being able to dip an ice cream cone in chocolate at home was the most fantastical experience one could imagine.
The fact that Jamie has actually experienced the power of keys yet is still blown away by Magic Shell that despite going through difficult experiences, she’s still a child at heart.
5 “You Were A Monster Even Before You Went Into That Cave. I Don't Have A Word For What You Are Now.”
In a show where literal demons make up the majority of the villains, Captain Gideon reminds the viewer that there is evil borne from within the human world as well. Gideon sets the magical destiny of the Locke family in motion by finding the opening to the Omega world, but it comes at the expense of the Locke family’s beloved patriarch, Peter Locke.
Gideon allows a demon, a god in its own world, to enter his body in hopes of its power aiding his escape. A match made in hell.
4 “That’s Why We Have To Protect Our Parents. Because They Don’t Understand Enough To Protect Themselves.”
It’s not often that one hears children discussing the need to protect their parents, but it's a recurring theme in the show since adults forget anything related to the keys, exposing them to dangers they can’t remember are coming. This line sticks out not only for expressing an unusual sentiment but because it implies more than simply watching out for monsters.
There’s a deeper meaning about something one loses in the journey from adolescence to adulthood, something that only a child can remind one of. A different sort of magic.
3 “You Haven't Taken A Drink, But You've Still Found A Way To Relapse.”
In this heartbreaking scene, Kinsey gently confronts her mother about the fact that she’s spiraling into her former self-destructive behaviors just with the absence of alcohol. It’s difficult to watch, though easy to sympathize with Nina as she relives all the mistakes she made in her life, particularly with her children.
It’s a reminder that addiction is consuming, and it clings like a parasite. It’s a reminder that switching one addiction for another doesn’t solve the problem at its rotten core. And it’s a reminder that to truly heal, one has to move on.
2 “Even Background Characters Have A Part To Play.”
Gordie, a classmate of the original Keeper of the Keys but never part of the exclusive group steps into the spotlight in the final episodes. As the main cast searches his head for the last key, the audience learns about Gordie’s life and how he always felt destined to be behind the stage, whether in theater or in life.
Although the curtain falls for Gordie after he helps guide the trio out of his mind, and he ultimately doesn’t get much screentime in the series, this “background character” won the hearts of viewers in his far too short performance.
1 “This Was The Real Magic. This Was All I Ever Needed.”
Before tossing the keys for good, the Lockes use the Timeshift Key to say goodbye to Rendall Locke, the father and husband they lost before the series began. Bode asks him if he’s okay with the end of the magic that defined most of his life. Rendall assures him that while the keys were extraordinary, and he cherished much of the time he had them, there are better things in life.
This line perfectly concludes the series, telling the viewer that while the Lockes have lost their keys, they still have each other.
Locke & Key streams on Netflix.