Jim Matthews

Jim Matthews is the husband of Tabitha, and father to Julie and Ethan. A former amusement park engineer, he and his family get trapped in the Town. Jim is fiercely protective of his family, and determined find a way to escape.

Biography[]

Background[]

Jim Matthews was married to Tabitha and the two had three children, Julie, Ethan and the infant Thomas. One day while Jim and Tabitha were changing Thomas, the phone rang, and while Jim was reaching for the phone and Tabitha for a diaper, both were momentarily distracted and Thomas rolled off the table, dying as a result of the fall. The death caused immense strain in the family, so much so that Jim and Tabitha planned on getting a divorce. However, before they told their two other children, they planned a roadtrip to Yellowstone National Park as one last hurrah.^[1]

Season 1[]

As the Matthews family embarks on their roadtrip in the RV, Jim fondly recalls the first time he and Tabitha drove up to meet her parents. The two reminisce about the car he had back then, and how her parents did not end up hating him. Jim says it reminds him that things weren’t always the way they are, and Tabitha tells him not to try and do that. They then come across a lone Fallen Tree blocking the road. They inspect the tree, finding it odd that there is only one fallen tree. Soon, the family is frightened by the appearance of a flock of crows, who loudly squawk overhead. With no way of moving or getting around it, they get back in the RV and try to circle around.

As they continue driving, they struggle to find the highway, and have no cell reception. Eventually, they make it into Town. As the funeral for the Pratts is concluding, the townspeople notice the RV arriving and Boyd and Kenny go to talk to Jim, who asks for help getting back to the highway. Boyd tells him to follow the road up the hill and he’ll see it. As they drive, Julie tries to scare her brother by telling him that groups of crows are called murders, and that they’re going to peck at him in his sleep. Jim angrily tells her to stop, while Tabitha says that she thinks the birds were ravens, groups of which are called “an unkindness,” and pointedly looks at her daughter. However, the road leads them back into the center of town, freaking them out. The Matthews try to rationalize what’s happening to them, but return to the center of Town.

Jim then makes a U-turn and heads in the opposite direction, while Boyd tells Kenny to get the spike strip. However, on the way back the Matthews encounter a speeding car heading their way and swerve to avoid it, going down a hill and the RV turns over on its side, while the other car crashes into a tree. Jim is largely uninjured, but can't open his door. Julie is also unscathed, but Tabitha was knocked unconscious and Ethan's leg was impaled by a metal table leg. Soon, Boyd arrives with help and they extract Julie and Tabitha from the RV. However, Kristi reveals that it would take at least an hour to remove the table leg from Ethan's leg, and Kenny points out that they have 40 minutes until it's dark. Boyd and Kristi decide to stay in the RV overnight with a talisman. Jim, Tabitha and Julie try to stay, but Boyd tells them that the woods are not safe after dark and pleads with them to head to town, but permits Jim to stay. Jim and Kristi work on preparing to remove the table leg from Ethan while Boyd prepares the RV by blocking all the windows and exits and hanging the talisman. Ethan begins seizing, and Kristi has Jim hold him down. Night falls completely, and Boyd peeks outside the window and sees dozens of figures surrounding them.^[2]

Ethan soon stops seizing, however they hear movement outside and someone asks if they are ok in the RV. Jim thinks that the townspeople have returned for them and tries to let them in, but Boyd refuses and restrains him, explaining that it isn't people that are outside. After some time, Jim asks Boyd and Kristi what the Creatures are. Boyd answers that he doesn’t know, only that the talismans prevent their entry into enclosed spaces. Ethan then wakes up, but Kristi quickly sedates him to keep him calm.

As they continue waiting out the night, a voice outside says that they should have let them help. A scared Jim asks what happens if they get in but neither Boyd nor Kristi answer. Boyd calms him by reminding him that with the talisman up, they can’t get in. Kristi also begins to get rattled, but Boyd reminds her that the Creatures are just playing their usual tricks. They then hear footsteps on the roof, but Boyd tells them to focus on Ethan. After the racket subsides, Kristi leads Boyd and Jim in successfully pulling the table-leg out of Ethan’s leg. While Kristi tends to Ethan, Jim notices that the saline is kept in a mason jar. Kristi explains they have little in the way of supplies, save for what they stripped from an ambulance a few years prior, but most of it is improvised. Jim asks if she is a doctor, and she explains that she was a third-year medical student, and asks him his profession. Jim explains that he helped build rollercoasters and theme parks, and Kristi wryly notes that he is still using the present tense. Ethan wakes up, and says he saw crayon drawings on the wall, but someone screamed when they saw the spider coming down the wall. Jim assures Ethan that they're all going to be alright. In the morning, Kenny and Khatri return with Tabitha and Julie, and the family happily reunites. The Matthews are then temporarily settled in Colony House.^[3]

While the family adjusts to their situation in Colony House, Jim goes to the RV to fetch their belongings. Jim returns with their stuff from the RV. After Ethan asks about his books, Tabitha and Jim then imitate creatures from the Cromenockle, one of the books, when Julie walks in. However, Donna cuts their reverie short to inform that Father Khatri has arrived to explain the Choosing Ceremony. Khatri explains that all newcomers have to decide whether they want to live up in Colony House or down in the town, and offers to give them a tour of both, including the house that they would stay in in Town. Julie wants to go with her parents, but they order her to remain in the House to look after Ethan, annoying her.

On the tour, Khatri explains how the talismans protect them, but with kids in the house it is a requirement to nail the windows shut. Tabitha is shocked that people can walk around like this is normal, and Khatri explains that the ones who live are the ones who adapt. Khatri promises that if they follow his instructions, all will be well. Tabitha then asks what the box-like structure near the Sheriff’s Office is, and Khatri explains that those who break the rules are sentenced to a night in the box, and that night would be the first time they’re using it. The tour continues in the house that belonged to the Pratts, and Khatri explains that a family lived there previously, but the night before they arrived, Lauren and Meagan were killed while Frank was passed out drunk on the other side of town, showing them the bloody room. This freaks Tabitha out and she asks Jim why he is taking any of this at face value. Jim grabs her and says he can still hear them whispering outside the RV and tapping on the glass. He tells her that their situation is very real and they are stuck, so they need to make the best of it, lest they end up like the Pratts.

Later that day, Khatri holds the Choosing Ceremony, and explains that if the Matthews want to live in Town by their rules, working for the communal good until they can return home, they will choose a rock. If they prefer Colony House, where they will live for the present because the future is not guaranteed, they will choose the flower. Boyd then interrupts and begins to say that while he has them all gathered, he thought he would address the issue of Frank and the Box. As Boyd begins his speech, Frank asks to speak, and is given the floor. Frank says he used to be a good father, but let the horrors of the Township get to him, making him forget what really mattered and getting his family killed. He instructs his fellow townspeople not to let that be taken away from them, and to take care of each other. He expresses gratitude for Boyd's attempted intervention, but points out that the only two things that he loved in the world are gone, and he just wants to see them again. Jade, still believing that this is a performance, begins clapping and laughing. Boyd then restrains Jade and orders him to choose one and he picks a rock. As he begins threatening retribution at Boyd and the rest of them, Kenny offers to show him something and takes him away. Boyd then hastily concludes the ceremony, asking each member of the Matthews family what they’re picking. All pick Town except Julie, prompting an argument. However, according to the rules, the choice is final. Boyd assuages the Matthews parents, pointing out that his son will be up there and that she will be looked after. Khatri then reminds everyone that sundown is approaching, and tells them to get home. That night, Jim, Tabitha and Ethan settle into their new home, putting Ethan's bed in their room rather than Meagan's former bedroom. Ethan asks if Julie is coming back, and they answer that she's right up the hill and he can see her whenever he wants. Jim and Tabitha then read to him as he falls asleep.^[4]

The next morning, Jim finds Tabitha in the kitchen. Tabitha sadly recalls how “he” used to love this time of morning, and he’d stop crying as the sun came up. As she starts crying, Tabitha asks her husband if they are being punished. Jim asks why she would say that, and Tabitha points out that she is drinking tea from a dead woman’s mug in a place that can’t exist, in a house where a child died while their daughter is doing God knows what. Ethan then comes downstairs and asks if his mother is crying, but she answers that she just has a headache. Ethan says that he misses Julie, but Jim says they should go to the Diner for the big community breakfast. Tabitha says they should go without her while she unpacks and reorganizes their things. On their way to the Diner, Jim and Ethan pass Sheriff Boyd pushing a cart. Ethan asks what’s in the cart, and Boyd answers its supplies for Father Khatri, declining the boy’s offer of help. Inside the Diner, the tabletop jukebox mysteriously turns on as Jim and Ethan enter. Sara introduces herself and says she’s glad they came because Mrs. Liu tries to make something special for newcomers, with Jim realizing that it was her husband that died in the Clinic the previous night.

