‘Chucky’ 3×05 review: “Death Becomes Her”

Our favorite killer doll is back with a vengeance, and he wants to go out with a bang in Chucky Season 3 Episode 5. “Death Becomes Her” brings us back into the world of Syfy’s Chucky as he faces the countdown of his looming death. While everyone else focuses on the tragedy and aftermath of the Halloween murder spree, Chucky went through a self-reflective journey. All roads are leading to the big climax of Chucky Season 3 and “Death Becomes Her” was a fun first step towards the end. A great reintroduction to the series while it’s been away during its midseason.

Starting with our main trio – Jake, Devon, and Lexy – their stories focused more on their personal developments. Eventually, we’ll see them battle it out with Chucky in The White House later down the season; everything is teasing for the big confrontation. But most of the third season has centered on how to get them into the building. Specifically, Lexy’s budding relationship with Grant, the First Son, is the key to getting to the Oval Office.

Romances that Chucky will cut deep

Their “romance” has been one of the more subtle and sweet developments. What started as a ploy grew into a real crush, and you felt for him because he did miss her. Their chemistry together is strong, and this could develop into a real relationship for Lexy. She truly deserves someone who cares about her, especially after the death of her family. However, Grant screams “future Chucky victim” but anything could happen during this season’s arc. His forgiveness of her betrayal will get her back into The White House, but it could spell his doom since the trio will be there now. Chucky is going to go all out with his attacks and victims.

The same goes for the foreshadowing of Jake and Devon’s possible future pain. Did anyone else pick up on the glaring red flags as they left the motel? Their passionate and reassuring chat is a clear slasher movie trope that something bad is going to happen. Plus, with Devon and Jake having sex for the first time, it adds another slasher mark against them. Whenever a couple experiences sex or a moment of true bonding, it’s more likely that the killer will get one of them. Jake? Devon? The odds aren’t looking too good in their favor for endgame status.

Chucky’s puts his new master plan into motion

Back at The White House, the First Family plot always feels like a separate show. Due to the security barriers, the main trio are stuck in another world until they can get in. We’re simply bidding our time until they get in, and when Lexy will finally tell Grant the truth about the killer doll. For instance, Chucky murdering the housekeeper felt more like fodder than fun. Her vodka water bottle and the bleach telegraphed right away that he was going to poison her. Don’t get me wrong, the bloody mess was a good kill, but it lacked the flavor of Chucky’s other kills. Even Chucky himself recognized that he didn’t have the energy that he used to have for his kills.

His depressive, self-reflective state during “Death Becomes Her” was a good red-herring for the carnage to come. Come on, Chucky would never throw in the towel so easily! Not after more than three decades of murders and multiple movies – he’s going out swinging. Still, his “woe is me” moments gave us plenty of iconic scenes, like his watching of other killer doll movies (M3GAN, The Boy, etc.) or his chat with Tiffany. The pair may have tried to murder each other plenty of times, but they’re soulmates. We can’t deny their love for one another. True to his form, Chucky only needs a little push to get back into the game.

Elsewhere, Charlotte and Pryce’s plot teases a new supernatural element on Chucky. Is The White House haunted? Pryce’s cameras picked on a ghost, and President Collins saw the ghost everywhere before his death. Either a ghost of their dead son haunts The White House or it’s a twist for the real culprit to come. My theory is that it’s the spirit of Damballa has come to terrorize and aid Chucky in his quest. Depending on the future of the series, it will either give Chucky his youth back or it will seal his fate. Either way, this ghostly figure is throwing a huge wrench into the chaos already going on. And it doesn’t seem like Pryce nor Charlotte will make it past Chucky Season 3 – their guilt is going to get them.

A big death to start a big splash

Now for the big twist: President Collins’ death and Chucky has the nuclear codes! Will Chucky succeed in launching the missiles? That’s a lot of power for one killer doll, and if he’s going to go out, he’ll take everyone with him. Plus, there is no way he’ll be able to clean up this mess. With the codes missing and President Collins dead, that type of secret can’t be hidden or spun. Everyone, including Charlotte and Grant, will no doubt join the mission to stop Chucky. And with Devon Sawa (who plays President Collins) getting murdered halfway through this season, it shows that no one is safe at any point. We might be in for big deaths before any codes are used.

“Death Becomes Her” was a good start toward the climax of Chucky Season 3. The arc treated itself to a fine balance of character developments and big bloody horror. The pacing came off a tad slow to get back into the momentum, especially for getting Chucky back into his killing spirit. But the cliffhanger left us on a thrilling note for what’s to come. Chucky seems ready to give us an explosive season’s end.

Chucky airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on USA & SYFY.

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Images Courtesy of USA & SYFY