From Season 4: What Did We Learn About the Monsters?
If there is one thing From fans want to understand, it is the monsters. The smiling, polite, utterly terrifying creatures who come out at night have been the heart of the show’s horror since the very first episode. For three seasons, we mostly learned what they do. In Season 4, we finally learned a lot more about what they are, and what they can and cannot do.
Spoiler warning: this guide discusses major events from all ten episodes of From Season 4, including the finale, “If a Tree Falls in the Forest…”, as well as key reveals from Season 3.
A quick refresher. From is the MGM+ horror mystery about a town in the woods that traps everyone who enters. By day, the residents scavenge, farm and argue. By night, they hide behind carved stone talismans while the creatures knock on doors, smile through windows and ask to be let in. Anyone caught outside after dark rarely survives.
Season 3 changed how we saw the creatures. In its finale, Fatima explained that they were once the town’s first residents, who gained immortality by sacrificing their children. Boyd also watched Smiley, the creature he had killed, being reborn. Season 4 builds on those revelations in some unsettling directions.
This season, we saw that a living resident can begin turning into one of the creatures. We learned that they are vulnerable to certain changes in their environment, that they can be influenced and sensed, and that they are not the only nightmares the town can produce. The finale also showed what happens when the town’s protections disappear.
This guide counts down the ten most important things Season 4 taught us about the monsters, from number ten to number one. The ranking is based on how much each lesson changes our understanding of the creatures, how much it affects the residents’ chances of survival and how much it might shape the final season.
Each entry begins with a clear explanation of what happens on screen and where, so you can find it on a rewatch. Then we look at what it tells us, why it sits at that position, who will find it most interesting and which episodes to revisit.
One important note: From rarely spells everything out. Where the show or its creators have confirmed something, we say so. Where something is only suggested, we treat it as an open question rather than a fact. The biggest open question of all, whether the process that created the monsters can be reversed, is one the show has not answered yet.
Let’s get into it 👇
Support That Love Podcast
If you enjoy our entertainment coverage, you can help support That Love Podcast and keep independent articles and original audio stories coming. Donate to That Love Podcast.
That Love Podcast also creates original romantic audio dramas, comedies and stories, which are a welcome antidote to monsters at the window. Browse That Love Podcast episodes.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. If you sign up or make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, That Love Podcast may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
In the US, MGM+ can be added as a channel through Prime Video. If you are thinking about a Prime membership for your wider viewing, you can Explore Amazon Prime.
10. Humans Can Transform Into Monsters
Fatima Hassan’s change begins after she gives birth to Smiley at the end of Season 3. Throughout Season 4, she feels a strange connection to the creatures, develops markings like theirs and has a heart rate that drops to just 19 beats per minute. In the finale, while Boyd, Ellis, Jade and Tabitha are trapped in the tunnels, she tells them “Remember who I was,” then her hands lengthen into claws, her face changes and she becomes one of the creatures to hold the others back.
This is a huge confirmation. We already knew from Season 3 that the creatures were once people. Now we know the process is not just ancient history. It can still happen, here and now, to someone the residents love. ScreenRant noted that Fatima’s change was slow, physical and completely against her will, which makes it different from the original residents, who chose their fate.
It ranks tenth on this list, despite being the season’s biggest moment, because it is the most specific lesson. It tells us about one person’s transformation rather than the creatures as a whole. The entries above it build a wider picture of how the monsters work.
This one is for viewers who love body horror and tragic transformations.
Where to watch: Episodes 4, 7 and 8 for the build-up, then Episode 10. In the US, From streams on MGM+; in the UK, Season 4 is on Sky and NOW.
🎧 Need something to listen to after your binge? Discover original romantic audio dramas, comedies and stories from That Love Podcast. Listen to That Love Podcast.
9. Removing the Bottle Tree Created New Dangers
The Bottle Tree has been a strange, protective presence since early in the show. In Season 4, the residents learn it sits above the chamber holding the bones of the children sacrificed when the town began. In the finale, Boyd’s group pulls it out of the ground so Jade and Tabitha can escape with the bones. Almost immediately, the sky goes dark in an eclipse, an earthquake shakes the town and talismans fall from walls. The creatures pour out, and Smiley walks into the clinic through a gap left by a fallen talisman.
