SurrealEstate Season 3 Episode 3, “Death Does a Refi,” sees the series expand its mythology in exciting ways. I love the inclusion of a Death figure, and that there are more entities like Malec out there. The show is taking big creative swings, and it’s breathing new life into the overarching narrative. Don’t get me wrong; it’s still the same campy, silly horror we love. However, there’s more depth, context and layers to this supernatural universe. It’s a fun episode.
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SurrealEstate, “Death Does a Refi”
We open with Luke (Tim Rozon) on his morning run. He walks past a blonde woman (Hannah Cheesman) in a red leather jacket. She passes a jogger, who drops dead. The man’s spirit rises from his prone body and follows her. She is Death.
After this, Luke stops by the hospital to give Megan (Tennille Read) her sweater. Death waltzes past him. Luke and Megan chat for a spell before Megan hurries off to take care of a patient.
Back Home
Then, August (Maurice Dean Wint) is back at the Roman Ireland Agency. Huzzah! Luke helps recreate Auggie’s old office space to his specifications. Next, we learn that while Rochelle isn’t thrilled about having to fire him from ASDRA, she’d rather Auggie be happy. Auggie tells Luke about a guy named Tag with whom he plays an RPG every week. Tag never leaves his house, but Auggie believes he could fill the researcher role that Phil left behind.
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Later, Luke meets with his client Isabel (Celine Bauwmans), who’s moving into her dream home with her young son. Isabel’s sister thanks Luke for being so kind to Isabel. She’s had it rough and never thought she’d be able to buy a house.
Meanwhile, Susan (Sarah Levy) and Keith Hoogeboom (Francesco Filice) are in the country at a farmhouse. The Roman Ireland Agency is partnering with Erewhon Heights to build a housing development in the area. However, they still need one last permit before they can tear down the farmhouse. Susan learns that all the good stuff in the house was auctioned off, but the “junk” is in the barn. Keith reveals they’ve had vandalism issues of late.
Susan reassures Keith that they’ve got this before they part ways. As she drives away, we see the ghosts of the couple who died in the house glaring out of an upstairs window. Creepy.
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Tag, You’re It
Elsewhere, Luke interviews Tag (Alex Ozerov-Meyer) virtually, while Auggie provides context for Tag when needed. Luke and Auggie are impressed by his intellect, but Luke ultimately turns him down, claiming he wants someone more “mobile.” Hey, as someone who occasionally leaves her house, the outside world ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Then, Tyler, aka Elvis the Elephant (R. Austin Ball), gets his golf on at the course. We learn his real name is Malec during a reunion with Seven (Karen Knox — fun fact, she starred as Mina in Wynonna Earp: Vengeance opposite Rozon), also an inexplicable entity. Malec informs Seven that he ensured Luke and Carl didn’t remember him after the pair sunk him in the river 35 years ago.
Next, Seven shares that there’s a space on the Higher Plane with his name on it. However, he has to deliver results. Malec wants to take possession of Luke, citing that Luke can commune with the dead. Imagine the possibilities beyond the veil. Death wouldn’t be the end anymore. Seven encourages him to do this. Should he fail, an eternity of agony awaits him.
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Death Becomes Her
Meanwhile, Lomax (Elena Juatco) meets with a new client, Madison. We see that Madison is actually Death. Death really wants to chat with Luke. Luke arrives and instantly recognizes her. After Lomax departs, Luke asks “Madison” for her real name. Madison introduces herself as Death. They’re gonna get along swimmingly.
At the farmhouse, Keith hears strange noises emanating from the barn. Could it be young hooligans vandalizing the property? He investigates, only to find Ghost Dude and Ghost Dudette. Ghost Dude sharpens his pitchfork and shouts “Banker!” upon seeing Keith. Then, Ghost Dudette knocks him unconscious.
Then, Death tells Luke that she needs a favor. He can communicate with the dead. One sweet older man needs help moving on. Luke offers to lend a hand.
