‘Professor T’ Learns We’re All Going to Die in “Retreat”

This Halloween weekend, nothing terrifies Jasper more than suddenly realizing everyone in his life is vulnerable. The death of his mother, the incomparable Adelaide, triggers new OCD rituals at her gravesite, which he refuses to discuss with Helena or Aunt Zelda. He rebuffs their combined efforts to seek help from a specialist, even when it’s clear his hallucinations have returned.

Although this regression seriously hampers him, at the end of the third episode, “Retreat,” Jasper manages to explain to Helena that his new rituals stem from the depths of his feelings for her. It never occurred to Jasper that his mother would die; if she can die, then everyone he cares about is in danger. He’s trying to keep Helena safe the only way he knows how. When he finally expresses all this, he breaks through self-imposed barriers and takes the bold step of kissing Helena. For his efforts, he’s rewarded with reciprocation.

This story has supernatural flavors and a kind of spooky, magical vibe, but those mystical elements turn out to be induced by psychological manipulation, both internal and external. Jasper’s faith in the mundane world is tested by a spiritual guru whose welcoming demeanor disguises control, cruelty, and exploitation.