The Returned

Basic Information | |
---|---|
Type | Eldritch Terror |
Description | Resurrected dead, mortal and immortal |
Location | Greendale, temporarily |
Characteristics | Confused, vengeful, and/or dangerous |
Mentioned | Part 4, Episode 6 |
There are eight Eldritch Terrors that plague the town of Greendale, and the 6th one is called the Returned. Both moral and immortal dead are resurrected in this Terror, but they aren't as they appear. They don't remember the circumstances of their passing, and triggering such a memory can bring about unexpected and sometimes deadly consequences.
"They may not even know that they have perished. Do not upset them. The dead must be made to feel welcome. Or else... bad things will happen."
— Mambo Marie
Familiar Faces
Familiar Vinegar Tom is the first of the Returned to appear, and he goes to the Spellman Mortuary. Even though his master, Zelda Spellman, welcomes him, voodoo priestess Mambo Marie warns that all is not what it seems. Lazarus, an avatar for the dead, soon faces off against Mambo Marie in a tense game of Senet, an ancient Egyptian board game of moving pawns.
Next up, the reunions continue. Edward Spellman returns home and is found sitting at his desk when Sabrina enters her Aunt Zelda's office. When Sabrina reminds him that she is his daughter and his wife Diana is deceased, Edward denies being her parent, claiming that Lucifer is her father instead. He attacks Sabrina, but Zelda is able to stop any harm coming to Sabrina.
Meanwhile, Dorcas is another of the Returned who comes back to their former home. She joins her sister Agatha and the two braid hair until she remembers that Agatha killed her. Luckily, Prudence takes the scissors away before this sister can enact her revenge. Dorcas eventually forgives Agatha, restoring her sanity.
The last of the Returned is Dr. Cerberus' mother, Elaine Kosgrove. Hilda finds her looking unresponsive and covered in flies. She wakes up suddenly and attacks her with a knife, accusing Hilda of being a witch. Dr. Cerberus steps in and locks his mother in a closet so that no harm will come to Hilda.
Battle of the Bands
Satanic Panic, a resurrected punk band, challenges the Fright Club to a battle of the bands. They even have Harvey's dad as leverage in this showdown at the Gates of Hell. Sabrina forms her own band to defeat them, called The Dark Mothers, and successfully wins the competition. This allows for Harvey's father, who was being held hostage, to be freed.
Lilith's Solution
Meanwhile, Mambo Marie and Lazarus are still locked into a deadly game. Lilith asks for her child to be returned to life. Unfortunately, this can't be done, and Lazarus wins the game of Senet. This means the living and dead would forever suffer and feed the approaching Void. She promptly kills him with the Spear of Longinus. Mambo Marie leads the dead back to their grave and reveals herself to be Baron Samedi, a powerful Haitian spirit of death and rebirth. With that, the Returned are defeated. The Baron goes back to the underworld. However, Vinegar Tom is allowed to stay with Zelda.
Fun Facts
- Sabrina forms her own band, The Dark Mothers, and sings “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
- The Returned rise from their graves but have no memory of dying.
- Lilith uses the Spear of Longinus to kill Lazarus. This is supposedly the same one that pierced Christ’s side.
- Even though the rest of the dead cannot stay in the realm of the living, Zelda's familiar is allowed to stay.
Written by Abigail Payne
Code by Hugo Prendergast