[Servant Review with Joe Lipsett] "Fallen" Ends Our Journey on a Bittersweet Note

Each week Terry and Joe review the latest episode of Apple TV’s Servant S4, alternating between our respective sites.

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Spoilers follow for Episode 4.10 “Fallen”

Episode 4.10 “Fallen”: Series finale. As the world crumbles, can anyone stop Leanne?

TERRY

When I pulled up the “Fallen” screener and opened my notes document, I had to pause for a moment. “This is the last time I’m going to watch a new episode of Servant,” I typed. And it filled me with so many emotions, Joe. 

We started this journey four years ago. Right before COVID hit. And it feels like a lifetime has happened in those intervening years for both of us. We’ve followed the mysteries, the religious allegories, the horror and these characters through so much that when it came time to hit play one last time…well, I had to pause and take a moment. 

“Fallen” opens where “Awake” ended, with Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) repeating her request to Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose). “You once told me you’d do anything for Jericho. Here’s your chance. Just say yes.” 

This time, The Lodge directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala frame the shot of Dorothy with a split diopter to show Sean (Toby Kebbell) standing silently to the side of her. We’ve been waiting to hear Dorothy’s reply and it takes the middle road: “I need a moment alone.” Julian (Rupert Grint) attempts to sway her by saying that Leanne could have hidden the baby in the house somewhere, to which both Leanne and Dorothy say “there’s no baby here.” And we see that the “Jericho” Leanne was holding is, in fact, the creepy-realistic doll. 

If “Awake” was Lauren Ambrose’s moment to shine, “Fallen” is a showcase for Nell Tiger Free’s more subtle and internal story to play out more physically. You mentioned you cried last episode, Joe, when Julian broke down. For me, it was the moment that Leanne decided she needed to end things that broke me. One of the prominent questions Servant has explored over the course of forty episodes is the nature of Leanne, our stand-in for The Fallen Angel herself. Is she evil? Is she good? And, vice versa, is the Church of Lesser Saints’ version of “God” good or evil? 

Last episode, you wrote that because this was an M. Night Shyamalan-produced series that you expected sacrifice and a happy-ish ending. And you were right in that Dorothy did sacrifice the idea of Jericho to finally let go and that, in a way, we got whatever amounts to “happy” in Servant. 

But I also think that series creator Tony Basgallop managed to paint what amounts to a similar (if less problematic) ending for Servant as Knock at the Cabin, albeit with a darker brush than I expected. I was right about the ceremonial dagger coming back into the picture and the moment that Leanne pleaded for Dorothy, I knew she’d eventually use it on herself. 

“You need me, Dorothy,” she begs. “I’ll be better, I promise.” 

And, Joe, it broke my heart. Because Leanne isn’t some malicious evil demon cast from Heaven into the fiery pits of hell. She is a young woman, orphaned and alone who wants nothing more than to be part of a family that loves and cares and, most importantly, appreciates her. It’s something that neither her parents nor her adopted parents in the Church gave her. 

Even though Dorothy tries to get through to her in the middle part of “Fallen”, I don’t think Leanne fully believes her. Dorothy tells her that giving Jericho back is the kindest thing anyone could have done for her. “You’re not evil.” But Leanne resists that, telling her, “you don’t know how bad I really am.” Then, Dorothy tries a different approach, asking Leanne whether she could forgive Dorothy, “a mother who killed her own child.” It seems like maybe that got through to Leanne initially, but she shrugs it away and tells her, “I’m too dangerous to be around.”

This should be a moment of epiphany and I think that if this were solely an M. Night narrative, things would play out differently. But Servant doesn’t allow Leanne to realize she’s just a sad, young woman who’s been given a power no mortal would be able to use appropriately. I think she leaves this world thinking she’s Capital E ‘Evil.’ 

And that devastated me, Joe. 

Even more than the Saint Maud-esqe self-immolation that sends her falling into fiery oblivion and recalls, in a way, Sigourney Weaver’s Christ-like pose falling into her own oblivion in Alien 3. 

It’s funny because “Fallen”’s narrative unfolds sort of like I expected (Dorothy turning down the offer, Leanne sacrificing herself with the ceremonial dagger), it still shocked me and surprised me by how bitter-sweet (emphasis mine) it ended up being. 

Did this ending work for you, Joe? Did Leanne’s ending work for you and/or affect you like it did me? Do you see this ending as happy-ish, like you predicted last week? And what do you think about the way it (didn’t) end Julian’s story? 

JOE

I’m torn, Terry. After four years and forty episodes, I went into “Fallen” with sky high expectations…and simultaneously no expectations at all. 

The reality is that there was no resolution to the series that would have entirely satisfied me. As we said a lot in the first few years of covering the show, Servant is something of a Lost-like series: a supernatural melodrama that offers plenty of mysteries, but is not-so-secretly far more interested in its characters.