The lesson is that the town’s protections are connected in ways the residents do not fully understand. Victor and the Boy in White both warned against cutting down the tree, and the results suggest they were right. Sophia’s delight in the final scene, when she reminds the Boy in White that “the Bottle Tree is gone”, tells us the monsters and their master see the tree’s loss as a win.
It ranks ninth because it shows a frightening new weakness in the town’s defences, which matters more than one person’s change. It falls below the next entry because we still do not know exactly what the tree was doing, while the next lesson shows a clear rule in action.
This one is for fans who love environmental horror and consequences that ripple outward.
Where to watch: Episode 9 for the warnings and Episode 10 for the uprooting and its aftermath.
8. The Creatures Are Vulnerable to Environmental Change
The creatures have always been creatures of the night, hiding during the day. In the finale, we see that rule play out at close range. Jade and Tabitha protect their dig site in the chamber with a tarp and a talisman, then signal Boyd to pull the tree. As light floods into the chamber, the creatures cannot step into it, giving the pair a window to escape. But Sophia has sabotaged the rope ladder, and before they can climb out, the eclipse turns the sky dark and takes the light’s protection away.
This is one of the most useful lessons of the season, because it shows that the creatures’ limits are physical and predictable. Sunlight and talismans work. Darkness, even unnatural darkness, removes that protection. Radio Times summed up the scene neatly, comparing the creatures to people in a heat wave who “can’t step into the light”.
It ranks eighth because it gives the residents a practical rule they can plan around. It beats the Bottle Tree because it explains how the danger works, not just that it exists. It sits below the next entries because those reveal that the creatures can be influenced from within.
This one is for viewers who like their monsters with clear, testable rules.
Where to watch: Episode 10, especially the chamber sequence.
Want more films and shows for a long weekend of viewing? Explore This Amazon Offer.
7. Fatima Can Influence Smiley
In Episode 4, Fatima tells Kenny and Boyd she feels a strange connection to Smiley and is building a “golem” to protect herself. In Episode 7, Kenny tests one of the sharpened totems on a creature, but it has no effect, and he is cornered by Smiley. Just as it seems Kenny is finished, Fatima takes control of Smiley long enough for Kenny to reach safety. In Episode 8, she tells Boyd, Donna and Ellis what she did and shows them markings on her body.
This is a game-changing reveal. For the first time, a resident has stopped a creature without a talisman or sunlight. It suggests the creatures share a connection, almost a hive mind, and that Fatima has access to it. It also complicates her storyline. She is frightened by what she is becoming, but she also starts to think her ability could help.
It ranks seventh because it shows that the creatures can be controlled, at least briefly, which could change everything in the final season. It beats the environmental rules because it is an active power rather than a passive limit. It falls below the next entry because the finale shows Fatima’s connection is even wider.
This one is for fans of psychic powers, hive minds and dangerous gifts.
Where to watch: Episodes 4, 7 and 8.
6. Fatima Can Sense the Creatures
Fatima’s connection is not limited to Smiley. In the finale, she is with Marielle in the clinic when she has a vision of Smiley coming to the building. Moments later, the vision comes true. Later, she goes with Boyd and Ellis into the tunnels beneath Colony House to find Jade and Tabitha. Her ability to sense the creatures helps the group find the pair and avoid the danger long enough to reach them.
This turns Fatima into something like an early-warning system. The residents have always been at a disadvantage, unable to know where the creatures are until it is too late. Fatima’s senses change that, which is why she is so valuable during the rescue. It also suggests the creatures are linked in a way that someone partly like them can feel.
It ranks sixth because sensing the creatures is a broader and more practical ability than controlling one. It beats Fatima’s influence on Smiley because it saves more lives in the finale. It sits below the top five because those lessons tell us about the creatures’ nature, not just Fatima’s link to them.
This one is for viewers who love tense rescue sequences and heroes with a dark side.
Where to watch: Episode 10, especially the clinic scene and the tunnel rescue.
You May Also Like
Still craving creepy small towns, monsters in the woods and supernatural mysteries? These That Love Podcast guides are a great next stop.
