Locke and Key Review
Going into this new Netflix series I knew very little about the show. I watched the trailer after aimlessly scrolling through Netflix trying to find something new to watch. The trailer intrigued me and I decided to start the show straight away. Next thing I knew I was five episodes in and loving every minute of it. In total, I watched the ten episodes in two sittings about a week apart. All in all, I loved the concept of the show and was hooked from the off and just needed to know what would happen next after every episode.
The show follows the Locke Family after the death of father Rendell. Widow Nina decides to move her three children, Tyler, Kinsey and Bode, across the country from Seattle to Matheson, Massachusetts into Rendell’s childhood home. The Keyhouse. The children soon discover the house’s secrets and the whispering keys hidden within which unlock a series of magical doors. As the story unravels the dark truths of the house and the family’s heritage come to light and brings the three Locke siblings together to solve the clues.
From the trailer, I got A Series Of Unfortunate Events vibes but a darker version if you know what I mean. Now having finished the show I still feel that both shows share some similar aspects. But Locke and Key was definitely much darker. It felt like Netflix had mashed together tried and trusted themes from other hit shows creating a formula which was sure to be a hit. For example, the aspect of supernatural forces breaking the seams into the real world felt kinda Stranger Things-esque. I loved how the show went beyond the ‘haunted house’ trope that we all know. It dealt with some difficult themes such as grief, betrayal and bullying etc which gave the show another dimension.
What fascinated me the most about the show was the magical keys. Each key hidden within the house had a different function. Such as, the Anywhere Key which turns any door in a gateway to another door that user has seen before. Or the Head Key, which is the oldest key, allows you to enter the thoughts and memories inside someone head by inserting the key inside the base of their neck. I loved how all the keys worked but did feel after I’d watched all ten episodes that they lack an overall meaning. Like why were they made in the first place? But maybe this will be delved into a little deeper if season 2 is made. And after that cliffhanger, I will like it’s highly likely there will be.
Speaking of cliffhangers, this series is definitely full of twists and turns, some more obvious than others. However, I will admit that the main reveal in the final episode I really didn’t see coming. After doing a little research once finishing the show, with over 40 comics and 30 keys there is room for plenty more series if that’s anything to go by.
Overall. I thoroughly enjoyed the Locke and Key series as a whole but just felt it was lacking in a few areas. But that is not to say that I’d be excited if any future seasons were released.
M🌸
