DISCLAIMER: This recap of SurrealEstate Season 2 Episode 9, “Dearly Departed,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
“I gave you all I got to give; I know that ain’t no way to live…”
Listen, this week’s penultimate episode of SurrealEstate is a lovely little Wynonna Earp reunion, and I’m here for it. Melanie Scrofano returns to helm the outing as Director Extraordinaire. Varun Saranga guest stars and has a few scenes with Tim Rozon. Not to mention, Savannah Basley also has Earp ties (as Cleo Clanton), as does Patrick Kwok-Choon (as Perry Crofte). All the Earp, please, and thank you.
“Dearly Departed” is a delight, leaning into the more somber side of SurrealEstate while retaining its inherent campiness. Varun’s performance certainly plays into the comedy; later, he mines the depths for some beautiful, vulnerable moments. Plus, we get plenty of movement regarding Susan as the gang prepares to save her. That cliffhanger is as exciting as it is unexpected. Bring on the season finale.
Ready to delve into “Dearly Departed”? Let’s get to it.
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The Luke Tingle Is Back, Baby!
We open with Luke (Rozon) standing outside while on the phone. He reveals that Zooey is at the hospital following her scuffle with Susan’s deadly house. Luke encounters Anya (Maddie Hemeon) outside the hospital, a young girl looking for her mother. We learn Anya actually died in a car accident. She laments being invisible to the world around her. I love Luke’s realization that she’s a ghost — it’s beautifully layered and understated. Luke gently encourages Anya to cross over, literally, to the other side. There’s nothing left for her on Earth.
Even though she and her mom argued before the accident, Luke reassures Anya that her mother loves her. She would want what’s best for her daughter. After Anya crosses the street and vanishes, finally at peace, it dawns on Luke that his powers are back in full force.
The Invisible Man
Meanwhile, Zayan (Saranga) wakes up that night from noises emanating from the bottom floor of his house. He grabs a bat and descends the stairs, hurling threats at the potential interloper. He discovers his wife, Joiti (Sugenja Sri), and her new boyfriend, Nasir (Daniel Malik), in full-on cuddle mode on the couch. However, neither of them can see Zayan. He even drops his bat. Of course, the couple spots the bat on the floor, but no Zayan.
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It hasn’t quite hit Zayan that he’s dead; however, the puzzle pieces are slowly falling into place. Zayan looks at the mantle and notices only photos of Joiti and Nasir — he’s nowhere to be found. This becomes apparent when he realizes he has no reflection as he passes a mirror. Joiti and Nasir discover a shattered picture of them on the floor, courtesy of the invisible Zayan. Perhaps it’s time to call The Roman Agency…
Luke chats with Phil (Adam Korson) about Zooey’s condition. She’s healing, but she’s understandably pissed. Luke asks Phil to do some digging into Susan’s house. Look at bank records, previous owners, etc. He informs Phil that his “Luke Tingle” is back (not in those words, though). Luke knows Susan is becoming part of this house. They must save her before she’s lost forever.
Selling Houses and Confronting Them
Next, Joiti discusses her house with Lomax (Elena Juatco). She wants to sell it. Joiti tells Lomax that her late husband pretty much designed everything. As Zayan sits beside her, Joiti reveals how he died: a heart condition. She hopes to move on with Nasir and make new memories. Elsewhere, Luke arrives at Susan’s house, where he senses a powerful presence. It’s Luke versus The Demon House in the Thunderdome.
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Then, Nasir notices a box of Zayan’s belongings has been unpacked. He asks Joiti about it. We see Zayan’s nerdy comic books room restored to its former glory, with none other than one beautiful Wynonna Earp Easter egg on the wall. It’s a poster of the cover of Wynonna Earp: All In, a full-house omnibus by Beau Smith with stories from Tim and Melanie. Drink it in, Earpers. While Nasir and Joiti argue, Zayan turns around in a chair to reveal he was the one who unpacked his belongings. Lomax is present, too, but she can’t hear or see him.
Meanwhile, Luke tries to talk to the house. Firstly, it speaks in the voice of Susan (Sarah Levy), but she sounds too mean to be our Susan. Then, it pivots to the Smart Home voice (Kwok-Choon). The Smart Home orders Luke to stay away. Susan’s finally free to be herself. Blah, blah, blah.
It’s Getting Personal
Lomax and Nasir chat outside while Zayan watches Joiti in the kitchen. He talks to her even though she can’t see or hear him. When the others return, Zayan’s anger at Nasir culminates with him throwing a knife at the latter’s head. Zayan misses, the blade landing inches from Nasir’s face, protruding from the wall. Lomax realizes it’s time to bring Luke into the fold. We’ve got a ghost on our hands, y’all.
