Jeri Jacquin

Streaming on AppleTV+ tomorrow from M. Knight Shyamalan is the conclusion to the twisted and complicated series SERVANT.

Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) is decorating the house in anticipation of the return of Dorothy Turner (Lauren Ambrose). After her accident, it is time for Dorothy to return home to work on recovery and being home with son Jericho.

Husband Sean (Toby Kebbell) realizes there is a disconnect between he and Dorothy. He has his highly successful cooking show but it is on the back burner to the chaos in his home. Wanting to be there for his wife, she is distant and untrusting of him. Brother Julian (Rupert Grint) is wary of everything and even having problems in his relationship with Leanne.

There is something outside the brownstone that is determined to get Leanne back into the fold. Attack after attack, she manages to keep them at bay. When Dorothy returns, there is animosity between the two women that Leanne can not seem to grasp. Dorothy is determined to get well and calls on two women Bobbie (Barbara Kingsley) and Bev (Denny Dillon) to care for her.

Leanne is starting to unravel and everyone in the house sees it – especially Julian. As Bobbie and Bev make their mark on the Turner household, Leanne makes it clear that she is not happy with what is happening and it must be said, when Leanne isn’t happy bad things begin to happen.

As if they already haven’t been happening.

Ambrose as Dorothy is a woman who is clearly on the warpath. She may not be able to physically get to Leanne but she sure knows how to play the game. There are concessions to be made where Jericho is concerned but Dorothy is going to have her way. Ambrose has always given such complexity to the role of Dorothy and it has been mind boggling and delightful all at the same time. Keeping it together mentally was worth watching every moment of, now it’s time to see what Ambrose does physically with Dorothy and I’m all in. Well done!

Free as Leanne has gone from a sweet, loving, caring – oh wait, that was only in the first few episodes. Clearly this character begins to come into her own and discovers that she has something that other people want. Trying to stay away from those who would keep her captive, she makes a place for herself with the Turner family. The problem is that they are starting to question whether she truly does have a place. Free is absolutely stunning as Leanne and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching her embrace and take this role in places I didn’t see coming.

Kebbell as Sean is dealing with his own personal guilt. Constantly being pulled from Dorothy to Leanne and back again, I’m surprised he doesn’t have whiplash from the first three seasons. Now, with Dorothy literally down in the dumps, he might find a way to get back to her with the help of two little old ladies and a bit of ‘chef’ing. Kebbell has shown his character to be a bit of a narcissist and self-centered, but in this season, Kebbell has to show contrition with Sean and I have no doubt in my mind that will lead to choosing between Leanne and Dorothy for the fight of their lives.

Grint as Julian has, through these seasons, been the reason I laugh, a lot of jaw dropping and wondering what part his character will play in this last season. Right now he is shagging the nanny as it were but there is a price to pay for playing with crazy. I have so enjoyed watching the subtle and not so subtle changes in Julian and Grint is the reason for it. Come hell or high insanity, Grint’s portrayal of Julian is there in the thick of it and even if he doesn’t understand anything or everything, he doesn’t hesitate to talk about it.

Shout out to Kingsley and Dillon for being the new gals in town. They bring their own brand of crazy that I kind of like. Moving into the Turner home isn’t a cake walk (chef pun intended) but these two women aren’t about to let anyone in the house push them around or stop them from helping Dorothy get well. That is making Leanne crazy!

Other cast include Tony Revolori as Tobe, Molly Griggs as Isabelle, and Todd Waring as Frank Pearce.

Apple+ is a video on demand web television that debuted in 2019. Viewable through Apple’s TV app, CEO Tim Cook wanted original content calling it “a great opportunity for us from a creation point of view”. From THE MORNING SHOW to TRYING and THE BANKER and Jason Momoa in SEE, there is plenty of choices for everyone. Plenty of genres? That is exactly what they are bringing to viewers and to see more of what they have to offer please visit www.apple.com/tv/.

SERVANT has been a series I could not stop watching, so much so that I have watched it twice to look for any clues as to where the story might be going. Honestly, I don’t think I wanted to know everything because it ruins the startling surprises and twists that are thrown into each thirty minute episode.

Yes, the thirty minutes never seems enough time but that’s the brilliance of SERVANT. Those thirty minutes are jam packed full of story telling and when the credits roll, I can guarantee you that those watching are practically throwing things at their television screens. To me, that is awesome!

This cast has brought four seasons of intensity, laughter, head smacks, and no denying a lot of ‘wtf’s along with way. Shyamalan, along with creator Tony Basgallop, have brought something unique and a bit mind blowing to Appletv+. But all good things must come to an end whether we like it or not right? It has been one heck of a unique wild ride!

Gawd what a great show.

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