Channel Zero: Butcher’s Block Sets Up Its Finale with “The Pestilent God”

This season of Channel Zero: Butcher’s Block has been the (arguably) best and most consistent season of the series so far, and each episode has been better and wilder than the one before. We’re now firmly in the final act of the story, so, with only two episodes to go, let’s take a look at this week’s penultimate hour, “The Pestilent God.”

Because of her experience at the top of the stairs, last week’s episode saw Alice seemingly succumbing to the madness of the Peach family, despite Zoe’s subtle attempts to prevent that from happening, and “The Pestilent God” finally clues us in a bit more on what happened to Zoe between the ending of the season premiere when she met Joseph Peach and the next time she shows up on the scene. Holland Roden has been doing a really, really great job as Zoe throughout Butcher’s Block, and this episode gives her even more spot-on material with which to work.

The beginning of the season used a lot of imagery that I like to refer to as Hannibal-esque, and that imagery returns in a major way in “The Pestilent God” (particularly noticeable when Zoe first approaches the titular red door in the Peach household). This type of surreal imagery can often come across as cheesy or out-of-place if used in the wrong way (similar to a crutch used to enhance a product without the necessary setup), but Butcher’s Block uses it in the exact way that it should be used. Arkasha Stevenson has been on fire this season with her direction, and moments like this help show her skill in a very visible way.

I’ve mentioned it before, but Krisha Fairchild has really been growing on me all season, and “The Pestilent God” gives her a few scenes that turn Louise into one of the standout characters of the entire series (in particular, a monologue that she delivers while stitching features some of the best writing and acting ever on Channel Zero). It’s crazy to me the way that this cast has become my favorite so far after the weak start that I perceived there to be, but it goes to show how art such as this can never be judged accurately with just a small piece revealed.

I feel like I need to point out one more time just how elegant the horror in Butcher’s Block actually is. Channel Zero has always stood apart from everything else on television for a variety of reasons, but one of the biggest is the way that it delivers its story. This isn’t something that features a ton of jump scares, and it isn’t a show that frightens just by grossing out its audience. There is a method to all of the madness on Channel Zero, and it’s carried out in a very psychological and unnerving way. In a world of cheap thrills, it’s great to see a series that has such a strong commitment to its own terms.

The finale that’s set up in the end of this episode promises to be one of the more intriguing that the series has delivered so far, and it’s going to be incredibly fun to watch everything wrap up. Everything about the story that’s being told in Butcher’s Block has delivered, and I can’t wait to see what happens as we pound toward next week’s conclusion.

What did you think of this week’s new episode of Channel Zero: Butcher’s Block? Are you excited about next week’s finale? Share your thoughts in the comments down below!

Photo Credit: Syfy