***The following is review/breakdown followed by a detailed recap of episode 305 of FROM, “The Light of Day,” and it contains spoilers for the episode.***

While not quite as fast paced as last week, the story did move forward in the fifth episode. Throughout it, the pressure is clearly becoming worse for Boyd as he snaps at everyone around him, although usually with good reason. I feel like as much as everyone looks to Boyd for the answers, with both not dealing well with the food crisis, and then what happened to Tian Chen, people may have become less apt to trust his plans without question, which is really shown throughout the episode, starting with Randall.

When Randall is brought in with his face sliced up, everyone as usual seems to look to Boyd, but I think it shifts a bit when he starts screaming that it’s his fault and that he left him out there. Boyd’s not infallible, and I think this episode really highlights that.

During all this, Jade, as usual, wants answers and puts himself in the middle of what’s happening and ignores Jim as he tries to kick him out. A lot of people questioned why Jim didn’t go to look for his wife at the tree that Victor took her to, and apparently he did, which he explains to Jade. The exposition at least clears that up, although I feel like it should have been mentioned a lot sooner, since Tabitha was missing for half of the season. Jade is annoyed that he thought it wasn’t relevant. Jim just says the place is great at messing with their heads, which is pretty much a 180 for Jim, because before he was the one taking risks to get answers, like with the radio, but he finally seems to be more worried about his family, as he should be. One can only wonder how long it will last before he does something else questionable. At any rate, Jade knows that people besides him will be demanding answers, and with the meeting on the horizon, it seems likely.

Back at the clinic, there is one small piece between Kenny and Boyd which was glossed over, but is in my opinion very important, and I want to know more about it. Kenny mentions that something was walking around outside the cabins at night making noises, but Boyd doesn’t think it’s what they should be worrying about now. Viewers have theorized that taking apart the scarecrow statue things, if they did indeed work like talisman, could have broken whatever protection there was on the area, but I have two problems with that theory. One is that the noise outside also appeared when Jim and Kenny were at the cabins – before they ever messed with the statues. Secondly, the statues are on the outside of the area, not just protecting each of the cabins. So, it wouldn’t make sense that if they were working to keep something out, that that something could be walking outside the cabins but within that area, unless it was instead somehow keeping something contained within the area. However, if that were the case, I assume something new would have entered the town by now. At any rate, I really hope they focus on this again and what it means.

Focusing on the previous night, Boyd explains to Kenny that he thinks that the monsters did what they did to Randall so they would have to look at him and not be able to pretend everything was fine, but I’m not sure it’s that simple. I do wish though Boyd would talk to Randall, but not in the way he’s trying to. I feel like he needs to stop apologizing and own up to the fact he chose the others over him. Whether it was the right choice or not is irrelevant, because he made the choice, and I feel like Randall would respect him more for that than him apologizing and feeling sorry for him.

Back at Colony House, we get a little more backstory with Henry’s conversation with Donna, and it’s emotional. It’s easy to see how much he has suffered over the years, but he also brings up a point about how hope was the part he couldn’t bear. It makes me think about what the vision of Boyd’s wife said to him before he smashed the music box, that the town feeds on hope and makes them suffer.

Finally, it’s time for everyone to gather, and I think it was obvious from the get-go that the meeting was not going to go well. No one was in Tabitha’s shoes, but everyone thinks they could have done better. If she had pushed her story on the police, no one would have believed her. At best she would have just ended up in a psych ward, and at worst they would have blamed her for her family’s disappearance. Henry believed her only because she had the lunch box and because of certain things she said that she couldn’t possibly have known otherwise. If she had been able to remember more surnames of those of the town, she could have perhaps gotten the police to at least investigate, but it wouldn’t have brought help to the town, as she had no way to even lead them there, considering she and her family started out in a completely different state from where she emerged. Regardless, the people of the town only hear what they want to hear, and they all think now they have some easy magic way to get back home, which is obviously not the case.

