Locke & Key has a central focus for its final season

"Locke & Key" has always been defined by family: it's a show where the main characters can only truly trust their siblings - where a significant other can turn out to be a shape-shifting demon. It's a show that began with the murder of a father and a mother's descent into alcoholism, leaving the Locke siblings to fend for themselves. Even the latest villain ties in perfectly with family lore, having targeted the Lockes in the 18th century.

While it's fitting that the final season of "Locke & Key" comes full circle by returning to one of its original themes, it also seems remarkable that some of the recent Netflix's supernatural TV shows bring family and close interpersonal relationships to the forefront. "The Umbrella Academy" fits best, as the Hargreeves siblings may have stopped three apocalypses so far, but the show has always prioritized their family dynamic. That said, it's far from the only recent example. Just take the final season of “Stranger Things,” where the conflicts and bonds between families (and senior friends, who have become a family in their own right) take center stage.

While we wouldn't be surprised if Netflix's focus on family is a strategy to keep viewers invested in each new season (and subscribed to the platform), it's nonetheless an interesting model - and one that makes for captivating stories.