Before Episode 8 recap: What happens as Eli visits the farmhouse? Explored 

Apple TV+’s psychological thriller Before continues to keep its audience on edge with episode 8. This episode leans heavily into the horror genre, delivering eerie visuals and cryptic moments that deepen the series' central mystery.

With only two episodes left until the finale, the show is steering away from providing concrete answers, choosing instead to present even more questions. This bold storytelling approach has left viewers both captivated and frustrated.

Here’s everything you need to know about Before Episode 8 and Eli’s long-awaited visit to the enigmatic farmhouse. Since the first episode, the mysterious farmhouse has been a recurring symbol. Introduced through a photograph, its significance remained unclear as the show delayed revealing its location. Episode 8 finally changes this as Eli stands face-to-face with the eerie structure.

From the outside, the farmhouse looks dilapidated and uninviting, hardly the kind of place anyone would voluntarily enter. Despite Cleo’s warnings to stay away, Eli pushes forward.

His determination to uncover the truth overrides any fears, but viewers are left questioning whether the farmhouse itself holds supernatural power or if Eli’s visions are purely psychological.

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Eli’s haunting visions in Before

Once inside, the farmhouse becomes a canvas for Eli’s deeply unsettling hallucinations. His experiences intertwine real memories, distorted fantasies, and possible glimpses of the supernatural. The lines between reality and imagination blur, making it difficult to discern what’s truly happening.

While Eli dominates much of the episode, Noah also has a key moment that shakes the narrative. In a tense exchange, Noah tells his foster mother, Denise, that he doesn’t want to die. When she reassures him, he delivers a bone-chilling reply: “I already have.”

This cryptic statement fuels ongoing theories about reincarnation, suggesting Noah might be a reincarnated soul tied to past events. His earlier claims of being the Dutch boy in Lynn’s book add weight to this possibility, though the show remains ambiguous.

A standout moment in the episode is Eli’s vivid vision at the pool where Lynn died. He hears eerie sounds, dripping water, laughter, and footsteps before the scene shifts into a surreal nightmare. Worms appear in his hand wound, and he’s surrounded by people in the pool urging him to jump in, despite his deep fear of water.

The pool then transforms into an empty, haunting space, symbolizing Eli’s emotional turmoil. Dutch children appear, leading him on a bizarre journey through various surreal locations, including an Asian restaurant where it suddenly starts snowing.

Episode 8’s strange events support theories that Before is exploring reincarnation. Eli’s visions, Noah’s eerie remarks, and the Dutch children all hint at past lives intersecting with the present. However, the lack of definitive answers keeps viewers in suspense.

The climactic sequence of the episode encapsulates Before’s signature style: disorienting, symbolic, and emotionally charged. Eli’s experiences at the farmhouse feel like a fever dream, leaving him and the audience grappling with new mysteries as the finale approaches.

Before Episode 8 masterfully blends psychological horror and emotional depth. By keeping answers just out of reach, the show maintains its grip on viewers while fueling endless speculation. With only two episodes left, the series promises an intense and thought-provoking conclusion.

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