To start off from beginning to end this episode was expressively beautiful. Snow is used in a really pretty way in the episode and the special effects are subtle but entrancing. I found myself feeling wined and dined by the use of icicles and the vastness of the locations that were used.
The episode starts with a man staring down the viewer in the eyes. He wears glasses, and has a stern but informative air about him. He enters a sort of soliquay about the mysteries of the universe like an older, and more weathered Lemony Snicket narrating the episode before it begins. I enjoyed the way this set up the episode. The camera slowly zooms into the face of this man and we know that this is an important character and that we should take note of him. Off to a good start,
The next steps of the episode starts with a little girl going about her normal life. In a classroom, walking around her snow-covered neighbourhood and then she comes across a robot that almost looks like a reject from Pixar's 'Robots' in the landscape around her. However she treats this as normally as a tree in a back garden. I wonder why, but the show continues and lets the questions you may have stew and bubble in your brain.
The music in the episode elevates the uncertainty that envelopes the town. The scoring is very similar to "The Leftovers" and it works just as powerfully. We continue to follow the young girl, and how she witnesses a tense conversation between her mother and a mysterious man and alongside her, we try to piece together what is happening through the eyes of a child. The viewer feels just as vulnerable as her as we witness ominous conversations and how something needs to be "put back". But, what is it? The show teeters on with a solemn speed and our questions just pile on top of each other as we sift through the snow with the protagonist.
The little girls discovers that her mother has stolen something and needs to do an experiment on it. In a world of what we have seen in the episode so far - surreal structures, and more- it is easy to believe that are many experiments that take place. Children are usually the ones with secrets but it is the adult in this episode that keeps her cards close to her chest. The episode is layered with very thin horror elements which adds to the ambience of loneliness and fear that the little girl feels. Because the show is clearly not horror-orientated but it feels almost as if the genre of the show changes according to the mindset that the girl has at the time. This could just be my imagination but I like that the plot is open enough for me to speculate and not be given a clear answer otherwise.
On returning home, her home has disappeared into thin air and her mother with it and the supernatural occurrences are instantly ramped up with snow rising upwards into the air. All that is left is a smooth stone which she then carries with her until she meets a boy called Cole in the forest. At this point, I am grateful for more characters because I love relationships and shows can often feel void if they go for too long without them. A friendship begins between them to find her mother and they also rope in his older brother which gives a little "Stranger Things" vibes meets "The Returned" as they trek through the forest and the town in search for answers.
The episode builds up the tension but it sometimes feels as though it is trying to conceal too many secrets and makes it feel a little dry and like you are waiting a little too long in a waiting room so it takes longer to sink your teeth into but it is worth the patience. It plays with your mind enough not to bore you from the frustration too much. Not to get into spoilers too much but there is a sense that Cole's mother is connected by blood to the girl but she seems to have moved forward in time. This really, really reminds me of Netflix's 'Dark'. And the conclusion of the episode is very remiscient of that. There is an emotional turn of events that I highly recommend you watch for yourself!
Overall, I really liked where this show is going and I will be watching more to see if I continue to like it more. The only bad thing I have to say that vexes me with these noir type of shows is that they make the adults hollow and cold but I think that is mainly for effect and that will change throughout the series. This show seems to be take inspiration from lots of different places but mashes all of them up in a divine treat served on a platter. The information that 'Tales From The Loop' was made from an art book of an alternate version of the 80s is so exciting for me and I have high hopes for what is in store for the show.
You can catch 'Tales From The Loop' on Amazon Prime.
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