THEM Season 2's Returning Actor Cameo Is A Reminder To Watch Jordan Peele's 5-Year-Old Horror Movie With 93% On RT

Summary THEM: The Scare's finale revealed a connection to the original season and Jordan Peele's Us, solidifying its place in modern TV horror.

Season 2 of THEM received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, showcasing improvements over the first season and deepening thematic connections.

Shahadi Wright Joseph's role in THEM: The Scare links the series to Us, emphasizing themes of familial trauma and societal anxiety in both narratives.

THEM season 2's finale featured several dramatic revelations – one of which both connected the sophomore anthology horror series to the original season and established a link to a five-year-old Jordan Peele horror project. Despite being billed as a standalone follow-up to the 2021 debut, THEM: The Scare's ending confirmed that it does share a story and setting with its forebear. While this has profound implications for the series' story, as well as what future installments of the franchise may have in store, the way in which the show confirmed this connection reminded fans of another, genuinely unrelated movie.

After a mixed reception to the first season, THEM: The Scare has cemented the show's status as a major player in modern TV horror. Compared to THEM: Covenant's rating of just 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, season 2 has been reviewed much more favorably – sitting at a perfect 100% score at the time of writing. This difference highlights how THEM: The Scare has taken elements of the earlier show and improved upon the formula. However, while subtle thematic links between the two emerged throughout the series, one cameo made the connection explicit.

Related Amazon's Them Season 2 Cast & Character Guide The horror and suspense of Them: The Scare is supported by its deep cast of talented actors, and their performances drive the show forward.

Shahadi Wright Joseph's THEM Role Is A Reminder To Watch Her In Jordan Peele's Us Movie

After playing a key role in THEM: Covenant, Shahadi Wright Joseph makes a surprise return in THEM: The Scare – simultaneously linking the two series and reminding audiences of her breakout horror role in Jordan Peele's Us. Wright Joseph's THEM: The Scare role is understated, but significant. After Dawn successfully defeats the terrifying entity that's been haunting her all season, it transpires that she is actually the daughter of Wright Joseph's character, Ruby Lee Emory, from season 1. This appearance is startling, while also serving as a reminder of Wright Joseph's acting talent beyond the THEM anthology.

Us is available to rent on Apple TV+

While THEM gave Wright Joseph an extended opportunity to showcase her horror credentials, her role in both seasons is a timely reminder for viewers to revisit her work in Us. Jordan Peele's doppelganger horror explores similar themes to THEM, touching on societal anxiety and the black American experience. With Wright Joseph's THEM: The Scare role setting up a theme of familial trauma of the sort also seen in Us, her appearance manages to both connect the two seasons of the show and provide a more subtle association with Peele's 2019 movie.

Why THEM Is Often Mistaken As A Jordan Peele Horror Project

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Although THEM is created by screenwriter and producer Little Marvin, it is often mistaken as being part of Jordan Peele's expanding horror universe. While this might seem like a slight on the show's true creator, it actually makes perfect sense. In both of its seasons, THEM has explored different aspects of the black American experience through the lens of horror – just as Peele has done with Us and Get Out. The show has also incorporated supernatural elements within a suburban setting, much as Peele has done in his most successful work.

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Tonally, THEM has also been compared to Peele projects like Lovecraft Country – especially in its examination of racism and lingering social prejudice. The fact that Shahadi Wright Joseph's presence provides an additional parallel only adds to the sense that there is substantial overlap. Although there is no official connection, the thematic links and Wright Joseph's different roles ensure that Us and THEM make for interesting companion pieces.