I can’t help but anticipate the disappointment of viewers who wanted answers; they will undoubtedly be left wanting after this finale. There’s A LOT of uncertainty here, right down to the implications of what Julian is facing in the final moments after Officer Reyes (Victoria Cartegena) more or less confirms that he’s equivalent to the Jericho doll: an adult human who, like Reyes, died and was resurrected by the Church of Lesser Saints.

Aside from all of those unanswered questions and mysteries, though, “Fallen” is actually a great series capper for Servant. It offers a lot of catharsis for Leanne and Dorothy’s relationship, particularly that rain-soaked conversation on the roof, which is filled with apologies and emotion. 

Of course “Fallen” also continues to offer religious iconography, such as when Leanne dries Dorothy’s feet like Mary Magdalene and Dorothy kisses her head. 

And yes, Terry, that final fiery, horrifying image of a teen girl, engulfed in flames and falling through the floor to what should be death, but could just as easily be absolution or even resurrection. After all, Leanne’s body is never discovered.

At its core, “Fallen” is first and foremost about the Turners and laying to rest four years worth of struggle. There’s only one guest star: Tobe (Tony Revolori) who was *possibly* the only person to ever treat Leanne like a human being (ie: with kindness). I really loved how their single scene is tinged with a deep sense of pathos and melancholy as Leanne agrees to all of Tobe’s low-key date plans…knowing full well she won’t be around to keep it.

In some ways, Servant was always going to end like this. As the news stories on the TV kept reminding us (again, like Knock at the Cabin) the storm was continuing to build in apocalyptic intensity. Leanne admits she doesn’t know how to stop the cataclysmic events that she’s set in place, even after Dorothy forgives her, so we knew what had to come next.

The whole affair has a deep sense of resigned acceptance, right? As soon as Dorothy declines Leanne’s offer and dismisses Sean and Julian, the fight goes out of the teen girl. She cries, but only because Leanne has accepted that there’s nothing left in the Brownstone for her. We know what’s coming - martyrdom, self-sacrifice, and immolation (especially when Leanne reminds us of her own mother’s death in the fire) - but it feels inevitable. 

It’s sad. 
And depressing. 
And underwhelming, though not in an “unsatisfying bad way” like inferior finales. 

Instead “Fallen” reminds us how young and inexperienced Leanne was; she was too naive and innocent for this world. You’re not wrong, Terry: there’s absolutely a genuine sense of melancholy bitterness that Leanne dies believing that she is a monster and this was her deserved fate. 

At least we can take solace in the fact that before she goes, her surrogate mother ultimately forgives and loved her.

Back to you, Terry: do you think Dorothy came around to forgiveness too easily/quickly? Are you sad that Sean was effectively sidelined in this finale? What do you think about the Turners’ decision to move on and not rebuild the burnt-out Brownstone? What does the mural signify to you? And are there any outstanding mysteries that will plague you?

TERRY

Looking back on this season, it seemed as if Sean’s story had hit an impasse. There’s only so much you can do with a story set outside the house when Servant pretty much only exists within the framework of the Brownstone. 

This is a show that lives in the gray areas; the ambiguity has propelled us through forty episodes. To really dive into Sean’s Reality TV success would take away from the central drama unfolding within the crumbling house and it would have put a bit too fine a note on the whole Faustian bargain that’s been subtly explored across four seasons. 

For a while, the odd sexual tension between Leanne and Sean gave him something to do, which was replaced by taking care of Dorothy and attempting to limit the damage Leanne could do. But unfortunately for him, Servant was never really interested in Sean’s story. 

He began as an obstacle for Leanne; hence the initial tension of him losing his senses followed by the hand wound early on in the show. But as Leanne grew in power and, most importantly, confidence, he became less and less of a threat - and more of an annoyance - for her. 

It seems right, to me, that his role would be minimized this season and, honestly, it sometimes felt like Toby Kebbell had checked out (though maybe that’s not a fair assessment and maybe it’s simply because his role was reduced and he wasn’t given a whole lot to do). But I think it was purposeful, in order to address the literal and figurative “come to Jesus” moments between Leanne and her surrogate mother. 

If that drama and tension weren’t so good, I probably would mind more, Joe. But as it is, from a narrative perspective, Sean’s story had run its pace. 

Speaking of Dorothy, I do think her reconciliation with Leanne came a bit abruptly. When Servant’s showrunners talked initially about the show, they were anticipating a six season run, if I remember correctly. And while I’m not sure that six seasons would have been a good idea, I do think they had to condense the story a bit in order to finish it in four. 

