This article delves into themes of mental health and contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Before!
Overview of the Series Before
Billy Crystal’s captivating miniseries Before, exclusively on Apple TV+, encapsulates the complex relationship between Eli, a child psychologist, and his young patient, Noah. The story unfolds through a series of intriguing encounters, marked by an enigmatic ending that examines concepts of reincarnation and the effects of trauma. Noah mysteriously appears at Eli’s home several times, leading to Eli’s decision to accept him as a patient. As their therapeutic relationship develops, Eli discovers a profound and supernatural bond with Noah, one that is intricately linked to an old farmhouse.
Eli’s Discoveries and Noah’s Symptoms
The narrative intensifies as Eli observes that Noah’s symptoms transcend conventional medical explanations. Noah experiences vivid hallucinations, such as visions of a worm, dark waters, and icy surroundings. These disturbing phenomena aren’t merely figments of his imagination; they signify something deeper. Eli’s actions begin to raise concerns among his colleagues, who speculate that he is undergoing a mental breakdown—exacerbated by the recent death of his wife, Lynn. Following a dramatic turn of events where Eli escapes from psychiatric care and takes Noah into hiding, they venture back to the farmhouse to confront their shared past and the haunting impacts of unresolved trauma.
How Eli Saves Noah’s Life in Before
Healing Through Reenactment
Faced with Noah’s rapidly declining health and irrational symptoms, Eli takes drastic measures. By the climax of episode nine, Noah is perilously close to death when Eli makes the fateful decision to drive his ambulance away from the hospital. Realizing that their salvation lies in reliving the critical events of their past, Eli takes Noah beneath the water, altering the course of their fate. Miraculously, Noah regains consciousness without any recollection of the traumatic events, shedding his previous symptoms and allowing his true personality to resurface.
Unraveling the Farmhouse Mystery
The Trauma of the Past
The series builds tension around the central enigma: what transpired at the farmhouse that affects Noah so deeply? Eli, in his quest for answers, uncovers that Noah’s distress is rooted in trauma from a past life spent in that farmhouse. While this connection is hinted at throughout the show, it isn’t until their journey back to the location that revelations unfold. In a critical flashback, Eli recalls a tragic incident where, during an innocent game, he accidentally causes Noah’s past self to fall and drown beneath the ice, instilling a lifelong fear associated with that memory.
Why Eli Continues to Hallucinate the Worm
Unresolved Trauma
While Noah emerges free from the grip of his past life trauma, Eli’s journey is far more complex. He remains haunted by hallucinations of a worm beneath his skin—an image that appears disconnected from the events at the farmhouse. This lingering vision raises crucial questions about Eli’s unresolved traumas and whether they’re tied to multiple lifetimes. Eli’s inability to forgive himself could also play a part in his continued suffering, signalling that the burden of guilt continues to hover over him, long after Noah has found relief.
Noah’s Identity in the Past Life
The Final Revelation
As the series moves toward its finale, the question of identity complicates Noah’s narrative. The mark on Noah’s chest aligns with Benjamin’s bruise, suggesting a deeper connection between the two characters across lifetimes. Eli’s dream calling for a friend echoes a similar plea from the past, leading viewers to ponder the interconnected fates of Noah, Lynn, and the Dutch girl. Although many hints suggest Noah is more closely linked to Benjamin than Lynn, the series leaves ambiguity in its wake, inviting a multitude of interpretations.
The True Message of Before’s Ending
Life’s Core Philosophies Explored
The conclusion of Before does not shy away from imparting its philosophical core. Eli poses a poignant question about the relationship between life, death, and what lies in between, suggesting that if an afterlife exists, so must a beforelife. This philosophical exploration encourages viewers to contemplate the cyclical nature of existence. However, it also warns against facing unresolved trauma without proper guidance—particularly given Eli’s ethically questionable decisions throughout the series. This duality in messaging, while powerful, also raises ethical concerns about the influence of such portrayals in narratives driven by psychological elements.
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