From season 3 has continuously intensified the mysteries of the town, but episode 5 marked a turning point in the narrative, specifically with Dale’s shocking and brutal death. The ending of this episode doesn’t just kill off a character; it destroys hope for the residents trapped in the town and sets up a series of more significant problems.
Dale’s death, caused by his attempt to escape through the faraway tree, is not only horrifying but also sends a clear message to those still trapped: the town is in control, and there’s no easy way out.
The ending of season 3, episode 5 shows how Dale’s decision to go through the faraway tree ended in one of the most brutal deaths ever seen in the show. His journey not only resulted in his death but also impacted the hopes of the residents for escaping.
As we saw in earlier episodes, Tabitha had seemingly escaped the town through the faraway tree and ended up in the real world in Maine. This gave the residents a sense of optimism that maybe they had found a way out of their nightmarish situation.
Dale, determined to follow her footsteps, made his own journey through the faraway tree. But instead of freedom, it ended with his body being gruesomely crushed inside the concrete wall of the motel’s pool.
Tabitha’s Return and the Meeting in Episode 5
Before Dale’s fatal attempt, From season 3, episode 3 had set the stage for what was to come. In that episode, Tabitha had returned to the town after her own bizarre experience with the faraway tree.
She recounted her story in a meeting in episode 5, where she explained how she had been transported to a lighthouse from the faraway tree, then pushed from the lighthouse, only to find herself in the real world in Maine.
This was groundbreaking for the residents because it was the first known instance of someone leaving the town and making it back to the real world. This event was the catalyst for Dale’s decision to follow the same path.
Despite warnings from others about the faraway tree’s unpredictability, Dale chose to focus on the fact that Tabitha had escaped. He stubbornly believed that if she could leave, so could he.
He ignored the warnings that the faraway tree might not take him to the same destination or that it might have different outcomes depending on who used it. All that mattered to him was getting out of the town and finding help for the others. Dale’s determination made him overlook the possible dangers and consequences of using the faraway tree.
Dale’s Fatal Journey Through the Faraway Tree
From the beginning of the episode, it was clear that Dale was set on going through the faraway tree, despite the objections of others. He boasted about his plan, confident that he could escape and return with help for the trapped residents.
His single-minded determination was not necessarily selfish; in his mind, this was the only way to help everyone. However, his decision was reckless, and ultimately, it led to one of the show’s most horrifying moments.
As Dale stepped through the faraway tree, the audience could sense that something terrible was about to happen. From has always used the faraway trees as a mysterious and unpredictable force, transporting characters to different locations, but this time, the outcome was fatal.
Instead of being transported to a different location, like Tabitha’s lighthouse, Dale ended up embedded in the concrete wall of the motel’s pool. Only parts of his face and body were visible, with the rest of him crushed into the concrete. The town’s residents watched in horror as Dale was slowly and painfully suffocated to death, trapped in the wall with no way to save him.
This scene was more than just a brutal death. It was a pivotal moment that revealed the faraway tree could not be trusted and that using it as a method of escape was far more dangerous than anyone had realized. Dale’s death was also the first recorded instance of someone being killed immediately after going through the tree. This brutal event sent shockwaves through the town and shattered the residents’ newfound hope of escape.
The Faraway Tree’s Unpredictability: What Dale’s Death Means
Throughout From, the faraway tree has been used as a portal that sends characters to different locations, often tied to the town’s dark history. Boyd, for example, was transported to a well, Sara to a church, Julie to the root cellar, and Tabitha to the lighthouse.
These destinations had always seemed dangerous but served a purpose, either revealing more about the town’s mysteries or helping characters escape dangerous situations. In contrast, Dale’s journey was purely motivated by his desire to escape the town, not by the town’s own mysterious forces.
Dale’s death may signify that the faraway trees are not simply tools that the residents can use at their will. Instead, they appear to serve the town’s purposes, with the destination being chosen based on what the town’s dark forces want from the individual.
Boyd’s journey to the well and Tabitha’s trip to the lighthouse seemed purposeful, as if the town was guiding them toward specific revelations.
Dale, however, was not seeking any deeper knowledge or understanding; he only wanted to leave. The town, seemingly in control of the faraway trees, rejected Dale’s desire to go home and instead sent him to a gruesome death in the pool’s concrete wall.
This moment raises several questions about the true nature of the faraway trees and what they represent. Are they controlled by the same dark forces that seem to govern the town, or are they independent entities? Why do they send some characters to places that provide answers or clues while sending others to their death?
Dale’s fate suggests that the faraway trees are not a reliable way out of the town and that attempting to use them for escape is not only dangerous but also fatal.
The Town’s Control Over Hope and the Consequences of Dale’s Death
From has consistently shown that hope is a dangerous thing for the residents of the town. The dark forces that control the town seem to thrive on crushing the residents’ hope, making them feel isolated and powerless. Dale’s death is a perfect example of how the town manipulates hope to maintain control over the people trapped there.
Before Dale’s death, the residents had a glimmer of hope. Tabitha’s return from the real world through the lighthouse portal had given them reason to believe that escape was possible. This hope led Dale to believe that he could follow the same path and find freedom.
However, the brutal reality of his death quickly shattered that hope. The town’s forces, by killing Dale in such a public and horrifying manner, effectively reset the residents’ belief in escape. They are once again left with the feeling that there is no way out and that any attempt to leave the town will end in disaster.
This loss of hope is likely to have significant consequences for the group moving forward. Without the belief that escape is possible, the residents may become more desperate and divided. This division could lead to even more dangerous actions as they try to find alternative ways to escape the town’s control.
Dale’s death may also push the characters to show darker methods of finding freedom, potentially involving more interaction with the creatures that lurk in the town’s shadows.
Boyd’s Mission and the Future of the Group
In the aftermath of Dale’s death, it seems that the group will have to find new ways to cope with their situation. Boyd, who has been one of the central figures in the town’s struggle for survival, may be forced to take even more drastic actions.
Boyd has always been determined to find answers, and with the faraway trees proving unreliable, he may turn his focus back to the town’s mysterious monsters.
These creatures have always posed a threat, but Boyd may see them as a potential source of information. If he can capture one of the monsters, he might be able to question it and learn more about the town’s dark forces.
Additionally, the group may have to rely on Victor’s knowledge of the town’s history. Victor has already revealed some details about Christopher’s tragic massacre and the town’s deeper mysteries.
As the residents search for new ways to escape, they may need to dig even deeper into the town’s dark past, hoping that the answers they find will provide a way out. However, this path is fraught with danger, as the town seems determined to keep its secrets hidden.
The Faraway Trees: Not a Path to Freedom
Dale’s death serves as a grim reminder that the faraway trees are not a reliable escape route. While Tabitha’s journey through the tree led her to the real world, Dale’s journey ended in tragedy.
The town’s forces appear to control the trees, determining who gets to survive and who meets a grisly end. The residents can no longer trust the trees as a way out, and they must now search for other methods of escape.
The group’s future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the town is not willing to let them go easily. Dale’s death has shown that any attempt to leave must be carefully considered, and the residents will need to be smarter and more cautious if they want to survive. With Boyd’s determination and Victor’s knowledge, they may still have a chance, but it will not be easy.