So the reconciliation happened incredibly quickly, particularly since most of the show has centered around the men thinking how “fragile” Dorothy is (and, let’s not forget, Dorothy herself mentioned suicide by Hermès). Obviously, Servant could be making a point about how men overlook the strength of women, but the fact that the show doesn’t bring attention to this and never really cinches it tells me that Dorothy’s forgiveness had to be escalated. 

Since the first cracks appeared in the home, I’ve thought that the Brownstone would crumble and the Turners would leave it by the end of the show. It makes thematic sense, since the house is so ingrained in the fabric of the story and is a visual representation of how trapped the family has been since Jericho’s death. Hell, we’ve spent somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 hours inside the oppressive yet opulent home and I’m ready to say goodbye to it. It represents so much anger, hatred and pain that starting fresh somewhere else seemed to be the only way for them to move forward. 

As for lingering mysteries, none truly come to mind, Joe. I think Servant has effectively navigated the human story as well as the supernatural/mysterious one that I’m okay with not knowing everything. For a show shrouded in mystery from the shadow-drenched beginning, I’d almost be disappointed if it did try to wrap everything up in a neat little bow, a la LOST. It’s not the answers that are the most intriguing, but the journey along the way…as contrite as that might sound. 

Finally, Julian. If there were any parts of this finale that didn’t really work for me, it’s this, fourth-wall breaking moment when Julian looks at the mural that, through a window, reflects angel wings onto his back before he looks directly at us and says “Holy shit.” On one hand, I appreciated that it paid off Julian’s brush with death and gives him something of a send-off. 

But it also feels a bit silly and kind of cheapened the painful truths “Fallen” explored. Servant has historically meshed the camp/humor with the horror/emotion incredibly well that this feels like a misstep right at the end. 

I need to turn your questions back at you, Joe, because I’m also curious whether you were satisfied with the answers…are there any lingering mysteries you wish were answered? Did Servant’s final “gotcha!” moment with Julian work better for you than it did for me? And what do you think is next for Dorothy and Sean? Do you think they’re going to make it with this second chance at love?

JOE

Sadly I’m with you about Julian, Terry. I agree that it felt appropriate to address his near-death experience because it would have long lasting effects, but this moment, and even Reyes’ suggestion that he’s now involved with the CLS, felt too much like a wink that the story isn’t truly over or resolved. 

Servant has had its fair share of comedic episodes, characters and beats, but this felt…schlocky and less polished than what we’ve come to expect from the show. It was out of character and a bit of an uneven moment to end the series on.

When I posed the question about the mysteries, I was thinking principally about our frustrations with Roscoe (Phillip James Brannon), Julian’s investigator who turned against the family, joined the cult, then turned up as Uncle George (Boris McIver)’s lackey. I’ll never forget that moment when Roscoe shed tears in terror as he mentioned “Him” and how much digital ink we shed speculating about the encounter, Terry. 

To be clear: I don’t for an instant think this is a situation where seeing “Him” or getting clarity if this entity is a stand-in for God would satisfy us, but I’d be lying if I didn’t want more insight into the CLS. They have all of these members on hand to do their bidding, at any time, at any cost (move into an expensive Brownstone and threaten the Turners! Show up for dinner and deliver ominous boxes full of mysterious objects!) 

Sure we got plenty of video footage and Leanne elaborated on their practices, but specifically when it comes to people like Roscoe - individuals who were turned - I wondered what was involved and how it worked.

It’s small fries, though. As you suggested when you reflected on how Sean was used this season, Servant was pretty clear about what - and whose - story it was telling. 

These last four seasons have been a gift for you and I; an opportunity (excuse?) to flex our critical analysis skills in a way that few other series have managed since LOST went off the air. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved that we have a brand new season of Yellowjackets to help distract us from the massive hole Servant is about to leave in our lives.

But Servant was something special. It gave us so many iconic moments and seeing Lauren Ambrose and Nell Tiger Free go head to head each week was a goddamn delight.

As for your final question about what comes next for Sean and Dorothy: I like to think that these four seasons have brought the couple closer together. We saw it in the way Sean fought to win Dorothy’s approval back as she recuperated this season. We saw it in the way she begrudgingly came back around on his cooking, particularly after his admission that his love of cooking was intrinsically tied to his love of her.

And maybe they try to have another kid? Hopefully now that Dorothy knows the truth she gets a TON of therapy, but she and Sean are still young and they’re financially loaded  (to be blunt: between Gourmet Gauntlet going viral and the sob story about their house being destroyed in the storm, they would be flush with offers to keep their financial coffers overflowing). 

So yeah, in my fictional account of what comes next, Dorothy becomes the mother she always aspired to be and Sean is more present and involved in raising their second child.

And maybe, just maybe, once a year they’ll look behind them or steal a glance in a store window or look at the security camera footage of their house and see a dark haired girl watching them. Because Leanne is still out there…

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Servant has finished airing on Apple TV.