Adapted from Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez’s comic book series, Locke & Key centres around the Locke siblings as they discover magical whispering keys at Keyhouse.

The way to unique and undiscovered worlds is not through time machines or futuristic conduits; it is through our imagination. Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez’s extraordinary world of magical keys and otherworldly demons finds an enrapturing adaptation in the Netflix original series as we live vicariously through the Locke siblings’ adventures in the quaint town of Matheson.

The Story

Locke siblings Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) undergo a journey of magical discovery when they relocate to Matheson with their mother Nina (Darby Stanchfield) after Sam Lesser murders their father Rendell Locke (Bill Heck).

As the children stumble upon the magical whispering keys hidden throughout Keyhouse, they encounter a series of adventures with the diabolical echo Dodge/Gabe (Laysla De Oliveira/Griffin Gluck) and the possessed Eden (Hallea Jones) hankering after the keys.

Season 2 ended with the resuscitated demonic Red Coat Gideon (Kevin Durand) pushing Eden into the well to her death and Bode using the Memory Key on Nina to restore her memories of magic. Season 3 picks up from there as Gideon summons echoes of civil war soldiers James Bolton and Samuel Coffey. Meanwhile, the unsuspecting Lockes joyously prepare for Duncan and Brian’s wedding festivities.

A disoriented Tyler returns to Keyhouse to attend his uncle’s wedding as he still struggles with the trauma of his girlfriend Jackie’s death and his fast-fading memories of magic. The Lockes discover fascinating keys hidden in unassuming nooks of Keyhouse, seemingly allowing them to time-travel, enter snow globes and much more.

Gideon determinedly embarks on a mission to retrieve the keys to enlarge the portal and unleash unfathomable evil unto this world. Facing new foes and the astonishing return of old enemies, the Lockes must find a way to thwart the vengeful captain and his lackeys as the whispering keys whip up more trouble for the family.

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Reasons To Stream

Season 3 of Locke & Key promises a thrilling conclusion to the magical exploits of the Locke siblings. The final season whips up a host of new keys with intriguing powers and a line-up of new antagonists with catastrophic motivations.

A treat for creatively inclined minds, Locke & Key is aesthetically imaginative in its conception of the magical world of Matheson. The opening credits are no exception as the bold animations pique curiosity by foretelling a vital motif of the upcoming episode.

The show’s fantastical essence is captured by cleverly directed shots to evoke suspense and terror. The scenes preceding the discovery of new keys are strategically shot to evoke a swaying and tumbling effect, recreating the disorientation and confusion of the characters. Moreover, suspense is roused with every passing episode as cliffhangers, jump scares and twists keep you hooked to the screen.

Jackson Robert Scott especially delivers a commendable performance as the young actor essays the complex role of Dodge in Bode’s body with laudable proficiency and conviction.

This final season ensures every character is accounted for, promising resolution and closure to unresolved trauma. From Tyler’s guilt and disorientation to Bode’s struggle with accepting Josh into the family, the finale weaves delicate human emotions with the fabric of magic and mysticism. The show’s conclusion promises a satisfying catharsis for the Locke family while maintaining the suspense vital to the spirit of Locke & Key.

Reasons To Skip

While Locke & Key concludes its run with a fitting conclusion, the horror-fantasy series falls into the trap of being ever so predictable and clichéd in its culmination. Characters predictably get themselves into sticky situations while the villains provide more comic relief than dread in their amusing indestructibility.

Furthermore, the intrigue and suspense created by the discovery of new keys right till the last moments of the show fall flat with the rather anti-climactic solution to Gideon’s threat. Several keys discovered throughout the show are rarely used, leaving the viewers yearning for more and the finale does very little to fulfil those expectations.

The urgency and fatality created by life-threatening perils are occasionally nullified by flippant use of the keys, long conversations between scenes and plot armour protecting the kids from vicious demons. One also can’t help but question the ignorance of the rest of the town about the continual deaths, wreckages, and dangerous stunts pulled by the youngsters across Matheson.

The Verdict

Season 3 of Locke & Key promises what it set out to deliver- an inevitable conclusion to the saga of magical keys. The final season entertains with plenty of action and enchantment alongside plots of bereavements, redemption, and catharsis.

The finale snowballs to an idyllic epilogue, reviving a flicker of magic right before the end in all its mischievous glory.

Rating: 3.5/5

Season 3 of Locke & Key is now streaming on Netflix.

Watch the trailer of Locke & Key Season 3 here:

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