Anatomy of Crystal Lake: Episode 8: The Final Chapter

 Bringing Friday The 13th to the small screen was seemingly a big risk. There has been skepticism that longform storytelling on a streaming service would not satisfy the longtime fans of the franchise. It is widely known that the majority of fans that have visited the movie theater for decades have done so to simply see Jason Voorhees stalk and kill. Period. However, having the opportunity to get to know Pamela Voorhees on a more personal level over eight episodes, witnessing her strong connection to Jason, has only deepened the lore of the first few Friday The 13th films. Possibly, this series has made Jason an even better character overall. Speaking of Jason Voorhees, we are finally introduced to the version of Jason that fans have been waiting to see for a great many years.

SPOILERS...

In Episode 8: The Final Chapter, after Pam finishes her story about her origins from the Bellflower company, Sheriff Levon Brooks takes Pamela to the police station while he tries to sort out the next steps to keep Pamela not only safe from Elias, but out of jail for the two murders (that he knows of) from the first episode. From here, the pace of the last episode picks up quickly as Elias appears in Crystal Lake.

At Judy's cafe in downtown, Elias enters asking for help finding where Pamela lives. He provides a skeptical story about who he is and how he knows Pam. Rita is apprehensive to give Elias the information, but Enos unwittingly gives Elias Pam's address, and he goes to find his estranged wife. After checking out Pamela's home and not finding her, Elias finds out that she knows the Sheriff and he proceeds to the police station.

It is at the police station that the audience may find themselves in more of a television show than a traditional Friday The 13th story, as we get a classic shootout, some funny humor from Dorf, and a truly great performance from Elias actor Hamish Linklater. 

Elias enters the building and explains to Levon that his wife and child went missing eight years ago. Levon, previously sending Pam and his sister Briana into the basement of the police station and knowing the truth already, leads Elias on, in hopes of getting him to leave. Elias knows something is not right and sends for his Bellflower goons to enter the station. With guns drawn, Elias insists that his Bellflower posse search the building in hopes of finding Pam. In fear that Levon will be killed, Pam emerges from the basement and surrenders herself, so no one gets hurt. After Elias and Pam embrace, Pam stabs Elias in the back with a knife and the posse subdues her.

All of a sudden, Dorf enters the station and a hilarious exchange takes place between actor Cameron Scoggins (as Dorf) and Hamish Linklater (as Elias). A Chinese throwing star is introduced once again, with one flying into one goon's eye, and a shootout begins. Multiple Bellflower goons are shot and killed, but Sheriff Brooks is also hit. An injured Elias and the last two goons flee with Pamela while Dorf tends to the Sheriff. Dorf and Brooks have a great exchange where they both share admiration for each other and hopefully, we see more of them together working the streets of Crystal Lake.

The final scenes of Crystal Lake Season 1 will surely make every fan who has invested time in the show happy! 

As Pamela is driven out of Crystal Lake, an ominous figure stands in the middle of road....it is Jason! He is much taller now, close to being an adult. His appearance is almost the same as in Friday The 13th Part 2, wearing a sack over his head (The same sack Pamela packed with food and other items and brought into Jason's shack in Episode 6). His clothing is a bit different but gives off the same vibe.

The car veers off of the road and Pamela jumps out. The two Bellflower goons and Elias jump out in pursuit on foot. Here, we witness some great Friday The 13th fun as Jason stalks the two goons, complete with classic POV shots and Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma sounds. Jason obliterates the first goon with a giant log and splits his head in half. He then runs quickly towards the other goon and bludgeons him with the same log. This leaves Elias searching for Pamela and happens across Jason's shack that was highlighted in earlier episodes. There he finds Pam sitting and probably waiting for Jason.

Elias implores Pam to come back with him, and suddenly Jason appears outside the door of the shack. Pam is elated and Elias is stunned at the height of Jason. Elias consoles Jason and takes the sack off of his head. As Elias tries to convince Jason to leave with him, his son reaches his hands up to Elias's face and begins to caress him. Suddenly Jason's grip tightens and he crushes Elias's head, complete with eyeball pop.

Pam is happy Elias is dead but concerned that her son just committed such a horrible act. Jason picks up the sack and puts it back over his head. He then moves closer to Pam in a threatening manner. Terrified, she backs away and pleads with Jason to not hurt her and that she loves him. Jason then grabs a hold of Pam's neck and begins choking the life out of her. He is angry that Pam let him drown again as she promised she would never let anything bad happen to him. 

Jason begins sifting through all of his good memories growing up with Pam and how she did love and care for him. He releases Pam from his grip and the two gaze at each other briefly. Suddenly, a gunshot is heard, and Jason is struck in the head with a bullet. It is then revealed the Ralph shot Jason and attempts to finish him off, but Pam intervenes and does not allow Ralph another shot. The pair then realize Jason has fled and then actress Linda Cardelini goes full Pamela Voorhees as she declares in jubilation that no one can hurt her boy anymore and that everyone better stay away from the lake and the camp. "These woods are ours now."

The episode concludes with the classic campfire scene where Steve Christie tells the legend of Jason Voorhees. As the frightened teens look around at each other, they hear a noise in the woods and the frame fades to black with credits.