Tian Chen brings a plate stacked with pancakes to an excited Ethan, telling him to enjoy. Before leaving, she places a comforting hand on Jim’s shoulder. Ethan asks his father if they live here now, and Jim says he should think of it like a vacation. Ethan responds that it’s like a hero’s quest, like when his toy, Norman, went to the Lake of Tears. Jim acknowledges that he might be onto something before Ethan says he pretends Thomas went on quest to save the kingdom. Jim is stunned, and says he is going to the bathroom, where he cries by himself. Jim returns, and sees Victor showing Ethan a drawing. Jim marches Victor away and orders him to stay away from Ethan, shoving him out the door. Ethan scolds his father, who declares it’s time to leave.

Jim and Ethan return to their house, and Ethan tells Jim that he shouldn’t have treated his friend Victor that way. Jim begins to apologize but Ethan asks to be left alone. Jim later sits on the porch of his house and glumly looks at the drawing Victor made. Tabitha arrives and quips that he looks how she feels. Jim asks her about unpacking, and Tabitha explains she went to see Julie, which went as well as he’d expect. She adds that Julie knows about the divorce. Jim insists that everything will be ok and Tabitha tells him to stop saying that and admit that he has no idea what to do because he’s insistence that things will be ok makes the rest of them feel as if they’re doing something wrong. Jim retorts that that isn’t fair, and Tabitha counters by asking what part of the last 14 months have been fair.

Tabitha returns to the house with Jim on her heels asking to try and figure this out. Tabitha says she can’t do this and says she’s going to visit Julie with Ethan. However, she can’t find him, and Jim finds his crutch in the backyard. The two then frantically begin searching for him. As Jim and Tabitha search through the forest for Ethan, they come across a dog. The two are then surrounded by barking dogs until Victor scares them away with a shot from the revolver he keeps in his lunchbox. Ethan is happy to see his parents, who are frightened by Victor. Jim angrily steps towards Victor, reminding him that he warned him about going near Ethan. Victor points the gun at Jim and promises that he is not a bad person and would never hurt Ethan.

Afterwards, Jim approaches Boyd and says he has a problem with Victor. Jim explains that Victor is taking Ethan out in the woods, and Boyd promises to talk to Donna. Jim adds that Victor has a gun in his lunchbox. Before he leaves, Boyd admits that things have been crazy since the Matthews arrived so they haven’t gotten to know each other, and invites them to dinner. At the Diner, Boyd sits with the Matthews and talks with them about Julie. Tabitha thanks him for what he did, and Boyd says that they take care of each other in Town, and compliments them on how they’re coping. Sara brings over another plate of food and asks Ethan if he wants to help her. The tabletop jukebox then turns on, confusing the Matthews parents, and Boyd explains that they do that sometimes. Boyd then excuses himself to go talk with Kenny for a moment. Jim apologizes to Tabitha, and admits that he doesn’t know what he is doing, and never meant to make her feel bad, explaining that he feels broken. Tabitha holds his hand and promises that they will figure it out together. Ethan then comes over with a plate of sweet potatoes. However, Sara Myers collapses and has a seizure, causing everyone to rush over.^[1]

Back at their house, Ethan asks if Sara will be alright, and Jim and Tabitha assure him that she’s being taken care of by Kristi. In the meantime, Jim proposes that they try and figure out the mysteries of the Town by writing all the questions they have on the wall, beginning with “where are we?”.

The next morning, Jim continues looking at the wall with all the questions on it. Tabitha asks him if he’s figured it out, and Jim jokingly answers “12”. Jim repeats that everyone arrives from different parts of the country, sees the same fallen tree, but Tabitha interrupts and says everyone else has asked the same questions over and over again, and asks what difference writing on the wall will make. Jim explains that there is something they aren’t seeing yet, a question they haven’t yet asked. Jim hands Tabitha the marker, but she is reluctant to voice the question because she is not sure she wants to know the answer.

Tabitha observes Ethan and Sara from her window, and remarks to Jim that it’s the most like himself he’s seemed since they arrived. Tabitha comes outside and tells Ethan not to make Sara sit on the dirty merry go round. Sara offers to show Ethan the goats and chickens at the Barn, explaining her brother cares for the livestock. Tabitha joins them, while Jim remains to ponder the questions on the wall.

After Sara attempts to kill Ethan and accidentally kills her brother Nathan in the process, Jim runs over to the Barn after word spreads. Jim frees Tabitha from the locked area within the Barn and she tells him to go find Ethan, with Julie arriving with him moments later. After Boyd checks on the Matthews, Khatri explains to him and Jim that he was too late and she ran off into the woods. Boyd promises that if she returns before dark, they will handle it, and if she doesn’t, it will have been handled for him. An angry Jim then excoriates the two, reminding them that they described the Town as one big family. In their house, Jim and Tabitha compliment Julie on her handling of the situation. Tabitha has Julie take Ethan upstairs, with Julie promising they can read the “Cromwhatsit”. Once they’re gone, Tabitha writes “did we survive the crash?”.^[5]

Tabitha finishes packing away the Pratts' belongings while Jim examines the wires in the lamp. When asked, he reveals to Tabitha that there is no wire in the cord, and points out that their outlets are fake too, meaning that none of their lamps should work. Jade then barges in, and sees that they noticed the wires. Tabitha points out he nearly killed them when they arrived in Town. Jade points out that he wasn’t driving, and his best friend since fourth grade is now dead, so they should call it even. Jade reveals he has an idea, and asks if they want to participate.

Jade and Jim go out to the road and strip Jade’s Audi for wire. Jim asks why they went all the way to Jade’s car when they could have stripped wire from the cars in Town. Jade explains that his car is a top of the line model, not a “peasant-model jalopy.” Jim eyes his crashed RV before leaving with Jade. They then go out to a field and approach a tall tree. Jim doesn’t think it’s tall enough and they won’t have the signal strength, but Jade says it’ll just be a test run. After Jade rudely says that he built a multimillion dollar company while Jim did safety tests on teacup rides, Jim walks away. Jade runs over to him and admits he is not great at talking to people, but needs Jim’s help. The antenna needs to go up high, but he can’t climb the tree because of his vertigo. Jade begs Jim to try to see if the radio will work.

Jim climbs the tree with the antenna, and asks Jade to shake the wire free after it gets snagged. As Jim continues upward, Jade has an episode and runs off. As Jade hyperventilates, Jim comes to his aid and helps him up, assuring him that whatever he saw as not real. Jade angrily pushes him away and leaves. Jim then fiddles with the radio at the base of the tree. He is seemingly able to get a signal, and asks if anyone is out there.

