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Jan 21, 2022 · Donkey: Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. With Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free, Rupert Grint. Three months after the attack, the Turners head down the shore. Left alone, Leanne has a more exciting day than she anticipated.
- (884)
- Drama, Horror, Mystery
- M. Night Shyamalan
- 2022-01-21
- Horror begins at home with M. Night Shyamalan at the helm.
- What we said about the first episode of Servant
- What's the best M. Night Shyamalan movie?
- The Best Performance in a TV Series in 2021
- Verdict
By Emma Fraser
Posted: Jan 21, 2022 3:00 pm
Servant Season 3 premieres on Apple TV+ on Jan. 21.
The Turner family is whole again in Apple TV+’s captivating thriller Servant, but danger lurks in every shadow and crevice of the Philadelphia townhouse. Executive producer M. Night Shyamalan set the tone when he directed the pilot episode and the Season 3 premiere marks his fourth time behind the camera on this series. It is a confident return that immediately elevates the threat level by combining paranoia-laced warnings with chilling imagery. More questions than answers are thrown into the mix, but the mood-setting “Donkey” is a strong start.
IGN's Matt Fowler gave the series premiere of Servant an 8/10, writing, "M. Night Shyamalan's Servant on Apple TV+ works wickedly well as a hyper-moody suspense piece. There's a chance it might all fall apart by the end, as this particular presentation, and vibe, might not work for a long-running series, but it starts off with enough of a sinister spine to spark interest."
While creator Tony Basgallop is still intent on keeping Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) in the dark about Jericho’s unusual resurrection, he did reveal a few nuggets regarding the Church of the Lesser Saints cult that took Leanne under their wing. The teenager’s arrival at the Turners was not sanctioned by the Church and defying their orders reflects Leanne’s power, or at least what is perceived to be capabilities that defy reason. Gifts from God (or someone else) are still a matter of speculation and her defiance at the end of the second season has been replaced by fear. Three months have passed and normalcy has resumed, but Shyamalan makes it clear this house is rotting from within.
In the previous two seasons, the small cast and reliance on the brownstone as the primary location has contributed to feelings of claustrophobia and a “horror begins at home” theme. Whenever someone travels beyond the street of the Turner residence, it is either via TV cameras for work or using FaceTime on the myriad Apple devices. The latter could come across as excessive product placement from the streamer, but the numerous iPhones and iPads fit the lifestyle and wealth of its characters. It is an effective approach to alienating characters and ramping up the tension, which continues in “Donkey” and adds to a heart-stopping sequence. It is a reminder of Shyamalan’s prowess in the thriller genre and his ability to transform the mundane into something terrifying.
The townhouse is an asset that goes beyond prime real estate and even after 20 episodes, there are unexplored crevices — or at least angles that haven’t been covered. Every inch of the luxurious floral wallpaper, expensive throws, and perfectly arranged toys highlights how Dorothy wants to be seen, but the sinkhole in the wine cellar is a stark reminder of the festering underbelly representing lies and dark forces swirling. The metaphor might be a little on the nose, but it also points to the perils of owning a home with Victorian-era plumbing. Moths escaping a crack in the wall are another unnerving addition, even if a logical explanation (albeit a disturbing one) is the source. Production designer Naaman Marshall has created a home that looks lived in and ready for an Architectural Digest magazine spread, while also giving the director a playground to ramp up the urban nightmare.
Creaking wooden floorboards, multiple levels (including the attic Leanne was locked in last season), and the bubbling sinkhole are design aspects that provide multiple options for Shyamalan’s roving camera. Extreme close-ups on Leanne’s face and feet during these heightened moments are part of the visual language first established by the director in the pilot, and our familiarity with these techniques doesn’t dampen their effectiveness. That’s particularly true when combined with Trevor Gureckis’ unsettling score, although the extreme food preparation close-ups have become a tad stale (pun intended).
The most compelling duo is still Nell Tiger Free and Lauren Ambrose as Leanne and Dorothy.
The Sixth Sense
Unbreakable
Signs
Split
The Village
Other -- let us know in the comments.
The writers do address Julian’s problematic romantic relationship with Leanne, which crossed a line at the end of Season 2, and while both characters were vulnerable in that scene, it didn’t make it any less uncomfortable. The jury is still out after the first outing, but the power imbalance feels less queasy in this episode. Thankfully, Sean’s affection for Leanne is purely platonic and Kebbell exhibits care in every interaction — while appearing like a man living on the edge of a life that could blow up at any moment.
Perceived and real threats are woven together, and the supernatural elements are still speculative. Every time it edges toward a concrete answer, something gets in the way, and while this is not a problem in the premiere, the second season stumbled thanks to pacing issues and contrived obstacles. Enough has changed in the interim that “Donkey” isn’t a case of repeating Season 1, and the prospect of a park location further adds to the unseen terrors hiding in plain sight.
“Donkey” is a strong start for the twisty Apple TV+ thriller.
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“Donkey” is a strong start for the twisty Apple TV+ thriller that utilizes the brownstone location to maximum effect. Executive producer M. Night Shyamalan shows his skills at transforming the mundane into an urban nightmare with another turn behind the camera. The Turners attempt to play happy family, but it is impossible to ignore the increasing ...
- Emma Fraser
Episode. 1. Air date. January 21, 2022 [1] Behind the scenes. "Donkey" is the twenty-first episode of Servant. It debuted on 21 January, 2022, on Apple TV+, as the first episode of season 3. Contents. 1 Plot. 2 Cast. 2.1 Starring. 2.2 Guest Starring. 2.3 Co-Starring. 3 Notes. Plot.
10 hours ago · The original Donkey Kong game will also make a return next month in the recently announced Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. It will join 12 other NES titles and will come with over 150 ...
Jan 21, 2022 · 21 January 2022 by Greg Wheeler. Donkey. Episode 1 of Servant Season 3 begins with Leanne awakening, clutching a dagger in her hands and praying hard. She’s still at the Turner house, and has been for the last 3 months. She’s worried that Aunt Josephine is going to return, while her empty journal serves as a reflection of her own emptiness inside.
Jan 21, 2022 · 'Servant' Season 3 Premiere Recap — Episode 1, Donkey. Home. Recaps. News. Servant Season 3 Premiere Recap: Did the Cult Come Crawling Back? Grade It! By Nick Caruso. January 21, 2022 4:00...
Feb 4, 2024 · The DKC series celebrates 30 years in 2024. by Liam Doolan Sat 3rd Feb 2024. Image: Nintendo. Nintendo seems to be slowly putting the spotlight back on Donkey Kong with a series of...
