The Worst Thing Ellie From Locke And Key Ever Did

Premiering on Netflix in 2020, the popular series "Locke & Key" explores grief through a complex lens, taking the time to unravel the complicated emotions that the three titular Locke siblings experience after the loss of their father. Soon after its premiere, one reviewer wrote, "It is, at heart, a horror-tinged fantasy epic, but before all the spooky stuff really kicks in, it begins as a textured and wrenching story of loss" (via The Guardian). After moving to Keyhouse, a home that has belonged to the Lockes for generations, Kinsey (Emilia Jones), Tyler (Connor Jessup), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) discover a series of magical keys, each of which possesses immense power. As they begin to experiment with these newfound abilities, they unexpectedly garner attention from dark, magical figures.

While learning more about their family history, the Lockes eventually come to meet Ellie Whedon (Sherri Saum), who reveals that she belonged to a tight-knit group of friends in high school that includes their father, Rendell (Bill Heck). Although Kinsey and Tyler harbor suspicions regarding Ellie's behavior, they come to trust her when she divulges the tragedy that befell her friend group once they started using the Keys. As teens, Ellie and the others inadvertently allow a demonic presence to enter the human realm. In a devastating twist, Ellie's boyfriend, Lucas (Felix Mallard), is possessed by the demon and killed after he tries to attack his friends. Desperate, Ellie helps hide the truth of his death. However, while shocking, this is far from the worst thing she ever does.

As Ellie later explains to the Locke children, she works to move on from the anguish of her teen years. However, her heartache over losing Lucas persists. Eventually, her desire to see him again overrides her initial promise to refrain from utilizing the Keys ever again. As an adult, Ellie returns to Keyhouse Manor and uses the Echo Key in an attempt to bring Lucas back from the dead. Yet, she doesn't resurrect her old boyfriend — instead, she revives Dodge, the demon who possesses him before he's killed. Ultimately, Ellie's impulsive act is catastrophic. Once Dodge returns, taking on a new visage played by Laysla De Oliveira, the demon kills many characters in her bloodthirsty quest for revenge. She's also the puppet master behind the coldblooded murder of Rendell in the present day. 

On Reddit, one viewer noted that it was particularly unforgivable when taking into account the many years that pass before Ellie chooses to use the Echo Key. Unlike the original comic book, which depicts a teenage Ellie trying to summon her beloved companion in a fit of grief, she's a full-fledged adult in the series. As u/PlumsweetSoda pointed out, "In the show I wasn't sure WHEN she summoned the Echo but in the comic she's at least still a teenager (who are notorious for not making good choices) so it's a little more forgivable when she f***s up." In the end, Ellie's decision truly leads to a bleak, destructive series of events – one that negatively changes the lives of the Lockes forever.