Jim returns home only to find the hole in the wall. Ethan then emerges from the basement with a bucket of dirt, explaining that his mother told him to bring it outside. Jim descends, and finds Tabitha digging a hole in the basement floor. Jim informs his wife that he was able to get some static on the radio, which she interprets as a good sign. She then explains that she is searching for the source of the electricity, given the lack of power lines or wires, and that all the cords simply lead straight down. Jim asks her to stop digging and asks her what is going on. Tabitha stops and asks Jim if he remembers the bracelet she made him out the laces from his father’s boots from early in their relationship, and how he lost it in the hospital the night Julie was born. Tabitha then directs Jim’s gaze towards the shelf, where she has put the bracelet. Jim simply believes the bracelet is similar to the one she made him, but Tabitha insists it is the same. Tabitha points out a mistake in the bracelet from when she made it, which caused her to worry but Jim simply said “accidents are the best part” at the time. Tabitha asks him why he said that and he answers that they make it one of a kind. Jim insists that it is impossible, but Tabitha counters that no part of their situation makes sense, and while they may not be able to find out how the bracelet arrived in Town, they can find out where the wires go. Jim then tells her to give him a shovel.^[6]

Jim sketches plans for a radio tower, and Tabitha informs him that Ethan is passed out. Jim jokes that she violated numerous child labor laws by having him dig in the basement, but Tabitha assures him that their son enjoyed it. Tabitha reveals that she gets nervous whenever he is out of her sight, and Jim admits he does as well, but points out that all the windows are nailed shut and doors locked, so it would be impossible for him to let the Creatures inside. Tabitha then admits she’s also worried about Julie, but Jim assures her that Donna will take good care of her. Tabitha asks Jim how the radio tower is going, and Jim responds that if he can convince Boyd to let him use all their building materials, drain all their batteries and get Donna to allow them to use Colony House’s high ground, it will be enough for everyone to hate him when it fails. Tabitha tells him not to doubt himself and reminds him that he got a signal. Jim corrects her and says it was static, but she assures him that it’s something, and kisses him. The two then joke about the hole in the basement before Tabitha leaves to continue digging.

Later that night, Tabitha continues digging in the basement. Jim arrives and tells her that they’ll soon need a taller ladder, before descending to help his wife. Tabitha says she is fine, and Jim responds that none of them are really fine before massaging Tabitha’s shoulders. He offers to take over digging while she goes to rest with Ethan. As Jim continues massaging her, the two begin to kiss.^[7]

The morning after the Colony House attack, Julie explains how she escaped with Victor’s help and how he said “it’s starting”. Tabitha asks how it is possible that the tree transported her and Ethan explains that it was a Farway Tree, which can transport people to different places. Julie begins crying and asks what is happening to them, and Ethan innocently answers that they are digging a hole in the basement to find the source of the electricity. As she continues breaking down, Tabitha comforts her daughter and tells her that things will be ok. Jade barges in and asks where Victor is. Jim furiously pushes him outside and tells him to stay away from his daughter. Jade acknowledges that Jim is being a protective father. Jim further scolds him for making him climb a tree and then running away before they could even try it. Jade apologizes before Jim tells him that he was able to get some static, and that he thinks if they get it above the tree line, it might get a signal. Jim and Jade go to Colony House and find Donna outside, loading the body parts of those killed the previous night in a wheelbarrow. Jim asks her if they can build a radio tower on the roof of the house, explaining that they think if they can get it high enough, they can broadcast a signal and ask for help. Donna is hesitant, but agrees. Jim asks if she is sure, and Donna replies that 14 of her people died the previous night, and the others are not likely to come back soon, so they might as well use the house for something.

After Boyd leaves to explore the Forest and find a way out or answers, Kenny gives a speech to the assembled people in Town. He admits that they are in a tight spot, but Boyd is risking his life to find a way out for them, so the least they can do is keep things together while he does. Kenny says that going forward, there will be no more division between the Town and Colony House. Donna then steps up, and tells the Colony House people to be good houseguests, and says that Jim has an idea on how to get a signal out to people in the normal world, giving the floor to him. Jim explains that they will need batteries and people to build the radio tower, which they agree to. Ellis finds Fatima, who asks him if he found his father. Ellis answers that he did, and Fatima asks if he is ok. Ellis admits that he is not, and she hugs him.^[8]

At Colony House, Jim leads the work on building the Radio Tower. Kenny informs him that Jade is working on the power source. Jim says that they need more building material, and Kenny promises to have people scavenge some wood from the Barn. When Donna arrives, they ask her how she is doing, and she hoarsely answers that she has had a rough morning. Kenny asks her if Eric is with her, because he needs him for a supply run. Donna answers that Eric isn’t coming, and walks inside. Jim and Jade try to figure out how to power the radio. The problem is that there is no way to charge the batteries without quickly draining other resources. Jade asks Jim if anyone has seen Victor, causing him to roll his eyes. Jade tells him to just open the book and look at the symbol. Jim scolds Jade for focusing on this instead of the radio and tells him to do what he wants while he figures out how to power the radio. Jade tells him that he isn’t going to figure this out, and Jim retorts that maybe Jade isn’t as smart as he thinks.

Later, Ellis finds a frustrated Jim trying to figure out how to power the radio tower. Ellis informs him that they have enough wire for the cord now, but he asks if they are making enough progress. Jim says that they have setbacks, but they will figure it out. Jim returns home, and Julie asks him how progress on the tower is going. He says well, and she responds that he is a bad liar, but believes that it will work. Jim asks her why she is so optimistic, and she answers that it was something Ethan said about how they were supposed to come here. She explains how at home they had stopped talking, but they are really together again, which further reminds her of what Fatima told her on her first night: if you climb up high enough, even a nightmare can look like a dream”. Julie then invites him to help dig in the basement, and he follows her down, not noticing that their lights are starting to flicker.^[9]

In the Diner, Jade and Jim demonstrate how they have figured out how to power the radio tower, and ask everyone to gather conducting wire. As he leaves, Julie scolds Jade for calling her father “Tea Cup”. Jade promises to stop calling him “Tea Cup,” but vows to begin calling her “Spark Plug”, before leaving. Later at Colony House, Jim and Ethan watch as the finishing touches are made upon the radio tower. Jim asks Julie if she is ok, and she answers that she is, and heads inside to help. Jim tells his daughter that he is there for her. Ethan wishes Victor was with them, believing that he would enjoy this. Jim assures his son that Victor is ok, and Ethan says he knows, and that Victor has to do his part of the quest now, while the radio is their part. The radio tower is hoisted onto the roof. Jade begins to leave, and Jim asks him why. Jade first says that he is going to bring the rest of the wire, but when Jim says it has already been brought, says he is going to get his last rolling paper to get high and rides off.

Jim explains how the radio works to Ethan, who is fascinated. Donna informs him that they are ready, and Jade and Tian-Chen arrive with snacks. Tabitha arrive as they are preparing to erect the radio tower on the roof. After they get it standing, Jim turns it on, and informs them that they have a signal, and hugs his family in joy. Tabitha then returns to digging in her basement, which she calls their plan b. However, their joy is cut short when Clara points out the approaching storm clouds. Jim and Ethan operate the radio, and Jim tries to broadcast a mayday as the storm draws closer. Donna warns that they have ten minutes before the wind blows the tower off the roof. Jim sends Ethan inside and Donna takes his place changing the frequency. Jim is able to get a response, and the voice on the other end addresses him by name, shocking him. The voice tells him that his wife should not be digging the hole, and Jim runs off. Jim arrives at the house and finds that the main floor has partially caved in.^[10]

Season 2[]

Jim runs downstairs and finds the hole Tabitha had been digging filled with debris. After getting no response to his calls, he tries removing some of the debris. Julie soon arrives finds her father standing over the filled-in hole and asks what happened. Julie then asks where her mother is and begins to panic, and Jim tells her to get as many people as possible to help. As she stares at the hole, Jim hugs his daughter and tells her she needs to be strong, and that her mother needs her. Tom arrives with Randall and Brick, two passengers from the recently arrived bus, in tow, and Jim explains to Tom that she had been digging to see where the wires went. Tom asks if she was digging in the basement, what caused the main floor to collapse. Jim asks for them just to help, and Randall assures him that they will get his wife out. As they begin removing debris, the floor above them begins to shake.

