Earth Abides Episode 3 Recap: The Seven-Year Time Jump & 8 Other Reveals

Dec. 15, 2024, 4:10 p.m.

Movies

Earth Abides Episode 3 Recap: The Seven-Year Time Jump & 8 Other Reveals

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Warning! This article contains major spoilers for Earth Abides episode 3.

After several time jumps, Earth Abides finally expands its roster in episode 3 while introducing new conflicts and challenges the main characters must face. Unlike most post-apocalyptic movies and shows, Earth Abides does not add fantastical elements to its bleak setting. Instead, it attempts to draw a realistic picture of what would happen if a pandemic wiped out almost the entire human population and only left a few immune survivors behind.

Owing to its emphasis on realism and relatability, Earth Abides is primarily driven by its characters and the talented cast members who portray them. After initially focusing only on its two main leads, Ish and Emma, Earth Abides adds a new set of characters to its overarching storyline, highlighting how expanding the survivor community comes with its own set of advantages and pitfalls for Ish and his family. The Earth Abides episode also ends on a shocking note, raising many questions surrounding Ish's imminent fate.

9 Ish Finds A Young Survivor In The Woods

Although Initially Apprehensive, The Young Survivor Agrees To Join Him

In Earth Abides' episode 3's opening moments, Ish suddenly stops his car when he realizes he has hit something. When he leaves his car to check what he hit, he realizes a baby mountain lion has come in his way and died. Before he can move the baby mountain lion out of his car's way, he spots a human in the woods. He chases her down and asks her to stop, but she keeps running. When she finally stops, she seems cautious about trusting him and stands in an attacking stance.

Related 10 Shows About Virus Outbreaks These 10 post-apocalyptic series portrayed the terrifying outcomes of a viral pandemic, from zombies to vampires, and a wiping out of the human race.

However, she gradually lowers her guard when Ish assures her he has no intention of hurting her. While the girl remains cautious, Ish gives her an offer. He tells her that she is free to come to his car and grab some food. If she feels like it, she can even hop in his van and go home with him. Ish also tells her he lives with his wife, two children, and another couple. Although the girl initially seems to decline the offer, she eventually shows up near Ish's car and accepts an apple. She then climbs into his pick-up truck's cargo bed, agreeing to head home with him.

8 The Human Survivor Community Expands

Two Other Survivors Start Living With Ish & Emma's Family

Earth Abides' episode 2 ended with survivors finding a notice board Emma had previously put up to welcome more humans to their home. Episode 3 features a mini time jump, where Ish and Emma not only have three children but also live with another couple. A flashback reveals that, after struggling to find shelter in the post-apocalyptic world, the couple found Emma's board and made their way to her home. Although many characters struggle to trust one another in the show's grim world, the couple, Jorge and Maurine, get along well with Ish and Emma.

7 After Finding A Letter In Evie's Backpack, Maurine Comforts Her

Maurine Understands What Evie Might Have Gone Through Before Meeting Them

Maurine tries to look out for the young survivor girl, Evie, after she comes to their home. She even gives her a room in their home and assures her she is safe. While Evie takes a bath, Maurine goes through her bag and finds a letter from her mother. The letter reveals that after the pandemic, Evie's father was not good to her and often took out his anger on her. It also adds that after being tormented for a long time by her father, Evie stopped talking altogether.

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Although all survivors empathize with the young girl, Maurine seems to truly understand her pain because she had a similar past. She does not open up about her life before the pandemic when Jorge asks her about it. However, she gains Evie's trust and sympathy by showing she has the same scars as her.

6 New Survivors Join The Crew After A Seven-Year Time Jump

Four New Characters Become A Part Of Earth Abides' Growing Roster

Ish notices some disturbance around his house one day. This prompts Emma, Ish, and Jorge to get their weapons and check whether someone is trying to attack them. Ish initially suspects that Evie's parents have arrived to get her. However, to his surprise, they find four other survivors: two women, one man, and a child. After some initial back and forth, all parties lower their weapons and return home to talk about their experiences in the post-apocalyptic world.

