Dead End Paranormal Park Spoiler Recap: Night of the Living Kids
Dead End: Paranormal Park absolutely knocked “Night of the Living Kids” out of the park. It’s a perfect mix of emotionally messy storytelling with excellent horror elements and humor. While major questions weren’t quite answered, it does feel like we got some very important pieces of the overall mystery.
Over these last few recaps, I’ve been trying to figure out how the world and the lore work in this series. “Night of the Living Kids” gave me the best understanding of how things function as well as the growing importance of Pauline in the show.
I discussed in “Trust Me” how it stuck out to me that the other employees of Phoenix Park seemed to have no problem that they were hanging out with Courtney, a demon. She seemed like she was just another employee. Then in this episode, the picture becomes a bit clearer. Patrick and his friends call Courtney a “kid.” Is there some kind of hex on the parks where they perceive her as another human child? This clearly doesn’t work for the Night Hag who they can clearly see is a monster. There is also Patrick’s reaction to Pugsley. Barney, Norma, Badyah, and Logan accept that Pugsley is a talking dog with magic powers. It was never an inconvenience in the show thus far. But Patrick has the freaked-out reaction I was expecting in the second episode, “The Tunnel.” He screams at Pugsley though he eventually accepts the dog for this new norm.
It all strengthens my theory that when you work at Phoenix Parks, you become aware of the paranormal. It’s why Badyah wasn’t phased by the mascots coming to life in “The Tunnel” and why all the park workers get along fine with Courtney and Pugsley.
“Night of the Living Kids” also gives more weight to the growing mystery around Pauline Phoenix. The paranormal stuff in the park seems to be tied in with Pauline’s movies. In the first episode, “The Job,” the Pauline film Norma watches has dialogue that the eyes were the window to the soul. Not only did a photo capture Temeluchus’ soul through the eye of a camera lens, but there was a running bit in this episode as Courtney tries to gouge out Pugsley’s eyes to get to the demon king. Then, Pauline’s movie ‘The Night Hag’ actually has importance as the actual Night Hag is summoned as the monster of the week.
There are a few possible scenarios to explain this. The first is Pauline learned about the paranormal and used it as inspiration in her movies. The second is that Pauline is the cause of all the paranormal stuff and has contained it to the parks. Or it could also be a mix of both. It also makes me wonder if this is why Courtney is trapped here. Perhaps it was Pauline and not Temeluchus that tied Courtney to the park. Courtney might not even know the truth if that is the case.
There is also the discussion between Norma and Vince about Pauline’s stunt double, Barborah. I will say I got slightly spoiled looking up the spelling of the character’s name, so I am aware that something about her is coming up in a later episode. I bounced out of the Wikia super fast before reading more than that. But even if I hadn’t seen the summary of a future episode, “Night of the Living Kids” is very clearly setting up something around Barborah and Pauline. In an animated series like this, no second, frame, or moment is wasted. Every piece of information has a purpose meaning that Barborah will have some role to play in the Pauline saga.
While Temeluchus is a villain, I am beginning to believe that he’s not the Big Bad. Signs are pointing that it may be Pauline and everything in the series is tied to her.
Norma played a more supportive role in this episode, but I did enjoy seeing her bond with Patrick’s friend, Vince. “Trust Me” focused on Norma’s struggles connecting with other people. Now one episode later, she made a friend with a bit of a friendly rivalry. It was a huge step in the episode even though it was one of the smaller parts of “Night of the Living Kids.”
One element of Dead End: Paranormal Park that I’m really enjoying is the budding friendship of Pugsley and Courtney. They have a relationship that’s born out of need. Courtney needs Pugsley to get her home. He needs her to help him understand his new powers. They have this connection with the paranormal that Barney and Norma could never fully understand.
Through their interactions, Pugsley and Courtney are learning more about each other. In a really nice scene, I adored their conversation about dealing with homesickness. Courtney is aloof but her banishment from her home has truly affected her. She doesn’t seem to fully accept her life in Phoenix Parks. Sure, she’s comfortable, but it’s not home to her. Pugsley is in the same scenario. He’s happy with Barney, but it’s not home to him. Patrick’s arrival awoken a restlessness in Pugsley that he’s not used to. While short, their conversation felt like another brick in the growing foundation between these two.
I’m also adoring Pugsley’s growing autonomy outside of Barney. A lesser show would have left him as the cute comedic mascot. Dead End is better than that. Pugsley is starting to realize his own wants and needs. He doesn’t like feeling caught between supporting Barney and being away from Patrick and the rest of his family. It makes me wonder if we’ll reach a point in the series where Pugsley chooses, like Barney, to leave on his own. That would be emotionally devastating!
But Barney and Patrick’s relationship is the core of “Night of the Living Kids” as Barney’s actions in the first episode are coming back for him.
Something that Dead End does well is setting up scenarios that discuss the themes of the episode in an interesting way. “Night of the Living Kids” did this with the twist about the Night and Day Hags. First of all, I love their designs as well as they are actually sisters. It was framed in a way that mirrored Barney and Patrick’s conflict. This is a great method to help the characters get out of their own way to see their problems from another point of view. This was pivotal for Patrick to understand what his brother is going through.
There is one line of dialogue that stuck out to me that truly set up the drama that unraveled in this entry. It actually came from their mom right at the end. Barney’s mother states that Barney has run away from home before.
This has major implications for both brothers. For Patrick, his older brother has left once again. But it sounds like in the past, Barney always came home. This is the first time where Barney didn’t. There are probably some major abandonment issues for Patrick. For Barney, there is very real pain he’s been experiencing living at home. “Trust Me” explored some of his fear that while he loves his family, they do not defend him when he’s verbally attacked by his grandmother. This is scarring for anyone. It sounds like it has driven him away on more than one occasion.
What I like is neither Barney nor Patrick is right or wrong. It’s just emotionally messy. Both boys are valid in their feelings. I adore Patrick’s writing. It’s well done because he is a kid. It makes sense that he has a narrow view of a complicated issue. He misses his older brother and, like Pugsley, is getting caught in the conflict between Barney and their parents. It makes me think that Patrick might actually be the linchpin in this entire situation to get a somewhat peaceful resolution.
Barney is at an emotional crossroads. Just because he left doesn’t mean he doesn’t love his family. But they honestly hurt him which is not okay. He chose the road where he can be his own person even if it’s hard, scary, and there are freaking demons running around. That, to him, is far easier than suffering at home. His parents are going to have to work to get his trust back so he can feel safe again. It won’t be an overnight process, but at least he’s at Phoenix Park. That is the safety net he needs at this point in his life.
Finally for two little points, as someone who used to be a nanny, I totally feel Badyah and Logan’s exhaustion just dropping off the kids and getting out of there as fast as possible. Totally relatable. Also, I adore the little red worm demon. I don’t know his name. I love the running gag of opening the episodes with him. He’s my little Glup Shitto and I hope they never explain what he is. He’s just vibing and enjoying his life.
“Night of the Living Kids” was another stellar entry from Dead End: Paranormal Park. I have a tradition to rewatch the season one trailer to see what has and has not been covered yet. As of episode four, most of the shots have occurred up to this point. There’s a blue demon with great hair who is also in the opening credits that I’m excited to see what he’s all about. But outside of him, almost all the shots in the trailer have been accounted for. With six episodes left, I’m moving into the unknown which is very exciting.
