Meet the cast of Netflix’s Locke and Key

By David Craig

Published: Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 12:00 am

It’s been a long time since we last visited Matheson, Massachusetts, but the time has finally come to catch up with the Locke family as they continue grappling with the magical keys strewn around their ancestral home.

The first season of Locke and Key had a rather downbeat ending, as the siblings believed they had vanquished the demonic entity that had been hounding them, but unbeknownst to them they were still at large – and operating closer than ever before.

The stakes are high in Locke and Key season two, as unless Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones) and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) get wise to the deception, then Dodge could assemble all of the keys and unleash hell on Earth. No pressure.

Fans will be happy to hear that the entire Locke and Key cast are back in action for this latest chapter, while there have also been a couple of notable new additions, including The Tick’s Brendan Hines and The Strain’s Kevin Durand.

If you want a refresher on the characters in the show, read on for details about where we left them in the season one finale as well as where you might have seen the Locke and Key cast before.

Connor Jessup plays Tyler Locke

Who is Tyler Locke? Tyler is the oldest child in the Locke family, who developed a cynical, jaded perspective on life after his father was murdered, believing he was responsible for the attack by the troubled, Sam Lesser. After learning that was not the case, he found some catharsis and we see him in a more positive place as season two opens.

Believing that unhinged villain Dodge has been defeated, everything seems to be coming up roses for Tyler, who has become romantically involved with classmate Jackie Veda. But as they both approach their 18th birthday, they will soon start forgetting the magic which has transformed their lives – a particularly dangerous prospect as the real Dodge closes in.

What else has Connor Jessup been in? Fans of sci-fi drama Falling Skies will recognise Jessup as the character Ben Mason, while other credits include roles on acclaimed anthology series American Crime and the LGBTQ+ film Closet Monster.

Emilia Jones plays Kinsey Locke

Who is Kinsey Locke? Middle child Kinsey is the most artistic member of the Locke family, who has become involved in amateur filmmaking since moving to Matheson. She is the star of a student horror film called The Splattering, written and directed by her friend Scot Cavendish and co-starring her boyfriend, Gabe (who is actually Dodge in disguise). In the first season, Kinsey used the head key to remove fear from her mind, making her brave in the face of danger – but also recklessly impulsive at times.

What else has Emilia Jones been in? Jones is perhaps best known for playing Alice in Channel 4’s acclaimed (albeit short-lived) sci-fi thriller Utopia, which was recently remade with a different cast on Amazon Prime Video. She has also made appearances in Doctor Who and Wolf Hall, while on the big screen, she is known for roles in Horrible Histories: The Movie and Apple TV+ original CODA.

Jackson Robert Scott plays Bode Locke

Who is Bode Locke? The youngest of the Locke siblings, Bode is an adventurous soul and possesses a sense of perceptiveness beyond his years, often being the first to discover the magical keys hidden around his home. In the first season, he formed a friendship with local boy Rufus Whedon, who moved away after his mother, Ellie, mysteriously vanished in the season one finale. Bode hasn’t made any friends his own age since moving to Matheson, so that will be a focus for him in season two.

What else has Jackson Robert Scott been in? Scott’s most prominent role to date is playing ill-fated little Georgie in the recent two-part film adaptation of Stephen King’s IT, while he has also appeared on episodes of Criminal Minds and Fear The Walking Dead.

Darby Stanchfield plays Nina Locke

Who is Nina Locke? Nina is the mother of the three Locke children and the widow of Rendell, whose death she struggled to come to terms with in the first season. She is a recovering alcoholic and her intense grief caused her to start drinking again, but she was able to overcome this with support from her family and friend Daniel Mutuku. Although it was her decision to move to Rendell’s family home in Matheson, she is not aware of the magical nature of the house. She has witnessed the keys in action several times, but as an adult, she is not able to retain the memories.

What else has Darby Stanchfield been in? Stanchfield’s biggest roles to date have been her turns as Abby Whelan on Scandal and April Green on Jericho, while she also had a recurring role as Helen Bishop on the first series of Mad Men.

Griffin Gluck plays Gabe

Netflix

Who is Gabe? Gabe is introduced as one of the students at boarding school Matheson Academy, who quickly forms a close friendship with Kinsey that blossoms into romance. While he appears to be an ally to the Locke family, a shock twist in the season one finale revealed that he is actually their arch-nemesis Dodge, disguised using the identity key. Thanks to Gabe’s elaborate ruse, the Locke siblings believe Dodge has been defeated, but actually he is closer than ever before. Let’s hope they realise the truth before it’s too late.

What else has Griffin Guck been in? Gluck was recently seen in the Netflix film Tall Girl and will return for the upcoming sequel, but he is probably best known for playing high school documentarian Sam Ecklund in mockumentary series American Vandal.

Laysla De Oliveira plays Dodge

Who is Dodge? Dodge is introduced as a mysterious woman living in the well-house on the grounds of Key House, who strikes up a fake friendship with Bode in order to get him to release her from her prison. Once she breaks out, she starts causing serious trouble for the Locke family and the people of Matheson, taking several lives in her tireless mission to assemble all the magical keys.

It is later explained that Dodge is an echo of Lucas Caravaggio, who had once been a friend to the Locke siblings’ father Rendell, but was possessed by an entity from beyond the Omega Door. Lucas was killed in self-defence by Rendell, but his echo was brought back by ex-girlfriend Ellie Whedon using the corresponding key. She did not realise that his corrupted personality would return too and so deeply regrets her decision, which comes at a great cost to her – as Dodge tricks the Locke siblings into throwing a disguised Ellie through the Omega Door.

What else has Laysla De Oliviera been in? De Oliviera has appeared on other fantasy television shows including iZombie and The Gifted. This is her second collaboration with Joe Hill, as she also appeared in Netflix horror film In The Tall Grass, which was based on a novella the prolific writer wrote with his father, Stephen King. She also appeared opposite Stephen and Robbie Amell for sci-fi indie film Code 8.

Petrice Jones plays Scot

Who is Scot? Scot is another student at Matheson Academy and one of Kinsey’s closest friends. He loves her and is keen to take their relationship to the next level, but is left heartbroken when she chooses to get together with Gabe instead. Scot is a keen filmmaker, with a particular interest in the horror genre. Netflix released one of the Locke and Key trailers in the form of a teaser for his fictional B-movie, The Splattering.

What else has Petrice Jones been in? Jones has previously appeared on episodes of Holby City and Doctors, while more recently he was featured in the main cast of YouTube Premium series Step Up: High Water.

Aaron Ashmore plays Duncan Locke

Netflix

Who is Duncan Locke? Duncan is the younger brother of the late Rendell Locke and uncle to Tyler, Kinsey and Bode. He lives with them and Nina in Key House, but remembers little about his magical childhood there as memories were removed from his head for his own protection.

What else has Aaron Ashmore been in? Ashmore is known for playing Jimmy Olsen on DC Comics drama Smallville, as well as for being a series regular on sci-fi shows Warehouse 13 and Killjoys. He has also made appearances in Cardinal and Designated Survivor. Aaron is not to be confused with his identical twin brother Shawn, who is also an actor, best known for playing Ice Man in the X-Men film series.