Being Human (UK) Season Five, Episode Six (series finale)

After five seasons, Being Human (UK) has aired it's final episode. I am not going to do a typical recap because I think a series finale deserves more.

The major antagonist this season was the devil.  It makes sense that the writers and producers would choose to go with the ultimate evil, firm in the knowledge that the story would be coming to an end. Throughout all five seasons, Being Human (UK) has been based on the friendship between a ghost, werewolf and a vampire, and their desire to retain as much of their humanity as possible. I don't believe that I am wrong in saying that friendship is what made Being Human so unique.  It is part of why I was worried when the original cast was completely replaced at the end of season four.  Given the short time that the writers had to make Alex, Hal and Tom into a realistic pseudo family, they did a wonderful job. I loved the interactions between them, just as much as I loved the relationship between Mitchell and George.

I felt that Alex in her short stint was far more interwoven into the lives of Hal and Tom, than Annie was with George and Mitchell. It came with the added bonus of having Alex tackle sexism.  On more than one occasion, Alex had to make it clear that she was not content to play the little woman, while Tom and Hal ran off to make the money. Her sense of confidence, is something I wish we could have seen more of from Annie. It makes to have a female character have to deal with sexism, especially from an archaic patriarchal male like Hal and while I appreciated this, it made me wonder why Annie who was of colour and also a woman never had to deal with issues surrounding her gender and race. Annie's issues mainly had to do with her being a ghost for the majority of appearance on the show.  It's only is season one that has to deal with gender issues like the attempted assault by Tully and of course her murdering fiancee Owen. In the case of Owen, Mitchell wanted him to leave but it was George who had the final say.  George did not disown Owen until he discovered that Owen was responsible for turning him into a werewolf.  This firmly positions Annie as another in this three part relationship.  It's George's assault that matters not Annie's.  Annie didn't actually come into any power until both George and Mitchell died and then she ended up sacrificing her own after life whereas; Alex is given a real second chance at life.

Lost Girl Season 3, episode 8: Fae-ge Against the Machine

A blindfolded Bo is looking for the mystical cricket of good luck or some such, urged by Stella, because barking your shins on furnishings is ritually important or something. A test Bo fails, leading to more angst and sharing stories about Hale and Dyson’s little rituals (I want to know about Dyson and the fleas). Her next stage is to wait for an invite, giving Bo the day off – and Stella chance to invite Trick for dinner.

Unfortunately, Bo starts said day off by fiddling with a device she probably shouldn’t which buzzes to life behind her. And we cut to a girl in a chair crying – with some odd tubing that appears to be collecting her tears. See, people will sell ANYTHING on the internet.

On the plus side, Lauren comes to meet Bo at the Dahl buzzing with excitement, to a degree where Bo (and I) worry she may be on drugs. Not drugs – she’s just won a science award for sciency stuff which is impressive and… sciency. Science!  Yes, Bo is confused as me. Still Lauren’s excited and there’s a special dinner to go to for the award and Bo is definitely going as Lauren’s +1. Lauren is cute when excited and buzzes out in a cloud of plans and randomness, leaving Bo with the newly arrive Tamsin. Why is she there? She’s taking Bo out to lunch – because everyone’s been lying to her. What?! Lauren hasn’t won the award?! Ok, it’s possible the lies may not be about the award…

“Lunch” in Tamsin’s world comes in a glass and is normally known as Bloody Marys (did I ever mention I quite like Tamsin?) in a Dark Fae bar – with Bo commenting it doesn’t look much different from a Light Fae bar. Tamsin tells Bo that they’re all bullshitting her, the Dawning is the most horrendous ordeal she’ll ever go through and she’ll probably not get through it. At which point the camera pans out to focus on a random bar patron who is, presumably, relevant?

Back at the Dahl, Trick is getting ready for his date with Stella who arrives advising leather – I’d agree except for the orange fuzzy thing she’s wearing. And they notice the thingummy that Bo was fiddling with earlier – she says it’s Bo’s invitation to the Dawning in the form of a game. And Bo has activated it – at which point it buzzes to life. Stella says they’ll have to do it for her – wherever she, whatever she’s doing, the game will affect her. Her closest blood relative has to play.

Oh… I’m cringing now – magical fae game that will make Bo do embarrassing things at Lauren’s fancy science of award of sciency things? Please nooooooo!

