SURREALESTATE – Season 3 Episode 3 – (limited spoilers) ⁓

The name of the spirit inhabiting Tyler MacNeil (R Austin Ball) is Charismalech (Malech for short), at least that is how he is addressed by Seven (Karen Knox), a being from a different plane of existence who visits the possessed MacNeil as he is practicing his golf swing. The two have a revealing conversation in which three other spirits are named, all of whom are reputed to have shapeshifting abilities. Malech thinks they might have laughed at him for being trapped inside a stuffed toy at the bottom of a lake for thirty-five years. They are:

• Nergal — a Mesopotamian god of disease and death.
• Sedit — the death deity of the Wintum people.
• Mormo — a frightening spirit only vaguely described in Greek myth.

Then Seven says something that piques Malech’s interest.

SEVEN: “Malech, there is a space right now on the higher plane.”
MALECH: “Seven, you gotta hold me that spot. Look, I was just gonna kill the guy and move on. Then I thought: ‘Luke Roman is no ordinary doofus. He has this link across the veil. Talks to ’em, negotiates with them.’ Just imagine if I could hop into his skin. Open up a whole new territory. Death would no longer be the end for us.”
SEVEN: “Why have you not done this already?”
MALECH: “Something about him resists it. I’m gonna find the way in.”

Augie and Tag

Augie (Maurice Dean Wint) recommends a shut-in named Thornton Guiness (Alex Ozerov-Meyer), whose nickname is ‘Tag’, to replace Roman/Ireland’s departed researcher Phil Orley. In a phone interview, Tag explains that he has been troubleshooting submarines and has many contacts that enable him to research anything without leaving his apartment. He colourfully likens Virginia Class u-boats to the eighteen-armed Hindu warrior goddess Durga (in a wetsuit riding a snorkeling tiger while hurling missiles and torpedoes). It might not be relevant, but Seven, the name of Charismalech’s visitor, is a number that occurs frequently in Hindu cosmology.

Luke is skeptical of a shut-in’s ability to do the necessary research, and initially declines to hire Tag.

Taking the initiative, Tag makes himself immensely helpful to Susan (Sarah Levy) and her client Erewhon Properties, whose representative Keith Hoogeboom (Francesco Filice) is having trouble with the demolition permits necessary to redevelop some local farmland. Tag phones Susan with the necessary information without being asked (or given her number). When the farm turns out to be haunted, Tag uncovers its history and provides the necessary data to send the restless spirits on their way, but not before one of them threatens Susan with a rusty scythe.

The name Erewhon Properties is very likely a reference to the 1872 Samuel Butler novel Erewhon, a satirical and humourous discussion of hypocrisy and uncritical thinking.

Madison and Luke

While jogging, Luke passes Madison (Hannah Cheesman). They exchange glances, and she later visits his office. Madison explains that ‘Death’ is her nom de guerre and that she is familiar with Luke’s spirit-whispering abilities. She has come to ask for a favour, because one of Luke’s old clients has died and is refusing to move on. Luke talks to Mr. Padgett’s ghost (Paul Whitney), addresses his concerns, and persuades him to follow Madison.

This turns out to be a bit of a setup, though, because Luke’s current client, a single mom with a young child, drops dead as she is looking at the property Luke just sold her. Luke tries to bargain for Isobel’s life, but Death is having none of that. “It was her time,” says Madison, accepting a beer she had not ordered from bartender Lloyd (James Allodi). Though Luke is not happy about doing it, he talks the forlorn spirit of Isobel (Celine Bauwmans) into leaving.

Epilogue

After another unfortunate dating experience, Susan returns to her fixer-upper house to continue the renovations and work out her frustrations by taking a sledge hammer to a wall. She tells Lomax (Elena Juatco), who is calmly stirring some paint: “Yesterday I got chased through a field, by a vengeful farmer ghost couple, and nearly decapitated by a big, sharp, rusty cutting thingy, and that still wasn’t the worst part of my day. Seriously, I’m done with dating. I’m done with guys, done with trying. I promised my mom I’d be about more than work. That I would actually have a life, you know, maybe a companion, a relationship. Now I know that just means having a dog.”

Mischievous music plays in the background as Lomax responds with a smile. “Or a cat,” she says.

“I look forward to knowing all about each and every one of you in a not-at-all inappropriate, creepy way,” says Thornton Guiness, after being officially hired. August and Tag participate weekly (on Thursday nights) in a role-playing game called Alpacalypse, with a scenario similar to Game of Thrones, but with llamas instead of dragons.

next episode – A FAMILY THING

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All episodes of SURREALESTATE can be streamed on HULU in the US, and on CTV Sci-Fi Channel in Canada.