The group makes progress on emptying the hole. Jim realizes that there is a chamber beneath it, but the floor above begins collapsing. The entire house then collapses. Randall is able to escape in time, but Jim, Tom and Brick are trapped in the rubble. Everyone outside rushes over, and Jim tells Julie to stay with Donna and do whatever she says. Donna tries to lead a group in digging out the trapped men, but Jim tells them to stop. He explains that they everything is resting on something else, so they need to be slow and deliberate if they want to get everyone out alive. Julie warns that the sun is about to go down, and Jim says to leave them overnight. Donna agrees that it’s the best course of action, assuring her that she survived for a year without the Talismans, and if her father and the others stay quiet, they can too.

However the situation continues to unravel as the bus driver tries to leave with her passengers as the sun is setting. Donna fires a shotgun into the front wheel and orders everyone inside the Diner. She and Kenny are able to corral most of them inside, but several run away. Julie covers some of the rubble with tarps, and Jim tells her that there is a cavern underneath the debris, and that her mother will be ok if she made it down there. Julie promises to get her father out, and Kenny arrives to get her inside. The two say they love each other before she finishes covering the rubble and heads inside.^[11]

That night, Tom asks Jim how he is doing. Jim answers that he thinks he busted a rib, and that it is getting hard to breathe. Jim asks Tom if he ever had to spend the night hiding, and Tom asks if it would make him feel better if he said yes. Brick then wakes up and begins to panic and shout for help but Jim and Tom tell him to be quiet. Brick says he can’t breathe, and Jim tells him that if he is talking he can breathe, but should do so slowly. Tom tries to go over to help him, but can’t reach. Brick says he doesn’t do well in tight spaces, but Tom assures him that they will get out of this, but they need to be silent.

Tom, Jim and Brick overhear the Creatures, and Brick begins panicking again. Tom and Jim try to reassure him to get him quiet but Brick begins coughing up blood. Tom tells him to hang on. Brick later complains that his chest hurts, but Jim and Tom tell him to hold out. Jim, trying to distract him, asks if he likes pancakes, promising to make them for him when the sun comes up. Tom jokingly asks if Jim thinks a skinny guy like Brick eats pancakes. Brick begins to cry out in pain, and Jim and Tom try to get him quiet, but Brick dies from his injuries. Tom is then attacked by a Creature. Jim stays silent as the Creature drags Tom away and kills him. At first light, Julie rushes out of the Diner and goes to the rubble and calls out to her father. Jim responds, and Donna rallies everyone to help remove rubble.^[12]

In the Clinic, Kristi finishes patching up Jim as his family watches. Jim tries to rise to leave, but the pain prevents him, and Kristi tells him that he has cracked ribs and likely a bruised lung, and needs to rest. Kristi asks Tabitha how she is doing, and she says she is fine. Noticing Marielle has entered, Kristi leaves to go talk to her. Jim then asks Julie and Ethan for privacy before telling Tabitha that he thought she was dead and that he can’t lose her. She tells him that the wires weren’t connected to anything. Jim asks how the kids are holding up, and Tabitha admits that she doesn’t know. The two say they love each other and kiss.

As he recuperates, Jim notices the exit sign above the door flickering, and painfully rises to try and look at the wires. Tillie then arrives looking for Kristi, and Jim tells her that she had to run out, but asks if he can help her. Tillie realizes Jim was the man trapped under the house, and says that Brick sat across the aisle from her. Tillie begins to leave, but Jim asks her where she was going on the bus. Tillie says that she was going to the racetrack to bet on the horses, and has been visiting racetracks across the country. Jim asks if it was a charter bus, but Tillie does not know. Jim then asks her what is in her bag, and Tillie remarks that he asks many questions. Jim tries to ask one more but collapses from the pain, and Tillie calls for help. Marielle arrives and helps Jim into a chair. Marielle goes to look for an aspirin, and Tillie tells Jim that Marielle is Kristi’s fiancee, shocking him.^[13]

Tabitha visits Jim in the Clinic, but does not find him in bed. She looks for him, and finds Marielle looking through the medicine cabinet. Tabitha asks who she is, and Marielle introduces herself, and explains that she is a nurse and was helping Kristi with inventory. Tabitha asks about her husband, and Mari says that he left a little while ago. Tabitha finds him looking at the bus passengers unload their belongings, and scolds him for not resting. Jim directs her to their collapsed house and explains that the entire night he was trapped he ruminated on the question of why this happened to them. They then overhear Randall criticizing Tian-Chen for taking the belongings of the deceased. Jim then informs Tabitha that Kristi’s fiancee was on the bus. He then voices his belief that the Town is all a messed up experiment. He reveals that the radio worked, but they haven’t told anyone, and that the voice on the other end addressed him by name and said Tabitha shouldn’t be digging right before the house collapsed. Tabitha then asks if anyone else heard the voice.

Jim goes to Colony House and tries to talk to a busy Donna about the voice they heard on the radio. Donna pulls him aside and says she heard the spooky voice. Jim reminds her that this means that there are people watching them. Donna asks how this is a good thing, reminding him that after he ran off, the lights exploded and Clara was almost blinded. Donna tells him that if there are people watching them, they definitely aren’t helping, asking what will happen when they find out they know about them. Donna further asks how he knows it was a person, reminding him that the Creatures look and talk exactly like normal people. Donna tells him that she is not saying to ignore the voice, but he already got peoples hopes up with the tower. Jim tries to say this means they should pursue it, but Donna tells him they should keep quiet until they know more. Jim asks where the radio tower is, and Donna tells him that it’s in the back, but got damaged in the storm. Donna then overhears a commotion in the other room, and tells Jim not to do anything until she says so before going to investigate.^[14]

After hearing of Sara Myers' return, Jim and Tabitha go the Church and pound on the doors. When Boyd opens the door, they demand to know where Sara is. Boyd tries to tell them that there is much they don’t understand, but Tabitha says that Kenny told them what he would say and reminds Boyd that she is a murderer. Boyd insists that she is not going to hurt anyone, but Tabitha ignores him and reminds Boyd that she tried to kill Ethan. Jim asks if they are supposed to pretend like nothing happened and why Boyd is not enforcing his own rules. Boyd insists that things have changed, prompting Jim to defiantly ask how. Boyd, exasperated, answers that Jim got everyone hopes up with the radio tower and now they are all looking at him wondering why he did not return with all the answers, they have a busload of people who they don’t have the resources for, and the Matthews’ home collapsed for no reason. Thus, if Sara can help them figure out what is going on, then she stays out of the Box. Sara then emerges, and Tabitha forcefully tells her to stay away from her family. Boyd tries to reason with them but they both depart, leaving Boyd frustrated.

Jim and Tabitha return to the Lius' and ask what is happening, and Julie explains that Ethan overheard them talking about Sara and now will not leave his room. Tabitha tries to assure him that they will not let anything happen to him, while Jim adds that it’s like the Cromenockle, when she is afraid to go into the cave. Ethan then exits, and declares that he wants to see Sara. Jim and Tabitha later argue on the porch of the Lius’ house, Tabitha refuses to let Ethan near Sara, and asks him how he could even consider this. Jim realizes that this is because of Thomas, and reminds her that the doctors all said they should let him lead sometimes and work through things in his own way, while their role is to support him. Jim assures her that he will be with Ethan. Tabitha demands to join them, but Ethan arrives and recalls what Tabitha said about how scary this place is. Ethan says that on a quest, it is necessary to face the scary things in order to take away their power. Jim and Ethan find Sara in the street. Ethan goes up to Sara and tells her that he thought they were friends but she is a monster, and that he is not afraid of her. The two then leave, and Sara sadly watches them walk away. They return to the Lius’ house, and Ethan happily tells Tabitha that he isn’t afraid anymore. Julie fist bumps him and asks him to help peel potatoes for dinner, which he grudgingly does. Tabitha asks Jim how Ethan did, and he says Ethan did great.

