The Woman in the Wall Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Knock Knock

Nothing is the same for Lorna after a devastating revelation on The Woman in the Wall Season 1 Episode 3, “Knock Knock.”

Halfway through the season, The Woman in the Wall throws everything we know thus far out the window, keeping us on our toes as the playing field is drastically altered.

Until now, there has only been an immense amount of story-building and informative actions, but “Knock Knock” is where we’re finally getting some answers. The episode also begins, amid the dire search for Aoife and Lorna’s child, to start peeling back the layers for many characters.

Sergeant Massey has made every effort to question Colman’s movements, analyze his actions, and belittle his suspicions regarding Lorna, and we’ve finally learned why.

In a moment of heightened emotions, as Colman calls him out on his actions, Massey reveals his status as a guard when Clemence and Lorna were forced to be in the convent. It’s not the most significant moment of the hour by far, but it finally allows us to break down Massey’s actions further and analyze them, knowing where he’s coming from on the matter.

Dropping the veil on Massey’s inner thought process is much needed because, till now, he’s honestly just felt like the epitome of a small-town cop turning a blind eye to injustices when it’s convenient.

Lorna’s adventures throughout the episode see her attend Clemence’s funeral, working side by side with Aoife’s potential daughter, and coming to the harsh realization she’ll never be reunited with her daughter.

Clemence’s brother reveals to Lorna that his sister’s daughter is very much alive, leading Lorna to believe her daughter could be as well.

Amid her own searching, a determined Colman’s investigation comes to a new height when he receives substantial proof she’s connected to Percy’s car set ablaze: CCTV footage. This brings the two face-to-face in the police station, but much to Colman’s dismay, his interrogation is cut short thanks to her quick thinking.

Back at her own home, the young woman Lorna thinks she’s been imagining all day shows up at her doorstep, claiming to be Aoife’s daughter, Olivia. Their impromptu partnership lands the two in the abandoned home she previously visited with Michael, where she found Aoife’s secret hiding spot for documents.

Working hard to hide the files she found upstairs, Lorna bolts out the front door at the first chance she sees, leaving Olivia behind to fend for herself. Moments later, utter darkness overwhelms Lorna when she finds an envelope with her name on the front. Inside the manilla folder was a birth certificate for her daughter, revealing she only lived to be a year and one month old after passing away, to a shiver that lasted for two days.

Upon arrival at her home after having her heart ripped from her chest and dreams shattered, she walks into a shocked Colman mid-way up the stairs, raiding her home in hopes of finding further evidence for his case.

Instead of objecting, throwing a fit, or even attempting to scold him, all she can do is offer a cup of tea.

The episode comes to a close with an ending that almost feels fit for a season finale. In the heat of her sleep deprivation, heightened anxiety, and overall mania, Lorna yells to the world that she killed Aoife.

It doesn’t matter that Colman is sitting two feet from her — having to bear the guilt of killing someone, constantly being badgered and questioned, and hearing things from a lack of sleep has worn her down. In her quest to get everything off her chest, she takes the axe that’s conveniently sitting nearby and tears down what she believes to be Aoife’s casket in her living room wall.

However, to Lorna and the audience’s surprise, she reveals an empty wall cavity instead of a rotting corpse. This reveal brings everything the audience knows to be true back to square one, and it’s quite thrilling.

With Colman so dedicated to bringing Lorna in for Aoife’s disappearance, it’ll be interesting to see the dynamic between the two moving forward.

Part of me hopes the two join forces to figure out exactly what’s happening and who Aoife Cassidy is. However, Colman doesn’t seem like the type to forgive easily with friends, let alone someone who believed they had killed someone, stuffed their body in their wall, and actively covered it up.

“Knock Knock” is more captivating and intriguing than previous episodes because we finally start to see pieces unravel and mysteries of the case come to light. It’s also fun watching the cat-and-mouse-like chase between Lorna and Colman.

Ruth Wilson has been giving an impeccable performance, but she takes it up a notch on “Knock Knock,” and it only makes me look forward to what’s to come.

Other Thoughts:

• My hypothesis now is that Lorna learned her baby died a year after birth, and not wanting to believe it, she snapped and killed Aoife. Now, her brain is blocking it out for her well-being and is actively fighting her back as she tries to solve her issues.
• One of the only frustrating moments from the episode is Colman’s “detective” skills in action. He’s a detective and made no effort to ask Lorna about the random piece of her living room wall that had been ripped out and replaced with brand-new wood. With Aoife last seen in Lorna’s home, that should be the first thing he asks about.

What did you think of this episode of The Woman in the Wall? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Woman in the Wall is available to stream on Fridays and airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.

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