Boyd’s anger is escalating through the episode, but what he says to Ellis on the way out of the meeting is completely true. It’s not easy when you are trying to protect everyone; sometimes you have to be the bad guy to make the best decisions, and I think Ellis finally gets that when he asks him whose life he would risk.

Meanwhile, Victor’s plans for Jasper have been waylaid learning about his father. The whole Jasper thing is important to the mystery, but it only makes sense that it would be put on the back burner for the moment. Regardless, I enjoyed Sara’s and Victor’s conversation after he ran from Colony House. Victor says he didn’t draw things from his life before the town and told himself it was a dream, likely because he couldn’t deal with it at the time and accept he was never going home. To deal with it he had to make the town his new home and forget about the rest. Now it’s all coming crashing down on him. I appreciate that Sara doesn’t sugar coat things, and I think that’s what Victor actually needs in this instance, not someone to coddle him and tell him everything is fine, because it’s not. What happened to him was unimaginable, and both he and his father have a right to be scared.

In the first scene with Julie and Elgin we get a bit more information as Julie talks about the screaming in her head which won’t stop, which may come into play later. We haven’t heard Randall or Marielle talk about it as candidly, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t feeling the same, but in the end, Julie is right, there is nothing anyone can do. I also find it interesting that once more hope is mentioned and how the best way to make them suffer is with that hope.

When Julie and Elgin move to the basement, it really is mostly about them getting a chance to be teenagers, and there isn’t a lot to take away from the scene itself, but there are so many things in that basement that I feel like could either come back around later or are clues. I also think the Polaroid camera will become important, as I’m guessing it’s the same camera that took the picture that Jade found of Christopher and Victor.

After the meeting, Boyd’s temper has continued to rise, and he takes it out on Acosta. This was the one scene where I don’t feel it was warranted. Acosta knows what she did was wrong; she was a cop and should have been better in control. That being said, most people would have reacted the same way if they had a gun and shot at the creatures; what happened was an accident. I don’t think that’s why Boyd is so rude to her though. He feels guilt, and he’s starting to crumble a bit, and she’s just there to take the blame. Also, if he would stop to listen, her ideas are actually good ones and could really help the town. I think she could become an ally if he doesn’t alienate her first.

Later, Fatima is finally caught and Ellis at least knows about the rotten food. She lied though, saying that that was all she could keep down, not mentioning the blood. I do hope she comes completely clean with him.

I was glad that Jade won out, and he and Tabitha head to the bottle tree, leaving Ethan to stay behind to talk to Henry. I think the conversation gave Henry a better understanding of the Victor that he is now. Henry doesn’t know about what happened and how many people Victor has had die while being in the town. Their eventual reunion is beautiful and well acted, and I definitely shed a few tears.

Meanwhile, it’s the actual scene with Jade and Tabitha at the bottle tree that I feel like we got the most information on the mystery. It does seem logical that the four digit numbers in the bottles would be dates, and if you’ve paid attention, you will already know that some of the numbers in the bottles match those Tabitha saw in her dream/vision of the tower. However, as Tabitha points out, there is one that says “2659.” Does that mean that is not what they represent, or could there be some connection to the future? Perhaps it is a date and not just a year (2/6/59). Hopefully more will be revealed soon. Another piece of information is that Jade talks about the roots on the ceiling of the cave making the symbol. Could it be the roots of the bottle tree or one of the other farway trees? I think the biggest take away is Jade’s statement that it all looks like chaos until you understand the pattern. I think that’s true about all of the series. It’s my guess, that likely as pieces continue to come together, we will realize that the answers were there all along and we just didn’t understand it.

The fact that it was Dale who came to the tree was not surprising, as he was never going to listen, and it was obvious it was going to go wrong. Also, he mentions how he’s going to help people, but I question that would actually be the first thing he out of anyone in the town would do, since he’s so self absorbed.