Jim approaches Boyd, promising that he does not want to argue. He admits that he disagrees with Boyd’s actions, but after looking at Sara, he realized that he didn’t see a psychopath, but a broken kid. He adds that he sees a lot of people in Town who are pushed to their edge, and wonders if that is the point of this place. He reveals that he and Donna heard a voice on the radio that knew his name, and what Tabitha was doing in the basement of their house. Jim believes they are being watched, and that there have been experiments like this dating back to World War II. Jim says they don’t have to trust or like each other, but they have to start working together. Jim says he has no idea what the observers want from them, but he would love to hear a more rational explanation.^[15]

One night, Donna leads Tian-Chen and the Matthews in preserving their food supplies. She instructs Ethan to use only two tablespoons of salt per jar, as they have a limited supply. Julie asks how long their supply will last, and Donna answers a year if they ration properly. Jim asks if this is all their food, pointing out that they have a month’s worth of food at most. Jim says they need to warn people but Donna says it will make them panic. Jim scolds her for not telling him sooner, and Donna asks if she was supposed to tell him when he was stuck under the house. Donna says they are simply trying to do their best. Jim then says that whoever is watching would want to increase the stress level. Ethan worriedly asks what he meant when he said they don’t have enough food. Jim tells him it’s ok and to get back to jarring, but Tabitha and Julie are concerned.^[16]

The Matthews and Mrs. Liu prepare breakfast. Ethan says he wants to see Victor, and Julie offers to take him, but Jim does not think it’s a good idea. Tabitha replies that she thinks it will be ok, and Jim asks to talk outside. In the backyard, Jim says he doesn’t know what is going on with Tabitha, confusing her. He explains that they are supposed to be a team but she is undermining him. Tabitha sarcastically asks if he wants to keep the children locked in the basement, reminding him that he took Ethan to see Sara, the person who tried to kill him. Jim insists that was different but Tabitha says it was their acceptance of the fact that they cannot lock their kids away until they find a way home. Tabitha warns him that if they do, the kids will sneak out, and at least this way they know where he is. Jim says he is uncomfortable with their nine year old son hanging out with a strange, emotionally stunted adult who walks around with a gun in his lunchbox. Tabitha reminds him that Victor saved both her and Julie, but Jim says that’s what they want her to think, and reminds her of the voice on the radio. Tabitha understands that he wants this all to make sense, but tells him that had he seen the tunnels, but Jim merely says that is what they wanted her to see. Tabitha asks how “they” created the monsters, and says she has seen them up close. Tabitha continues to say that Jim is certain that the voice on the radio is the answer to everything, but asks if he has considered that it may not have been a person. Jim asks what else she thinks it was, and she admits she does not know and it terrifies her, but for now she is going inside to eat breakfast with her children, and he is welcome to join. Jim then notices Randall flying his drone overhead.

Jim approaches Randall in the bus, beginning by thanking Randall for trying to help dig out Tabitha. Randall points out that given that Tabitha wasn’t even down there, it seems like he got Tom and Brick killed for nothing. Jim asks him if it felt good saying that, and Randall asks him what he wants. Jim asks how much he thinks the drone can carry. Randall is confused, and Jim invites Randall to take a walk with him outside Town. Randall says that Jim sounds like a pervert who hangs out at playgrounds, causing Jim to lose patience and say that the drone could help them get home for his nephew’s birthday, for which the drone was supposed to be a gift. Jim and Randall walk while Jim explains his theory about the Town and about the voice on the radio tower. Jim points out that there have been experiments like this going on for a long time, and when they get declassified, one wonders about the ones that are still kept hidden. They then arrive at the crashed RV, and begin discussing how to strip the antenna down so they can fly it over the trees with the drone. Randall asks that if Jim believes that this is all an experiment, whether or not he’s considered that some of the people are in on it.^[17]

Jim and Randall go to the RV and prepare the drone to fly the antenna over the trees. Randall asks Jim what the point of this place is if it’s all one big experiment. Jim believes that there is a lot of value in seeing how far people can be pushed before they break, as with Sara. Randall tells Jim that he has more restraint than him, for if Sara had tried to hurt his kid she would be dead. Jim replies that he refuses to let the Town turn him into something he isn’t. Randall jokes that if they really want to break people, they can hire his ex-girlfriends. Once the antenna is ready, Randall tries to fly the drone over the trees, but it cannot fly very high carrying the antenna. Randall then asks even if they can get the radio to work, why would the people on the other side want to talk to them. Jim points out that they’ve done it once, but Randall asks if they are trying to help or mess with his head. Jim tells him if he doesn’t want to help he can leave. Randall says he still wants to help, but thinks that they should look at the people in the Town with them who might be in on it. Jim worries about throwing around accusations, but Randall says they aren’t accusing anyone and asks who explained all the rules when the Matthews arrived. Jim tells him Boyd, Donna and Father Khatri, explaining that the latter was killed the night the Creatures broke into Colony House. Randall asks if he saw Khatri die, and Jim says no. Randall continues to ask if he has seen any of the people killed since he arrived actually die. Randall theorizes that the people who are dying are actually in on it, and are being “killed” in order to frighten everyone. Jim asks about Brick, but Randall says he only saw the body the next day. Jim then points out Nathan, who Sara accidentally killed. Randall is still skeptical, and continues to theorize that it was either an inside job or Sara was actually pushed to the limit.

Jim and Randall go to the Church where they find Sara, and ask if they can talk to her. Jim asks how she arrived in Town, and Sara says she and Nathan were heading back to Boston. Randall asks where they were heading from, and Jim explains that they are trying to determine a pattern in how people arrive. Sara answers that she had been living in New Hope, Pennsylvania, but Nathan was helping her move back. They then ask about the day Nathan died, and Sara refuses to talk about it. Jim tries to sympathize with her, but Randall bluntly asks if Nathan is still alive. Donna then arrives, which Randall declares convenient. Donna asks Sara if she can stitch up some clothes from Colony House. Randall asks Donna if she thinks she’s a bigshot and calls her a tollbooth operator. Jim drags Randall out, and Donna asks Sara if she is ok. Sara asks why they asked about Nathan and think he is alive. Outside, Jim asks Randall what happened, and Randall says he is trying to get answers, not be everyone’s friend. Jim says they cannot assume every little thing, but should instead watch and observe at night in the RV.

Jim heads to the Diner where he greets his children and asks where Tabitha is. Julie explains that she and Jade came in looking for Victor and Jade yelled at him, so Tabitha is likely trying to check on him. Jim pulls Julie aside and tells her that he is planning to spend the night in the RV with a Talisman and to tell Tabitha that he is alright. Julie is concerned about the idea, and tells him to be careful. As he leaves, Donna asks what is wrong with him, having talked to Sara. Donna realizes that this is about the voice on the radio. Donna worries that he’s put ideas in Randall’s head, whom she calls a powder keg. Jim says he didn’t tell Randall about the voice and acknowledges that talking to Sara was stupid, but they all just want to go home. Jim later returns to the RV and finds the van parked near the RV and calls out for Randall. Donna answers, and Jim runs down the hill and finds that Randall has tied Donna to a tree at knifepoint. Randall tells Jim that he has a new plan.^[18]

Jim is shocked while Randall insists that Donna is in on the conspiracy and he saw her burn Smiley’s body, asking if it was a faulty animatronic. Donna says Boyd managed to kill it, and Randall says she is changing the rules. Randall tells Jim this was his idea, and Jim calls him crazy. Randall insists Donna is part of the reason they are trapped. Jim moves to free Donna, but Randall grabs him and voices the possibility that Jim put all these ideas in his head to see what he would do, and asks how he knows Jim isn’t a part of it too. Jim angrily points out that his house collapsed on top of him and asks what is wrong with Randall. Jim tries to untie Donna but Randall throws him down and draws his knife. Boyd then arrives and fires his gun in the air and orders him to drop the knife. Jim apologizes for what’s happened and cuts Donna loose, while Boyd says they have five minutes to get to safety before dark. However, Randall throws the keys away, and says they will have to stay the night and see what happens.

