Lost Girl, Season Three, Episode 13: Those Who Wander

Dyson is still trapped and he is calling for Aife, saying that there must be a way out of there and Aife tells Dyson that death is coming for him.

Tamsin is passed out on Bo's couch after escaping the compound in the last episode. Bo has asked Amanda and Kasey the kitsune's to help her.  They pull out Tamsin's hair and tell Bo  that Tamsin is at the end of her life cycle.  This shocks Bo and she says that there must be something to can do about it. The Kitsunes tell Bo that death has got to be as sweet way out, considering who Tamsin has gotten involved with. Bo then gets on the phone and calls Kenzi, who says she is keeping it real in the sewers. Bo tells Kenzi that she found Dyson but has not saved him yet. 

When Tamsin wakes, she finds the Kitsune staring at her and says that she didn't know she was going to wake up in slut heaven.  When they tell Tamsin that she doesn't even look like she is dying, Tamsin asks what Bo was told. Bo chases the Kitsune out and asks Tamsin if she is still willing to get Dyson out of the compound. Tamsin says that there was a time when she could lay waste to an entire army but if she goes full Valkyrie she will pass out. Bo tells Tamsin that she is sorry but Tamsin says that she needs to power up with the druid Massimo.

Kenzi is still at the Dahl with the Morrigan and she tells The Morrigan that she is not that afraid of death but is open to other alternatives.  The Morrigan says that she is not interested in Kenzi but in Trick.

Back at the compound Aife asks if her daughter is okay and then starts singing nursery rhymes. Clearly, Aife's  mind is damaged from the confinement and whatever experiments that Issac decided to run on her.  Aife  admits that she never told Issac who was the strongest fae is and that she told him Dyson rather than Bo. Apparently, Aife  did this out of love for Bo.

Lauren is helping Sheneifa, the wife of the bartender who died.  When Lauren promises that she will survive, Issac interrupts and says it's not nice to make promises you can't keep. Issac then tells Lauren not to get attached to the lab rats.  Issac opens the door and says that he put her in there for her own good but now has so much to do. Laruen demands surgical tools and antiseptic to save Sheneifa before he will agree to help.

Tamsin goes to see Massimo and Bo grabs the potion saying that she will hold it until they need Tamsin at her strongest. When Bo walks off to call Trick, Massimo points out that Tamsin is trembling and asks if she has lost her touch.  Before he walks away, he hands Tamsin something and tells her to measure it three times and cut it once.

Lauren demands that Issac let everyone go and he tells her that the fae took his little brother.  Issac was blamed for the death of his brother and then shipped off to an asylum.  This made Issac determined to figure it out and he realised it was a Wendigo. Issac later found a Wendigo and killed it, though he was not sure if that was the one who killed William. This lead him to the discovery of the fae.  Lauren promises that the fae will find him and take more than his head.  Issac tells Lauren to go, but reminds her that she has gone AWOL and if she fleas, Lauren leaves her only protection. This surprises Lauren and she wants to know how long he knew that she worked for the fae. Issac says that he brought her there so she could implant the stem cells from strongest fae he could find.  Lauren then realises that Issac wants to become fae.

Tamsin and Bo head back to the compound and Tamsin complains that it's going to hurt.They are quickly surrounded and Bo tells Tamsin not to hold back.  The guards grab them and escort them inside saying that they are just like the others.

The Morrigan tells Kenzi that she is quite the comedian. Kenzi replies that the fae elders might have bought her routine but she does not. The Morrigan says that Trick is already dead, Dyson is probably a shag carpet and Bo is missing. Kenzi brings up Hale but The Morrigan says that Hale is gone and pissed his leather pants.  The Morrigan says she has specific questions about the sucusluts heritage and grabs a taser.  Kenzi tells her to torture away cause she is not telling her anything. Before The Morrigan can zap her, the taswer shorts out and Morrigan wonders if the sanctuary is warded.  The Morrigan then decides that she what she needs and orders Kenzi killed.

Bo and Tamsin are taken to see Issac and he calls them the latest edition to his collection.  Lauren enters the room and says that Bo came for Dyson and that she knew Bo would. Bo asks what this is and Lauren replies that the fae have ruined her life, cursed her girlfriend, and held her prisoner.  Lauren says that this is a chance for her to do something meaningful to save her kind.   Lauren then tells Bo that Lauren is not even her real name but Bo says that she loves her regardless. Lauren agrees to do the surgery, as long as Issac lets Bo go. Issac asks about Lauren's change of heart and she replies that at the compound she has a chance to transform humanity and to take out the one man who has stood in her way - Dyson. Lauren  adds that she cannot save them both, just like Bo couldn't love them both.  Bo is then escorted out of the rom.