The episode culminates in a moment that gave me chills. I know everyone hated Dale, for good reason, but no one deserved that, and I found the scene overall to be very creepy, especially watching Donna’s reaction, knowing that the actor who plays Dale is her husband in real life. I also love the ending with Boyd asking who’s next. It took something tragic for people to understand that he really was just trying to protect everyone, even if he doesn’t have all the answers.

RECAP

Donna yells at everyone to get out of the way as Boyd and Ellis help Randall into Colony House and put him on the couch. Someone gives Ellis a towel which he presses to the side of Randall’s face. Marielle comes over and pulls off the towel and his skin sort of sticks to it. Donna says to tell them what she needs, and she replies something to stitch it and more towels. Tilly asks why they would do this. Randall pushes Marielle off him and Boyd tries to hold him down, and he pushes him away too, telling him that he did this; he left him out there. Everyone looks at Boyd.

Boyd is outside the hospital when Jade and Kenny help Kristi up the stairs. She asks Boyd where the ambulance came from, and he simply says it’s been a long night. Marielle comes out and helps Kristi into the clinic.

Outside, Boyd asks them about the food, and he tells him that Dale and the others are bringing it to storage. Jade asks what happened last night, and Boyd tells him that Tabitha came back on the ambulance that came into town and that she said she went through one of the weird trees in the forest which took her to the lighthouse. He tells them that there will be a meeting that afternoon. Jade takes off, and Kenny says just to let him go. Boyd and Kenny go into the clinic.

Henry is going through shirts and Donna jokes that she doesn’t think that’s his style. He says he was told he could look through the clothes. She says what’s ours is yours and tells him that she sent people out to look for Victor and that it’s not a big town. Henry says that if he’d known he was going to see him he would have worn a better shirt. Donna says that there is a closet upstairs where they keep the good stuff, and she will take him there.

Victor is heading to Colony House, but Sara says that she thought he said Jasper was in the tunnels. Victor says that he is, but they need supplies first to make sure they don’t get lost.

Sara and Victor go in and see them cleaning up the blood. Sara asks what happened, and Tilly tells her it was a bad night. Sara says she’ll wait outside. Donna comes down the stairs and Victor asks her who died. She tells him Nicky did and that Randall got pretty torn up and is in the clinic. He starts upstairs to get stuff from his room, but she stops him to talk to him, telling him that Tabitha came back and brought someone with her: his father. Victor says it isn’t possible and tries to deny it. He runs outside, and Sara chases after him, asking where he’s going and what happened. He tells her his father is there and says that she should go home; they’ll get Jasper later.

Jim and the kids are sitting with Tabitha, who tells them that it was scary waking up in the hospital not knowing if it was real or if she was dreaming. Julie asks how she ended up going to Maine from the lighthouse, but she doesn’t know. Jim says that the important thing is that she is back, and they are together.

Jade comes barging in, saying that he needs to talk to Tabitha. Jim tells him to back off, but Tabitha says it’s okay. He questions that Boyd said she went through the tree. Ethan tells him it’s a farway tree, but it has bottles on it. Jade says that it has to be the same lighthouse that Miranda was looking for and asks if they can get there without the tree, but she doesn’t know. Jade says they need to go to the tree, but Jim doesn’t want her to, as she just got back. Jade says he’s not saying they have to go through it, but he needs to see it. Jim says that he was there; it was the first place he looked when she didn’t come back and that there’s nothing to see, and Jade says sarcastically, “besides the magic tree.” He asks him about the bottles and Jim tells him that he took some down and there were slips of paper with numbers on them. Jade doesn’t get understand why Jim didn’t think that was important. Jim just says that the place does a great job of messing with their heads. Jade says that this is different; it has to be. She went home; that’s not a trick or a dream. He also says that there is going to be a town full of people banging down their door demanding answers whether they have them or not. Jade says that if she takes him to the tree maybe they can find some. She mentions the town meeting, but Jade says the meeting won’t solve anything, but going to the tree is a start.