In the RV, Donna and Boyd set up the Talisman, but Randall criticizes Jim for turning against him just as they were about to get answers, and tells him that he is the reason his family is a mess. Jim and Randall begin to physically fight, but Boyd breaks it up and hand cuffs Randall, telling him to keep his stupid ideas to himself so as not to get any of them killed. Boyd then turns to Jim and admonishes him for treating their situation like a game after all they have been through. Jim apologizes for how things happen, but Donna tells him he shouldn’t be surprised. Jim says he has to return to his family, and thinks he can probably hotwire the van, but Boyd refuses to take the risk. Randall stands up, refusing to obey Boyd because he thinks Boyd is either part of the conspiracy or simply an idiot. Boyd restrains Randall, and tells him that he lost his wife and best friend as a result of this place, and threatens to tie Randall to a tree outside so Randall can find out the truth for himself.

Boyd finishes explaining what happened with Smiley at the Clinic as he coats his bullets in the Creature’s bile. Donna suggests letting Randall go outside and test it. As several Creatures advance on the RV, Boyd offers the gun to Randall, who agrees. As Boyd uncuffs him, Donna notices that the Creatures have stopped moving, as does Jim. Donna is worried because this is abnormal for the Creatures. All four of them hear the music box, and realize the noise is coming from the RV’s radio. Boyd prepares to leave to test the bullets. Donna tries to restrain him, but Boyd says he has heard this music and every time he does, bad things happen, so they have to leave. As he prepares to exit, something thumps the bottom of the RV, scaring them all. Jim says this is impossible because there is no space underneath them. The lights then begin flickering, and Randall breaks a window and runs away on his own. Donna and Jim head for the van, while Boyd fires his gun at the Creatures. Boyd continues to fire at the Creatures, but the bullets have no effect. Boyd then runs to the van, which Jim successfully starts and the three drive off.

When they arrive at Colony House, people swarm Boyd and Donna with questions. Jim tries to sneak past the distracted door guard and leave to get back to his family. Boyd tells him that opening the door puts everyone at risk but Jim says they are always at risk. Jim continues to struggle with the guard until both he and Boyd draw their guns on Jim. Kristi then calls for help, and Boyd leaves to help her but orders the guard to keep Jim inside.^[19]

Julie, like Marielle and Randall, becomes comatose after falling under the possession of The Musicbox Monster. She is checked over by Kristi Miller, but suddenly starts screaming in pain before it subsides. Later, Jim and Tabitha watch over their daughter. Tabitha tells him about how Victor’s mother tried to free the children in the tower, just like her dreams, and believes the key to saving Julie is the tower. Jim is against the idea, pointing out that his theory about the Township almost got him killed. Tabitha counters that their daughter is experiencing something out of a nightmare while her mother is powerless to help her and all she can think of is Thomas when he died. Tabitha says she can’t sit around, but Jim reminds her that Victor’s mother never came back, and Victor had to grow up alone. Tabitha tearfully says she needs his blessing to go.

Tian-Chen, Ethan and Victor return, and Ethan says Julie will be hungry when she wakes up. Tian-Chen promises that they will make her favorite food. Tabitha then asks to talk to Victor privately. While they talk, Jim asks for a second with Tabitha, still skeptical, and Tabitha says she has to at least try if it will save their daughter. Jim is deeply worried and they hug. As they watch over Julie, Ethan asks his father if they will get to see Thomas again. Jim tells him that they will, as well as his grandfather. Ethan says that it might not be so bad then. He then gives his sister another pillow, remembering that she prefers it. After Boyd is able to defeat The Musicbox Monster, Julie wakes up. Ethan draws while Jim brings Julie something to drink. Ethan notices that the buzzing of the cicadas is gone, and asks if that means it is over. Julie then asks where her mother is.^[20]

Season 3[]

Three days after the Music Box Monster's defeat and Tabitha's disappearance, Ethan runs away to look for his mother. He is brought back by Tian-Chen Liu, and Jim sends him inside. Julie returns from the search and then leaves to go on a walk, telling her father that none of this is his fault. Boyd approaches Jim, and tries to talk him out of searching for Tabitha, saying it is too dangerous to be in the Forest overnight. Jim notes that his family is falling apart and his children need their mother. Boyd argues that he and Sara tried to venture into the woods, and their tent got dragged by some unknown force, and barely made it back alive. Boyd indicates that she may already be dead, angering Jim. Boyd relents, but says he may have a safer solution.

In the Lius’ Home, Boyd tells Jim and Kenny about his and Sara’s journey from the Talisman Hut to the Lighthouse. Boyd suggests using the Talisman Hut as a starting point for his searches and a place to shelter at night. After hearing that Sara had also been there, Kenny volunteers to join Jim. Kenny reasons that they cannot let Jim go out on his own. Kenny acknowledges that Boyd has many reasons to be afraid, but having lost a parent himself, he refuses to allow Julie and Ethan to lose both of theirs.

Later that day, Jim says goodbye to his children after getting Ethan to agree to stop running off. He and Kenny begin their journey, and Jim voices his appreciation to Kenny. They soon come across several Totems stuck in the ground. Kenny thinks they should turn around and head back to the cave, but Jim keeps following the trail and finds more of them until they come across several log cabins. Jim figures that they can shelter in the cabins instead and head out from there, and Boyd hadn’t noticed it because his tent was dragged past it. As they shelter overnight in the cabin Jim says Kenny is right and they should have tried to find the spiderwebs, and thinks they should try and find higher ground the next day. They hear rustling outside, and something bangs against the wall of the cabin. Jim then realizes that if he dies, his kids will have nothing, and says they should head home in the morning.^[21]

The next morning, Jim explores the Settlement. He finds a lake and huge numbers of cabbage growing around it, informing Kenny, who is delighted. He and Kenny return to Town, ecstatically sharing the news that they found a new food supply. However, they notice everyone's grim expressions. Jim asks about his children but Boyd says they are fine. Kenny then notices the blood on Boyd's shirt and asks about his mother, calling for her in Cantonese. As Boyd tries to tell him what happened to Tian-Chen, Kenny refuses to listen.

Jim returns home and finds Julie, who tells him about Tian-Chen’s death. Julie then tells him that Ethan is upstairs. Jim tries to reassure Julie, but Julie snaps and says that nothing is alright, Ethan almost died, and she can no longer act as the replacement parent while Jim loses it. Jim reminds her that he was searching for her mother but Julie says she is gone, noting how it has been four days. Julie says that he and Tabitha fell apart after Thomas’ death and there was no one there for Ethan, and she had to step in as a 15 year old. Julie tells Jim to get it together.