Issac goes into a room where Dyson is strapped down.  Issac tells Dyson that he is the strongest, and fastest creature that he has ever found. Issac adds that the cannot wait to feel what Dyson feels and says that he will see him on the other side, before walking out of the room. Lauren is washing up and Issac goes to see her and says that he likes the wolf and it would be nice if he survived. Lauren replies, "I wouldn't bet on it."

Kitty Rocks the House (Kitty Norville # 11) by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty is settled in Denver for the first time in a long time, and there’s a lot of things she has to address. Not least of which is a challenge for leadership of her pack which she has been neglecting with her various battles against Roman. She has to re-build those bonds to see off the challenger.

And then a vampire in town comes looking for Rick – and they sequester themselves behind magical shields, leaving Kitty to soldier on managing Denver, her family, her pack and the fight against Roman alone.

I’m tempted to say this book is a filler – and in many ways it is. There’s little advancement of the meta plot despite a revelation at the end. There’s little coherent central plot to be advanced. There’s a series of random stuff happening, a lot of it isn’t resolved. We see Kitty with her family, we see a couple of her radio shows that aren’t really linked to anything, including a long, vaguely interesting debate between 2 academics and an equally long ramble about a crystal skull.

It doesn’t really go anywhere, it doesn’t really develop anything, it doesn’t bring much in the way of new information, it doesn’t advance Kitty’s life at all. Really, we finish this book no further along than when we started it.

On that score I’d slap 2 fangs on this book, file it under “meh” and move on.

And I’m still tempted to do that – it wasn’t fascinating or immense fun. It was fun and vaguely amusing, but certainly not more than that.

But, when looked at in the context of the entire series, it makes a bit more sense. Kitty has been letting things slide in the last few books. Not her battle against Roman, but her more at home issues. Her pack, her family, the city of Denver – she hasn’t been around, In fact, in the last 2 books (putting aside the short stories) she hasn’t even been in the city – she’s been in London and San Francisco. She has let things slide and she’s supposed to be an alpha werewolf, she’s supposed to have a job and she’s supposed to have a family including a mother who is just recovering from cancer and a sister stressed out about the whole thing.

Game of Thrones, Season 3, Episode 3: Walk of Punishment

 Riverrun: Robb, Catelyn, the Tullies; abandon all intelligence all ye who enter here

It’s Hoster Tully’s funeral , somewhat ruined by the archer who is supposed to shoot the burning arrow at the body being not all that good at archery and Robb having an inappropriate giggle fit. I’m like that at funerals, I’ll be all sombre and then I catch a glance of Aunt Mabel’s hat and I’m gone. Anyway, an archer who actually checks the wind fires the arrow and the job is done before the body goes out of range down the river.

Time for a council where Brynden Tully (the Blackfish, Cat’s uncle, the dead Hoster’s brother) snarks with Edmure Tully (Cat’s brother, Hoster’s son, the new Lord Tulley. Sometimes the guide is really helpful on this show). And it seems that Edmure, in a quest for glory, ignored the battle plans and went charging after the Lannister forces lead by Clegane rather than drawing them into a trap. Oopsie. Now Clegane escaped, Robb isn’t happy either. And the hostages Edmure boasts about are completely inconsequential. And yes, he caused more casualties than he took – but the Lannisters have more.

Cat has a moment with her uncle, Brynden, about dead Hoster. She remembers waiting at the window for her father to return from war or visiting the capital, and breaks down as she thinks of Bran and Rickon waiting for her – and she’ll never see them again. Brynden urges her to stay strong for Robb.

In the dungeon, Talissa is treating the injuries of the Lannister hostages – they’re boys who believe all kinds of wild stories about Robb Stark and how he turns into a wolf. Talissa both reassures them and encourages the stories.

