Spooked: “Brotherly Departed” Review

After a smashing cliffhanger can our motley crew come together to tackle yet another paranormal occurrence? Read on to find out.

The official description:

As conflict stirs within P.I.T., the group set their differences aside to handle the odd case of a concerned client haunted by his brother.

The latest episode is chock-full of shenanigans as the team faces what, on the onset, feels like a rather formulaic encounter. But after a few solid twists down the narrative road the audience is gifted with an entry that comes off as something that might be a cut above the rest. It’s true the laughs are less in this outing, even so the final turn makes the gamble worthwhile.

Right at the heart of the piece is the now dissolved love triangle. Instead of pinning and inaction our protagonists have forced themselves into a place where they have to deal with their feelings. Naturally Connor (Julian Curtis) stands at the center with his pal Elliot (Derek Mio) and they do get a few sturdy interactions. But it’s Morgan (Ashley Johnson) who, in her own way, shines and ultimately proves the worth of her specific choice. Backing up the center is the perfectly timed Lindsey (Neil Grayston) and the always engaging Piper (Shyloh Oostwald). Each cast member plays their role well but there were instances where the lack of consistent humor undercut their performances.

I’ll be honest, maybe it was just me, but the plot in this outing brought forth through the script penned by Michael Gene Conti and Felicia Day felt different than what we’ve experienced so far. It’s not a  wholly bad thing but with the comedy feeling secondary the episode had to find slightly altered legs to stand on. For the most part it succeeded as director Richard Martin turns in a solid entry that carries a few rough edges for this young franchise.

Spooked: “Brotherly Departed” offered an ending that rang true for anyone who might have a sibling. The team behind it gave us a slightly shifted perspective and from that it ultimately earned a recommendation from me.