Dead Boy Detectives episode 6 recap: Esther puts her revenge plan into action

A significant improvement over the last two episodes, Dead Boy Detectives episode 6 finally brings the witch Esther Finch back into the fray in a big way and Jenn Lyon's deliciously campy performance makes for a bright spot.

Spoilers ahead for Dead Boy Detectives episode 6

I haven't been a fan of the Monty storyline as his character feels a bit boring and too much like a plot device. In contrast to the other strong characterizations on the show, Monty sticks out like a sore thumb as rather flat.

Still, this was a compelling episode with a fun "monster" and a satisfying side storyline between Jenny and Niko. Plus, we get to see Crystal tap into her powers further and take back control from David. The ending delivers a satisfying twist that sets up the remaining two episodes of the season.

Jump to one of our other Dead Boy Detectives recaps:

• Episode 1 recap
• Episode 2 recap
• Episode 3 recap
• Episode 4 recap
• Episode 5 recap
• Episode 6 recap
• Episode 7 recap
• Episode 8 recap

Niko is in a funk after everything that went down between Jenny and Maxine. Blaming herself for Maxine's actions, she laments that "love" isn't what she thought it was and feels disconnected from the anime and manga she normally takes delight in enjoying. Crystal offers her a reprieve when she turns to her for assistance. She wants David the Demon out of her head. Permanently.

They visit Tragic Mick's magic shop and he gifts them something called the heart of light that's supposed to help the user break free of toxic entanglements. The heart works, finally silencing her mind and pushing David out—with just one caveat. It removes Crystal's powers.

Just in time for Charles and Edwin to show up and ask her for help in a new case. Monty has come calling and would like them to assist him in finding out what happened to his ghost friend "Gladys." In reality, there is no Gladys. Monty is luring the boys into a dark and creepy forest as part of Esther's evil revenge plan.

Crystal wants to keep her missing powers secret from Charles and Edwin but it becomes apparent when they ask her to get a reading and she can't do it. They vow to help her after they solve Monty's ghost problem, which turns out to be a case of a strange fungus that consumes ghosts.

Edwin makes a concoction to rid the forest of the fungus, but then it just spreads further. Clearly there is something more going on here and Charles finds a book in their London office (via mirror portal) that has a more apt description. They're dealing with an interdimensional being that consumes all spirit energy.

Specifically, Esther has summoned a giant ghost-eating mushroom that lives underground. When she realizes Monty can't go through with her dastardly plan to have the boys consumed, she brutally kills him (well, turns him back into a crow). Esther then summons the mushroom monstrosity which then begins eating Charles and Edwin.

A despondent Crystal finds herself unable to help, at least, until she accesses a deeper part of her mind and taps into all the power of her ancestors. Using her newfound abilities, Crystal fights off Esther and throws her to the mushroom. It swallows her up and takes her to another dimension.

While all of this is happening in the forest, we check in with the Night Nurse who has found herself in the stomach of the massive anglerfish known as Angie. There's another guy trapped inside with her and he offers her a new perspective on her job. The Night Nurse has been overconfident, assuming the afterlife is better than what's on earth. But how can she know that? She's never been to an afterlife. He also helps her escape from the fish's stomach where she quickly returns to the see Edwin and Charles and finish her duty.

During their latest confrontation, they tell her that Edwin wound up in Hell due to a technicality and for the first time, the Night Nurse checks her book and sees that there has, indeed, been a clerical error. It's unlike anything she's ever encountered before. She'll need to consult her superiors to find out the next step. The boys are free! Well, not exactly. Seconds later, a giant spider made of baby doll parts gets activated in Hell, opens a portal to Earth, captures Edwin, and takes him back to Hell. Yikes.

Odds & Ends

• Tragic Mick gets a beautifully-animated backstory sequence in this episode when he tells Crystal and Niko what happened to him. A goddess named Sedna granted him a wish to become human and walk on land, but in exchange he would no longer be allowed back into the sea with his family. Once it happened, Mick immediately regretted it and has been trying to find his way back ever since.
• Jenny tells Niko that she doesn't blame her for what happened with Maxine. Jenny doesn't hate Niko, but she does have complicated feelings. She hasn't yet forgiven Niko for pushing the date on her in the first place and crossing her boundaries. I appreciated this convo because, sure, Niko had good intentions, but she did pressure Jenny into something she wasn't ready for and it was nice to have Jenny say, "Hey, I don't hate you, but I need time to digest this trauma."
• Just before Edwin gets yanked back to Hell, he and Charles have a sweet conversation that pretty much amounts to Edwin coming out. Charles is totally accepting of Edwin and tells him exactly what he needs to hear.