Castle Rock Review: The Laughing Place (Season 2 Episode 5)

Annie Wilkes has some missing pages to her story, and Castle Rock Season 2 Episode 5, “The Laughing Place,” looks to fill in some blanks.

Normally, these types of stories of trying to explain the origins of a fascinating character never add up to something worthwhile, but Castle Rock takes a different approach. It’s not a specific thing that caused Annie Wilkes, but a build-up. It’s a deep look into Annie’s life and those who loomed large in who she will become, with a strong depth of emotion and a heavy dose of sympathy.

The episode uses its time wisely to tell Annie’s story not in a sinister or destructive manner, but rather as a way of understanding her descent. It starts as simple dyslexia (at least, that’s what it appears to be with her reading difficulties), and balloons to social issues and her parents see-sawing her this way and that to assert their views upon her.

The tug of war between each parent, one using her education for his own vanity and the other placing fear and terror in her heart, are the beginnings of what makes Annie Wilkes who she is during the present timeline.

There are major hints at Misery with Annie’s relationship with her father, with the typewriter he uses, his creating a story that he claims is for her but morphs into someone else’s, and the multiple mentions of Annie’s father being her “number one fan.”

With the way the episode treats their closeness and slow destruction, it’s a wonder if Paul Sheldon has effectively turned into her father in this new reality, or if these are the reasons she will go after him in the future, if Misery is to still happen in this timeline.

Annie’s mother, played wonderfully by Robin Weigert, holds a lot of sway over the Annie we know. The stranger elements of Annie’s behaviors seemingly come from her mother, the outlook of distrust and dirtiness lurking from every corner. It’s a curious idea, that perhaps the events of the episode have caused Annie to take on her mother’s personality, rather than continuing to form her own.

Her mother’s suicide, trying to take Annie with her, shows that the Wilkes solution to problems is to wipe out the problem by any means necessary. It’s a heartbreaking moment, as it severs trust between parent and child, and it’s done without a second thought.

But Rita looms just as large on Annie’s life, just as much as her parents. Sarah Gadon’s performance is one full of warmth and encouragement, placing her as a paragon of good for Annie in a sea of uncertainty as she teaches her how to read and hold onto information.

The Rita during the final scene, though, may not be as kind. Though it’s still too early to get a read on present day Rita, there are clear investigative materials all over Rita’s walls behind her as she answers the phone, making Joy’s disappearance and recovery something that’s been a long time coming.

It’s hidden within subtext, but is it jealousy that drives Annie to push her father down the stairs? Or is it that she doesn’t understand the relationship between her father and herself? She reads over the ending of her father’s book closely, about how a choice must be made between two people, after her father mentions that he relates to the princess, the one making the choice.

Annie’s protection comes from Joy, as it turns out. The laughter, just as Annie is about to commit something unforgivable at the lake, provides Annie her own Laughing Place that pulls her from the edge. It’s a simple but powerful moment, and explains why she sees Joy as something she desperately needs. It’s her new start, and with that at risk, Annie is more dangerous than ever.

She’s drawn to Joy at multiple points during the episode, and she acts almost surprised when Rita stops her each time. It’s like she is drawn to her against her own will, something beyond her bringing her back to Joy each time. It explains why Annie in the present is so adamant of winning back her trust, despite each attempt only making matters worse.

But the fact that what makes Annie tick is that lies cannot be tolerated, and she’s lied to Joy her whole life about her true mother and father, shows that it’s a loose rule that will only suit the moment.

Ruby Cruz makes a shockingly eerie double as younger Annie Wilkes, her striking resemblance to Lizzy Caplan and the way she portrays the same mannerisms and ticks an absolute dead-on performance. The episode rests on her shoulders, and she does remarkable work to both make you feel something deeply for Annie’s life, but also be a little afraid of her at the same time.

This episode feels like a spiritual successor to Castle Rock Season 1 Episode 7, “The Queen,” which focuses in solely on a character and tells their story in a way that is honest and unflinching. It’s a strong showcase for Annie Wilkes not in the present but through her past, never overtly saying what caused her but showing what molded her into who she is today.

Castle Rock Season 2 Episode 5, “The Laughing Place,” informs character while keeping the elusiveness of her actions at arm’s length. We may understand Annie Wilkes better, but we still don’t know what she’s capable of. While Lizzy Caplan may still be underused on the show thus far, Castle Rock is making Annie an undeniably compelling character.

 

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Castle Rock airs Wednesdays on Hulu.

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