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Banker, Banker
Next, Tag calls Susan to give her an update about the soil samples she had tested. He also knows about her date later and that a murder-suicide took place in the farmhouse they’re going to demolish. He’s putting his research skills to the test. Suck it, Luke. Susan’s bewildered. How does he know all this?
She arrives at the farmhouse and calls Keith. However, he doesn’t pick up. She eventually hears his phone ringing inside the barn. Then, Susan finds him unconscious on the ground with a sack over his head. Ghost Dude calls her a “banker” while Ghost Dudette slams the door shut, keeping her and Keith in a cramped room.
Later, Luke sits with Raymond (Paul Whitney), a man who can’t move on until he finds his lucky pen. His grandfather gave it to him after he graduated from college. Luke remarks that Raymond won’t need to fill out paperwork beyond the veil. Regardless, Luke finds the pen. He offers to bury it in Raymond’s grave or gift it to the woman who took care of him in the assisted living facility. Then, she can make memories with it. Raymond asks Luke to do the latter, and then finally moves on.
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Farmhouse Ghosts
Susan calls Tag and asks him to elaborate on the farmhouse’s history. The couple, Ike and Margaret Gatlin (Richard Patrick Tolton II and Kelly Reich), fell on financial hard times in 1951. A banker arrived with an eviction notice, but was never seen again. Ike shot Margaret in the head before impaling himself on his pitchfork. That explains why Ghost Dude called her “banker.”
Tag also mentions that Margaret was obsessed with her appearance. Susan finds a cracked mirror and positions it so Ghost Dudette can see her face. She screams at her reflection while Susan escapes. Unfortunately, the ghosts give chase, pursuing her into the cornfield.
Meanwhile, Luke finds Isabel unconscious on the floor. He calls 911. Susan runs through the cornfield until she encounters a scarecrow. After removing the sack on its head, she sees it’s actually the skeleton of the deceased banker. The couple murdered him. Susan fishes the eviction notice out of his pocket. Then, she informs the ghosts that the bank made a mistake. They’re not getting evicted. She uses her fire ability to burn the document. The ghosts glance at each other, finally able to move on. They leave.
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Move On
At the hospital, Luke learns that Isabel didn’t make it. He meets with Death at the Tell-Tale Heart. Luke begs Death to reverse it. Take someone else instead. Maybe a really evil person or a human already on Death’s door. Death reveals it doesn’t work like that. It doesn’t matter how young or kind Isabel was — we all go out the same way. Death is inevitable. Oh, and she has another favor she needs from Luke.
Meanwhile, Susan attends another disastrous date. This time, the guy isn’t even remotely interested in her day. He wants to garner sympathy from her. After that date, Susan swears off men (and dating).
Luke reunites with Isabel, who’s in spirit form. She wonders why Luke can see her. Isabel also wonders if she can linger long enough to watch her son grow up. She fears he’ll forget her. Luke reassures Isabel that her son will always remember her and that her sister will take great care of him. He reminds Isabel that, at some point, everyone has to go. Isabel finally accepts her fate and moves on. Death thanks Luke again, but he urges her to get away from him. He’s pissed.
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A New Member of the Team
Later, Luke, Susan, Lomax and Auggie reunite at the agency to take stock of their current cases. Luke has established a scholarship fund in Isabel’s son’s name and believes they can encourage their more affluent clients to donate to it. He also introduces Tag as officially part of the team as their researcher. With the gentle prodding of Auggie and upon discovery that Tag helped Susan with the farmhouse ghosts, Luke changed his mind.
Next, while they’re renovating the house, Susan tells Lomax that she’s done dating. She’s gonna grow old with some doggies. After this, Susan overhears Luke talking to Tyler, aka Malec, on the phone.
Once Luke hangs up, he reveals that Tyler is quite high-maintenance, but a big get as far as clients go. He claims it’ll be a boon for him before correcting himself, remembering that Susan is his co-partner. Susan vents about her grief. She really misses her mom. Luke empathizes with her. He misses his dad. Before they part ways, Luke and Susan vow to support each other no matter what. Aw. It’s a sweet scene.
SurrealEstate drops new episodes every Thursday at 10 pm EST on Syfy.
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