- 10 Best Horror Shows Like Widow’s Bay to Watch Next
- 10 Best Horror Shows Like Yaga to Watch Next
- 10 Best Creepy TV Shows for a Chilly Fall Night
- 10 Best Small-Town Mystery Shows Like Below
- 10 Creepy Supernatural Shows to Watch When It’s Dark Outside
- 10 Best Sci-Fi Horror Movies of All Time – A Definitive Ranking
5. The Creatures React to Unexpected Powers
During the finale’s darkness, Smiley enters the clinic and fatally wounds Marielle while Fatima watches. In that moment, Fatima lets out an inhuman roar. Smiley stops, looks at her and says just one word: “Interesting.” Then he walks away. ScreenRant noted that while the camera does not show it clearly, the scene suggests Fatima briefly changes as she screams, and that Smiley leaves because it is only a matter of time before she becomes like him.
This tiny moment tells us a lot. The creatures are not mindless predators. They notice, they think and they can be surprised. Smiley’s reaction suggests he recognises something of his own kind in Fatima, and that the creatures may have their own interests and plans. It also makes Smiley more frightening, because a monster that can be curious is one that can wait.
It ranks fifth because it reveals intelligence and curiosity in the creatures, which affects every encounter to come. It beats Fatima’s senses because it is about the creatures themselves, not her. It falls below the top four because those lessons explain where the town’s threats come from.
This one is for viewers who love smart, unsettling villains.
Where to watch: Episode 10, during the clinic attack.
🎧 Taking a break from the screen? Listen to original romance, comedy and drama stories from That Love Podcast. Explore the latest episodes.
Advertise With That Love Podcast
Want to put your book, entertainment brand, streaming service, product or business in front of readers who love movies, television, books and pop culture? That Love Podcast offers sponsorship and advertising opportunities across the website, podcast and newsletter.
4. The Town Can Turn Fears and Nightmares Into Threats
In Episode 4, a foraging party spots something floating in the lake by the settlement. In Episode 5, they retrieve enormous straw dolls and then return them as a precaution. Tabitha remembers that the dolls belonged to a girl who was one of her past incarnations, and that they were thrown into the lake by a man whose nightmares brought them to life. That night, the dolls attack the group and kill Roger. Tabitha recalls how to kill them with a sharpened totem and saves Donna. In Episode 6, Roger’s body is found with eyes and a mouth like the dolls’.
This is one of the season’s most disturbing ideas. ScreenRant reported that the dolls are immune to the talismans, which means the residents’ main protection does not work against them. It also suggests that the town can take a person’s fears and make them real. In Episode 7, Sophia even reanimates Roger as a creature, and Elgin has to kill him with another totem.
It ranks fourth because it widens the threat beyond the familiar creatures. If the town can produce new monsters from nightmares, nobody is safe. It beats Smiley’s reaction because it changes the rules of survival. It falls below the top three because it concerns a new kind of threat rather than the original creatures.
This one is for fans of folk horror and creepy dolls.
Where to watch: Episodes 4, 5, 6 and 7.
3. The Monsters Are Tied to the Town’s Past
Jade spends much of Season 4 trying to remember. In Episode 5, he takes hallucinogenic mushrooms, drinks blood from a skull to recover memories and sees earlier versions of himself killed by residents after they learned of his connection to the children. He also finds a tunnel leading to the place where the children were sacrificed. That discovery drives the season’s central mission: to reach the chamber and recover the bones of the sacrificed children.
These visions connect the creatures directly to the town’s history. The original sacrifice is not just backstory. It is a wound that is still open, and the creatures are bound to it. The monsters’ warning in the finale, “You know, you really shouldn’t be doing that”, as Jade and Tabitha uncover the bones, suggests the creatures know exactly how important those remains are.
It ranks third because it explains why the creatures exist and what might stop them. It beats the nightmare dolls because it goes to the source. It sits below the top two because those lessons are about the creatures’ nature itself.
This one is for viewers who love mythology and buried secrets.
Where to watch: Episodes 5, 9 and 10.
Looking for something to watch between big episodes? Watch More With Amazon Prime.
