WEB EXCLUSIVE 

Based off the comic book series of the same name, the new Netflix series, “Locke & Key” follows the Locke family as they settle in their father’s old childhood home, The Keyhouse after his unexpected murder back in Seattle. As the newly paternal-less family moves in, we watch as the youngest of the three, Bode and his older siblings Tyler and Kinsey delve into the mysterious roots and history of their family and the house, discovering reality-bending, magical keys hidden all throughout the rooms and foundation, granting the kids abilities such as being able to teleport through doors, enter their own mind, turn into a ghost and control other people’s movement.

While exploring, Bode comes across a voice at the bottom of the well outside of the house, a woman, who, after escaping, makes enemies with the kids as she tries to steal the family keys for their power. All the while dealing with the trauma left after their father’s death and the whiplash of moving across the country, the three and their mother, Nina are slowly pulled in by the vague and mysterious past of their father’s teenage years with the town and it’s community, uncovering many long-hidden secrets their dad kept under lock and key, within his head, the whole time.

“Locke & Key” lives up to it’s mysterious and supernatural expectations, trailing along the story throughout it’s first season with plenty of twist moments that add and build upon the already intriguing and hazy puzzle pieces, only ever coming together near the end while still leaving plenty of questions left to explore in the future season or seasons. Though with that, comes a few moments in the show where it feels like a proper end, whether temporary or not, doesn’t feel completely met.

Plot-wise, the story is very enthralling and gripping for any mystery or paranormal buff, remaining both entertaining and fulfilling even with the few hiccups in the story that do exist, such as with the main villain, Dodge’s, motives and some other character’s decisions, sometimes feeling out of place with everything else happening. Some of the characters also suffer from this “out-of-place-ness” regarding their personalities and dialogue, the reactions and responses sometimes feeling, for lack of more explanatory terms, incorrect.

Regardless of that, all the major players in the show are engaging and fun to watch, regardless of their role or even likability, depending on who you are. The supernatural and magical elements of the show feel balanced and explored just right, giving viewers plenty of moments to see the keys in action without filling too much time or taking away from the external storylines. The capabilities of the keys are outlined neatly, with enough room to manipulate them for some interesting scenes, concepts and tests of power.

A good example of this is with the Head Key, a key that allows the user to enter their own mindscape, which accomplishes being straightforward enough to be digestible while also open enough for further exploration and new ideas.

Now, comic accuracy-wise, I can’t say too much as I have not read any of them, though the show does a great job at drawing out a desire to go out and crack them open.

On it’s own though, “Locke & Key” is engaging, familiar, entertaining and fresh, a welcoming balance of story and magic, neatly packaged within the small-town mystery vibe popularized with other Netflix shows such as “Stranger Things.”

“Locke & Key” opens a door to something both welcoming and obscure for it’s viewers, bound to unlock a feeling of unnerving fascination that continues to grow and evolve with every episode.