I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (S1E7&8) “If Only Dogs Could Talk” and “Your Next Life Can Be Happier”: The End Is Only The Beginning

I Know What You Did Last Summer has reached its final two episodes, and with the series conclusion, it is time to look ahead to next summer. Much like its first two episodes, the series’ final installments come better as a pair, the rocky road each week it took to get here worth the payoff. But does I Know What You Did Last Summer answer your questions? Yes, but not without leaving many in its wake, boasting the promise for another summer of murder and mystery.

It All Comes Crashing Down

“Least You Had A Spare” left many fans in shock and horror as it was revealed that Dylan (Ezekiel Goodman) appeared to be in cahoots with Clara (Brooke Bloom) – the suspected island serial killer. As Riley (Ashley Moore) attempted in vain for survival, and Courtney (Cassie Beck) met a gruesome end, it was truly the moment in the cave, in the closing moments, that provided the deepest shock. Was it possible that Dylan was the killer? Coupled with the fact he sees Riley’s dead body in the closing seconds, it seems all too possible there are in fact two killers, Clara and Dillon working as one.

And while the Scream-Esque feeling resonates, it seems almost too simple. With a brief montage showcasing Clara’s honey wax preparation of the real Lennon’s body after death, and potential alluding that her death was actually a suicide, “If Only Dogs Could Talk” picks up right at the moment Clara arrives with Riley’s body, warning Dylan of the rising tide. As they stand together in the House of Wax wanna-be cave, there is a moment to let viewers return to the feeling of shock, the anticipation growing in the silence. We do not stay with them for long though, I Know What You Did Last Summer brings us back to the manhunt for Clara, Lyla (Fiona Rene) putting out an APB for her and Riley at the conclusion of episode 6.

As Lyla is shown pleading with the islanders to “not take matters into their own hands” there is uncertainty about where the episode will continue to take us, giving it a foreboding allure that, will lack in-depth, lays the intrigue. Instead of a full-out mob in the likes of Halloween Kills, the episode delivers a swift conclusion, feeling almost out of place and along the lines of a red herring. As the police and viewers are given a tip as to where they can find Clara, they instead find the end to the horror that has befallen the town, the cave claiming another life.

Never, ever assume the killer is dead

It is an eerily foreboding, if not unexpected, turn of events as the town finds it is given the reprieve they need to grieve. And while they do, they also find the strength to push forward, much as it assumed happened following the mass deaths from the island’s former cult. As the remaining three, Margot (Brianne Tju), Lennon/Alison (Madison Iseman), and Dylan seemingly begin to move on, the episode time jumps three weeks, providing what we know to be a false sense of hope. As the town celebrates its annual Kani Kani Festival, Dylan, Margot, and Lennon/Alison are reunited. There is a stale feeling as they enjoy the evening, an almost quiet brewing that we viewers are aware of. And as the I Know What You Did Last Summer film references come back in full force (Helen’s crown, mannequins draped in plastic), we know death is on the horizon.

As the episode draws to a close, the revelation of Alison is finally revealed, a bit more anti-climatically than would be expected – at first. And as viewers feel the end approaching with only one episode left, it is the final moments that truly turn the secret of Lennon and Alison on its head. Because like Alison states in the opening scene of the series, you never truly know a person.

Cue the Finale

In the final moments of “If Dogs Could Talk”, viewers finally see the true identity of the surviving twin revealed. And while initially anticlimactic, Margot talking in her sleep will leave viewers holding their breath. Surprisingly, she has known all along. Coupled by the reveal, Dylan has gone to the police, and it seems the barriers of truth are about to spring open – with dire consequences.

Setting up launchpad for more

It seemed as though everything was wrapping up nicely last episode, only to find the killer still lurking in the shadows. But is not only a killer that creeps in the mystery of limited knowledge, but the past as well. While Margot, Dylan, and Lennon/Alison descend into suspicion and accusations, the mother of Alison and Lennon appears, wanting to know why Bruce (Bill Heck) had not informed her that her daughter had died. More importantly, she has arrived to collect what is rightfully hers – the Bible of the cult that once resided on the island.

The episode here, and previously, alludes to a prophecy being fulfilled and a chance for greater happiness in the next life. As the cult seems to have greater importance than initially thought, the intrigue to return for a second season builds. There is more than meets the eyes, more than we as viewers have been allowed to know – and it extends beyond the island. And it seems involvement is not limited only to those in the past. As Dylan’s behavior, and snippets of his time with Clara, are shown, not only does he become a bullseye of suspicion, but an unexpected piece to a much larger picture.

The biggest Mystery revealed

With only three of the gang remaining, Dylan, Margot, and Lennon/Alison begin finding suspicions in one another, the trust between them breaking. And as the true identity of Lennon begins to reveal itself, containing the truth proves to become near impossible. “Your Next Life Can Be So Much Happier” does take the time to set up another season, but not without bringing the emotional stress weighing heavily, further compounded by new wrinkles that make their way to the surface.

And while I don’t want to reveal the endgame of the series, its incredible reveal is worth the silence, it descends into its own form of psychological madness, its final reveal reminiscent of another Kevin Williamson classic – Scream. And the best part is, as soon as you know the secret, scenes from previous episodes will flash by, and you will realize you knew who it was all along. Breaking free of its constraints, this reboot continues and severely defines its own lines, promising that the end is far from finished, and that truth can never truly rise to the surface.

Conclusion: Another Go Around

In honesty, I Know What You Did Last Summer was a rollercoaster ride. While it is bookended by an outstanding beginning and ending, the series as a whole fails to truly commit to its story, brushing by what could have made it deeper and constantly intriguing. And while you never truly become invested in the characters emotionally, the need to know the answer to the mystery is a driving force that keeps you committed until the end. Yet, in its final episodes, I Know What You Did Last Summer is able to reestablish the firm commitment it has promised at the series’ beginning, laying enough intrigue to lure viewers back. And with the final moments seemingly impossible, viewers will be back.

What did you think of I Know What You Did Last Summer? Let us know in the comments below!

I Know What You Did Last Summer is available now on Amazon Prime!