2. Smiley Can Return After Being Killed
Boyd killed the grinning creature known as Smiley in an earlier season, one of his few victories. At the end of Season 3, Fatima gave birth to something, and Boyd watched Smiley being reborn. In the Season 4 premiere, Kenny goes looking for Boyd at the caves, and they both come face to face with Smiley. Boyd explains to Kenny that this is what Fatima gave birth to, and Boyd loses hope completely. In Episode 7, Kenny’s totem has no effect on a creature, and Smiley corners him.
This is the lesson that breaks Boyd. If the creatures can come back after being killed, then fighting them may be pointless. Harold Perrineau has spoken about Smiley’s haunting return and what it means for Boyd’s state of mind. The rebirth also connects to the town’s cycles. Nothing seems to stay dead here.
It ranks second because it means the monsters may be truly immortal, which changes every plan the residents make. It beats the town’s past because it is a rule that affects the present fight. It sits just below the top lesson because that lesson explains why they can return at all.
This one is for fans of horror villains who never stay down.
Where to watch: Season 3 Episode 10, then Season 4 Episodes 1 and 7.
🎧 Before we reveal our No. 1 pick… You can also discover original romantic audio dramas from That Love Podcast. Listen here.
1. The Monsters Were Once Human
In the Season 3 finale, “Revelations: Chapter Two”, Fatima explains the creatures’ origins: they were once the town’s first residents, who gained immortality by sacrificing their children. Season 4 builds everything on that foundation. Jade’s visions lead to the place where the children were sacrificed, the residents set out to recover the bones, and Fatima’s transformation shows that the change from human to creature can still happen.
This is the most important thing we know about the monsters, and Season 4 makes it impossible to ignore. Every creature at the window was once a person who made a terrible choice. Their politeness, their smiles and their need to be invited in all look different in that light. Fatima’s story also gives the idea a human face, because the audience watches a character we love go through the change.
It ranks first because every other lesson on this list depends on it. Smiley’s return, Fatima’s powers, the creatures’ curiosity and their link to the children’s bones all make sense only because the monsters were once human. It beats Smiley’s return because it explains it, and it beats the town’s past because it is the reason that past still matters. It is also the lesson most likely to shape the final season.
This one is for every From fan who has wondered what is really behind the smiles.
Where to watch: Season 3 Episode 10 and Season 4 Episodes 5, 8 and 10.
Work With That Love Podcast
Are you a brand, author, publisher, entertainment company or business looking to reach readers who love movies, television, romance, books and pop culture? That Love Podcast works with partners on sponsorships and advertising across the website, podcast and newsletter.
Conclusion: Can the Monsters’ Creation Be Reversed?
Season 4 taught us more about the monsters than any season before it. They were once human, they can return after death, they react to the unexpected and they are bound to the town’s past. They can be sensed and briefly controlled, and the town can produce new threats from fears and nightmares. The finale showed how dangerous everything becomes when the old protections fall.
Fatima’s transformation raises the biggest open question of all. If a person can become a monster, can a monster become a person again? Could recovering the children’s bones undo what was done? Asked by Collider where Fatima’s story goes after her transformation, Jeff Pinkner said that revealing where it ends would mean spoiling Season 5, and called it “a story that we’re still telling”. That is not an answer about reversal, and we should not treat it as one. It is simply an open door.
If you are planning a rewatch, focus on Season 3 Episode 10 and Season 4 Episodes 5, 7 and 10. Those episodes contain the key monster reveals. If you are fascinated by Fatima, watch her Season 4 arc in order.
The fact that the monsters were once human takes our top spot because it is the key to everything else, including the question of whether that can ever be undone.
What do you think? Can the monsters’ creation be reversed, or is Fatima gone for good? Tell us your theories in the comments.
You May Also Like
Need more ending explainers and big-moment breakdowns while you wait for the final season? Try these.
- Reacher Season 4 Ending Explained – What Happens to Jack Reacher?
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day Ending Explained — 10 Biggest Moments and What They Mean
- East of Eden Ending Explained
- 10 Best Zombie & Infection Survival TV Shows, Ranked
- 10 Best Post-Apocalyptic TV Shows of All Time, Ranked
- 10 Most Popular Stranger Things Characters, Ranked
Support That Love Podcast
If this guide helped you understand the creatures a little better, you can donate to That Love Podcast and help keep independent entertainment coverage going.
