Dearest Diply readers and fans of The Watcher, allow me to welcome you to this discussion on Netflix's new most-popular streaming series. How did you end up here? Did showrunner Ryan Murphy call to you from his force within?
The Watcher has been the subject of discussion across the internet for many days now. I have been put in charge of examing what many are calling "the worst TV ending ever." So welcome friends, let the party begin. Who am I, you ask?
The Brannocks are a New York City family, looking to escape the trappings of the Big Apple for a more relaxed and safer living situation in the New Jersey suburbs.
However, almost immediately upon moving in, the Brannocks' dream home reveals a sinister history and when a series of anonymous letters begin arriving at the house, it quickly becomes their worst nightmare.
"How did you end up here? Did 657 Boulevard call to you from its force within?" Each letter is more ominous and threatening than the last, and all are written by a person calling themself The Watcher.
Could it be the odd elderly couple next door or perhaps the pestering head of the Westfield Preservation Society and her brother? Maybe it's the young opportunistic security guard, the police detective, the realtor — or none of them at all?
In real life, the Broaddus family moved into 657 Boulevard in Westfield, NJ, and began receiving threatening letters from "The Watcher" shortly after beginning renovations on the house.
"Will the young blood play in the basement? Or are they too afraid to go down there alone? I would be very afraid if I were them," The Watcher warned. "It is far away from the rest of the house. If you were upstairs you would never hear them scream."
To this day, The Watcher has never been caught and a new family lives at 657 Boulevard. As of yet, they have not received any threatening letters from anyone claiming to be The Watcher.
In the seventh and final episode of The Watcher, Theodora Birch (the Brannock family's private detective) confesses to Dean that she used to live in their house and that she was the one sending the letters.
While there, Nina informs the Brannocks that Theodora made up a story about her being The Watcher in order to help give the Brannocks, especially Dean, a sense of closure and end his obsession.
Nina shows up unexpectedly, accuses Karen of being The Watcher all along, and informs her that now she will be the one watching her.
Visibly shaken, she then discovers that someone has left her bathtub running, spilling water all over the floor. She calls the police, but Detective Chamberlain refuses to help her after she spurned his romantic advances.
Karen bounds down the stairs terrified to discover her dog Baron dead on the floor. Out of nowhere, a trap door in the stairs rises and reveals a hooded figure draped in black. She runs from the house screaming, never to be seen again.
The one new addition to the group is Dean Brannock himself. The new homeowner introduces himself to Dean, who responds by telling him that his name is "John" and that he lives up the road.
Dean gets in his car and drives away, only to be followed closely behind by his wife, Nora. The camera zooms out, the scene fades to black, and the credits begin to roll.
"if[sic] you're thinking of watching "the watcher"[sic] on Netflix[sic]... DON'T. the[sic] most underwhelming pointless series i[sic] have ever seen. 7 hours of my life i[sic] will never get back," @freya_anderson tweeted.
Audiences crave resolution, not knowing is what drives us mad. But resolution doesn't always come for us in the real world and leaving something unsolved, frustrating as it may be, always leaves room for us to revisit at a later time.
So until that time comes, if it ever does, try to free The Watcher from your mind. Relax and attempt to find some solace in one of life's great mysteries. If nothing else, remember that you never know who may be watching you at this very moment, waiting for their perfect moment to welcome you to the neighborhood.
