Servant

Early in season 1, Sean is shown picking up what is believed to be his infant son (actually a doll) by the ankle and 'smacking the child's head on the rail' of the crib, a visually jarring and disturbing act. Leanne frequently engages in self-lashing, 'repeatedly whipping her back while reciting a prayer,' which is portrayed as an intimate and uncomfortable ritual. Dorothy inflicts severe physical harm on Leanne, including putting her in a chokehold, striking her skull, and attempting to bury her alive in the basement. In season 4, episode 8 'Tunnels,' Leanne's supernatural powers manifest violently, with a knife appearing to go into Sean's chest and Julian tumbling into brackish water as wine shelves cascade on him. Furthermore, Betamax tapes reveal cult rituals involving the 'mutilating, blinding, and killing' of members.

Characters engage in 'erotic and unseemly encounters.' Julian and Natalie are shown having sex after Natalie comforts him, reflecting their complex relationship dynamics. Julian also has sex with Leanne, an act portrayed in the context of their shared guilt over Jericho's death. Dorothy discusses her intimate life with Sean, and there are explicit conversations about her lack of sexual desire for him and the contemplation of affairs or masturbation in the episode 'Cricket.'

The language in 'Servant' is consistently 'harsh and, naturally, uncensored.' Julian Pearce, Dorothy's brother, frequently uses strong language, often 'hissing profanity through clenched teeth' in his dialogue. This indicates a regular presence of expletives and offensive terms, integral to the character's portrayal and the show's overall atmosphere.

Leanne's character is associated with supernatural abilities that 'develop gradually and grow stronger.' She initially displays devout religious practices, placing 'straw crosses' above Jericho's crib. However, she later 'tears down the crosses and apparently rebels against God as the skylight in the attic shatters,' signifying a shift towards darker, anti-religious powers. The show introduces 'The Church of the Lesser Saints,' a cult that performs 'reunion rituals' involving 'mutilating, blinding, and killing' members. Leanne's Uncle George exhibits eerie, unsettling behaviors such as sleeping in Jericho's crib and performing 'loud obscure noises,' strongly hinting at occult involvement.

The series is built around a 'creepy doll' and a 'creeper nanny,' establishing an unsettling tone from the outset. It employs 'frequent screechy violins on the soundtracks' and 'slow pans that pause to reveal a truly unexpected, shocking image' to create suspense and fright. The show consistently presents a 'disturbing universe [with] chaotic twists that are deeply unsettling.' Episodes often contain jump scares and portray psychological horror, such as a 'terrifying session of hypnosis' and the 'petrifying atmosphere' of the attic, which is filled with 'creepy props.'

Leanne, initially seen as devout and carrying a Bible, 'tears down the crosses and apparently rebels against God as the skylight in the attic shatters.' Reddit discussions highlight that some viewers found the series to be 'deeply offensive how anti religious the family is.' Critical reviews also state that 'every depiction of religion on the show has been corrupted or perverted in some way.' Leanne herself is even seen by some interpretations as an 'intriguing representation of The Devil,' suggesting an adversarial spiritual force.