Them The Scare delivers a compelling follow-up to its first season with a tense conclusion that recontextualizes much of the earlier events. Set against the backdrop of the Rodney King incident in 1991, we follow Dawn Reeve, a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, who stumbles upon a chilling murder case.
As Dawn and her team search for answers, she uncovers not only deep secrets about herself and her connection to a supernatural force but also an alarming conspiracy within her department. This series of events ultimately places her in the crosshairs of a terrifying entity known as the Scare.
A chilling conspiracy unfolds as Dawn faces the darkness within her department (Photo: Them Season 2/Amazon Studios)The Scare and Its Connection to Edmund Gaines
As the season progresses, it becomes clear that Edmund Gaines isn’t the Scare itself, but a key figure entwined with the creature’s horrific influence. The Scare, a dark force that feeds off fear, is revealed to have manipulated Edmund’s trauma, shaping him into the monster that terrorizes others.
This reveals the core theme of Them: The Scare—trauma’s lingering effects and the brutal ways it shapes people’s lives. Through Edmund, the Scare’s monstrous nature is revealed, showing how it uses the pain of its victims to gain control over them.
The season’s conclusion sheds light on Edmund’s transformation into the Scare and the painful truths about Dawn and her family. It also connects the season to the first one, laying the groundwork for the potential of a third season.
The Scare’s True Nature and Its Influence on Edmund
The final episodes of Them: The Scare reveal that the Scare isn’t simply Edmund but a malevolent supernatural entity. This force feeds on fear to possess its victims, starting with Edmund, whose inner torment made him a vulnerable target.
The Scare takes root in Edmund’s psyche after a traumatic encounter with Dawn, pushing him into committing violent acts. The death of Donovan and Edmund’s eventual suicide show just how much control the Scare has gained.
The monster’s terrifying appearance, marked by its red hair, draws directly from Edmund’s traumatic memories of his childhood, symbolizing the connection between past pain and present violence.
The Connection Between Dawn and Edmund
In a shocking twist, Them: The Scare reveals that Dawn and Edmund are long-lost twins, separated at a young age due to the supernatural horrors that plagued their family. Their mother, Ruby Emroy, was unable to care for them, and they were placed in the hands of abusive figures like Bernice Mott.
Dawn’s eventual connection to Athena, Edmund’s foster mother, complicates matters, as Athena inadvertently contributes to Edmund’s eventual abandonment. The painful truth of their past reshapes Dawn’s understanding of her history and redefines her relationship with Athena.
This revelation also adds tragic depth to Edmund’s role, as his attempts to reconnect with his sister end in rejection, largely due to his unsettling demeanor, which only adds to the ongoing theme of unresolved trauma.
Dawn’s Victory Over the Scare: The Role of Love
After discovering the painful truth about her relationship with Edmund, Dawn faces the Scare in its most terrifying form: the Red-Haired Man. In this moment, Edmund, now fully possessed by the Scare, tries to convince Dawn to join him, threatening to turn them both into avatars of terror.
Uncovering secrets could cost Dawn more than just her career (Photo: Them Season 2/Amazon Studios)However, through her love for Edmund, Dawn can break through his supernatural influence. By acknowledging their sibling bond and expressing her regret for not recognizing him earlier, she effectively disarms the Scarecrow, allowing Edmund to make peace before his death.
This moment signifies a key theme of the season — that love and forgiveness are the ultimate forces capable of overcoming even the darkest of supernatural threats.
The Connection to Season 1 and Future Possibilities for Season 3
While Them: The Scare seems to stand on its own, it has strong ties to the first season. As Dawn uncovers her family’s past, the connection to Ruby Emroy, a key figure from Season 1, becomes apparent.
In the series finale, the return of Da Tap Dance Man, a sinister figure from the first season, reinforces the idea that the Emroy family’s struggle with evil is far from over.
This sets the stage for a potential Season 3, which could take the story into a new period while continuing the family’s fight against the supernatural forces tied to their history and the racial injustices that continue to haunt them.