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Later, Zooey (Basley) reunites with August (Maurice Dean Wint) and Phil. She’s bruised but undeterred. It’ll take more than an evil house to bring down Zooey L’Enfant. Luke enters the agency, revealing to Auggie and Zooey that he’s back on the air. Lomax calls him, so he leaves again to assist with the Zayan thing. Phil asks Zooey if she wants to “mess with the banks,” to which she responds, “Yes, please.” Gotta love this bunch.
Doc and Jeremy 4Eva
Luke finally meets Zayan in the latter’s comic books room. Yes, the Wynonna Earp poster sits between Tim and Varun at one point, and it’s heartwarming. Anyway, Zayan tries to work around the whole being dead thing, but Luke knows a thing or two about the paranormal. Zayan will do anything to stay with Joiti. He doesn’t want her to sell their house. I love the different dynamic between these two fine actors. It’s certainly a far cry from Doc Holliday and Jeremy Chetri.
Meanwhile, Zooey lays into a lawyer over the phone to get more info on Susan’s devil house. Rochelle (Joy Tanner) arrives. After Zooey’s phone call, Auggie greets Rochelle with a kiss. Ah, things are looking cozy with these two. Rochelle surreptitiously informs Zooey that Auggie considers her his “fifth daughter.” Aw, the Zooey/Auggie relationship will always make my heart happy.
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Auggie and Rochelle meet in the former’s workspace to brainstorm ideas on extracting a human from a building without destroying said human. Science, baby. Rochelle and Auggie decide to head to Susan’s house to survey the area. You know, technical stuff. Zooey tags along, revealing she’s ready for round two. Boom.
Family Therapy
Lomax suggests that Joiti and Nasir partake in a “therapy session” regarding Zayan. Perhaps it’ll help Zayan move on. Initially, the couple seems averse to the idea of talking things out. However, Joiti shares her grief journey regarding the loss of Zayan and how she coped after his death. That’s when she met Nasir. Meanwhile, Phil joins Auggie, Zooey and Rochelle outside Susan’s house that evening. Auggie whips out the binoculars to examine the structure.
Zooey bangs on one of the windows, calling out for Susan. Inside, she responds to Zooey, begging for help. Sure enough, we see Susan herself floating in an empty, black space with a mirror to view the outside world. The Smart Home ignores her pleas for release. Susan defiantly flips the middle finger, but with a twist: we see flame hovering above her middle finger. Susan’s a badass pyrokinetic warrior.
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Letting Your Love Go
Later, Luke chats with Zayan in the latter’s now-empty comic books room. Joiti and Nasir have finished packing up the house. Zayan reveals his plan to kill Joiti so they can spend eternity together. Luke vehemently protests this, understandably, and reminds Zayan that if he truly loves Joiti, he’d let her go. At the same time, Lomax is on the phone, discussing Elsa Amaranth, the immortal woman squatting in that apartment. Methinks we’ll see her again soon.
Then, Luke helps Nasir move furniture into the moving truck. Suddenly, a car speeds down the road, and the driver doesn’t stop for Nasir. Zayan pushes him out of the way before he, too, becomes a ghost. As Luke tends to Nasir, Zayan grins from ear to ear, striking a superhero pose like the heroes he reads about in his comics. Admittedly, I spied a little Jeremy Chetri peeking through there.
That night, Lomax reassures Joiti that her house will sell for well above the asking price. Additionally, she suggests that Joiti consider selling Zayan’s comics instead of giving them away. She could make a pretty penny. After Lomax departs, Zayan sidles up next to Joiti. They both stare at the house. Zayan realizes that letting her move on is the ultimate act of love. He kisses her forehead. Of course, she still can’t see or hear him.
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Getting Into Battle Mode
Next, Zooey informs Luke over the phone that Rochelle has some tech to help extract Susan from the building. Oh, and she has a new career path: she will be a lawyer. Zooey the Lawyer. It has a nice ring to it. Luke returns to the agency, where he meets Rochelle. Rochelle explains the sensors outside the house can detect human DNA within the house’s infrastructure. On another note, Phil reveals Thomas Rabbitfoot was one of the builders. He’s trying to track Rabbitfoot down.
Auggie adds that the device will remove the fully corporeal Susan from the building and deposit her at a GPS coordinate nearby. Luke declares they can “storm the castle” to get their girl back. Hell yeah.
As our heroes prepare to leave the agency, their movements complemented by the series theme song, they encounter quite a surprise in the elevator. It’s none other than Susan herself. She asks to speak with Luke in private. The gang watches in shock as Luke and Susan retreat to one of the offices. Hmm. I’m unconvinced that’s really her. That said, talk about a fun cliffhanger.
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Do you believe that’s the real Susan? Will our crew still “storm the castle”? What’s going on with Elsa Amaranth? Only time (and one more episode) will tell.
SurrealEstate airs new episodes every Wednesday at 10/9c on your Syfy affiliate.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
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