As the season draws towards a close, things are getting stranger and stranger for Dream and the people in his orbit. The Lord of Dreams still has to deal with reclaiming lost items from his time in captivity, the complex problem of Rose the Dream Vortex, and some weird ripples throughout his lands. There are also some problems with his staff, a bunch of serial killers, and an attempt at a family reunion as we deal with “Collectors.”

Things start off with Rose and Lyta comparing notes on their impossible dreams of the night before, each having come away with something they didn’t have before. They’re both a bit confused but, since everything is indicating this is actually happening, they accept the strange new reality for now. Hearing all this, Matthew the Raven goes back to the Dreaming and has a talk with Lucien that includes recent developments, hurt feelings, and growing dangers.

In a scene that seems innocent enough on the surface but makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck when you know what’s going on, the Corinthian takes Jed out for ice cream and tells some not-quite-truths about their plans. Jed has questions, and the killer he’s with has some easy evasions and an interesting philosophy about names. Rose and Lyta have a very interesting conversation about the weird ramifications of Rose’s out of control power, and Lyta takes a stand for what she wants. They get interrupted by a phone call that seems to be a good news, Rose gets a new mission, and her housemate Gilbert agrees to accompany her, as Lyta is rather indisposed by current events.

The Corinthian brings Jed to one of the strangest conventions, which is somehow more or less believable. They get checked in, deal with the people running the event, and the Corinthian explains a few things to an over-enthusiastic attendee. Rose and Gilbert have a long talk on their road trip, covering future plans, the joy of travel, and Lyta’s current health, although Gilbert doesn’t really know what’s going on there. Speaking of Lyta, she spends some more time with her late husband  until they get interrupted by some strange events. They think everything is fine, and don’t see some of the damage that’s been caused. Merv Pumpkinhead, voiced by the legendary Mark Hamill, bumps into some of the disruptions caused by the disagreement between Morpheus and Lucianne. Learning of recent events, Morpheus resolves to take action.

Even an immortal Endless, personification of a concept, can admit to making a mistake if they’re brave enough, and Morpheus awkwardly attempts to do so with Lucianne. She gets in a few bitter barbs before they get around to the present problems, and Lucianna delivers some unwelcome news about Rose and her abilities. Rose calls Unity to share her good news, and gets a really generous offer from the older woman. While Unity debates this decision with an understandably not thrilled counselor, Rose and Gilbert talk about the many changes coming to Rose so fast. Rose worries about how different Jed might be now, since they’ve been apart so long, and it’s a perfectly reasonable concern. A very neatly done scene shift shows that Rose is worrying about things she doesn’t need to, as Jed enjoys a snack and watches some tv. And, as soon as he gets the chance, Jed is off being a kid, and in particular the tv and movie kind of kid who is given good advice and utterly ignores it, causing major problems for those around them.

Even a convention as extraordinary and unusual as this one follows some of the forms like a more normal one, with opening remarks, someone who shouldn’t be doing public speaking telling a joke, and a list of rules that the attendees complain about even if they actually make sense and are for the benefit of everyone there. There’s a special announcement, and one of the major characters gets a lot of attention, which I would think would interfere with just about everything he’s trying to do. Gilbert waxes philosophical about people’s interests and manages to bore Rose to sleep, which is a risky thing on a show like this and with someone of Rose’s abilities. Rose ends up in the strange little pocket of the Dreaming where Lyta and Hector are. There’s some of the time differential that kicks up in some fantasy settings, and then someone goes to do their duty and keep their master informed about new developments.

Inside Hector’s (literal) dream house, things take a nasty turn. Morpheus has arrived, and he’s not at all pleased about what’s going on. He delivers his edicts coldly and with no thought to how it will affect anyone else involved. Being the absolute master of a realm can do bad things for your diplomacy and interpersonal skills, it seems. Morpheus leaves on a great line, but then is due for a surprise himself. Rose still doesn’t have a clear idea of what’s going on, but she’s getting the hang of some of her talents, and confronts Morpheus about his decisions. After her brave confrontation, Rose wakes up and has a teary conversation with Lyta via cell phone about what just happened. While I understand the sentiment, I think Rose is making some promises here she can’t keep. A concerned Gilbert asks a few questions, and gets more or less brushed off by the steaming mad Rose.

The convention is in full swing, with a unique mixer going on. The Corinthian gets approached by a fan with a lot of questions, and sets up a meeting for later. Immediately afterward, he brings some unwelcome news to the convention planners, and they resolve to take some steps. Things start taking on an almost absurdist turn as Jed plays a very high stakes game of hide and seek, Rose and Gilbert just barely miss some serious trouble, and Rose receives some surprising news at the front desk of the hotel. As Rose sorts some things out, Gilbert wanders the convention and hears a lot of disturbing things.

Things are beginning to pick up steam as events get weirder. The convention runners offer the Corinthian a special opportunity, given his status. In a somewhat unexpected development, it appears that two characters we haven’t seen cross paths before know each other, and at least one of them isn’t pleased to see the other. A disturbing attendee talks about his specialty, which ties in to an urban rumor about the Happiest Place on Earth. There are other fragments of weird conversations before the Corinthian finds who he’s looking for and slowly, expertly, eases them away from the crowd. Which, anyone attending this should know better than and be worried about.

While Rose gets more surprises, Dream consults with Lucienne about what must be done. The mystery surrounding Fiddler’s Green is resolved, and it’s not at all what I was expecting. Morpheus gets a lot of surprising news all at once, which has to be an unwelcome feeling for some used to having pretty much all the power and knowledge they need. The Corinthian uses a very effective technique to distract his quarry, leading the victim into a situation he can’t get out of. With some truly bad timing, Jed sees something no one, especially a kid, should have to see, and flees. Unfortunately, he finds what might be the worst possible person at the gathering, and makes an understandable, but bad, choice. The returned Fiddler’s Green relates their tale, and then finds out something surprising about a recently made friend.

Things build to a climax as we hear the fate ordained for a main character, Jed and Rose reunite under incredibly bad circumstances, and there’s a very strange chase scene. This is brought to an end by someone else interceding in a very final kind of way, and one of the characters’ ongoing quests appears to draw to an end. There’s very much an “out of the frying pan, into the fire” kind of feel to the final scene.

What I Liked: The writing continues to be fantastic on this show, and the visual effects are stunning. I can understand Rose being willing to take on someone incredibly powerful to defend her friend, but it’s not a great idea for her. Or potentially anyone else involved. There is some great acting here, presenting us a wide range of characters to enjoy, like, despise, and recoil from. The convention is creepy and disturbing and really well executed on just about every level. The tension builds nicely through the episode, and the end scene is a hell of a cliffhanger to leave us on.

What I Didn’t: Really, very little. Morpheus seems to be taking a long time to get a handle on his domain, but then, he was gone for a considerable time. At least to mortals, maybe not to beings like him. Dream’s haughtiness might well be his undoing, but it’s very true to character.

This episode, like the rest of the series, has been fantastic. I’m giving this a 4.5 out of 5. What comes next should be interesting.