By Blood

Mae pricks her finger and begins to speak about her connection to the Granter of Wishers, Chenor. She pleads with the Granter of Wishers, Chenor to let her stay with Suzanne, as her shrine continues to grow. Mae shares that she has been praying for guidance and strength for many years now, and that she believes that by staying with Suzanne, she will be able to receive strength from the Granter of Wishers.

Mae has been given a scholarship opportunity to leave and head to Fernwell in Vermont. She won’t be coming back to see Suzanne and she’ll be out of their lives. Although she’s leaving soon, Mae is still allowed to attend the Harvest Dance. ..

Dani’s big show is coming up and Mae is feeling a little anxious. She wants to look her best for the family photo, so she decides to wear Suzanne’s dress. As for Helen, she’s still trying to figure out what she wants in life and has been having second thoughts about breaking up with Teddy. She doesn’t really have feelings for him, but is still trying to figure out if this is the right decision. ..

Helen has two upcoming opportunities that she is excited about. The first is an unpaid internship that she has been accepted to. When her mother, Suzanne, finds out, she is delighted and supports her daughter. Helen points out that she hasn’t been around lately due to her daughter Mae’s presence, but Suzanne promises she will always be there for her. They give each other a big hug. ..

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that James has been lying to Lopez and he is definitely hiding something. Sheriff Wilkins is actually following him though, making the subject of this cult and Mae all the more difficult to resolve. ..

Peter begins his foray into the apartment complex by swallowing his pride and deciding to take on the job. It’s a step down, but it’s at least something to get him back on his feet.

Suzanne and Lopez head over to see Enoch and inform him that they’ve been looking through cold cases and appear to have a lead. They’re also discovered to have a cold case involving James Dressler with a fire over at a squat house near the Amon County Line. Interestingly, this actually coincides with the dates Mae mentioned. It was November 9th during the full moon. Suzanne has pulled some files and matched it up to James Dressler. This priest is the survivor from the fire and clearly lied to Lopez. In order to get answers, they decide to team up together and go talk to him.

That night, Mae heads out in Suzanne’s Harvest Dance dress and ends up going with Teddy as her date, much to the shock of Helen. Unfortunately another low blow comes from Peter, who finds out to his horror that his extension was never actually authorized and he’s being investigated for fraud. ..

Suzanne questions James about Enoch. When he tries to hurry through the back, Lopez is waiting for him. Finally, we get some answers. It turns out James was a “Lightbearer”, someone who set fires from fuel rendered from their pigs. The ritual went by the name of “Serving Our Lord” but it’s basically petty arson and crime disguised as faith.

Mae was adamant to take off the A from the back of Suzanne’s car because it indicated that something needed to be destroyed. Wilkins actually started the fire and left him for dead. James woke up in hospital with severe burns but managed to get away. It was a miracle he survived and as he woke up in hospital, they started calling him James so he adopted that name. ..

Mae’s pentagram is something that Malachi marked intentionally and as it’s her own daughter, it shows the community is desperate. To become the “Wife of the First Prophet” means that she’s marked for death. If we’re following the Mary Dodd story (which we are), she’s going to be burned alive. They align their rituals with the full moon, which happens to be this very night. That means Mae is in danger at the Harvest dance. ..

Suzanne races back, while Mae Dodd ends up winning Harvest Queen. Unfortunately, when she’s handed white roses it triggers memories from the past and she runs away.

Suzanne is on the road when a white van drives by her. She is cut but still alive, thankfully. Officers arrive at the scene and Suzanne quickly heads off to try and save Mae before she’s taken. Unfortunately, Mae has already gone by the time Suzanne shows up so she chooses to leave Jules stranded.

As for Peter, he’s questioned by the station about the fire until Lopez arrives and saves the day, pointing out about the accelerant being used is animal-based. Peter is free to go but that’s not the last of what’s happening. With Mae on the run, the girls confused and scared, not to mention the Dodd family ready to make their sacrifice, it all comes down to this final chapter.

The Episode Review

Mae’s role in all this is finally revealed and it’s shocking she’s on course to be burned alive as a sacrifice for better crops and salvation of Amon Town.

Suzanne’s stake in all this stems from her own abusive past, as we know. But in doing so, she’s also been neglecting her own daughters. Dani has had the short end of the stick here and given she’s a foster kid herself, she’s been side-lined for most of this season. I mean, this episode she spends the whole second half asleep on a chair in the police station! ..

In a dramatic conclusion, we’ll have to wait and see what direction this one is likely to take. Mae will be saved from the cult, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens next.