While Trick plays, Bo is still at lunch with Tamsin who tells her that everyone’s bullshitting her to protect her. They’re interrupted by a group of fae who want to know how Bo can call herself unaligned when she’s clearly Light (you and me both buddy) and how they don’t appreciate an all-but-Light fae coming into their bar. (He kinda has a point, I’m just saying.) Tamsin distracts them by punching one into the other 2 (if they go down this easy, you could probably take them, I’m just saying) and they run out with helpful bystander fae (the one who attracted the cameraman earlier() showing her the way out. Once out in the ally Bo says “thanks I owe you one” and shakes on it with the man.

Oh my good gods, how has this never come up before?! It’s like fae mythology 101 don’t say thank you, don’t make deals, don’t imply debts! Yes I’m grumbling over mythology, I don’t care.

Once Upon a Time Season 2, Episode 16: The Miller's Daughter

 

We begin in fairyland past with the miller’s daughter, returning to her mill to find her father drunk and asleep – apparently a habit of his. In frustration she has to deliver the flour herself to some grandly appointed castle structure (what these medieval style palaces and structures don’t have servant’s entrances? They haul several bags of flour through thoroughfares in castles used by the nobility?) Hauling the heavy bags of flour, one of the wealthy noblewomen deliberately trips her. It’s princess Eva from the northern kingdom and the (presumably) king announces that the miller’s daughter won’t be paid for the flour and must apologise to Eva. The miller’s daughter is furious and calls Eva a girl. The king demands her name – the miller’s daughter is Cora. She is forced to kneel and apologise – and remain kneeling until the nobility have passed.

In present day real world, Neal, Emma, Henry and Rumple are sailing back to Storybrooke in this odd pirate ship that is faster than modern transport (apparently). Emma asks Rumple about the dagger – whether Cora and Regina could use it to force Rumple to do anything, including kill them all. He says they could and comments that Emma probably wants him to bleed to death from his injury now. She denies it, pointing out he’s Henry’s grandfather, he’s family now. (Argh… ok taking this rant to the bottom of the page). Emma calls Snow to explain their situation and Rumple’s wound.

Which is listened to by Regina and Cora who have tapped the phone – with Cora being unhappy at being called “wicked.” She’s also concerned that Rumple has been warned about the dagger and has time to think, and he is very clever (I have to admit “Rumplestiltskin has time to think” would worry me too). Regina points out his injured and they see his name beginning to fade on the dagger – he’s not injured, he’s dying. And if he dies like this, his Dark One power will disappear too. Regina wants to use his power to get Henry back before he dies but Cora doesn’t want to speed up Rumple’s death (uh-huh, she has other plans for him). Instead, Cora will stab him with the knife and claim his power. Regina protests, Henry would never forgive that, it wouldn’t get Henry back – which is the whole point. Wait, is it the whole point? (At last, Regina gets a lightbulb moment). She accuses Cora of trying to just get power and Cora says yes – to protect themselves, because if they don’t have the power they’ll spend the rest of their short lives on their knees, which she won’t do again.

Back to fairyland past when Cora sneaks into a royal masquerade ball, wearing a fancy dress. While there she makes a very snarky comment to a masked man expressing pity for Prince Henry having all these rich woman attend to try and buy him. Of course, the masked man is Prince Henry. They dance but before the dance can barely begin the king cuts in – recognising Cora he degrades her as beneath him again and points out she still has straw stuck to her dress. She fights back accusing him of selling his own flesh and blood for money, he admits they need money but they’re still better than her and what can she offer – she claims to be able to spin straw into gold. But since she’s been insulted, she won’t help – “good luck whoring your son.” The king counters by announcing to the whole ballroom Cora’s claimed ability and adds that she will spend the night locked in a tower full of straw. If she turns it to gold, she can marry the prince – fail and she dies.

Back to Storybrooke where they help Rumple out of the boat, Henry introduces Neal to Charming as his dad and Charming asks Rumple if Cora has control of his dagger getting the responds that since they’re all still alive, then no, no she doesn’t. And Mary Margaret has grown some sense and is angrily declaring that they’ll stop her and kill her. Of course Charming has a full blown “no you’re too goo and pure and you just can’t!” moment (Charming has shown willingness it execute in the past – but Snow’s just toooo precious?). Henry is loaded off on Ruby to keep him out of the crossfire while they go to Rumple’s shop.

Back to Fairyland where a desperate Cora is considering jumping out of the window and is visited by Rumplestiltskin. And look who can spin straw into gold and is willing to do so – in exchange for her first born child (with extra lovely snarkiness) so she can then demand the hand of the prince and make him kneel before her. She says no – she wants to be taught, which impresses Rumplestiltskin enough for him to tell her his name.