Earth Abides' Cast & Character Guide Actor Role Alexander Ludwig Ish Williams Jessica Frances Dukes Emma Aaron Tveit Charlie Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll Jorge Elyse Levesque Maurine Luisa D'Oliveira Molly Birkett Turton Ezra Hilary McCormack Jean Jenna Berman Evie

Although Jorge and Emma seem to lower their guards, Ish remains defensive and hopes the survivors will not stick around. Emma, however, informs them that the neighboring home is not occupied, encouraging them to join the community. With this, the survivor community grows further as all members gradually slip into individual roles.

5 Ish Grows Increasingly Suspicious About The New Survivors

Ish Notices One Of Them Has A Drug Problem

Emma maintains a positive outlook and keeps reminding Ish that they need a community to survive and thrive. She even appreciates that one of the new survivors is a doctor, which could immensely benefit them in the future in case someone gets injured or falls severely ill. However, Ish struggles to welcome the new folks with open arms. He notices that one of the new women, Jean, seemingly has a history of drug abuse. He fears that she will relapse, which could negatively impact the entire community.

4 Ish Yearns For Being Alone Again

He Appreciates The Growing Community But Longs For His Old Life

Emma cannot help but embrace how their small group slowly expands and accommodates many distinct survivors. Ish, too, starts understanding why Emma wanted other survivors to join them on their journey. However, at the same time, he misses the serenity of isolation he felt when no one else was around him.

...Ish was okay with being alone even when the pandemic wiped out almost the entire human population.

Earth Abides' episode 1 established that, even before the pandemic, Ish was accustomed to living by himself. As a geologist, he often explored rock formations in isolated landscapes. Owing to this, Ish was okay with being alone even when the pandemic wiped out almost the entire human population. With his growing family responsibilities in the show's present arc, however, he struggles to have time for himself and a part of him craves being alone.

3 Maurine Becomes A Mother

Jorge Feels Grateful He Met Maurine

While Jean struggles to deal with her pregnancy, Maurine and Jorge become parents after Maurine gives birth to a child. This further expands the human community in Earth Abides. Jorge feels thankful that he found Maurine and cherishes his life after the pandemic. For once, the surviving humans start feeling a sense of joy and hope. Unfortunately, their happiness is short-lived because they face a series of misfortunes toward the ending moments of the Earth Abides episode.

2 Lucky Dies In A Storm

Ish's First Companion Leaves Him A Little Too Soon

While Ish and his son spend time in a library, a vicious storm suddenly strikes the region. This prompts them to return home. Soon after returning, Ish notices that his dog, Lucky, is nowhere to be found. He heads out and calls out the dog's name but receives no response. After looking around for a while, Ish finally spots Lucky's lifeless body from a distance and realizes he has been crushed under an uprooted tree. He instantly breaks down because Lucky was the first friend he made in the post-apocalyptic world.

Earth Abides is based on George R. Stewart's 1949 book of the same name.

In the show's opening moments, Ish found Lucky when he was on the verge of giving up on his life. He named him Lucky because he stopped moments before the dog suddenly appeared in front of his speeding car. His demise tragically reminds him of the comfort and hope he felt even when the world around him crumbled.

1 A Mountain Lion Attacks Ish

Earth Abides Episode 3 Ends With A Massive Cliffhanger

In Earth Abides episode 3's ending moments, Ish notices a mountain lion sneaking up on Evie and his son. He asks Evie to take his son and run while attempting to stop the mountain lion. However, the lion easily overpowers him and starts clawing at his face. Evie screams for help, but no one seems to hear her. After Ish gets knocked out, the mountain lion attempts to drag him to the woods. With this, the episode's credits start rolling.

Given how Ish is the main character in the series, it seems unlikely he will die after episode 3's events. Someone will take the mountain lion down before it can kill Ish. However, Ish will sustain many severe injuries. Fortunately, after Earth Abides' episode 3, the survivors have a doctor on their team who has also stacked all necessary medicines, which could help Ish recover faster.