What the Return of the Cicadas Reveals in Season 2

The presence of cicadas in From season 2 serves as a significant indication of the events unfolding in the series. Being a mystery-thriller, From relies heavily on symbolism, making every visual element a possible clue to the secrets of the town and the lurking monsters. These subtle hints not only enhance the complexity of the show but also immerse the viewers in the same enigmatic journey as the townspeople. With the increasing prominence of cicadas in From season 2, they not only provide additional clues to the overarching storyline but also create a sense of urgency.

Over the past two seasons, From has depicted a group of characters trapped in an otherworldly town from which they are unable to escape. Compounding their predicament, the town is infested with menacing creatures that prowl its streets at night, and can only be repelled by placing talismans in enclosed spaces. In addition to the presence of these creatures, the inhabitants of the town have been tormented by unsettling dreams and visions, which have started to manifest physically, causing harm. Among the recurring themes in these visions is the eerie combination of a malevolent music box and the sound of cicadas, both of which appeared in Kenny's dream alongside a haunting nursery rhyme.

Why Cicadas Keep Appearing In From Season 2

Throughout season 2, cicadas have emerged as a significant plot device. Although cicadas are harmless to humans in reality, the show now utilizes these insects as a forewarning of impending supernatural events, as evidenced by the increasingly loud song of the cicadas. Moreover, the insects have evolved into a more active menace by attacking and suffocating the townspeople. Despite the growing significance of the cicadas in the series, the reason behind their presence remains undisclosed.

The growing number of cicadas in the town suggests that the threat is intensifying. It is unclear whether these cicadas are manifestations of the townspeople's nightmares or a new type of monster alongside the human-shaped ones. Sara's revelation about her deceased brother's fear of insects in his youth hints at the possibility that these nightmares could come to life after death. Regardless of the origin of the cicadas, the increasing presence of these creatures indicates that time is running out for the town to find a solution to their predicament.

What Cicadas' Mythological Symbolism Means For From Season 2's Mysteries

While From has not provided many clues regarding the cicadas, their symbolism can offer some insights. In various cultures, cicadas are often associated with music, twilight, and night. Folklore and literature often explore these themes and also use cicadas and grasshoppers as symbols of laziness, contrasting them with ants that represent hard work. Additionally, in certain Chinese traditions, cicadas are seen as symbols of rebirth, immortality, and the summer season. This idea is echoed in Greek mythology, where the lover of Eos, the Goddess of Dawn, transforms into a cicada upon becoming immortal, though not eternally youthful.

So far, the connection between the cicada themes of music, dusk, and night and From is evident. Dusk and night symbolize universal fears that have haunted humanity and now have become a forewarning of the monsters' arrival in the town. However, it is possible that the cicadas' association with "twisted immortality" also holds significance in the series. The increasing presence of the cicadas could be a deliberate reference to the monsters, as they possess an apparent immortality but are internally withered, similar to the lover of Eos. This could potentially suggest that the monsters are the result of an experiment gone wrong, aiming to bestow immortality, and the townspeople might unknowingly serve as new subjects for further testing.

How The Cicadas Connect To From Season 2's Nursery Rhyme Warning

Furthermore, the cicadas in From may also be connected to the eerie nursery rhyme that haunts the townspeople, a connection that is particularly evident in Kenny's dream. In his vision, Kenny heard the nursery rhyme from From, "They touch, they break, they steal. No one here is free. Here they come, they come for three, unless you stop the melody," playing over the phone while a pot of boiling cicadas simmered on the stove. The melody could potentially allude to the buzzing sound of the cicadas instead of the music box, which serves as a time limit for the townspeople to escape. Alternatively, both the melody and the music box could be referencing the same impending event, intensifying the urgency in From.