The Returned Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Simon
Amanda Steinmetz
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It's difficult to accept that after you die, the world goes on without you.
Simon and Camille got this hard lesson firsthand on The Returned Season 1 Episode 2.
Simon remained silent following Rowan around, while Camille struggled to see how much her family changed.
I loved seeing Simon and Rowan together before his death. They seemed very much in love, but her pregnancy reveal gave me pause. He acted like he was happy, but his face said something different when they hugged. Simon was clearly upset by her announcement, but why?
This is yet another mystery to add to the list.
Their encounter in the library was heartbreaking. I've never lost a loved one like that, but it seems like you can never move on entirely. There's a part of you that will always love that person.
I want you [Simon] to know that just because I'm marrying Tommy, it doesn't mean I'm ever going to stop loving you. You're always going to be a part of my heart. Part of my life. I tried to forget you. I had to. I had to find a way to go on living without you, but the truth is I don't want to. I don't want to let you go. I know you don't really exist, but it doesn't scare me anymore. I'm glad you've come back.
Rowan
Rowan appears to have a history of visions of Simon, but I'm curious to see how her behavior will change once she realizes that Simon is very much real.
After looking at those photos, Tommy has to realize that he really is Simon. The question will be how hard is he going to try to keep Simon away from his wife to be. This is a love triangle that will not end well.
Lena's also realizing that Camille may not be the only one to return after seeing the photo of her and Simon from six years ago.
So far, I relate to Lena the most. She's acting like I would if I were in their situation. She even accused Camille of identity theft because that'd be more believable than her twin coming back from the dead.
How is everyone else so damn calm?!
Lena: Why am I the only one in this family living in reality? She can't come back like this. It's not possible.
Jack: Okay, but she's here, and it's up to all of us to...
Lena: What? Just pretend she didn't die four years ago? Act like she's the baby Jesus?
Jack: You wanna keep your voice down, please?
Lena: You think you can hide her. Why bother? Your favorite daughter is back from the dead. Why not throw a god damn party?
Jack: [grabbing her arm] Stop it.
Lena: Gonna hit me again?
I'm definitely intrigued by what went down in their family after Camille's death. Lena and Jack clearly have a lot of tension between them, and it appears he hurt her physically at one point.
Camille was struggling with her return now that she knows she died. Her conversation with Claire outside the bar touched upon an aspect of death many of us don't like to think about. The world will continue to go on after we die. Our friends and family will move on with their lives.
It must have been difficult to see how Lena moved on with the boy she liked, as well as seeing her mom kiss Peter.
Peter is a strange character I can't seem to figure out yet. He was way too calm talking about miracles and what not. I'm sure we'll get to know more about him soon. People like him are always hiding something.
Speaking of sketchy people; what is up with Julie's nosey neighbor? She seems far too obsessed with Julie and Victor.
Victor is still pretty sketchy, too. He may be cute, but his silence is unnerving. Julie was unable to turn him over to the police. She's curious about him.
Victor seems to be at the center of this mystery. We know the bus driver saw him standing in the road before it went off the cliff. Now he's drawing pictures of the blackened lake when earlier in the episode we saw Rowan's daughter see black sludge coming out of the sink faucet.
On top of all this, the police are now questioning suspects about the attack on Lucy, who's NOT dead by the way. Suspect #1 is bartender Tony. Officer Nikki was highly suspicious of him considering he was a suspect in a series of murders seven years prior.
Apparently Julie was a victim of one of these attacks, but survived.
Suspect #2 is Simon, but I think we can rule him out. He's too busy following Rowan around.
Overall, I think this episode did a great job at continuing to develop these characters without throwing too much at us at once. It's still going to be difficult to juggle all these new faces and connections: What's the deal between Julie and Officer Nikki? Is Camille more upset that Lena got with Ben, or that Hunter didn't remember her?
So over to you guys! What did you think of the episode? Do you think Rowan will be happy once she finds out Simon is really back? Do you think Tony is the killer or is hiding the identity of the killer? What are your predictions for The Returned Season 1 Episode 3?
Sound off below, and don't forget you can catch up on the mystery when you watch The Returned online via TV Fanatic!
Amanda Steinmetz was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She went into retirement in June of 2027. Follow her on Twitter.
