Episode 9 Recap: Key Events Involving Lynn and 5 Other Major Reveals

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Episode 9 of Before and all earlier episodes!

The ninth installment of Before offers limited new information, yet pivotal developments propel the narrative toward its looming climax. This Stephen King-sanctioned thriller intricately explores the eerie connection between Eli, a child psychologist, and Noah, his emotionally distressed patient. While critics have largely dismissed the series, audience reactions are polarized; some find the psychological thriller captivating, while others echo the critics’ sentiments, labeling it tedious and repetitive.

As the miniseries reaches its conclusion next week, Noah and Eli are returning to the farmhouse together, with Noah perilously close to death. The upcoming finale is crucial—it could either redeem the series or confirm its status as one of the least impressive originals from Apple TV+. Regardless, the events of Episode 9 are critical for viewers to recall as they brace for the finale.

6 Eli Is Confined to the Psychiatric Ward

The Hospital Attributes Eli’s Psychosis to an Infection

The previous episode culminates in a dramatic scene where Eli is taken to a psychiatric facility following a breakdown at the farmhouse. In Episode 9, the true nature of his hallucinations is revealed—Eli infamously self-inflicted a wound with a pen, experiencing a complete disconnection from reality and failing to hear Cleo’s attempts to reach him. With Cleo overwhelmed, she turns to the police for help in getting Eli the necessary treatment.

Due to his self-destructive behavior, Eli is placed on a 72-hour involuntary hold in a psychiatric ward—ironically the same one he once operated in. This scenario renders him particularly vulnerable, undergoing the very forced exams he had previously overseen. Considering Eli’s unstable actions throughout the series, it’s surprising that it took this long for him to be admitted.

Moreover, Eli’s expectations clash with the staff’s professionalism. He mistakenly believes he can wield his charm and expertise to manipulate the ward’s nurses, who remain immune to his influence. This dynamic injects tension into Episode 9, heightening Eli’s desperation to save Noah and setting the stage for a gripping series conclusion.

5 Noah and Eli Share Disturbing Symptoms

Both Exhibit Symptoms of Severe Cold in Sweltering Heat

At the beginning of Episode 9, Eli is found shivering and frostbitten, despite the oppressive heat outside. When Denise visits him, she finds him bundled up and puzzlingly cold, highlighting the incongruity with the sultry weather. This strongly suggests that Eli, Noah, and possibly Lynn share a past life in a frozen landscape, a theory that seems to be the only explanation for their supernatural occurrences.

4 Eli Confronts Lynn’s Tragic Death

Eli’s Mercy Killing of Lynn Revealed

From the outset, Before unambiguously portrays Eli’s profound guilt regarding his wife’s death. Throughout the series, viewers grapple with whether his guilt stems from inaction or the killing itself. A pivotal moment in Episode 3 features flashes of Eli allegedly strangling Lynn, which had seemed like a hallucination. Episode 9, however, lays bare the harsh reality of what transpired.

In a shocking confession, Eli admits to a traumatic evening where he returned home to find Lynn on the verge of death in their bathtub, bleeding out. He had ignored the truth that she hadn’t succumbed yet; she was begging him to assist her in dying. In an act termed as merciful violence, he chose to suffocate her to allow her to escape a relentless battle with terminal cancer.

The episode further reveals through Barbara that Lynn had contemplated euthanasia a year prior to her passing, a request Eli had denied. This revelation casts Eli in a much different light—one that suggests a domineering rather than a loving spouse. The audience is left to ponder whether his actions for Lynn constituted redemption or deeper control.

3 Denise Is Unable to Bring Noah Home

Noah’s Foster Mother Has Relinquished Parental Rights

A heartbreaking moment unfolds when Denise attempts to reverse Noah’s transfer to Ithica, only to discover she’s no longer recognized as his foster parent after signing her guardianship rights away. This relinquishment strips her of control over Noah’s medical care. Witnessing her anguish is particularly gut-wrenching, given her deep affection for Noah and the failures of previous foster systems in his life.

Despite the series’ portrayal of Jane as antagonistic, condemning the medical staff seems unjust. The complex bond between Noah and Eli challenges prevailing medical understanding, leaving little reason for Jane to trust Eli’s assertions about Noah’s condition, especially considering his concealed motives surrounding Noah’s treatment. Had he been more transparent about his beliefs, it might have fostered more credibility.

Ultimately, it’s important to recognize that all characters—including Denise—are genuinely invested in Noah’s wellbeing. While Denise seeks to safeguard her foster child’s health and happiness, the medical personnel strive to assess the most comprehensive explanations for his condition. Eli, meanwhile, is convinced he knows how to save Noah, setting the stage for confrontation.

2 Eli Discloses His Past Life Hypothesis

Eli Shares His Previously Suspected Hypothesis

As many keen viewers may have anticipated, Eli finally articulates his theory regarding his and Noah’s interconnected past lives during Denise’s psychiatric ward visit. Initially reluctant to share, Eli grapples with the fear of appearing delusional, especially given his current psychiatric evaluation status. Ironically, those around him lack the audience’s contextual insight that suggests truth in his claims.

In a moment of desperation, Eli reveals his belief that he, Noah, and Lynn are three souls intertwined through numerous reincarnations. If his theory holds any veracity, it implies that Noah suffered a prior traumatic event at the farmhouse, leading him to fixate on the location as Benjamin. This fixation is manifested in Noah’s compulsion to photograph the house, indicating residual psychic effects from his previous life trauma.

This theory presents three potential embodiments of Noah: his current form, Benjamin, and the child illustrated in Lynn’s story. Whether this child is the one who experienced the original trauma at the farmhouse remains unclear and may require the finale to address. Fans will eagerly await clarification on whether Eli’s assertions concerning Noah’s past life are legitimate.

1 Eli Kidnaps Noah from the Ambulance

Eli and Noah Set Out for the Farmhouse

The latest episode concludes with an intense cliffhanger, actively advancing the plot rather than merely presenting exposition. Following Denise’s visit, Eli realizes the imminent risk Noah faces if transferred to Ithica. Trapped within the psychiatric facility and unable to connect with Noah, Eli contemplates a daring rescue as he hears the rhythmic ticking of a clock and a pen clicking in the background.

In a surprising turn, he resorts to slamming his hand onto the clicking pen, setting off a chain of events that leads to Noah being taken to the Emergency Room. Eli’s calculated move results in him escaping detection by nurses and doctors, and he gains access to the ambulance bound for Noah.

When Noah asks if this trip signals a return home, Eli responds that they are both going home, implying a shared journey back to the farmhouse. As the miniseries approaches its finale, the repercussions of their return to the farmhouse and the true nature of the connection among Eli, Noah, and Lynn are eagerly anticipated by fans.

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