–Benjamin Locke
The demon that possessed Frederick Gideon is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Dodge) of the Netflix adaption of Locke & Key, serving as the the overarching antagonist of its second season, and the main antagonist of its third season.
His true name and identity are a mystery, having assumed the identity of his host. However, according to Dodge, he is one of the most powerful demons that there is, "like a god where I come from." Although his host body was executed by the latter's enemies, the demon would much later be resurrected by the magic of the keys, and he embarks on an ambitious quest once more. However, the demon is eventually killed by Kinsey Locke with the Alpha Key and his dying body is sent back to his world through a portal by Nina Locke. He is portrayed by Kevin Durand.
Biography[]
Colonial Period[]
The demon's past is unknown, first appearing during the waning days of the Colonial Period. When Frederick Gideon and his redcoats retreated from oncoming Minutemen into a nearby sea cave, Gideon's touch activated a portal to another dimension. Demonic bullets surged out of a blue galaxy-like mist, and after one of the redcoats was possessed, Gideon faced the portal itself, allowing a specific demon to possess him.[1][2] With a host body, the demon lunged forward for one last stand with Benjamin, who ultimately subdued him. Following this, Gideon was locked away by the colonists. While imprisoned, Gideon wrote down his knowledge of the Black Door into a journal with a piece of Whispering Iron, for anyone or his host's descendants to someday retrieve. He was subsequently hung for his crimes. Before dying, the demon foretold the colonists this was only the beginning and that he is only the first that will come through the portal.[2]
Conquest of Earth[]
Resurrection[]
Much later, his prophecy of retribution came to pass, as more demons would emerge from the portal and come to possess several individuals almost three centuries later. In present day, the demon possessing Eden Hawkins used the Echo Key to summon him from the Wellhouse. She told him to follow her out using the Anywhere Key to leave through the storage shed, requesting he will not give her any trouble, but he proceeds to drop her into the well before heading through the shed into areas unknown.[3]
Gideon began seeking the other keys, planning to use them to merge his world and the human world which would destroy the human world. With the help of the Echoes of his faithful human followers Samuel Coffey and James Bolton, Gideon quickly found success. The Lockes eventually learned of the danger that Gideon posed from a time-displaced Dodge who revealed that the demon was much stronger than her and "like a god where I'm from." Gideon, Coffey and Bolton laid siege to Keyhouse and although Dodge managed to kill Coffey, Dodge was returned to her own time before she could kill Gideon with the Alpha Key.
With the failure to kill him, Gideon was left in possession of all of the keys, forcing the Lockes to flee as Gideon opened a portal to his world. However, Gideon discovered that one key was missing, the Creation Key and resumed his hunt for the last key. By threatening Rufus, Gideon succeeded in forcing Ellie to lead him to the Creation Key which was located in the head of Gordie Shaw, mortally wounding the man before entering his head. After a chase through the dying man's head, the Lockes and Ellie escape with the Creation Key while Sam is killed after being trapped by Gideon in Gordie's head, dying with him.[4][5]
The Final Battle[]
Gideon chased the siblings through town, suffering multiple gunshot wounds from a police officer and being hit with a car by Josh Bennett who was a descendant of the real Frederick Gideon. Appearing to recognize Josh, Gideon knocked him out and stole Josh's car to continue chasing after Tyler and Kinsey who had escaped using a motorcycle made using the Creation Key. However, Gideon's lack of knowledge of modern technology caused him to struggle to drive the car, ultimately crashing it after missing a turn. Surviving the crash and the following explosion unharmed due to his being an Echo, Gideon relentlessly pursued the two all the way back to Keyhouse.