Back in Storybrooke, the gang in Rumple’s shop are preparing for battle with invisible chalk. And Emma and Neal clearly have more issues what with Neal adding to the “surprises” he’s sprung on her with his fiancée. Then Mary Margaret finds the candle – the candle the fake fairy had that would save a life in exchange for a life. She asks about it but Rumple says he has it for a rainy day. It’s the only thing that can save Rumple’s life. Mary Margaret protests she couldn’t do it to save her own mother – why would she for him. He counters that she’s an adult now and their interests are aligned; they need to find Cora’s heart (which isn’t in her body) use the candle over it and return it to her body, killing her but healing him. Mary Margaret suggests using Cora’s heart to make her “do the right thing” and leaving Rumple to die, but points out he’s Henry’s grandfather and how sad Henry would be to see him die.

But first they need a protection spell which Rumple is in no state to cast – that’s Emma’s job. Rumple talks her through the process, imagining and realisation rather than over thinking it. Magic is about emotion not thought

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) By Patricia Briggs

Mercy is settling into life as Adam’s husband, back from her honeymoon, fully recovered and facing a dread foe – Black Friday midnight shopping with Jesse, her new step-daughter. To add to the fun, she gets in a car wreck as well and has to write off her Rabbit.

If only that was the least of her problems. Almost the entire pack has been kidnapped, she can’t reach anyone over the phone, not even werewolves outside the pack, the one person she can find is injured and drugged – and there are unpleasant people with guns looking for her and targeting her friends on the edge of the pack.

Her small team has to try and find Adam – while Adam must try and escape before he’s blackmailed into doing something that could have all werewolves destroyed. Additional help from the government she doesn’t trust and a werewolf that may lose it at any time doesn’t necessarily help things

Then there’s some fae assassins, mystical weapons and a whole load of vampire politics to add to the mix.

And she’s stolen the vampire queen’s car. And broken it. Oops.

Reading the synopsis and the first few pages I had a lot of hope. Here was Mercy going to charge into battle on her own, her own actions, her own decisions, free from Adam’s often stifling shadow. And she was reconnecting with characters we haven’t seen in a while, like Kyle, while at the same time advancing the political meta plot.

That hope is now dead, tried to rise from the coffin, was staked, beheaded, burned and had its ashes scattered across four different bodies of water.

We start the story – drama drama, action (ish), the pack has been kidnapped. Mercy starts doing stuff without consultation (ish) and generally doing her best (sort of) to save everyone (well, some of them). And then Adam wrangles his own plan (well, no, opportunity falls in his lap) and loo, all is solved.

Sure, there’s a few loose ends to tie up, we’d kind of like to know who is behind it, but with one set of bad guys running and the other dead, it’s not a pressing or especially pertinent concern. And that’s how the book is written. I kind of expected the book to be over – the story was after all – but rather than working in a conclusion I discovered I was only 40% in. Not even half way through but the story was over – so what was happening? We kind of wallowed in limbo. Sure, one of those loose ends ballooned out into a full plot eventually – at about 65%. 20% of this book in the middle was just waffle and empty flailing with no real plot at all. Right in the middle of the book. It was like 2 books pasted together and some kind of mushy glue stuffed between them. There wasn’t so much a speed bump interrupting the story so much as a vast sink hole, sucking in all plot and leaving us directionless, lost and a little confused.

The Walking Dead Season Three Episode 13: Arrow on the Doorpost

Hershel drops of Darryl and Rick and Rick meets up with Philip, who holds up his hands to show he is not armed. Philip tells Rick that they have a lot to talk about and adds that they could have killed everyone and didn't. When Rick pulls his gun, Philip says that he is going to remove his weapon to show that he would like to negotiate in good faith.  He asks Rick to do the same, but Rick hesitates. What he does not know is that the governor has strapped a gun to the leg of the table.

Hershel drives over to Darryl, who tells him to keep the car running because it doesn't feel right. Andrea arrives with a few of Philip's men and she is shocked to learn that Philip is already there with Rick. Andrea enters and asks what's going on. She says that she wants them to talk because too many people have died for no reason.  Rick tells Philip that he knows what he has done, but Philip lies and says that Merle did that.

