Having missed the third season premiere there are lots of questions that I can't answer. I do know that Fiona is now living with her Aunt Melinda and the "Tornado Twins". Annie is the daughter of one of Molly's friends. And I was under the impression that the blindingly painted new house belonged to the Bells, but I could be mistaken. Jack seems to have moved on from his long-distance relationship with long-time girlfriend Gabe, and Carey has finally let his hair grow out into an almost proper rock-star style.
Annie is suffering from "new kid on the block" syndrome. She isn't quite fitting in at her new school. Her awkward feelings are only intensified when she frightens a couple of Jack's gal-pals while playing with a Talking Board. Seems that the children's game actually appears to work for Annie - answering her questions about the future with vague yet accurate predictions.
Jack starts out as skeptical as usual. Carey is there with his eternally open-minded viewpoint. And Molly can't resist giving the board a try of her own. She asks the board how Fiona is doing and is pleased when the pointer moves unerringly to "Great". Judging by the expression that Molly wears after receiving this answer it almost appears as though she is amused with herself for playing with a kids' toy while at the same time some part of her believes that it has real power in it.
After typical misunderstandings of the board's predictions occur Annie then tries to convince Jack that it's right about an impending disaster at their high school's afternoon pep rally. In a startlingly uncharacteristic moment of belief Jack sneaks into the administrative office to make a rather lame excuse of an announcement over the PA system and manages to clear the gymnasium. A section of recently vacated bleachers collapses just as Jack re-enters the gym.
Back home (Phillips' or Bells', I'm still not sure) Annie has a peculiar recurring dream about a golden-eyed black panther. (Can anybody say "Sentinel"?) Definitely hints at more mysteries to unravel. Why is the panther there? Is it even real? Where did it come from and what are its intentions? Is it a spirit guide... a guardian... a messenger... Bricriu in a really cool new disguise?