And if you need a gentler story after all that horror, listen to That Love Podcast’s original audio dramas.
You May Also Like
Here are a few more picks for anyone in the mood for something eerie, mysterious or binge-worthy.
- 5 Best Sky and NOW Series to Binge-Watch This Week (November 9–15, 2026)
- 12 Shows to Watch If You Love ‘Stranger Things’
- 10 Supernatural Shows That Feel Perfect for a Winter Weekend
- 10 Atmospheric Supernatural Shows for Long Winter Nights
- 10 Spooky TV Series for Halloween Season
- 10 Best Netflix Supernatural Teen Shows to Watch Right Now
Building a bigger watchlist for the winter? Explore More on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the monsters in From?
The monsters are human-looking creatures that come out at night, smile constantly and try to get residents to let them into their homes. In the Season 3 finale, Fatima explains that they were once the town’s first residents, who gained immortality by sacrificing their children.
Were the monsters in From human?
Yes. The show has revealed that the creatures were originally the town’s first residents. Season 4 reinforces that by showing Fatima, a living resident, transforming into one of them in the finale.
What happened to Fatima in From Season 4?
Fatima develops a connection to the creatures, controls Smiley to save Kenny, gains markings like theirs and has a pulse so low she should not be alive. In the finale, she transforms into one of the creatures to help Boyd, Ellis, Jade and Tabitha escape the tunnels. Pegah Ghafoori told ScreenRant she sees it as a “villain origin story”.
Can Fatima control the monsters?
She can, at least briefly. In Episode 7, she controls Smiley long enough to save Kenny. In the finale, she senses Smiley before he reaches the clinic and later helps the group find Jade and Tabitha in the tunnels. How far her control extends is not yet clear.
Why did Smiley come back in From?
Boyd killed Smiley in an earlier season, but at the end of Season 3, Fatima gave birth to something that turned out to be a reborn Smiley. Boyd confirms this to Kenny in the Season 4 premiere when they encounter Smiley at the caves. It suggests the creatures may not stay dead.
What are the straw dolls in From?
The straw dolls are giant figures found in the lake by the settlement in Season 4. Tabitha remembers that they were thrown in the lake by a man whose nightmares brought them to life. They attack the foraging party, kill Roger and are immune to the talismans, but can be killed with a sharpened totem.
Why can’t the monsters go out in the daytime?
The creatures have always avoided daylight. In the finale, they cannot step into the light that floods the chamber when the Bottle Tree is pulled up. When an eclipse darkens the sky, that protection disappears, and they attack.
What happened when the Bottle Tree was removed?
Removing the Bottle Tree allows Jade and Tabitha to escape the chamber with the bones, but it also coincides with an eclipse, an earthquake and falling talismans. The creatures attack the residents, Smiley kills Marielle and the Man in Yellow, disguised as Sophia, celebrates the tree’s loss.
Can the monsters in From be turned back into humans?
The show has not answered this. Asked where Fatima’s story goes after her transformation, Jeff Pinkner told Collider it is “a story that we’re still telling” and declined to say more to avoid Season 5 spoilers. Whether the change can be reversed is one of the biggest open questions for the final season.
Where can I watch From Season 4?
In the US, From streams on MGM+, which can also be added as a channel through Prime Video. In the UK, Season 4 is available on Sky and NOW, according to Sky’s official From page. Availability can change, so check your service.
More Places to Find Great Movies and TV Shows
- ScreenRant – explainers and interviews, including a breakdown of the straw dolls and what they reveal about the town.
- ScreenRant: Season 4 Ending Explained – a detailed look at Fatima’s transformation.
- Radio Times – UK-focused coverage, including Harold Perrineau on Smiley’s return.
- TV Insider – recaps and finale coverage for From Season 4.
- Collider – an in-depth Season 4 finale interview with John Griffin, Jeff Pinkner and Jack Bender.
- IMDb – cast, crew and episode listings for From.
- Rotten Tomatoes – critic and audience scores for each season of From.
Enjoyed What You Read?
Subscribe to That Love Podcast’s newsletter for the latest articles, entertainment recommendations, and podcast updates.
If you know someone who loves movies, television, books, or pop culture, share the article with them too. Let’s spread the love together!
