Spoiler Warning: Apple TV’s Servant
Apple TV’s psychological thriller Servant has been lighting up television screens for three complete seasons since its debut. Set in the Turner’s upscale Philadelphia townhouse, Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) and Sean (Toby Kebbell) have a complex relationship for most of season three. While Sean’s career as an upscale chief opens up endless opportunities, Dorothy finds herself at home caring for baby Jericho (who is not really the couple’s baby).
In shifting the dynamic between the two, we see Sean regain the confidence back that he lost following the death of his son. Meanwhile, Dorothy was once a force viewers looked up to – as a superwoman who would do anything to keep herself at the top of her profession. Even if that meant mentally or verbally hurting her counterparts. Now, she struggles to find common ground with Sean’s success, the increasing conflict in living with Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) full time, and losing credibility as a newscaster after an on-air mishap.
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With the final season (season four) scheduled to air sometime in early 2023, it would be a shame if we didn’t reflect on the most shocking moments that defined how amazing season three was. Below are some of the most unexpected moments from Servant’s third installment.
Leanne Grows Closer to the Group in the Park
Apple TV+
For the first couple of episodes in season three, viewers see Leanne’s suspicions of the group of homeless people who are also living in the park. Out of fear that they are associated with the cult she escaped last season, Leanne warns Sean and Dorothy that the cult may be cultivating a plan to return and take back the baby that everyone believes to be Jericho away for good. Although we initially see the group standing in front of Leanne’s bedroom window at night, appearing to be an apparent threat, they are later revealed as former cult members (just like Leanne). It isn’t until the former members save Leanne from an attack by the cult while at the street carnival that this information is revealed.
Throughout the final episodes of season three, Leanne grows closer to the group, going out to visit them in the park during the day. From their interactions, Leanne is treated as a savior by the members. They’re in awe of her, giving off sort of a cult vibe, possibly because of the supernatural powers she possesses.
The Shooting on Live Television
Apple TV
As Leanne makes a new friend in Dorothy’s commentator rival, Isabelle (Molly Griggs), she begins to appear more and more in some sort of underhanded scheme to grow closer to Leanne and tarnish the reputation of Dorothy. In the episode titled “Donut,” Leanne is sitting in the park, crying after a tense exchange with Dorothy. Isabelle, who is jogging through the park, comes in to console Leanne, also revealing that Dorothy used to make her cry as well in her early days of working at the television station together.
While Leanne believes that Isabelle genuinely wants to be her friend in the beginning. However, she later finds out that Isabelle really just wants to get as much dirt as she can on Dorothy. Later in the night, Isabelle is on live television reporting the active shooting that is taking place in the area. With Dorothy, Sean, Leanne, and the rest of the family watching the situation unfold, in the living room, Leanne supernaturally causes a bullet to strike Isabelle in the head while on the air.
Dorothy’s Diagnosis
In episode nine, “Commitment,” we see Dorothy reach out to her dad in an attempt to get Leanne out of the family’s life for good. While Sean makes it clear to Dorothy that he is not on board with her plan to kick Leanne out of the home, Dorothy feels isolated in the space due to her supernatural abilities, paired with the power she has over Sean and Julian (Rupert Grint).
By the ending of episode nine, Dorothy’s father Frank (Todd Waring) calls in his friend, who is also a psychologist, to secretly evaluate Dorothy, making it known to the rest of the family that Dorothy’s mental state is extremely alarming. Her obsession with Leanne is said to be impacting her rational thinking, and her only choice is to either be admitted to a mental facility or be treated at home, under close observation.
Season three brought tremendous excitement, moments of shock and awe, along with much-needed clarification as it pertains to the development of character backstory. Compared to seasons one and two, three has surely kept long-time fans of the series on the edge of their seats. However, without the perfectly constructed groundwork laid in introducing these characters from prior seasons, the context from three wouldn’t have landed as well with audience members.