Jim and his children attend the funeral for Tian-Chen Liu in the Church. During the ceremony, Ethan places Tian-Chen's favorite blanket on her coffin. On their way home, Ethan asks if they will still live in Tian-Chen’s home. Julie walks to the Barn to check on the animals, and Ethan follows her. Jim tells them to be careful. After he returns to the house, the phone in the kitchen rings. When he picks up, a child’s voice addresses him as “dad,” and claims to be Thomas.^[22]

Jim responds to the voice on the phone, telling it that he is not his son. The voice asks him why he let Tabitha go and wanted her to die, asking if it was because he no longer loved her. Jim angrily asks what the voice wants, and the voice says he wants to help him because he needs it. The voice tells him to watch over Julie and Ethan, and that they should not be outside so close to dark. The voice then hangs up. Jim races outside to find his children as Boyd rings the bell warning everyone to get back inside before dark. Jim finds them at the Barn feeding the animals and orders them back inside. Boyd notices and asks Jim if he is alright. Jim grimly notes that things are getting worse before leaving.

The next day, Jim serves Ethan lunch, and tries to encourage him by telling him that Kenny will soon return with more food as Julie arrives. Ethan asks who will bury Tabitha, and Jim sternly tells him not to speak like that. As he continues to ask about what would happen to her body, Jim grows angry and snaps at him. Ethan leaves the table, followed by Julie. The phone rings again, but Jim simply hangs up.^[23]

Jim returns to the kitchen and finds Ethan on the phone. Ethan explains that the voice on the other end is claiming to be Thomas. Jim orders the voice to leave his children alone, but the voice claims that they are not his children anymore. Jim then hangs up and rips the phone off the wall in frustration. Julie witnesses this, and is worried by her father’s state. Jim frantically asks Ethan what the voice said, and Ethan tells him that Tabitha is in trouble.

That night, an ambulance arrives in the Township. Ethan runs outside but is returned to the house by Boyd and Randall. Ethan explains that the voice on the phone told him that his mother was on the ambulance. Soon, they hear gunshots. Jim leaves to help Tabitha, followed by Boyd and Randall. They find her in the back of the ambulance, cuffed to a bar attached to the wall. Randall leaves to fetch a toolkit to break the cuffs. However, his return is blocked by the Creatures. He throws Boyd the toolkit, and they free Tabitha. Boyd is eventually able to get the keys to the ambulance and drives off, abandoning Randall. They arrive at Colony House, and Donna takes Jim and Tabitha to a room upstairs at their request. Jim and Tabitha talk about Henry and Victor. Tabitha explains that Miranda had visions of the Township prior to her arrival, and that the Boy in White wanted her to find something. She begins crying and apologizing, but Jim reassures her that all that matters is that she is alive and safe.^[24]

The next morning, Tabitha tells her children about her experience in the outside world. Julie is confused by how she was teleported to the real world, but Jim is simply happy that they are reunited. Jade bursts in, and begins asking about the Bottle Tree and the Lighthouse. Jade insists that they return to the tree. Tabitha says she will speak at the Town meeting, but Jade wants to leave immediately.

Jim and Tabitha arrive at the Diner, where the residents of Town and Colony House have gathered. After she concludes her story, Fatima asks if she tried reaching out to the police, and Tabitha says she wanted to, prompting anger. Tabitha justifies herself, saying they would not have believed her, and Henry tries to back her up, pointing out that he didn’t believe her at first, and that his circumstances are different than the average person’s. Acosta agrees, noting that she and the EMTs thought Tabitha hysterical, but this only angers people further, who point out that she killed Nicky. Clara admonishes Tabitha for wasting her opportunity in the outside world to get help. Jim asks the crowd what they would have done. Fatima also criticizes Tabitha, who apologizes for not finding answers and leaves.

The two return to the Lius' Home, and they admit the meeting went poorly. Tabitha says they should go to the tree, admitting that the crowd was right. Jim is reluctant, pulling Tabitha aside and warning her to think, reminding her that they all thought her dead. Tabitha says that all she will do is show them the location of the tree. Jim insists that Ethan remain, telling her that he would run off when she was gone. Tabitha agrees, ordering Ethan to remain in the house while she and Jade head to the tree.^[25]

As Jim struggles to sleep, he notices Tabitha is awake, and she explains that she had a nightmare. She blames herself for not trying to get help while she had the chance in the outside world. Jim rises and says she did the best she could, trying to comfort her. However, this only angers Tabitha, who says he has no idea and is just saying that to make her feel better. As the two argue, Jim says that she always finds it easier to cut and run and deal with things on her own, which is why she wanted a divorce. Tabitha reminds him that he was able to throw himself into work, while she dealt with the effects of Thomas’ death on their children. Jim then storms out of the room. The next morning, he leaves for the Settlement to help gather the crops.^[26]

At the Settlement, Jim and the others prepare to return to Town with the food they’ve gathered, with one of his companions noting that whatever lurks outside the cabins at night does not sound like the Creatures. Tabitha then arrives with Jade and Ethan, surprising Jim. They explain that Tabitha had visions of the Settlement as a child. Ethan remarks that the place is creepy, and asks who lived out there. Jade admits he does not know, and warns him to look out for bear traps. Jim theorizes that Tabitha might be trying to make connections that aren’t there, but she reiterates that she had this dream for months, and it had the exact same Totems as the Settlement. Jim warns that previous attempts at trying to figure things out have ended in failure or death. Tabitha says those were different because they happened once they became trapped in the Township, but she had her dreams as a child before she ever arrived in the Township. Tabitha says she needs to find out what it means, and Jim agrees.

The Matthews and Jade arrive at the three red rocks. Ethan asks if they are the same as her dream, and Tabitha says everything is identical, including the feeling of fear. Tabitha retraces her steps in her dreams, but cannot remember what it was that was frightening her. Jim asks how this helps, while Jade remarks that maybe Tabitha was chosen and destined to arrive, like Miranda.^[27]

After they return to the Lius' Home, Jim finds Tabitha in the kitchen, and tells her that she is trying to make everything mean something, and to fix something that they cannot. Jim reveals that he took the phone off the wall because it rang and the voice on the other end called itself Thomas, shocking Tabitha. Jim says that something out there knows things about them and knows which buttons to push. The two are interrupted when Sara arrives with the news that Victor is in bad shape and only wants to talk to Tabitha.

Julie arrives home, and is greeted by her father, who asks her to look after Ethan while he takes care of something. Julie finds Ethan curled up, and offers to take him somewhere cool. In the Bar, Henry explains to Jade that Miranda had visions of the Township, and he wishes he had listened to her. He asks Jade why he thinks he will figure it out, when many smart people have tried, and Jade answers that he is smarter. Jim arrives, and orders Jade to stop encouraging Tabitha. Jim excoriates Jade for his narcissism, and tells him that he will not let Jade endanger his family. In turn, Jade tells Jim that he is the only one trying to solve the mysteries and it helps people. Jade walks out of the Bar, telling Jim that if he has a problem with what Tabitha is doing, he should talk to her.

Henry offers Jim some unsolicited advice, bluntly telling him to shut up and listen when he is with Tabitha. Jim is insulted, and Henry explains that he looks at Jim and sees himself 40 years prior, certain that he could fix his wife, never thinking that there was nothing actually wrong with her. Henry further tells him that while he may tell himself that he is doing everything for his family, but he is doing it for himself because he is scared. Henry says he is the only person in the Township who can tell him this and say with certainty that it is true. Jim grabs a seat and is offered a drink, but declines, explaining that he does not drink because his father was a drunk, and Henry admits his was too. Jim recalls that the night Julie was born, after Tabitha fell asleep he went to a nearby bar and asked for the tallest glass of whiskey the bartender could pour. He then stared at the drink for hours, promising to be a better father and husband. Henry then pours Jim a drink, and says he is giving Jim a chance to renew his vows.^[28]

After she has a seizure, Kristi looks over Julie in Ethan and Jim’s presence. Kristi observes no signs of trauma, which she declares a good sign, and Julie promises that she is fine. Kristi and Marielle ask for her to explain what happened, and Julie answers that she walked to the ruins, stepped inside and blacked out. Mari asks if she remembers anything else, and Julie says she had a weird dream. Kristi asks to keep her in the Clinic overnight before she and Mari leave the Matthews alone. Jim asks Julie what she was doing at the ruins. She begins to explain that she went there with Randall the previous day, Jim seems to grow angry, but they are interrupted by Tabitha’s arrival.