At the clinic, Kenny tells Boyd that they will have to send another team back to the settlement before the next snowfall, because they had to leave some of the food there. He also tells him how there is something different out there. They heard it now, something walking around outside the cabins at night. Boyd says if all its doing is walking around, they have bigger things to worry about.

Randall starts moaning. Kenny asks why they didn’t just kill Randall. Boyd says that he thinks they want them to have to look at him when the sun comes up and remember what’s coming at night. He says that part of what keeps them sane is that they get to pretend during the daytime that they are safe. If he’s walking around like that, they don’t get to pretend anymore.

Marielle tells Kristi what happened with Nicky as she looks at her very bruised leg, saying it’s a miracle that there are no fractures. She tells Kristi that there is probably heavy ligament damage and goes to get her another pillow to elevate it. Kristi stops her, saying that what happened wasn’t easy or her fault. Marielle thinks that Kristi is worried she’s going to spiral and steal morphine again. Kristi says that she didn’t say that. Marielle says that she is the patient and to let her do the worrying, but Kristi asks if they can worry about each other. Randall starts moaning again, and Marielle goes to him.

Boyd and Kenny come over, but Marielle stops Boyd, saying that he will make it worse and that people need him and will need him at the meeting; there’s only so much people can take, and now Tabitha is back. He agrees, and he and Kenny leave while she goes back to Randall.

Donna is showing Henry Victor’s room, and he looks around. He tells Donna that for the first few years, every time he would turn a corner there would be a little spark of hope that maybe he’d see them, and they’d all cry together about what a terrible mistake it was. That was the hardest part, that little bit of hope, the part he couldn’t bear. He says that as years went by it became easier to tell himself that they were dead and gone, so that’s what he did, and all that time Victor was really there in the town, alone. Henry asks her what kind of man gives up on his family and no wonder he doesn’t want to talk to him. Donna just says that Victor will come around. Tilly interrupts them to say that everyone is heading to the meeting about Tabitha.

At the meeting, Boyd is talking to the people until Tabitha gets there, and they are all getting restless. When she finally comes in, Dale asks her if she went through a tree. She says she did and that some of the trees in the forest aren’t like the others.

Julie goes into Colony House up to her old room. She looks out the window and remembers when Fatima told her that if you climb high enough even a nightmare can look like a dream. She goes through Fatima’s stuff and gets out weed. On the way down the stairs, Elgin comes out and they scare each other, and he almost hits her with a shovel from the fireplace. She tells him that she could use his company if he’s not busy.  

Meanwhile, outside, Sara tries to talk to Victor. He is upset and tells her that he never drew pictures of his father. He says that when he was alone he always drew pictures of the things he saw, because he knew the pictures would remember, but he never drew pictures of what came before, which he told himself was a dream. Sara tells him that none of that matters now; his father is waiting for him back in town. He tells her that his father is looking for the little boy that drove away a long time ago and asks what he is going to think when he sees him now. Sara says she doesn’t know, and that while she knows she’s supposed to tell him that it will be okay and that his father will love him no matter what, she doesn’t know if that’s true. She says that she doesn’t know him that well, but he seems like a really good person which is something to be proud of. She says she would give anything to feel like a good person again. Sara says that maybe his father is afraid as well of not being the father that his son remembers. Victor leans his head on her shoulder.

Julie and Elgin smoke the pot. She asks him about the kimono woman, which he confirms he does see when he’s awake as well. He thought at first she was trying to hurt him, but the last time she asked for help. He says that if his grandmother were there, she’d probably tell him it was an angel or something. Julie says that she would take all that in a heartbeat over what’s in her head now: screaming. But it’s not just that she can hear it, it’s like she can feel it too, and the pot is the only thing that makes it quiet. She hasn’t talked to her parents, because they can’t do anything. Julie tells him that right now they are at the diner with everyone trying to figure out what it means that her mother got out. Elgin asks her what she thinks it means, and she says that she doesn’t think it means anything. She thinks the place exists to make people suffer and maybe that’s why they let her out, because the best way to make them suffer is to give them hope. She doesn’t think it will ever let them go. Elgin says that she is depressing when she’s stoned, and they both laugh.