Outside, Milton informs Darryl that he is Philip's adviser. In the meantime at the prison, everyone is packing up weapons.  Merle suggests that the enter the room and kill the governor.  Michonne points out that they promised Rick they would stay put. Merle says that he doesn't like being on the sidelines but Carl responds that his father can take of himself.  Glenn tells Merle that his decision is that they are going to stay there and that his decision is final. Glenn has gotten so much tougher since his time in Woodbury and his far removed from the geeky Glenn of the first season.

Back at the meeting, Andrea tells Rick and Philip that she has known them both to look after others.  Rick puts a map on the table and says that they should divide territory.  Philip tells Rick that he is there for his surrender and that Andrea is not in the position to make deals.  Philip tells her to step outside and this does not make her happy.  When Andrea leaves, Rick has a seat at the table as Martinez closes the door.

Rick tells Philip that he is beholden to his people and asks about Merle. Philip admits that Merle is erratic and says that he was trying to sort out what Merle was doing with Glenn and Maggie, when Rick's group attacked. Rick tells Philip he is the town drunk who knocked over his fence and ripped up his yard.  Philip asks if he has ever misjudged anyone and brings up Judith and the fact that Rick failed to see the devil beside him because she might be Shane's daughter.  It seems that Andrea has been running her mouth.

Outside, Darryl is pacing and Milton says that there is no reason that they can't use the time to explore the issues themselves.  Milton says that he recorded what happened at the prison because it will be a part of their history.  When they hear the sound of a walker the talking stops.  Martinez tells Darryl, "after you" and Darryl says, "no after you." Andrea gets frustrated and kills the walker out right and then the two men take turns killing walkers. Darryl finds a pack of smokes on the walker and offers one to Martinez, who refuses saying that he prefers menthol.  We learn that Martinez lost his wife and kids to walkers. He then tells Darryl that they are not going to work anything out and that tomorrow or the next day they'll give the word. Darryl agrees and then Martinez accepts a smoke. I guess this was our moment of male bonding.

Milton and Hershel are sitting together and Hershel explains how he lost his leg. Milton asks to see Hershel's stump and Hershel says "I'm not showing you my leg. I just met you, at least buy me a drink first"


Philip says that if he let's Rick persist that he will look weak but Rick tells him that this is his problem.  Philip tells a story about how he was at work and learned that his wife had died in an accident and then he sat there knowing he would never see her again. I suppose this was Philip's attempt to humanize himself in Rick's eyes. 

Fangs for the Fantasy Book of the Week

Every week on the Fangs for the Fantasy podcast (archives here) we read a book and discuss it on the show. The review for the book of the week always goes up on a Monday

Note: Our podcast now broadcasts at 6:30pm EST, which, this week, is 10:30pm GMT

To give people a chance to read along with us, every Monday we’re also going to include a list of our planned books of the week for the next few shows, so people can get the books, read them and join in the conversation.

4th March - 11th March: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
11th March - 18th March: Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennet
18th March - 25th March: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
25th March - 1st April: The Struggle by L.J. Smith
1st April - 8th April: Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger 
8th April - 15th April: The Queen is Dead by Kate Locke

Cult Season 1, episode 3: Being Billy

 It’s the TV show, with a woman, Libby, in a car on a level crossing with Billy assuring him that she didn’t tell the police anything. He says he knows she was going to. As they talk you can hear a train approach. He gets out of the car and locks it behind her, leaving her stuck inside with a train approaching. As Billy walks away we see her hands are tied to the steering wheel – and the train hits the car.

The show is being watched by three young men on a smart phone, they’ve watched it over and over. They interrupt it because a woman is coming – they’ve been waiting for her. They grab her, kidnap her and when the lights come up again she’s in the front seat of a car, hands tied to the steering wheel with the episode playing. And she’s on a level crossing and the train’s coming.

Or not – it’s a car with a large light on its roof playing train noises. It’s a game “Being Billy” involving re-enacting scenes from the show; and the girl, Gillian, was in on it.

To the Fandom café/club/bar/thing where we join Jeff who is meeting EJ who finds Jeff hanging around in the club slightly weird. He’s asked her to hack his brother’s email before he died since he can’t trust the police. She did (despite ethical complaints) but the email was wiped the day Nate died. There’s only one thing left – and showing Jeff she asks Jeff if he’s considered that Nate may be playing him

To the studio where Peter tells Skye about Stephen Rae’s new wish to have a special graffiti added to the background of several new scenes – he shows her the picture, it’s the Triskele of hands holding swords. The same one she saw in Jeff’s wiped computer which shakes her a little and gives Peter another chance to warn her how paranoid people on the show are about spoilers.