Jim goes downstairs and finds Randall, asking what he and Julie were doing in the woods. Randall is defensive, and Jim explains that he knows she is going through something after her shared ordeal with him and Mari, but she refuses to discuss it. Jim admits that he cannot understand, but figured that Randall might. Randall says he was teaching her how to drive when they ended up at the ruins. Randall confesses that even he cannot explain what happened, but he told Julie not to go to the ruins because they inexplicably felt wrong. As Jim leaves, Randall suggests he teach Julie to drive, because there is nothing they can do and none of them will escape alive. Jim retorts that he cannot accept that before leaving.

The Matthews stay in the Clinic overnight. Jim reports to Tabitha that the kids are asleep. Jim apologizes to Tabitha for his behavior and promises to support her in trying to figure out how to get home. The next day, the Matthews to to the Diner, now up and running again thanks to Bakta. Bakta praises Ethan for helping with the cleaning and organizing, telling him that he is welcome to help out anytime. Bakta explains that Kenny was very supportive, and she felt like people needed a place to feel normal after Tillie’s death.

As they eat, Ethan glumly picks at his food, saying he misses Tian-Chen’s pancakes before leaving for the bathroom. Julie tells her parents that he blames himself for what happened to her, because she brought him with her to the ruins, and asked him if she should enter them. Julie acknowledges it was a mistake, but explains that it felt like one of Ethan’s stories. She adds that Jim and Tabitha trying to pretend things are alright is only making things worse. Outside, Boyd and Donna assemble everyone. The Matthews join the crowd, and Boyd and Donna reveal that Fatima is missing, asking the crowd for help with the search. After Boyd gives an encouraging speech, the crowd agrees, and Boyd has them split up in pairs to cover more ground. Julie and Ethan both want to help, and Jim agrees to take Ethan while Tabitha takes Julie.

Ethan and Jim find the RV. The two go inside, and Jim says he wants to talk to Ethan. Jim reminds Ethan that he was injured in the crash when they arrived, and Jim blamed himself for the situation. Ethan says it was not his fault because he was scared and doing the best he could. Jim says that Ethan did the same when he told Julie to go into the ruins. Jim tells his son that there are things in the Township that want them to feel scared and blame themselves for things outside of their control. He reminds Ethan to remember that they are all doing their best, and what matters is that they take care of each other. The two express their love, but before they leave the voice on the radio claiming to be Thomas tries taunting them. Ethan tells his father that he was right about it not being his brother, and leads Jim out of the RV.^[29]

Jim and Ethan return to Town. As they return to the Lius’ Home, they are greeted by Victor, who says that Tabitha fell. Jim rushes inside and finds her in the kitchen. Tabitha explains that the child led her to the Root Cellar, where she found Victor blaming himself for her death. However, she then experienced Miranda’s memories, and it felt like Miranda was trying to tell her something. Jim goes to the Bar. He first apologizes for berating Jade the prior day, admitting that he was scared because there are things happening to his family that he does not know how to protect them from, but he thinks Jade might.

Tabitha finishes explaining how Miranda almost got to the Bottle Tree, but was attacked by a Creature. Jim notes that Jade has had visions previously, but Jade explains that he sees things that should not be there, like the Civil War Soldier. Jade asks Tabitha what Miranda was trying to tell her. As Tabitha admits she sounds crazy, Jade says she is not, and explains that according to thermodynamics, energy cannot be created or destroyed. He theorizes that the energy behaves in unique ways in the Township, and says that the Children appear to want her to see Miranda’s memories. He asks where she was when she saw the child, and she says near Victor’s truck.

Tabitha, Jim and Jade arrive at the Clairy’s Canned Goods Truck, and Jade explains that there may be a reason the Child appeared at the truck, and the Children are the one thread connecting all their experiences. He further explains how he saw them on altars underneath roots forming the Symbol. Tabitha says that Victor told her that the Children poured their hope into the roots which became the Bottle Tree. Jade shouts at the sky in frustration over the confusing messages. Jim asks if he feels better, and Jade admits he does not.

In the truck, Jade says that if the Children made the tree, then the numbers must also matter. Jim says that they do not even know who put them on the tree, and they could be some sort of delusion. Tabitha argues that Miranda knew they were important, as Miranda made a replica in her yard. Jim notes that the 2 and the 7 were backwards. As Jade rants about trying to solve the puzzle, Jim notes that there are 12 notes in a musical scale. Jade hails him as a genius, and tells Jim to find Miranda’s violin while he and Tabitha go to the Bar.

Jade and Tabitha try to figure out the order of the notes. Jim arrives with the violin as Jade places the notes in order. As he hums to himself, Jim asks what the tune is, and Jade explains that he heard the music as he looked at the notes. Jim warns that this may not be a good idea, reminding Jade that the Township might be manipulating him. Jade says it’s just music, but Jim points out that the Music Box nearly killed everyone. Tabitha agrees that they should not play the music in Town, and suggests playing the tune at the Bottle Tree.

At the Bottle Tree, Jade plays the violin. Tabitha sees the Ghoulish Children arriving, as does Jade, though Jim cannot see them. As Jade keeps playing, one Child approaches Tabitha. After Jade finishes the song, the child approaches Tabitha and tells her “anghkooey.” Tabitha realizes that the word means “remember.” Tabitha runs off, and when Jim asks what happened, Jade only says they used to sing them lullabies. Jim runs after Tabitha and begs her to talk to him. Tabitha explains that the reason she and Jade can see them is because they are reincarnations of Miranda and Christopher. The two are reincarnations of the people who tried to save the children from being sacrificed, as one of the children was their daughter. Jim is shocked, and Tabitha asks for some time. After she walks away, Jim goes to the overturned RV, reeling from the news, and begins sobbing.

However, he is interrupted by his daughter screaming for him. Julie, with much shorter hair and covered in blood, finds him and tells him to run. She says that this is where she needs to change the story. However, they are found by the Man in the Yellow Suit, who remarks that Jade is a good violin player. Jim orders Julie to run as the Man draws closer, saying that this did not have to happen, but knowledge comes with a cost. Jim confront the man, who grabs him by the throat. Julie tries to help but is pushed away by the Man, who turns back to Jim and tells him that his wife should not have dug the hole, echoing the voice Jim heard on the radio. The Man then rips Jim’s throat out as Julie screams in horror.^[30]

Trivia[]

Missing since: 2/20/2022, Last seen: traveling from Glendale, AZ toward Yellowstone National Park.

Appearances[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

Season Three[]

References[]

[:0-1] 1.0 ^1.1 A Rock and a Farway

[2] Long Day's Journey Into Night

[3] The Way Things Are Now

[4] Choosing Day

[5] Silhouettes

[6] Book 74

[7] All Good Things...

[8] Broken Windows, Open Doors

[9] Into The Woods

[10] Oh, the Places We'll Go

[11] Strangers in a Strange Land

[12] The Kindness of Strangers

[13] Tether

[14] This Way Gone

[15] Lullaby

[16] Pas de Deux

[17] Belly of the Beast

[18] Forest for the Trees

[19] Ball of Magic Fire

[20] Once Upon a Time?

[21] Shatter

[22] When We Go

[23] Mouse Trap

[24] There and Back Again

[25] The Light of Day

[26] Scar Tissue

[27] These Fragile Lives

[28] Thresholds

[29] Revelations: Chapter One

[30] Revelations: Chapter Two

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