2025-08-17 1:30:08 ¶ ●

There’s both a tragedy and an irony that Gertrude couldn’t find peace from the rituals in death.

There’s a tragedy because Gertrude spent her entire life trying to save the world from becoming a living hell, only to be dug up and forced to assistant a ritual in what became her final involvement with them. This moment goes against everything Gertrude wanted. And also really shows hard it is to escape the fears once you’ve been pulled into that world. Even in death it’s not necessarily something you’re going to be able to free yourself from. Regardless if you’ve fought tooth and nail to remain as distanced as you possibly can, just like Gertrude did.

However, there’s an irony in it because using people as pawns in rituals is something Gertrude was a pro at. She sacrificed Jan and Michael to stop The Buried and The Spiral, and she talks about the idea of using Gerard to stop The Unknowing before he passes. She’s not at all above using other people like objects if push comes to shove, so there is an irony in her final involvement in ritual being a monster using her skin as a prop.

I love when the series backs up my complicated feelings on Gertrude with moments like these. Yes, it’s a tragedy that Gertrude’s last involvement with a ritual was assisting it against her will. But also …yes, Gertrude would have also been equally willing to use someone else’s skin for her own advantage. Ask Gerard.