Jeff calls her and they exchange news – and Jeff adds that that morning Nate’s email account sent a group email “Billy says- It’s starting again. Tonight.”

Move on to a party at Fandomain where they’re showing the fanvideo they made – all praising Laura who apparently came up with the idea. But she says she didn’t run this round of the game, it wasn’t her. And the only other person who has a list of all the players is Nate.

Gillian leaves the party and gets a phone call from Billy, sounding like it’s been cut from different clips of the show. It says that he doesn’t know how many followers he has out there – but you’re next – followed by a car running Gillian over.

Nate returns to Nate’s flat and finds the door open and Laura inside going through Nate’s papers. She says she sued to live there, she was Nate’s girlfriend, for over a year. She tells him Nate was getting things together – even taking classes but she hasn’t seen him in a month since he dropped out when he became more and more obsessed with Cult. She also tells Jeff about the game, Being Billy, how they plan a scene and then drag one player who doesn’t know about it into the scene for total immersion (like Gillian in the opening scene). And that Nate has now started the game without her. And that Gillian died in an apparent hit and run

Next day Jeff and Skye go to check the college campus where Nate’s email came from and Jeff tells Skye about how Nate has run off before, shortly after their parents died.

Cut to the show, Kelly and her partner Oz watch Andy, Kelly’s nephew. Oz gives Kelly the file on Libby, the girl dead at the train tracks. Kelly tells him she was close to Billy and she was planning on giving information on Billy to Kelly before she died.

Grimm Season 2, Episode 13: Face Off

 

This hiatus seems to have lasted a lifetime but Grimm is finally back with us! And we left on such a dramatic cliffhanger with Nick finally learning something about Renard – his Wesen-ness and being with Juliette. Meta’s a-marching!

“The Will to Conquer is the First Condition of Victory”

Monroe shows Nick Renard on the TV, revealing him as the man kissing Juliette, and Nick is not a happy Grimm. Nick starts to storm off out the room and Monroe gets in his way, urging him to slow down, to pause, calm down and think. Of course, Nick doesn’t listen to the voice of reason – but he does listen to his mobile phone reporting a quadruple homicide. That would be the Wesen last week that he killed. This is not Nick’s best day.

Meanwhile at the newly discovered Grimm Trailer, Renard has brought an Owl Wesen to use his super-sight to open the locks. Inside, Renard has a good root around the Grimm Trailer, looking at the books, the weapons and all the niftiness, he doesn’t find the key before his phone rings though.

To the crime scene where Wu tells Nick what the evidence says about the 4 people he killed: no guns (all medieval weapons), no witnesses, no CCTV, no IDs. You can almost hear Nick relaxing. Until Renard shows up DUM DUM DUM. Feel the tension in the air. Time for lots of discussing the case with extra subtext and double entendre and Nick glaring at Renard (I wonder if we’re stuck on the “he’s with Juliette!” jealousy or if the “he’s a Wesen!” has kicked in yet).

Wu notices the tattoos on the palms of their hands (the symbol of the Verrat), which Nick links to an older case, also involving Wesen (and the Verrat)

You know what this scene needs? More tension! So Juliette calls Renard to tell him, tearfully, that Nick has moved out. She says she’s having a hard time and doesn’t understand and needs him to come over – which can’t really happen with the crime scene and all (especially with Nick giving him angry eyes). He hangs up and returns to the case and notes that the dead men really underestimated who they were going up against – and yes Nick reacts to that (a sort of angry, wry amusement).

Back at the station Renard calls someone in Vienna to confirm (in French) the dead were Verrat and gives basic descriptions of them – he wants to know who they were and who they were sent by (he bets his brother the Prince) and says that their killer is a mystery – while looking out at Nick. But his contact has his own warning – someone called Jacques is dead and their alliance with the resistance (that would be the Laufer, those who can remember past all the monster of the week episodes)

Then comes Wu with the surveillance footage – showing Monroe leaving the hotel in a hurry followed shortly by the 4 angry Verrat. Nick tries to distract attention questioning whether someone who looks like Monroe could be that dangerous – and Renard gets a huge headache.

Speaking of Monroe, he gets a call from the far-too-long-absent Rosalie and gets to pass on all the gossip. Rosalie puts 2 and 2 together and realises that Renard was probably the one who woke Juliette from her enchanted coma (it’s only after a hiatus that you realise how much meta there is in Grimm to catch up on!). Rosalie believes  Juliette has no choice and is returning the next day now her aunt is better (thank you – the show needs more female characters than the perpetually imperilled Juliette).