Ep 2. New Jerusalem

As the second episode of Castle Rock Season 2, "New Jerusalem" sets the scene for the upcoming drama, introducing new characters and plotlines while also digging deeper into old ones. The episode opens with a mysterious young woman named Annie Wilkes (played by Lizzy Caplan), who has just arrived in the titular town of Castle Rock with her teenage daughter Joy (Elsie Fisher). Annie is a nurse who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, and she's also a huge fan of the novelist Paul Sheldon, who was famously held captive by a psychotic nurse in one of his books.

Soon, Annie and Joy are taken in by Ace Merrill (Paul Sparks), the charismatic but dangerous patriarch of the Merrill crime family. Ace's family has a long and troubled history in Castle Rock, and he seems to have taken a particular interest in Annie and Joy, offering them a place to live and work. But as we soon discover, there's more going on than meets the eye. Ace is involved in some sort of shady real estate deal, buying up properties in the town and evicting the residents. He's also involved with a mysterious schismatic religious group called the Church of the Incarnation, who believe that they're preparing for the end of the world.

Meanwhile, we also get a glimpse into the life of Pop Merrill (Tim Robbins), Ace's uncle and the former owner of the local Emporium store. Pop is a grizzled Vietnam vet who's now struggling with cancer, and he's also haunted by memories of his time in the war. He's also struggling to come to terms with the fact that Ace is taking over the family business, and he's worried about what that means for the future of Castle Rock.

As the episode unfolds, we see the various characters start to interact in unexpected ways. Annie begins to work at the Emporium with Pop, and Joy starts to explore the town and make friends with some of the other local teens. But as tensions rise and secrets are revealed, it becomes clear that there's something sinister lurking just beneath the surface of Castle Rock. The Church of the Incarnation's true agenda is slowly revealed, and Ace's motivations become increasingly murky.

Through it all, the show maintains its signature tone of slow-burning dread and psychological horror. Lizzy Caplan's performance as Annie Wilkes is a standout, perfectly capturing the character's manic energy and obsessive tendencies. Elsie Fisher is also excellent as Joy, bringing a sense of vulnerability to the character that makes her all the more sympathetic. And the rest of the cast is strong as well, especially Paul Sparks as the smooth-talking Ace Merrill and Tim Robbins as the world-weary Pop.

Overall, "New Jerusalem" is a strong follow-up to the premiere episode, setting the stage for what promises to be a captivating and unsettling season of Castle Rock. If you're a fan of the show's unique brand of psychological horror, or if you simply enjoy creepy, character-driven dramas, this is definitely an episode worth checking out.