Wayward Pines episode 6, “Choices,” elaborated on the big reveals from episode 5. We look at the top five revelations from “Choices.”
The answers to the questions about what is going on in Wayward Pines, Idaho, keep coming in this week’s episode, as David Pilcher/Dr. Jenkins reveals the truth to Ethan inside his secret mountain base that sustains the town.
So, what were the most intriguing reveals from the episode?
Hundreds of volunteers keep Wayward Pines running
Not only are there hundreds of people still sleeping into their cryo tubes, but there are a couple hundred volunteers working in Pilcher’s secret mountain base (one of multiple bases, apparently) to keep the town running. The people manufacture the goods the town needs, serve as the unhelpful voice on the other end of the phone line, and apparently do research on the Abbies.
A lot more people survived the end of the world than it initially seemed. Megan Fisher isn’t the only one praising the name of David Pilcher, it seems.
Nurse Pam is Pilcher’s sister
Yep, we did not see this one coming. Her complete devotion to the town and its mission makes a lot more sense knowing how involved she was in its formation, however.
It was also interesting to see how her attitude toward Ethan changed once he was brought in on the secret. This seems to be closer to the true Pam, the recovering drug addict from the flashbacks. Realizing the town must be kept in line, however, pushes her to become an almost cartoonish version of herself to keep the town going and ensure the survival of the human race.
Related: The Wayward Pines reveal: Looking at the apparent time inconsistencies
Sheriff Pope was once a security guard
One component of Pilcher’s story about the past was his recruitment of people to save from the impending apocalypse. Arnold Pope, mild-mannered security guard at Pilcher’s company, was one of his first recruits. Pope had a checkered past, including stints in prison, but he cleaned up his life. He was exactly the sort of man that Pilcher wanted to bring with him into his new world.
Interestingly, we also learn that Pope applied, twice, to the police academy and was rejected due to his past. His fanatical devotion to his position as sheriff makes a lot more sense with that background. His ice cream obsession apparently began in his former life as well, as we get a specific mention of that as well.
There was a Group A of Wayward Pines residents
One of Ethan’s main objections to what is going on in the town is that people are being kept in the dark about the truth and ruled by fear. They deserve to learn the truth, he asserts. Pilcher doesn’t disagree — at least in theory. Practice, however, is another beast entirely.
Pilcher reveals that the current group of Wayward Pines residents are part of Group B. Group A was the first awakened out of stasis, and they learned the truth immediately. The truth ended up destroying the town, as people either ran away (to be eaten by Abbies) or committed suicide. The truth was simply too much for them to handle.
Follow-up question: There must have been some people who were able to handle the truth better than those who died. Right?
Related: Wayward Pines EP talks revealing the truth, promises more twists
Kate and Harold are planning to blow up the fence
We learned that Pilcher specifically woke Ethan up now because Wayward Pines has become unstable, and Ethan is meant to be a stabilizing influence. Part of this instability is a faction whose goal is to destroy the fence to find out what is beyond.
The leaders of that group? Kate and Harold. We see the couple complete a bomb that will take down the fence. Little do they know that they will doom the entire population of Wayward Pines in doing so.
Follow-up question: Will Theresa, who is falling down the Plot 33 rabbit hole, join the resistance? She seems destined for it, which would put both Kate and Theresa at odds with Ethan, who has now agreed to protect the town.
With four episodes left, Wayward Pines has taken an unexpected and intriguing route that we look forward to following to the end.