Ep 3. Head Games

After discovering a mysterious key that leads to a shadowy realm, the Locke family is more curious than ever about the strange properties of their ancestral home and the hidden secrets within it. In episode 3 of Locke & Key, titled "Head Games," the focus shifts to the mental and emotional states of the Locke siblings as they continue to navigate the mythical keys and their own personal struggles.

The episode opens with Kinsey Locke (Emilia Jones) struggling to cope with the aftermath of her trauma from the previous episode. She is haunted by the memory of her attack and her fear only worsens as she begins to see the darkness that lurks within the key that she discovered. Meanwhile, older brother Tyler (Connor Jessup) is grappling with his own guilt over a recent incident and feeling increasingly isolated from both his family and his peers.

As the siblings try to cope with their individual issues, the family's matriarch Nina (Darby Stanchfield) begins to delve deeper into the secrets of their home, leading her to uncover a shocking discovery about the previous generation of Lockes and their connection to the keys. As she delves deeper into the family's past, she begins to understand the true danger that lies within the house and the consequences of keeping the secrets hidden.

As Tyler and Kinsey try to work through their struggles, they are drawn into a dangerous game of mental manipulation when they discover one of the keys can be used to extract and enter someone's mind. When a classmate of Tyler's becomes a victim of a psychological attack, he and Kinsey must work together to figure out who is behind it and how to stop them. This leads to some of the most visually interesting sequences in the show yet, as the siblings dive into each other's minds and explore the inner workings of their psyches and deepest desires.

While the plot of "Head Games" is gripping, what really makes this episode shine is its focus on character development. The show does an excellent job of exploring the emotional depth of its young protagonists, particularly highlighting the toll that trauma and grief take on the teenage mind. Jones and Jessup give raw, powerful performances as two siblings who are struggling to hold themselves – and their family – together in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Overall, "Head Games" is a standout episode of Locke & Key that sets up some major storylines and emotional arcs for the rest of the series. Its deft handling of both the fantastical and the human makes it a must-watch for fans of the show and newcomers alike.