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“The Returned” recap (1.8): Undead Meetup

Just the title of this episode, “The Horde,” has got me all excited. It is ominous, yet intriguing. I hope we get some more insight on the Returnees, their eventual decomposition and how Lucy plays a part in their chance at “life.”

We are taken back 35 years in the past to the day the old dam broke. Victor walks through a tent where they are storing the corpses covered with sheets when one begins to move. Turns out to be little Serge and Toni goofing around. Killers are so cute when they are small. Ms. Costa tells Victor’s mom that she thinks the town officials knew of the danger and the dead will have their revenge one day. She is always so foreboding, but accurate.

Now back in the near present, a week earlier, one of the departed from the flood awakes to see Camille crossing the dam and a large group rising over a nearby hill. The haunting music of Mogwai makes that shot and many others purely horrifying. But it is also very interesting to see that only a few yards behind Camille’s walk back into town were so many other of her undead brethren.

In present day, Laure and Julie have given up on their escape and wake from sleeping within their parked car on the dam. When Laure notices hand prints all over the back window, Victor informs her that The Horde came to retrieve him. These two ladies must be sound sleepers. Just then, off in the distance, Toni stands atop the dam preparing to jump. Julie convinces him to come down and he is promptly arrested by Laure.

The power outage has taken a toll on the town, which is looking pretty trashed. Adele looks through her bare cupboards then heads upstairs to find Chloe. Instead she finds her daughter’s vivid drawings of Simon shooting himself and a depiction of her own suicide attempt. When questioned, Chloe makes it known that that she wants to find Simon and that Victor is also one of the many undead. Adele warns her to stay away from them then locks her in her room. Not a good plan, as she will eventually need to use the bathroom. Maybe she should get one of those kid leashes I always see people using at the mall. That might be more helpful.

At the shelter a message about the Apocalypse has appeared on the dining hall’s wall. No doubt from the Prophet Pierre. Camille’s face rot is getting worse. And Sandrine blames everyone’s misfortunes, including her miscarriage, on the “monsters” who have returned.

Julie, Laure, Victor and Toni are all hanging out on the foggy dam while Laure tries to get the radio to connect in her police cruiser. Victor whispers to Julie that Toni was the one that saved her life. As Julie hugs Toni and thanks him, the horde approaches. The fog is definitely a nice touch. It adds the right amount of spookiness. They all hop in the car and make a getaway after Laure makes the slowest k-turn ever.

Bruno finds Lucy and Simon in a staring contest with their hands pressed against his cell. I haven’t seen this much desire through glass since Foo Fighters “Walking After You” video. Bruno asks how she got as Lucy walks off and seemingly disappears.

Thomas and Alcide show up at The Lake Pub, which is totally destroyed and looted. Something catches Thomas’s eye and it is not what I expected. I think this maybe a TV first for me, a dude drinking out of a toilet. Now that’s desperation. Trigger happy Thomas blows him away and notices his neck and face rot.

Jerome discovers Pierre’s den of supplies and guns. He immediately finds Claire to tell her and is shocked that she already knows. She basically tells him she is fine with it because she doesn’t think Jerome has the balls to protect Camille if something goes down. Talk about emasculation.

Laure rushes to warn her fellow officers that the undead are starting to to congregate. Julie gets crazy pissed and attempts to leave the car while it speeds down the road, causing Julie to pull over. As they fight outside, Toni tells Victor he remembers going to his funeral as a child. Victor, in turn, tells Toni that he knows he killed his brother and caused his mom to die from sorrow. Suddenly Serge appears and Victor hands him a gun from the glovebox, but in reality gives the gun to Toni. He shoots himself in the gut and Laure opens the door to see the aftermath and Victors’ chilling stare.

Back at the jail, Simon has somehow broken the glass and escaped his cell. Adele finds him downstairs in her home along with Lucy, who has Chloe outside. He tells Adele that she is pregnant with his child and he will be here for her this time. Great. I don’t want to see how you have to deliver a half human, half zombie baby. Her response is to stab him then lock herself in the laundry room. Simon loses his mind until he is soothed by Lucy’s calming touch.

Laure and Julie rush Toni to the shelter. Pierre’s medical wing is already coming in handy. Ms. Costa takes Victor away from Pierre while Camille stares at her growing wound in the bathroom. Just like Simon, she decides it is a great idea to start picking at her flesh. Frederic pops in and they profess their love for each other, skin rot and all. Then Lena finds them both and tells Frederic to go away and keep his trap shut about Camille’s face. I don’t think makeup is covering it up anymore, so he may not be the one getting the word out.

Thomas finds Adele at home and Chloe missing. They both head over to the shelter to find Simon. Instead they find Alcide. He witnessed the zombie herd and they are coming this way. Hide your wife! Hide your kids!

Ms. Costa helps Victor drift off into sleep and he dreams of being put to bed by his mother. She talks to him about his fairy protector then takes his book before tucking him in. The cover is adorned with a cartoon fairy who has a striking resemblance to Julie.

Speaking of, Julie finishes up her back alley surgery on Toni only to be greeted by Serge. Toni looks up, smiles and passes away. Serge, who is obviously deluded, turns to Julie for comfort and a hug.

As night falls, the entire police force guards the shelter. The horde arrives and the cops are definitely outnumbered. Lucy calmly saunters over and stands in the police spotlight. She has such a flair for drama. She tells Thomas and Pierre that Chloe will be returned if the others join them.

Thomas forcefully rounds up Ms. Costa and Camille, joined by Claire and Victor, who is joined by his guardian, Julie. Simon appears from the darkness with Chloe and creepily whispers in her ear. Lucy tells Thomas that he is forgetting one more, Adele, and she must be handed over as well. He doesn’t comply and locks everyone inside and closes the metal security shutters. Chloe let’s Adele know they are after her baby and suddenly loud banging begins outside. The power goes out and the banging becomes louder and more urgent. Meanwhile, Serge stares at his brother’s body while their mother watches from the doorway. As the sun rises, Thomas opens the shutters to find the horde gone and the town completely submerged by flood waters.

As expected, the season finale has left us with more questions than answers. It is going to kill me to wait until next season to find out more about the horde. And what will become of Adele’s baby that was conceived out of her freakish union with Simon? Why was Serge not sought after by Lucy and the group? Will Pierre realize that he is the only one that thinks he is important?

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