ArtRojasDesign

First of all, I have to say I’ve really enjoyed this series and have no doubt it’ll be back for a third season in Arizona to investigate the mine Stan and Kristen checked out. It was a nice segue on their part.

As for this season, I think we’ve seen the end of the Crescent. I don’t think there’s any way to realistically come back from that cave in. But that also makes you wonder and question all the evidence we’ve seen up to this point.

When it comes to the noise and all the bulkheads it makes you wonder if the Mason’s didn’t use them as a warning because they knew the mine was unstable. While I think Patrick and Kristen found some interesting evidence, I really don’t buy into the idea that the Masons were trying to keep something demonic trapped in the mine. Based on the obvious instability of the place it comes across as a safety precaution more than anything else. Instead of sinister gestures, they were trying to bar the doors so people didn’t get trapped when the inevitable cave in happened, like we saw for the finale. Maybe this isn’t the first time this has happened and they were trying to prevent another series of accidents.

Another theory is perhaps those bulkheads were indeed a way to people out of the gold, but, why put Masonic symbols all over them? Isn’t that just going to create curiosity and have them think it’s a good idea to bust down the walls just like it did for these miners?

In retrospect, the sound of working miners is truly fascinating, but taking a step back it may be nothing more than all the wind and shifting rock of the area. We know it’s unstable, we know there is air movement since they busted through, and we know rocks and timbers have been falling.

I don’t know that we have phantom miners who drove the last crew out versus an unstable working environment. Maybe the crew knew this mine was unstable and got out of there before it collapsed. Maybe the mine owner wouldn’t spring for safety equipment because he had no cash and they walked out. Knowing what we know now, it may have been bad working conditions.

But there are some remaining questions. What happened to Eddie? Was he indeed touched by something unearthly? It left him a little speechless, so who knows what we have there. We also have the video camera glitches, which may or may not been bad wiring, the shadows that Jay and Jamol feel they saw. Perhaps all the ghost talk was getting the better of them? And overall, did the Masons simply own the Crescent mine and sealed it off after an accident or did they use it for ceremonies? Were the simple mine owners or as Patrick continually implies was there something sinister afoot?

We can speculate all we want, but to be honest, when all is said and done, I don’t think the Crescent mine is haunted. I think it’s unstable, I think good men died there at the hands of hate and prejudice, I think the mine owner may be a little on the cheap side and I think the town is shrouded in legend and myth. I think there were some very bad deeds done there and some downright evil and callous men. And while the Masons will always have a bad reputation, I don’t think they had any evil intentions. They may be guilty of mistreating their workers and not providing equal pay for equal work, but I don’t think they’re hiding a demon deep under the earth.

What I can say is that it was extremely fun and rewarding to watch Patrick and Kristen investigate the same place over and over again. We don’t get to see that. It’s always a one night stand and then on to the next. I didn’t always agree with their findings or interpretation, but I like their work and for the most part their approach. It was also great to watch the mining process, to see the problems, the dangers and the solutions. We got to see these guys bond together and considering they’ve spent two years together, they really have come to rely on and respect each other. Even if Jamol isn’t the greatest cook in the world I think they appreciate him all the same.

I will say that Stan was perhaps the most interesting and entertaining member of the cast. His calm and casual demeanor was so much fun to watch. Nothing seemed to rattle him, he kept his cool, and always took a moment to think about the situation before making a decision. The only time you see him rattle is when the world is coming down around him. As soon as it’s over though, he’s back to his calm self. I think it would be great to sit around a campfire and listen to Stan tell stories of his mining days. I bet he has some amazing tales. He’s been doing this a long time and I’m sure he’s seen a lot.

So it’s the end of the season and now we have to wait to see what’s next. Like I said, I have no doubt we’ll see this same time next year is Arizona. That mine had potential and this team is garnering some star status. We’ll have to wait and see where we went up.