Finally arriving that night, Gideon was drawn to the Wellhouse where Tyler was waiting for him with the Creation Key and the Head Key. Gideon mocked Tyler, well aware that if he crossed the threshold, Gideon would die again and Gideon promised that he will make Tyler's death painfully exquisite when he eventually emerged. Bode used an excavator conjured with the Creation Key to grab Gideon and attempt to shove him through the Wellhouse door, but Gideon hung on to the doorway and eventually managed to break the excavator arm. Tyler and Bode were forced to flee as Gideon grabbed the broken excavator arm and used it to demolish the Wellhouse, destroying his prison and preventing any attempt at getting rid of Gideon that way.[5]
Downfall[]
Storming into the Keyhouse, Gideon grabbed Kinsey and dangled her over the portal that he'd created, threatening to kill Kinsey if he wasn't given the Creation Key. However, unbeknownst to Gideon, Kinsey had managed to use the Creation Key to retrieve the Alpha Key from the chest and, taking advantage of their close proximity, Kinsey stabbed Gideon in the heart with the Alpha Key. Mortally wounded, Gideon still attempted to drop Kinsey into the portal as the key's power worked on him and caused liquid metal to come out of Gideon's eyes and mouth. Tyler and Bode pulled Kinsey to safety and Nina shoved Gideon into the portal. Gideon was returned to his own world as he died and the Lockes closed his portal for good by dropping all of the keys into it to end the magic once and for all.[5]
Personality[]
–Frederick Gideon as he opens a portal in the floor.
The demon that possessed Gideon was feared amongst its kind. It shared its host's ruthless tendencies and sense of superiority. Similar to Dodge, Gideon was obsessed with opening the Black Door, speaking highly of its power; however, it did not seek to use the keys for power or rule, but rather, for converting the Earth into another realm for its kind, even if this meant destroying the world to do so. He also had no qualms about betraying Eden Hawkins despite Eden being the one who revived him.
The demon adapted well to the modern world, although he still struggled with some aspects of modern technology. While stealing Josh Bennett's car, Gideon called it a clever device and quickly figure out the basic controls. However, he struggled to actually drive, swerving all of the road, yelling directions at the car and getting frustrated when it failed to respond to his verbal commands.
At times, the demon spoke as if it wasn't just the demon, but also the human Frederick Gideon, telling Samuel Coffey and James Bolton that he had broken down the barrier between worlds "and it was at that place that I [Gideon] merged with something of unspeakable power". He also identifies himself as being "your captain, and something more." It is unclear what this meant for the demon and Gideon, as this could suggest both had been working together, although another explanation for this is the demon appropriated Gideon's identity, as it referred to the human hosts of the Wheeler sisters as "raiments of flesh" and not the demons themselves; while with the humans of Gideon's militia, it presented itself as Gideon.
Powers and Abilities[]
–Dodge describes Gideon's sheer power.
Gideon's demon is stated to be one of the most powerful in existence, far more powerful than Dodge. According to Dodge, he is so powerful that the demon is "like a god where I come from." His strength is such that Gideon can overpower lesser demons with very little effort, even ones as powerful as Dodge and can easily smash through securely bolted doors. He was able to resist the mechanical power of an excavator that was used against him, breaking off the arm and using it to smash down Wellhouse.
Unlike other demons, it is able to sense the presence of other demons and summon them to it in this way.
It also has the ability to rip open new portals between worlds by squeezing several keys together in its hands. The more keys it presses together, the larger the portal becomes. If it were to press all the keys together at once, it would thus merge the worlds.
Despite its godlike status among demons, as such, like Dodge and all other demons, it is unable to take the keys from the descendants of Benjamin Locke.
As an Echo, Gideon is invulnerable to all forms of physical harm, although he still feels pain. Being shot several times by a cop seemed to briefly stun the demon, as did getting hit by a car. However, he suffered no lasting damage, even emerging completely unscathed from a car wreck and the following explosion.
Unlike Dodge and other lesser demons killed by the Alpha Key, Gideon is powerful enough not to be killed instantly, still being able to fight even as the key's magic killed him.
Known victims[]
- Eden Hawkins/Eden’s Demon (Dropped headfirst down a well)
- Desk Clerk (Scalped)
- Gordie Shaw (Stabbed in the stomach)
- Sam Lesser (Trapped in Gordie Shaw's head and died along with him)
- Officer Collins (Throat slashed)
Trivia[]
- The demon's identity is unknown, although it appeared to be recognized by the demon possessing Eden, who expresses surprise and pleasure at recognizing it, presumably owing to his reportedly godlike status in the other world.[3][6]
Appearances[]
- Season Two
References[]
- ↑ Locke & Key, Season 2 Episode 1: The Premiere
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Locke & Key, Season 2 Episode 9: Alpha & Omega
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Locke & Key, Season 2 Episode 10: Cliffhanger
- ↑ Locke & Key, Season 3 Episode 7: Curtain
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Locke & Key, Season 3 Episode 8: Farewell
- ↑ Locke & Key, Season 3 Episode 5: Siege