Outcast Season 1 Episode 5: “The Road Before Us” Recap & Discussion

The jigsaw puzzle behind Outcast added a few important pieces in Episode 5. Shifting its focus to Kyle’s estranged family, Reverend Anderson’s past exorcisms, and the relationships between ‘demonic’ entities helped contextualize the plot. The episode opens with Kyle and the Rev making another house call – this time to see Sherry, a girl who Reverend Anderson once ‘exorcised.’ Her father informs them she ran off and Kyle suspects she’s probably still possessed.

Kyle and The Rev make another house call to pet show owner Brian. Suspecting he’s possessed and desperate for answers he attacks Brian, who chases him and the Rev out with a shotgun. Mark tells Chief Giles about the DNA sample match from the burned trailer in the woods – it belongs to a woman who was reported missing. Despite Mark’s progress in the case Chief Giles still insists he handle it.

As we mentioned before, the meat of the episode lies in Kyle’s family drama. Worried his estranged wife Allison is still possessed, Kyle shows up unannounced at her house and his daughter Amber (who resents Allison) runs out and begs him to take her. Allison wants nothing to do with Kyle and tries to get back inside when he grabs her and accidentally burns her wrist. They lock themselves inside while Kyle’s worst fears have been realized: Allison’s still possessed and their daughter’s in danger.

Inside, Allison experiences a traumatic flashback of when she was admitted to the hospital following her possession episode. Her memory of the event is gone but based on her bruises the nurses and police tell her it was Kyle who did that to her. She’s in disbelief. This episode also opened a window into the relationships between demonic entities. In this case, Sidney and Mildred meet for the first time as their human hosts. The entity in Mildred fears her host won’t make it to The Merge so she tires sucking the soul out of Sidney. He pushes her off and wishes her luck.

That night Reverend Anderson and Kyle investigate Sherry’s whereabouts. After asking around they miraculously locate her in an abandoned train station. Kyle’s touch burns her and she reveals the entities need his light and they see him “through the veil.” Kyle grabs her and they both begin levitating. The entity exits her and engulfs Kyle, who’s suspended mid-air. He somehow escapes it and they both collapse on the ground. Kyle and the Rev take her to a nearby hospital.

The Reverend prays for Sherry at her bedside but Kyle questions its worth and suggests his God is laughing at him. Kyle returns home to find Allison sitting on his porch. Desperately wanting to return to their glory days she kisses him and Kyle notices his touch no longer affects her. She begs him to tell her what happened that night she was possessed but he refuses to answer and she leaves.

What did YOU think of the episode?? Should Kyle tell Allison the truth? Will Reverend Anderson lose his faith? And will Mildred make it to The Merge?? Tell us in the comments below!

(Saving you a Shazam: that amazing dark version of “Sunshine” is by .alone).