Tabitha is telling the townspeople about the ambulance coming to the tree in the road. They start asking why she didn’t contact anyone or let the police know about the town, and they all start to get angry. Tabitha tells them that they wouldn’t have believed her, but Donna says that she doesn’t know that. Henry says that she told him, and he thought she was out of her mind. Fatima says that he eventually believed her, but Henry says that his circumstances are different. Acosta sticks up for her and says that when she was telling them to turn around, they thought she was hysterical. Someone asks what she is even still doing there, because she killed someone. Boyd says that it was an accident. Dale says that everything is an accident unless it’s someone he and Donna do not like. Clara says that Tabitha had an opportunity none of them did and blew it. Jim asks them what any of them would have done. Fatima asks how she could have not told someone, because there was the chance they would have believed her. Tabitha said that someone did, Henry, and he’s there too now. She says that she’s sorry she doesn’t have their answers and that maybe everyone could have done better, but she’s sorry they didn’t have the opportunity. She says she can’t do it anymore and leaves.

Boyd tells them all that the important thing they can’t lose sight of is that she got out, not that she’s back; someone got home, so it’s not just hoping and wishing. Dale just wants to know where the tree is, and others agree they want to try to leave. Even Ellis agrees with them, but Boyd says it’s not that simple. He says that they are assuming the tree is some kind of magic door, but it’s not; he went in one and ended up in a chimney underground and almost died, plus it wasn’t the tree but the lighthouse that led her home. Dale yells at Boyd that he’s had it with his plan and his rules; he just wants to go home. He storms out.

Back at the house, Ethan asks Jade why he didn’t go to the meeting, and he tells him that one thing you learn when you are older is any meeting with more than three people is pointless. Tabitha and Jim come back, and he knows he’s right. Tabitha says she will take him to the tree; she left and came back with nothing and thinks she owes it to the town. Jim says he needs to speak with her alone and says that she owes it to her kids to be there now; they thought she was dead. Tabitha tells him she’s just going to show him where it is, not go in. Jim makes her agree that Ethan should not with her and tells her how he ran off looking for her. She agrees and convinces him to stay.

Ellis follows his father out of the diner. Boyd is angry and asks what’s wrong with him, telling him that it was like a powder keg in there and he and Fatima were lighting matches. Ellis says that she is upset; they all are. Boyd says that they need to calm people down. Ellis says that maybe what they need is someone to do something rather than worrying about what can go wrong; maybe they need to take chances. Boyd asks him who’s life he is going to take a chance on, who he would pick. Ellis finally gets the point. Boyd says what happened in there is a dangerous thing.

Down in the basement of Colony House, Elgin shows Julie a bunch of old stuff he found before when he couldn’t sleep one night. They open a trunk of clothes from the 80s and start trying it on. She finds an old Polaroid camera and they each take a picture of each other, fooling around as she tries to get the photo of her back from him.

Acosta comes to talk to Boyd at the station. She says that she wants to thank him for what he said at the meeting. She knows she can’t take back what she did but thinks she can help. He seems skeptical, and it’s clear he’s still angry. She tells him that if he wants them to stop focusing on the tree, they need something else, a project. She says that when the storm hit the coast where she was, it flooded the town and knocked out the power. People were scared and angry, so her precinct captain got everyone to sandbag the marina. The worst of the storm had passed, but it gave them something to focus on and made them feel like they had some sort of control. Boyd questions she’s been there less than a day and already has a solution. He tells her that they’re not buddies now and that he agreed with them: she didn’t belong in the meeting. He says that she killed someone and left two people to die in the ambulance. She knows and is sorry. He tells her then to go be sorry and try not to kill anyone and let him worry about taking care of the town.

