Who would have thought that having another baby would solve all your family issues. At least, that’s the case for the Phelps in Shining Vale. Pat’s attempted murder of her husband is in the rear-view mirror, and even the kids, though they still have their issues, are able to manage things themselves.
The cold opening of “What’s the Matter with Sandy?” sets the tone for the rest of the episode. There is a quick passage of time showing Pat’s pregnancy progress and book success. The scenes incorporate some naughtiness and dark humor seeing how close Pat and Terry have become with the frequency they make love. They borderline TMI levels as the dip in the bed springs goes lower and lower as the months progress indicating the growth of mom and baby. Yet the show maintains its horror edge with disturbing news lingering in the background.
Shining Vale is most fun when it embraces its outlandish side. Each member of the family gets into some silly shenanigans. Jake smokes weed with Fred as he obsesses over the landline telephone. Despite how sweet and innocent he is, it’s nice to see that he can do teenager things as well and not have to follow the rules all the time.
Gaynor has her own obsession and acts upon her lust towards the priest Ennio. She is once again becoming entangled with an overly religious person, but it’s also telling that her former neighbor’s concern to the Vatican was not only for the family’s haunted house, but for Gaynor herself. Even though she likes to think she’s the most normal Phelps, maybe she’s not as stable as she thinks.
That over-the-top humor can also be found around Terry and Pat. Pat’s novel has had an unintended effect on people causing its author to become infamous. The fanatical nature of her readers creates an uneasy feeling amidst all the comedy. She can’t escape the crazy even at home. When the baby begins acting up in the womb, Terry tries his best to comfort them. The moment embodies what the show is about. A sweet tender family scene with more disturbing undertones. The imprints on Pat’s stomach and the devilish sounds make you wonder if it’s not a monster in there.
Speaking of unsettling, Shining Vales proves it can generate big scares as well. Sure, how difficult is it to make an asylum frightening, but it’s the reveal that happens inside that is most impactful. Pat returns to read her files, which leads to her recorded session tapes. The glitches, grainy footage, and broody music paves the way to a potentially troubling discovery. It makes you question Pat’s previous actions last season and how much control she really had. The ambiguity will have you thinking, but it also brings things full circle to the series’ original premise and whether that much progress has been made.
“What’s the Matter with Sandy?” allows Shining Vale to let loose even more with outlandish humor with an edge while still maintaining the creepy factor.
New episodes of Shining Vale air Fridays on Starz.
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