Other Articles of Interest:

• Ghost Mine – The Lost Chamber – S02E02
• Ghost Mine – The Final Barrier – S02E12 Season Finale
• Ghost Mine – Town Wide Terror – S02E09
• Ghost Mine – Shadows in the Drift – S02E11
• Ghost Mine – Wandering Spirit – S02E04
• Ghost Mine – Return to Darkness – S02E01
• Ghost Mine – Ghosts of the Geiser Grand – S02E05
• Ghost Mine – Passageway to the Unknown – S02E10
• Ghost Mine – Phantom Intruder – S02E03
• Ghost Mine – S01E06 – Gold Fever – The Finale

So here we are at the final episode of the season and there is still plenty of action before we say goodbye.

When we last left the team, Patrick and Kristen were sifting through the debris of the original bulkhead for the mine to determine if there were any Masonic symbols. Sure enough, they find a board fragment with some pretty clear signs. So it appears the Masons closed off all the entrances to the mine. Whether this was done to keep people out or something in remain to be seen. But it’s pretty clear this mine had a Masonic influence.

Meanwhile back in the mine, Jay swears he sees a shadow figure walking around and by the way Dingus is talking, he may have seen something as well. But the big surprise is not just another bulkhead blocking their path, but one made of stone that completely seals off the tunnel. Very Cask of Amontillado.

Eddie wastes no time in trying to get a peek at what’s on the other side and chips away at the seal. He makes a small breach and is met with a rush of rancid air. As he describes it, it smelled like something died. He’s then met with a burning sensation all down his side. So much so, he rips off jacket and gloves to check it out. Low and behold there is a large rash running down his side. If you look at the still shot, it’s possible it’s the imprint of a hand and thumb. Eddie, normally the one to dismiss everything, has no explanation for this one.

Kristen and Patrick come back later to investigate the same spot with K2 meter flashing wildly and record what sounds like some sort of caged beast on the other side of the wall. It was certainly made to be dramatic, but I highly doubt there is some sort of demon on the other side and the only thing saving us from it are a few rocks cemented in place.

Nevertheless, the odd happenings are starting to make the miners wonder. In an moment with their defenses down, each one of them all but admits to hearing phantom miners in the tunnels. Jay and Jamol show clear signs of concern about what might be in there and Graybeard is a little concerned too. And their fears are tested as Patrick and Kristen bring more evidence to them including the odd growls they heard. The flatly state they don’t think the mine is safe and not to proceed any further.

Stan puts it to a vote with Jamol, Jay and Duck all wanting to leave well enough alone, but Eddie and the rest want to push forward and see if the payday is right behind that wall.

A distressed Patrick and Kristen follow Eddie, Stan and Bucket into the mine to check out the wall to form an approach of breaching it. But as they do, things go horribly wrong. Stan is the first to call for a retreat as the mine rumbles with the sound of something sinister. Then it’s an all out sprint to abandon the mine as it all begins to cave in. It’s an honest to God cave in and the 5 of them are literally scrambling for their lives.

With the other miners standing around, they barrel out into the open air as the dirt and trees fall in on themselves smothering all the equipment still left inside. They made it out within an inch of their lives.

And that is the end of that. The mine is collapsed, machinery is destroyed and there is no way they can get back into the mine to search for any more gold. The season is over whether they like it or not.

It looks like this mine is going to be abandoned. It’s clearly not stable and would take far too much work to find a vein worthy of a payoff. But as the team packs up and gets ready to go home, they make one final gesture, something that perhaps they should have done at the start of the season. Since they nearly lost their lives they erect a stone monument as a tribute to all miners that have been lost.

"This monument is dedicated to all fallen miners, everywhere. With great respect, we honor your work and your bravery."

Other Articles of Interest:

• Ghost Mine – Phantom Intruder – S02E03
• Ghost Mine – Shadows in the Drift – S02E11
• Ghost Mine – Secret Passage – S01E05
• Ghost Mine – Season Finale – Final Thoughts
• Ghost Mine – The Lost Chamber – S02E02
• Ghost Mine – Passageway to the Unknown – S02E10
• Ghost Mine – S01E01
• Ghost Mine – Return to Darkness – S02E01
• Ghost Mine – Supercharging the Supernatural – S02E08
• Ghost Mine – S01E06 – Gold Fever – The Finale