‘Cape Fear’ Episode 6 Recap & Review: “Possum” Takes a Strange Turn

This article contains spoilers for Apple TV’s Cape Fear Episode 6

With the season now half over, Cape Fear has maintained a sense of dread and foreboding, even if it borders on silly at times. Episode 6, “Possum,” attempts to balance Max Cady’s (Javier Bardem) backstory with some weird moments that, while they don’t always hit, leave us with a clearer sense of what drives Max. Not that it was a big mystery.

The episode continues to show the Bowden family further split as tensions rise. However, as Max Cady continues his dangerous games, someone is giving him a dose of his own medicine.

Cape Fear Episode 6 Gives Max Cady More Backstory

The episode opens with a flashback showing an injured Max recovering in prison after an attack. He is approached by Padrino (Paul Calderon), the leader of a religious faction in prison that is not ruled by violence. Intrigued by the idea that it lets him speak to the dead, Max embraces it.

However, Padrino underestimates Max, who discovers that Padrino arranged for those men to try to kill him. Max then shows Padrino the error of his ways, not only in the choices he made but also in his belief that anger, rage, and violence were still part of him. They help focus and drive him and are like an old friend, as we can see in the present day.

The Bowden family is still fracturing in all directions, which makes for entertaining TV, but some of the absurdity detracts from what has been built up so far. Anna (Amy Adams) and Tom (Patrick Wilson) are both suspended from their jobs. At home, they are forced to confront the secrets they have been keeping, and neither is handling it well.

RELATED: ‘The Voices of Our Mother’ Interview: Mark O’Brien & Sheila McCarthy on Demons and Family Trauma

Natalie (Lily Collias) hides her fear by drinking while seeing visions that may or may not be real. Meanwhile, Zach (Joe Anders) continues to slide into an unstable mental state that threatens himself and everyone around him. All in all, it’s not a great time to be part of this family, and it’s not sustainable.

Max continues his psychological warfare. His current goal is to kill Natalie with kindness. In her vulnerable state, she is an easy target. However, not everything is going according to plan for Max. He continues to receive mail from the mysterious Crystal (Juliette Lewis), who stalks and taunts him.

He’s not enjoying it, ranting on the phone to someone to take care of her, which sounds a lot like Padrino. It is fascinating to watch Max stalk and taunt the Bowden family while he himself is stalked and taunted by Crystal.

“Possum” Takes Some Strange Turns

The strangest moment of the episode occurs when Anna, Tom, and Natalie discover their iced tea has been spiked. This triggers a range of reactions, and they let their guard down, admitting things they haven’t before. Anna, for instance, mentions being sober for 17 years, a detail that traces back to the mysterious incident that has yet to be revealed. Overall, it felt inauthentic and phony.

It led to a confrontation between Anna and Zach, during which she asked him whether he had spiked their tea. He made it clear that she was not his family.

The weirdness continues when Tom discovers that Nevaeh (Malia Pyles) has been secretly living in the house. After a struggle with Tom, Anna finally subdues Nevaeh, and they realize Zach has left. The camera pans across the street to Max’s house. It’s an interesting way to end the episode.

The writers make some odd choices in “Possum,” resulting in the strangest episode yet. The show has always walked the line between silly, trashy, and twisted, and this week the silly side unfortunately won out. That didn’t always work in its favor.

Cape Fear Episode 6 is now streaming on Apple TV. New episodes premiere every Friday through July 31.