Hysteria! season 1 premiered on October 18, 2024, with eight gripping episodes, combining horror and drama in a thrilling narrative. Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the Peacock series looks into the Satanic Panic of the 1980s.
The first season consists of eight thrilling episodes, each building on the growing tension in the town. The episodes are titled: Heavy Metal Parking Lot, Spud's Out, High Priestess, Tracy Christ, The Hunt, Satanic Panic, Devil's Night and The Reverend.
The show centers around Dylan, a teenage boy in a heavy metal band, who pretends to be a Satanist, which leads to a series of chaotic events in his town. As the story unfolds, Hysteria! season 1 explores the consequences of mass hysteria, misguided beliefs and the power of fear.
So, what really happens at the end? The short answer: the true evil is revealed to be fear itself, embodied by Tracy and her obsession with exorcising demons from those she loves.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinions on spoilers of Hysteria! season 1. Reader discretion is advised.
The rise of chaos in Hysteria! Season 1
The show begins with Dylan and his friends, Spud and Jordy, creating a fake Satanic cult to impress their peers. Things take a dark turn when Ryan, a popular jock, goes missing, and the town starts believing that the boys are involved in occult practices.
Tracy, the mother of Faith, gets caught up in the hysteria, convinced that her daughter is possessed, which sets the stage for the unraveling of the town's collective fear.
In episode 1, Dylan's band gets some attention, but things go awry very quickly. The town's fear grows as the episodes go on. Tracy is at the height of her paranoia in Episode 5 when she thinks that her daughter Faith is infected with evil. Her parents made her go through a similar exorcism as a child, which gave her this belief.
Tracy’s fall into paranoia
By the final episode, Tracy is at the center of the chaos. She convinces the town that Linda Campbell, Dylan’s mother, needs an exorcism.
As Tracy conducts the ritual in front of the entire town, the tension builds. Dylan watches from a distance as Jordy and Spud warn him that staying could put him in danger. Tracy’s control over the town becomes absolute as she claims that Linda is possessed.
Meanwhile, Dylan begins to understand that Tracy’s power comes from fear. This revelation sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation in the church. While the exorcism is happening, a fire breaks out, symbolizing the destruction Tracy has brought upon the town. Dylan, despite his fear, rushes to save his mother, pulling her from the flames.
Faith’s stand and the Reverend’s exposure
At the same time, Faith has her own plan. She decides to expose the Reverend’s involvement in Ryan’s death. Throughout the season, it's hinted that the Reverend and his followers accidentally killed Ryan during one of their rituals. Faith teams up with Jordy to plant Ryan’s inhaler in the Reverend’s house, framing him for the crime.
In the final moments, the Reverend is arrested, but Tracy remains in control of the town’s narrative. Even after her arrest, many townspeople still believe in her innocence and view her as a martyr, which leaves the door open for more manipulation in the future.
The underlying evil in Hysteria! season 1
The real villain in Hysteria! season 1 is not a supernatural force but the fear that drives the town’s actions.
Tracy’s belief that she's protecting her daughter leads to the tragic events of the finale. In trying to rid Faith of “evil,” Tracy causes more harm than good. The show highlights how mass hysteria can destroy communities and twist people’s perception of reality.
Throughout the season, the town is run by fear. By tricking the people of the town into thinking that Satanic forces are at work, Tracy gains more power. According to the show, fear is the main reason why the town is falling apart.
Tracy’s final moments
In the climactic scene of Hysteria! season 1, Tracy is saved from the burning church by Jordy. As she's dragged out of the flames, she has a vision of the devil, which reflects the fear and obsession that has driven her actions throughout the season.
Many people in town still think she's innocent and see her as a victim even though she was arrested for her part in the chaos. People in the town still feel her influence, and the effects of what she did are still being felt.
What’s next for Dylan and his friends?
By the end of Hysteria! season 1, Dylan, Spud and Jordy have decided to keep playing in their band even though bad things have happened to them.
They end the season on a positive note, which makes me believe that things will get better for them in the future. Unfortunately, the horrible things they saw are likely to stay with them for a long time.
Meanwhile, Faith seems to be at peace now that she knows the truth about the Reverend and her mother. She and Dylan share a moment of connection that makes one think that they might become romantically involved.
Peacock has not confirmed whether there will be a second season of Hysteria!. However, the first season wraps up most of its storylines while leaving enough room for more.
Hysteria! season 1 ends with a powerful message about the dangers of mass hysteria and the destructive nature of fear. Tracy’s belief in the supernatural leads to devastating consequences for the town, but the real evil lies in the collective fear that consumes the community.
Hysteria! season 1 is available to stream on Peacock.