Read this review to see if the The Institute episode “Graduation” is worth watching.
About The Institute
- Season 1, Episode 3: “Graduation”
- Directed by Brad Turner
- Written by Sam Sheridan
- Synopsis: Luke begins to plan his escape while Sigsby is distracted trying to expose Stackhouse’s disloyalty; Tim loses a friend.
- Airdate: July 20, 2025
- Starring: Ben Barnes, Joe Freeman, Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Julian Richings, Robert Joy, Mary-Louise Parker, Mary Walsh, Arlen So, Viggo Hanvelt, Jason Diaz, Jane Luk, Jordan Alexander, and Jeff Fahey
If you want to avoid spoilers for this episode, skip to the overall section at the end.
Warning: Spoilers for The Institute Season 1 Episode 3 “Graduation”
Recap The Institute (2025): S1E03 – “Graduation”
Dr. Daniel Hendricks (Robert Joy) is experimenting on Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman) at the start of The Institute’s third episode. After Hendricks gives him a violent injection of a scary neon green substance that makes him queasy, Tony (Jason Diaz) makes Luke observe and look for the enigmatic dots. Everything is very A Clockwork Orange.
The child sees the dots, but the staff believes it when he acts as though he doesn’t. Hendricks then attempts to test his telepathy, but he is unable to do anything because of his suffering. Tony (Jason Diaz) takes him back, and you can tell he loves that cattle prod.
Officer Wendy Gullickson (Hannah Galway) tells Tim Jamieson (Ben Barnes) that Dobira survived and the robbers were caught. But she can tell something’s up with the report. She doubts his reasons for avoiding recognition.
Meanwhile, the kids learn that the new kid, Avery Dixon (Viggo Hanvelt) has strong telepathy. He speaks to Kalisha in her head and accidentally reveals embarrassing thoughts, prompting Nicky to teach him to stay quiet.
Maureen (Jane Luk) reports to Ms. Sigsby (Mary-Louise Parker), and it’s revealed that the janitor is secretly manipulating the kids. She suspects Luke’s scheming, though Trevor Stackhouse (Julian Richings) dismisses it. Hendricks shifts focus to Avery, calling Luke worthless, which alarms Sigsby. She discovers muted CCTV footage of Hendricks and Stackhouse. Meanwhile, Kalisha (Simone Miller) reveals she’s about to graduate and explains to Luke that resisting their test results in painful punishment. “It feels like… a nail is being hammered into your forehead,” she says.
Avery suddenly hears a strange humming, which all the kids, including Annie (Mary Walsh), the local vagrant, eventually hear. Staff reveal it’s caused by a “Keyhole” opening. Later, Sigsby informs her mysterious boss, Man on the Phone (Jeff Fahey), that Stackhouse is a traitor, but he dismisses it since she doesn’t have any proof, noting that Stackhouse regularly complains about her too. He hangs up on her, and she’s shaken by the revelation that the head of security is secretly turning on her.
Back in town, Tim meets Annie again, who plays hopscotch to block mind readers and is upset about an airline pilot. He suggests that medication can help her, but she refuses help and warns Tim to stay away from the Institute. The relationship between them is touching. Meanwhile, Luke and Avery are on Operation Snitch, trying to find a weak link among the staff. Avery shares Maureen’s secret that she hates the Institute. Looks like she is the weakest link (goodbye)!
Tim is at a bar, and Kate (Jordan Alexander) approaches him. After a news report about a plane crash, they discuss the Institute and Annie’s warning about telepathic sabotage. She dismisses it as conspiracy talk and mocks Annie. It’s genuinely disturbing to see her manipulating him.
The next night, the kids plan their escape. Luke says the perfect time is between 1 and 1:30 a.m. It turns out Avery can tap into dog brains. So he uses a nearby guard dog to locate the old Back Half playground, now empty. Kalisha taps into the hum—signaling her move to the Back Half. Sigsby praises her service. Nicky Wilholm (Fionn Laird) quietly resists. Avery tries but fails to reach Sigsby through mind-reading. Luke tries to sway Maureen, but she’s frightened. He asks Kalisha to find the playground. They hold hands and attempt telepathy, but Sigsby intervenes.
That night, Tim discovers Annie dead—seemingly from alcohol poisoning, although she hasn’t touched the stuff since 2003.
By the end of Episode 3, Kalisha is led into the Back Half’s desolate tunnels. Avery briefly sees through her eyes but loses the connection when she enters a room. Meanwhile, Sigsby watches Avery and Luke search for her on the CCTV and seems uneasy.
Overall: Watch The Institute (2025): S1E03 – “Graduation”
“Graduation” moves a little more slowly than the first two episodes because it mostly sets up the season’s remaining episodes. The Institute Episode 3 delves deeper into the mystery of the kids’ training and it’s terrifying implications.
Characters are moving forward and it’s fun watching all the chess pieces move into place. The show takes place in a small number of places with a small number of people. But that gives each character time to shine. All the actors are giving incredible performances.
I’m giving this episode 4.5 out of 5 stars
All episodes of The Institute are available to stream on MGM+. New episodes of The Institute drop every Sunday.
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