Is this the end for Syfy’s Chucky? Everything is coming up roses for our favorite killer doll, but his new start could be the end of our dynamic trio’s story. “Final Destination” wrapped up Chucky’s time at The White House in a fiery and blood-filled explosion. However, the Season 3 finale also felt like an ending of sorts to the series. Sure, there’s an ominous cliffhanger for the fates of our heroes, but if the series were to end now, “Final Destination” wrapped up everything to have Chucky on top. But was it a satisfying ending?
“Final Destination” picked up right where “There Will Be Blood” left off as Jake heads into the afterlife. We’ve discussed previously how confusing it was why Lexy was so dead-set on finding Caroline. Don’t get me wrong, she wants to protect her sister, but let’s not forget Caroline chose to leave with Chucky. Caroline is a villain! So, it was unnecessary for Jake to head into the afterlife to get Caroline’s whereabouts and kill Chucky. We knew exactly how that storyline would end and the betrayal coming Lexy’s way.
Giving up the Chucky ghost
The afterlife at The White House was an interesting set piece for Chucky. Everything seemed so outlandish and off-kilter enough to make you feel uneasy. Starting the plot with the re-emergence of Jake’s dad was a nice surprise to wrap up his past. Much of his dad’s actions affected Jake’s life and led to a lot of the chaos that started in Chucky Season 1. This iteration is my least favorite of Devon Sawa’s characters during Chucky; the dad was always so rude and cruel in everything he did. But “Final Destination” helped give him some redemption through Jake’s development.
Jake forgiving his dad showed how much he has grown as a person, both in accepting his life and accepting who he is as a person. His father doesn’t deserve any forgiveness for his cruel behavior – it’s Jake who came out as the bigger person here. Jake deserves a lot of kudos for finding the strength to move on from the past and find solace within himself. Their reunion throughout the afterlife closed many wounds, and if Chucky does return for another season, this move gave Jake plenty of strong character development.
One of the strongest aspects of the afterlife was all the references to the Child’s Play movies and Chucky TV series. Chucky isn’t one to shy away from what came before, so it was a nice love letter to the franchise as a whole. This design choice further supports my theory above about them covering their bases if this is the series finale. For example, the movie clips of Chucky’s first death as a human, his many iterations, and a selection of iconic kills from the projector. “Final Destination” wanted to take us on a trip that covered the entirety of the journey; a sweet send-off for all the fans who got them there.
Though, tying this projection room into Jake’s mission to get Good Chucky to sacrifice himself added to the confusion of this plot. This storyline was a mix of filler and convoluted plots. This entire section should’ve been shifted earlier, potentially the penultimate episode, instead of the season finale. Did anyone think that his plan was going to work? It seemed like a stretch because the trio tends to rush into things and Chucky always slips out two steps ahead. For example, Chucky using the opportunity to slip into Jake’s “dead” body while he’s in the afterlife. Jake should’ve left Chucky alone; they would’ve won if they had done nothing.
Burning down the house
The happiest moment during Chucky’s Season 3 finale came during Pryce’s death. Who else cheered when he burned up? Sure, Chucky wasn’t the one who delivered the final blow, but it was a satisfying kill nonetheless. His death is all from his due karma. Burning down The White House and trying to kill everyone was a lofty goal that added to his chaos. Even if he was successful in burning everything down, he would never truly escape the cover-up plan. Pryce’s actions and schemes caused the deaths of countless people. Grant getting the upper hand and defeating Pryce was a greater victory than defeating Chucky in the group’s previous battle. Pryce got what was coming to him!
On the other hand, Tiffany escaping prison was so fun and campy. Her days seemed numbered, but only Tiffany could escape death yet again in a truly glamorous way. The prison riot provided an entertaining backdrop for Jennifer Tilly (who plays Tiffany) to soak up the screen and have a blast. You could tell that Chucky wanted to go all-out for this set piece, from the flaming toilet paper to the prisoners escaping. If Tiffany Valentine was going to evade execution, she would do it in true Tiffany style.
A twist no one saw coming
Now for the big twists of the night: first, will the trio be freed from their puppet prisons? Lexy, Jake, and Devon were trapped into dolls by Chucky, Caroline, and the creator of the Good Guy dolls. And let’s not forget that Nica was attacked (killed?) when she discovered the dolls. It’s a horrifying end for our favorite trio after a slew of pain and chaos that was sent their way. The 3D special effects of the faces on the dolls weren’t the best as they looked off and cheesy. However, the treatment added to the strangeness of the twist, and the terror of discovering the kids trapped in the dolls. Unless someone like Andy or Grant releases them, the kids will be stuck in dolls forever.
The second big twist was Tiffany’s return to doll form. This ending was a sweet conclusion to the Chucky and Tiffany romance storyline. The pair has gone through so much since Bride of Chucky, and while they’re a pretty toxic couple, they’re also perfect for each other. Driving off into the night together is a beautiful ending for them and a fresh start for whatever carnage they cause along the way. Plus, with Caroline by their side, they’ll have the dysfunctional family they always wanted.
“Final Destination” provided a decent finale to Chucky Season 3 and potentially to the series as a whole. The White House storyline ended in pure Chucky chaos with plenty of new victims to the body count. If Chucky does end here, we’ll have one of the few rare cases where the villains finish on top and the heroes lose the war. It’s a surprising finale that made us want more … but not always in the way we wanted.
Chucky is available now to stream on Peaco*ck.
Images courtesy of SyFy
REVIEW RATING
- Chucky Season 3 Finale - 6/10
6/10
