‘NOS4A2’ Season 1, Episode 2 ‘The Graveyard of What Might Be’ Recap: Are You Naughty or Are You Nice?

This week’s episode of NOS4A2 reveals we’re finally getting to the good stuff. Sufficient to say, the Graveyard of What Might Be is a hell lot creepier than Asher Fallica’s nightmarish Daniel. And on this trip, Zachary Quinto’s Charles Manx is finally living up to the twisted sinister devil he was introduced as in NOS4A2’s first episode. Admittedly, the first episode had me doubting the show’s overall run. But, that graveyard take in the latter part of the episode just had me at a what the fuck moment. And now, regardless of whether I’m naughty or nice, I’d love to set my eyes on that damned Christmasland and everything Manx, Vic, and Maggie related things.

In this week’s episode of NOS4A2, Vic (Ashleigh Cummings) confirms her theory about how she can use the Shorter Way. And in one of her trips, she finally meets Maggie (Jahkara Smith). But, it doesn’t go quite well. Meanwhile, Manx has found his new brainwashed kid-hunting buddy in Bing Partridge (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson). Little by little, their paths are getting more intertwined. Sooner or later, one is going to catch up to the other.

The Shorter Way To Lost Things

In true ominous NOS4A2 fashion prelude, Bing writes a reply to a Christmasland advertisement posted on the magazine given by Vic one cold evening. Suddenly, he hears a thump upstairs. In the living room, he finds his dad dancing with his mother’s corpse. In fear, he runs back down to the basement where he’s greeted by the emaciated Daniel. And he has a Christmasland invitation in one hand. Bing tries to reach for it but, Daniel pulls it back and grabs Bing’s arm with his tiny hands. Then, he starts twisting. Gasping, Bing wakes up from the dream. And as he looks out his window, he sees the moon winking at him.

Dana Starbard/AMC

Meanwhile, after Vic finds out that her dad left, she goes through the Shorter Way to find him at Tiffany’s. She confronts her dad and she gets the typical “It’s for the best” reply. So, she heads back home dejectedly and delivers the information to her mom. On both occasions, Vic avoids answering how she found out.

The next day, Vic takes Matty (Oscar Wahlberg) to the site of the bridge. Then out of the blue, she starts asking all about Leonard, the rabbit stuff toy he had back in third grade that Vic lost. As she rides into the bridge to retrieve it and to test her theory about how she can use the bridge, Matty sees the bridge. He tries to follow to no avail.

Vic comes back a few minutes later with the stuffed bunny in her hand. Calming him down, Vic explains where the bridge has taken her the previous times she went over. But, Matty is beyond scared for her. As he looks closer, he notices the blood coming from her left eye. Finally feeling the effects as well, Vic decides to head back.

Bing’s Christmasland Interview

At Here, Iowa, Maggie still relentlessly tries to look for clues about Daniel’s whereabouts. This search led her to existing operational wraith models then to wraith parts. She concludes that if the kidnapper is still driving around a wraith, it’d have inevitably broken down. Sheriff Bly tries to turn her down again but, Maggie perseveres and finally gets him to agree to help her look.

Dana Starbard/AMC

Meanwhile, Manx pays Bing a visit himself in response to the latter’s inquiry of employment for Chistmasland. In the guise of interviewing for a new chief of security, Manx lures him into the car and even congratulates him with a bottle of soda. On the ride, Manx casually asks what kinds of chemicals Bing has access to in the pharmaceutical he works at. And Bing tells him all about the sevoflurane, an anesthetic as well as an agent that can make anyone easily susceptible to suggestion. Soon enough, Bing starts to feel extremely drowsy courtesy of Manx’ soda.

On the other hand, Vic is back to cleaning with her mom at the Brewsters. As they talk about Vic’s possible future in the cleaning business, Mrs. Brewster barges in and announces Vic’s plan to go to RISD. This comes as a surprise to her mom who coyly tries to play it off. At lunch, Vic tries to talk about RISD with her mom but, as usual, it ends up with Linda dismissing the idea.

When they get home, Vic starts packing. Then, she marches downstairs to say goodbye to her mom. Seeing that there’s no stopping her, Linda only asks her to promise one thing: if there was hard liquor in her father’s girlfriend’s house, she goes straight home. Apologetically, Vic leaves.

Vic, Chris, and Tiff

On the way, Vic passes by Haley’s house. While chatting with the little girl, she mistakes the chalk she’s holding for a candy cane. But, the vision immediately vanishes. Vic gives Haley her coloring pencils and her number promising that she’ll still be around for the little girl.

Zach Dilgard/AMC

When she drives up to Tiffany’s, she finds her father and his girlfriend in their own little raunchy world. And after a little tense moment, the couple hesitantly invites Vic into the house volunteering Tiffany’s old craft room for her to use. There, the truth finally spills from Chris’ lips. Things between him and Linda have changed and they’re irreparable. With Vic now on his side, Chris tries to push boundaries a little by suggesting a new trio of him, Vic, and Tiff.

Back in Here, Iowa, Maggie and Sheriff Bly find an old car shop that did a wraith repair around 30 years ago. According to the old woman who now manages the shop, the car had a mind of its own. It turned on on its own. Then, it pinned down her son to the wall on its own. But, her son kept claiming it was his fault. Soon after the repairs were done, the car disappeared along with the woman’s son, her grandson, and the old rat-faced fellow who owned it.

Later on, back at Tiffany’s, Linda arrives anxious to get her daughter back home. At first, the screaming is between her and Chris. But, soon enough, Tiffany’s dragged into the argument as well. Desperate to get away from the same thing, Vic hops on her bike and jumps the Shorter Way to Here, Iowa.

The Creatives

As Vic’s bike skids sideways on the street, Maggie rushes up to her expecting her. She then invites her into the library which also serves as her home to treat her wounds and for proper introductions. Inside, she explains that everyone has “Inscapes” or worlds conjured by their imagination. But, only strong creatives like Vic can pull theirs out into the real world with the help of a “knife.” In Vic’s case, it’s her bike. It connects the fabric of reality to thoughts and allows Vic to access the torn down bridge. 

Dana Starbard/AMC

After getting her wound treated, Vic asks Maggie if she has anything lost for her to find. And Maggie reveals her true intentions. As proof, she digs into her tile bag and the tiles come out spelling “The Wraith.” She explains that the man who owns it is a strong creative too and he has taken a kid she knows. Understandably, this freaks Vic out and she backs out fast. No matter what Maggie says, Vic just keeps walking.

Arriving back on the other side of the Shorter Way, Vic is surprised to find Haley loitering around in the dark. She was looking for her cat that ran away. And the kid sees the bridge too. Realizing this, Vic forces her to promise not to tell anybody else about it. After which, she takes the kid back home.  

NOS4A2’s Graveyard

Meanwhile, Manx and Bing are on their own journey. And all the while, Manx is brainwashing Bing. He asks Bing to help him save 10 kids from their bad parents so they could live in eternity in Christmasland among all the presents, joy, and everything else Christmas has to offer. To further prove his point, Manx takes Bing to the Graveyard of What Might Be. When they arrive, Bing’s horrified to find children petrified under the ice under their tombstones, not completely dead but, also not truly alive. They’re all victims of bad parents. And Manx uses them to convince Bing to help him save the other children. In one mysterious moment, Manx expresses his regrets of not being able to save Bing before. And Bing eagerly agrees. Their first job would be to find the only person who threatens Manx and his agenda, the girl who opened the Shorter Way.

NOS4A2 continues Sunday, June 16th with “The Gas Mask Man” at 10/9c on AMC.