Before Episode 4 Review
Apple TV+‘s latest psychological thriller, Before, has captivated audiences with its chilling narrative. Starring Billy Crystal, this series also brings in elements of horror, making for an unsettling viewing experience.
Despite some minor missteps, Before delivers a gripping storyline that keeps viewers on edge. The complex doctor-patient dynamic between Eli and Noah has been a focal point, with Eli determined to unravel the mysteries surrounding the young boy’s condition.
However, Eli’s own dark past looms large, as he’s haunted by the ghost of his deceased wife, Lynn. The circumstances surrounding her death remain somewhat mystery, with hints of Eli’s potential involvement.
As the suspense builds, Before Episode 4 promises to reveal more. With plenty of unanswered questions still lingering, we dive into our review of the latest installment.
Eli Begins to Spiral as the Mystery Continues
Before Episode 4 begins with a therapy session as Eli attempts to help Noah, handing him a pen and asking him to draw. However, the moment Eli leaves the room, Noah is missing as he now frantically looks around for the kid, knowing he could harm anyone with the pen. Even in this brief opening scene, you will find yourself waiting for a jumps care.
After Eli finds Noah, the kid refuses to hand over the pen, claiming he doesn’t have one. In addition, Noah also tells Eli that Eli is scared, but the psychologist is quick to deny it. Later, Eli finds himself fixing a leak in his home, in the same bathroom where his wife was found dead, after which he is visited by his daughter and granddaughter and spends time with the latter.
Time and again we have learned that Eli is a skeptic and the only thing he believes in is science, especially when he pays a visit to the church to learn more about Noah, and his granddaughter, Sophie, tries to convince Eli that his dead wife is still around.
A large chunk of the episode appeared to use scare tactics instead of actually helping the narrative move forward.
While Eli continues seeing his dead wife everywhere he goes, and also learns a little about her days before she was found dead, Noah struggles at the hospital where the staff attempts to take the pen from him. Yet, this whole time, the two protagonists appear to be connected in some way, which has been hinted at several times in the series.
Eli eventually gets his hands on Lynn’s last drawing, which has some similarities to Noah’s drawings. Frankly, Before Episode 4 gives us little to no answers, and felt like more like a filler episode, if anything.
Despite that, because we want to know what the whole thing is all about, this Apple TV+s series continues to pique our interest.
Conclusion
The connection between Eli and Noah is a mystery that will unfold in the rest of the series, but until then, we must stick around and deal with the cheesy scare tactics. Do keep an eye out for our review of the next episode, next week!
