The Enigmatic Quest of Harold Biddle: Unveiling the Mystery Behind Goosebumps

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Goosebumps episode 5.

Summary

In 2023, a revamped version of Goosebumps emerges as a humorous and spine-chilling TV series, wherein supernatural occurrences pose a threat to teenagers residing in a small town. Leading the charge is Harold Biddle, determined to locate and revive the sinister doll known as Slappy the Dummy, aiming to reinstate his infamous reputation.

Both Slappy and Harold play a role in influencing Harold's behavior and ultimately leading to his death in the show. In the opening episodes of the 2023 Goosebumps reboot, Harold Biddle embarks on a search for a mysterious object, with the true nature of his quest only being revealed in episode 5. The Goosebumps franchise has seen various iterations over the years, starting as a popular series of children's horror novels in the early '90s. This success led to a TV show that aired throughout the '90s and spawned multiple spinoff novel series. In 2015, a live-action Goosebumps movie was released, followed by its sequel in 2018. Now, in 2023, another Goosebumps television show is introduced.

2023's Goosebumps TV show sets itself apart in several ways. Unlike the original TV series, it is not an anthology but a serialized comedy-horror. This intriguing twist revolves around a group of small-town teens who find themselves at the center of unexplained paranormal activities and are determined to unravel the mysteries behind their targeting. Embracing its horror origins more intensely than the previous live-action movies, Goosebumps 2023 commences with the grisly demise of Harold Biddle, a teenager whose apparent prank turns deadly, as he is burned alive. Subsequently, the first five episodes delve into the ghostly quest for revenge embarked upon by Harold's spirit.

Harold Biddle Was Searching For Slappy In Goosebumps

In the early part of Goosebumps in 2023, Harold Biddle's spirit takes control of Mr. Bratt, a high school teacher who becomes the new owner of the haunted house previously owned by the teenager. Having regained a physical form, Harold embarks on a quest to find a specific object. Episode 5 of Goosebumps' first season, titled "Reader Beware," finally unveils Harold's true pursuit. Throughout the initial five episodes of the revamped Goosebumps series, Harold unleashes a series of supernatural menaces upon Isabella, James, Margot, Isaiah, and Lucas in order to discover the location where their parents buried his treasured ventriloquist's doll. Devoted fans of Goosebumps will not be surprised to learn that the doll in question is none other than Slappy.

As it turns out, Harold is on a mission to locate Slappy the Dummy in order to restore him to his former glory. While every screen adaptation of the Goosebumps series relies on Slappy as a prominent villain, the latest iteration of the doll in the new Goosebumps' version is slightly different. Harold discovers this malevolent dummy in a house that his family inherited from a peculiar relative. This relative had previously succumbed to Slappy’s enchantment, transforming his adversaries into dummies before ultimately concealing the doll out of fear of its sinister influence. Similar to previous R.L. Stine films, including the 2015 live-action Goosebumps, Goosebumps 2023 ultimately unveils Slappy as its primary antagonist.

Is Slappy The Source Of Harold Biddle's Death?

Determining whether Slappy is directly responsible for Harold Biddle's death is a complex question. On one side, the doll significantly influences Harold's actions, coercing him into betraying his friends and fueling their resentment towards him. Furthermore, Slappy manipulates Harold into transforming his own parents into lifeless puppets. However, it is Harold's friends who unintentionally start the fire in his house, and ultimately, it is Harold himself who chooses to prioritize his eerie dummy over their well-being. Overall, while Slappy bears responsibility for Harold Biddle's demise in Goosebumps 2023, Harold and his friends also share accountability.