Don Mancini’s enduring creativity is the reason Chucky is still a household name 36 years later. With this third season, he pushes the boundaries of what Chucky can accomplish – sending the titular serial killer into the White House for a fun, refreshing and oh so bloody rampage.
At first glance, this season’s pivot in setting looked to be too much of a departure. The first two episodes spend so much time introducing and setting up the personalities within the White House that it feels like our existing characters, Chucky included, are shunned. Chucky is around of course, but he’s not very active, and so the campy, creepy vibe of the series is severely lacking. The slow, mediocre start is short lived, and the atmosphere we were expecting is revived and bought to life from the third episode and carried through to the end. The concoction of quirky madness, wild violence, insane humour and crazy storytelling is a delicate blend that only Mancini could possibly perfect. The series regularly goes from a bloody rampage to dropping classic one-liners in a manner as smooth as only Chucky can. Adding to the blend in this season is the heightened supernatural presence. It delves deeper into the supernatural than ever before, a very welcome update to the lore. Yes, supernatural possession has been present since the original film, but there’s things done here that up the stakes and take it to the next level.
One thing that’s evident throughout the season, especially in the latter half, is that Don Mancini is having a blast with the creative freedom he’s been granted. As a result, the situations our heroes and Chucky are put through are wild beyond imagination. You couldn’t expect half of what transpires, and that’s what makes it all so damn fun and enjoyable. As much as Mancini has fun with the story, he does a great job at sticking to the franchise’s horror roots. There’s some key sections where he lets the thrills take over and inject a healthy dose of chills. Whether you’re a Chucky fan who loves the horror or comes around for the comedy, you can rest assured knowing the series still hits both sides.
As far as developing character arcs goes, speaking specifically on our returning characters, this season feels like a bit of an intermission in their journeys. While I love the narrative and how it deals with Chucky’s journey specifically, I can’t help but notice that this season seems like it was used to set up a larger story for our returning cast down the line. There’s not a tonne of movement with the arcs of Tiffany, Nica or even our lead trio. A lot happens over the course of the 8 episodes, but looking back, the biggest characters don’t really make too much progression on their arcs. Nica and Tiffany especially feel very sidelined, and even our core trio merely seem to be retreading the same steps of hunting Chucky. Don’t get me wrong, I loved almost everything we got from these characters, but it all seemed to be working towards setting up a future narrative that would be more exciting. And with how the finale goes down, it seems like the next story in the lineup is going to be ripe with insanity.
When it comes to standout performances, this season is noticeably lacking due to the limited focus so many of our returning cast receive. From Jennifer Tilly (Tiffany) to Zackary Arthur (Jake), they’re good performances, but they just weren’t put in situations that tested them beyond what we’ve seen of them in seasons passed. On the other end of the spectrum, this may be the best Brad Dourif has ever been as Chucky. We know he’s never lost his grasp on the character, but he’s given the opportunity to do something very different in this season. I can’t get into specifics due to spoilers, but he absolutely nails the maniacal mayhem and quick-witted comedy that has made the character such a blast to watch. A new addition that made his mark is Gil Bellows, who plays CIA agent Warren Pryce. He’s a breath of fresh air, playing a type of character we’ve not really seen before who complicates the season’s narrative in many ways. He dips into his years of acting prowess to deliver a strong, serious performance that also taps into the camp when required.
One newcomer who didn’t make his mark is Jackson Kelly as Grant. The character itself was a frustrating one to follow. He’s not really a likeable kid from the get-go and I struggled to sympathise with him despite what he’s going through. As a result, it made it hard for Kelly to make an impact on the season as his presence was met more with mediocrity than intrigue. Lastly, it’s not a season of Chucky if I’m not highlighting Devon Sawa, who returns as a new character for the fourth time in the series – President Collins. His ability to transform time and time again, adopting a unique personality that brings something new to the series, is one of the reasons I keep coming back for more. As much as Chucky is Don Mancini and Brad Dourif, I feel like this stint on TV has bought Sawa into the fold as an essential regular.
In the end, Chucky’s third outing is nothing short of the quality we have come to expect from the mind of Don Mancini. This arc may feel like a sidetrack for many of our returning characters, and the initial location shift can be tonally jarring, but the essence of the show is never lost. It’s bold, bloody and wonderfully comedic at all the right moments. It features some of the all-time best Chucky kills and a deeper dive into the franchise’s supernatural elements. Better yet, it ends in a manner that has me all the more excited for where things could go.
9/10
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