Fatima is sneaking around the greenhouse and Ellis follows her, catching her. He says he’s trying to be supportive and patient. She just yells at him that he can’t help and finally tells him that the rotten food is all she can eat and keep down. She thinks there is something wrong with the baby.

Ethan comes outside and talks to Henry, who mentions that there is a motel sign and pool but no motel. Ethan doesn’t answer him and asks that he’s Victor’s dad. Henry tells him that his mother has told him all about him. Ethan thanks him for bringing her home. He starts to say he didn’t but stops and just says he’s welcome. Ethan asks if he’s seen Victor yet, and Henry tells him that he doesn’t think he’s very happy he’s there, because he ran off. Ethan tells him that Victor does stuff like that sometimes; he gets really grumpy, but he doesn’t think he means to. Henry guesses he knows him pretty well, and Ethan says that he’s his best friend. He tells Henry that sometimes Victor gets so grumpy that he says they can’t be friends anymore, but he thinks it’s just because he’s scared that Ethan will die and says that everyone Victor loves there died.

Sara tells Victor she can come with him if he wants back to Colony House. He stops her as he sees Ethan and his father. Ethan tells Henry that Victor is there. Sara tells Victor that everything is okay. They walk towards each other and hug. Victor cries that he didn’t know how to get home. Henry tells him that it’s okay and they both cry.

Bakta is in the diner and sees Boyd out at the bus. Boyd goes onto the bus and looks at the skull that Randall was carving. Bakta follows him onto the bus and asks what he’s doing. He says he’s trying to assuage his guilt he guesses. Bakta tells him that what happened at the meeting wasn’t his fault and apologizes for not being more supportive. Boyd says that people have a right to ask questions; he’s just tired of being guy without answers. She chuckles and says that he sounds like her sister. She was always someone who tried so hard to make everything right, and she always ended up feeling like she was wrong. The way everyone’s acting, its like they want to go home and think he doesn’t. She says she knows he’s trying to keep people from doing something stupid. She just wants him to know that she will have his back next time.

At the bottle tree, Jade is trying to get down more bottles. Tabitha is reading the papers and says they are just numbers. Jade says that they all have four numbers and says they could be dates, but she tells him the one says “2659.” Jade tells her that he saw her “freaky kids.” He says that he went down into the tunnels trying to find something to help Julie, but instead saw the symbol, which he shows her in the journal. He tells her that it turns out it wasn’t a symbol but a hole in the ceiling and the slashes were roots. The kids were laid out on slabs of stone repeating the word “anghkooey.” He says that he felt more fear in that moment than he ever had, but he also had a glimpse of something that he knew was there. Even with all the horror it was like for the first time he felt like there were threads that were finally starting to connect. She asks how they connect, and he tells her that piecing it together is like trying to grab hold of water. He says that there is no denying what the tree did and thinks the fact that someone took the time to put the bottles and numbers there is important. Jade says that it only looks like chaos until you understand the pattern.

Dale walks up and asks about the tree. Jade warns him about going in, but he says they will still be sitting there while he’s at home trying to get help for everyone, as going in is what a smart person would do. He says that someone has to try, and they can thank him later. Jade tries to stop him, but Dale steps into the tree.

Boyd and Bakta are leaving the bus when they hear screams and rush, as others do, to the empty pool. Boyd climbs down inside. Dale is embedded in the concrete in the side. Boyd is clearly not sure what to do. Boyd tells him that he’s sorry it happened to him. Everyone is looking at Boyd do something. He pulls out his gun, but when he turns back, Dale has died, blood coming out of his eyes, nose, and mouth. Boyd starts yelling at them, asking who’s next and if they still want to go to the tree. He tells them that he is trying to keep them alive. Donna comes up and stares in horror. Boyd tells them that he can’t help them if they won’t let him.