A Recap of The Way Home Season 3, Episode 4

The fourth episode of The Way Home season 3 is about familial bonds, unresolved traumas, and the enigmatic time-bending nature of the Landry Pond. As the tension between the Landrys and the Goodwins continues to ripple across time, the episode fits together moments from 1974 and the present day, offering an intermix of two eras. Themes of love, heartbreak, and the weight of secrets dominate the narrative, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

A Nightmare, a Proposal, and a Dive into 1974

The episode opens with Jacob waking from a nightmare about Cyrus Goodwin, his tormentor. Del, his mother, hears his anguished cries but feels powerless to help, highlighting her growing despair over her inability to ease her son’s pain. Meanwhile, at the neighbouring farmhouse, Kat and Elliot wake up together, finally having moved in as a couple; their morning leads to a visit to the Landry household, where Jacob receives a surprising business proposal from Lewis Goodwin to meet at the Lingermore estate.

As Jacob and Del prepare for their day, Kat and Alice plan a school shopping trip for mother-daughter bonding. However, their shared curiosity about the mysterious flyer from the previous episode takes precedence. Alice convinces Kat to dip in the Landry Pond to uncover more about its secrets, especially concerning young Colton. They cancel their original plans and leap into 1974.

Splitting Paths in the Past

Upon arriving in 1974, Alice spots Evelyn in the woods; despite their initial plan to stick together, Alice persuades Kat to let her go alone to talk to Evelyn. This decision marks a moment in their relationship, as it shows both Alice's growing independence and her determination to learn more about the mysterious Evelyn. During their conversation, Evelyn acknowledges the pond’s mysterious properties, hinting at her more profound knowledge of its time-travel abilities. Together, Alice and Evelyn head to the Lingermore estate.

Meanwhile, Kat visits the Landry farm and encounters Jasper Coyle. The conversation leads them to investigate old council meeting tapes, which reveal a long-forgotten attempt to fill in the Landry Pond. The recordings shed light on young Colton and Evelyn’s childhood friendship. The tapes end with an intriguing message that prompts Kat to return to the present, leaving Alice to explore 1974 further.

At Lingermore, Alice and Evelyn watch a young Colton charming Del by the swimming pool, sparking contrasting emotions in both women. While Alice feels joy witnessing her father’s charisma, Evelyn’s heartache grows as she realizes her unspoken feelings for Colton may go unanswered.

Jacob’s Struggles and Del’s Discovery

Back in the present, Jacob and Del meet Lewis Goodwin at Lingermore to discuss his business proposal. As Lewis pours wine and praises Jacob’s farming skills, Jacob is distracted by a portrait of Cyrus Goodwin. Haunted by visions of Cyrus, Jacob’s unresolved trauma begins to surface. This haunting presence underscores Jacob’s ongoing battle with his past, which continues to hinder his ability to move forward.

In 1974, Evelyn and Alice spy on Colton and Del’s date, which takes an unexpected turn when Colton insists on a boat ride despite Del’s objections. The outing ends with Del berating Colton for ignoring her wishes. Just as Evelyn begins to hope that Colton and Del’s budding relationship might be over, Colton uses his musical talents to win Del back, culminating in a romantic kiss that shatters Evelyn’s heart.

Later, Del makes a shocking discovery in the present day when she notices scars on Jacob’s back. Jacob finally confesses the extent of Cyrus’ abuse, sharing the torment he endured and his struggle to feel whole again. Del reassures him of her tireless support, offering a glimmer of hope amid the darkness. She also encourages Jacob to consider Lewis’s job offer, a small step toward rebuilding his confidence.

The Lingering Mysteries

As Alice prepares to return to the present, she reencounters young Colton. In a surprising twist, Colton admits he has heard stories about the Landry Pond’s time-traveling abilities, even suggesting that he jumped into the pond hoping to alter the past. This confession briefly dispels the theory that Colton is a time traveller, but the mystery of the pond remains.

In the present, Alice heads to the Point Café for a date with Noah, only for their evening to be interrupted by the arrival of Max Goodwin, Lewis’s son. When Alice questions Max about Casey, he denies having any siblings, raising further questions about Casey’s true identity.

Meanwhile, Kat and Elliot’s quiet moment is disrupted when Kat discovers Colton’s sweater from 1999 in Elliot’s possession. This sweater, found near the pond on the night Alice fell in, reignites Kat’s suspicions about her father’s possible connection to the pond’s time-traveling properties. When she confronts Del about the sweater, Del reacts angrily, unwilling or unable to provide answers. However, her frustration hints at her own uncertainties about the pond’s mysteries.

Jacob takes a small but significant step toward healing by writing Del a heartfelt letter, expressing his desire to move forward. His act of self-reflection marks a turning point as he begins to confront his trauma head-on. The episode ends with Alice, Kat, and Del grappling with their own questions about the past, the pond, and the secrets that continue to bind their family together.

Final Thoughts

Episode 4 intertwines past and present, creating a tapestry of emotions and unanswered questions, the show continues to explore the complexities of love, loss, and the enduring impact of family secrets. As the mysteries deepen, the Landrys and the Goodwins are left to confront their intertwined destinies, promising even more twists in the episodes to come.