American Gothic (TV Series) The Buck Stops Here (1996) User Reviews

The Buck, The Temple and The Third Eye

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 23 November 2014]

Billy and Selena go to Lucas' house to seek files that the pharmacist Yancy Lydon claims that have been stolen from the hospital but they end having sex on his bed. Out of the blue, Lucas arrives but they flee through the window. Meanwhile Lydon takes care of his beloved wife Doris that has been comatose for two years and he visits Lucas at his office and threatens him. Lucas go to Selena's classroom and gives a lesson about the one-dollar bill where the Buck, the Temple and the Third Eye are together. Lydon stabs the third eye of Lucas killing him but Billy becomes the prime suspect of the murder and is arrested. After killing his wife, Lydon is visited by Caleb that has inherited the evilness of Lucas. Lydon is saved by Dr. Billy Peale And Deputy Ben Healy while Caleb pays a visit to the coffin of Lucas and tells: "The Buck starts here".

"The Buck Stops Here" is probably the creepiest episode of "American Gothic". Caleb is very scary after the death of Lucas, but the question is: Is Lucas really dead? My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "The Buck Stops Here"

The end of the road for Lucas Buck?

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 5 July 2017]

As this, the penultimate episode opens, Selena and Dr Peale are in bed talking about ways to murder Sheriff Lucas Buck; he thinks it is a joke, she is serious. It then emerges that the bed they are in is none other than Lucas Bucks… and he has just got home. They get away but Selena leaves a little message for Lucas. The next day Lucas pays Selena a visit in class and gives her class an impromptu lesson on the dollar bill; drawing special attention to the temple on the back of the buck; something clearly directed at Caleb. He also draws attention to the 'all seeing eye' above the temple and the motto beneath. Meanwhile pharmacist Yancy Lydon blames Lucas for his wife's prolonged coma decides that is it time that somebody stopped Lucas once and for all.

This is one of the best episodes yet; there may not be much in the say of supernatural weirdness but there is a sense of threat. This culminates in a totally unexpected victim ending up dead and possibly another step towards evil from Caleb. As always Gary Cole impresses as Lucas but it is young Lucas Black who really shines as Caleb Temple; he manages to convey a real sense of menace that leaves the viewer wondering just how things will work out for him. There are other disturbing things; notable Gail eating raw meat, much to the disgust of Deputy Healy. Overall this is a really fine episode that left me keen to discover what will happen in the series finale.