Kings Landing: The Lannisters, their toadies et al

It’s a meeting of the King’s small council – but Tyrion and Cersei have both been relegated to the end of the table away from the Hand. They’re not having that – they move their chairs. Tyrion snarks – but Tywin wants to know about Jaime – and they know nothing. Some spy masters they are

Varys fills in Tywin about Hoster’s funeral and makes a snide remark about Bolton holding Harrenhal (Baelish is technically lord of Harrenhal). Tywin’s more interested in the title rather than the castle (well, ruin) since Baelish having the title means he is of sufficient social standing to court Lysa Arren (Cat’s sister, the Widow to the Lord of the Vale, one of the 7 Kingdoms). Tyrion speaks up that, with the war, winter attending and the upcoming royal wedding, Kings Landing needs someone to manage the finances – which is Baelish’s job. Tywin agrees – and appoints Tyrion as the new Master of Coin. Tyrion doesn’t relish the role – a lifetime of “outrageous wealth” hasn’t taught him how to save money. The council – especially Pycelle and Cersei (his enemies) approve of the position.

I think giving Tyrion any position and power, no matter how much of a burden, means he’s sure to use it against you with great skill.

Tyrion goes, with Pod his squire, to collect the royal legers where they are kept in one of Baelish’s brothels. Some fencing follows between Baelish and Tyrion, with Baelish wondering why Cersei thought Tyrion and Roz were close (because Cersei heard Tyrion was in love with a prostitute and didn’t realise it was Shae). Baelish further advises him that the accounts are just numbers on a page – easily managed.

They leave through the brothel, past many bare breasts (hence the reason we’re in a brothel, of course. An episode without naked breasts last week was too much for the writers to endure). And Tyrion has arranged a reward for Pod for saving his life – 3 prostitutes. Of course.

Looking over the legers, Tyrion comments that Baelish was known for always being able to find gold for the crown – turns out he’s been doing that by borrowing 3,000,000 from Tywin Lannister. Bronn assumes Tywin will forgive the debt with Joffrey on the throne and Tyrion is amused by his naivety.  Bronn wonders what happens if they don’t pay the debt and Tyrion isn’t worried about Tywin’s consequences – but the 10s of millions they owe the Iron Bank of Braavos, who will fund their enemies if they don’t pay them back. Apparently they always get their gold back.

Fangs for the Fantasy Episode 118

This week we discuss the premier of Da Vinci's Demons as well as Orphan Black, Game of Thrones and the season finale of Lost Girl and Being Human (US).

Our book of the week is The Queen is Dead by Kate Locke

Our next books of the week are:

15th April - 22nd April: The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C Hines

22nd April - 29th April: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

29th April - 6th May: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

6th May - 13th May: Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris 13th May  20th May: Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

The Queen is Dead (Immortal Empire #2) by Kate Locke

Xandra has had a lot of changes in her life – from half-blooded Royal guard to goblin queen. Despite being monarch, she seems to have lost a lot; her family no longer trusts her, she’s lost her job, she’s lost her home, she’s earned the enmity of Queen Victoria herself, she’s become a tabloid sensation – and universally feared. And she still doesn’t know what she wants to be or become – she’s not ready to make those decisions.

But she doesn’t have much time to delay, not with her brother going missing, possibly falling victim to the same conspiracy that her mentor was part of; experimenting on unusual half bloods to see if they can be used to increase aristo numbers and tip the balance of power. With her own unprecedented goblinhood and her sister giving birth to a full blooded vampire, her family are prime targets for experimentation.

And, of course, Victoria is breathing down her neck, with the police following Xandra trying to find out what happened to her mentor. Being harassed by the police and demonised by the press doesn’t  make investigating any easier

This series has one of the most original world settings we’ve come across in Urban Fantasy. The idea of a modern Steampunk – a 21^st century world, with the immortal vampire Queen Victoria ruling over it – creates a really fascinating world when it comes to tone theme and aesthetics. We have many of the elements of the modern world and a similar level of technology, but all with a Victorian twist as the elites of the society are still from that era. So we have minidresses – with corsets. The technology is subtly different, there are mores of etiquette in high society that still have to be upheld. Yet all of this is done without a lot of info dumping, this different feel is given with a few descriptions of clothes, the way people talk and different words for things like motorbikes and mobile phones that make it clear what they are while still having a strong hint of a more steampunk aesthetic.

There’s a lot of research that has gone into this book making sure that the places visited are very close to actual London with the necessary changes for the setting. I particularly like references to obscure things like the church of St. Andrew by the Wardrobe.There is also a generally good maintenance of tone, keeping the Britishisms intact and the new vocabulary from the setting. Occasionally it does go over the top though – like the details of the geography are very accurate but also long winded and not strictly needed. Or a generally well done Xandra will spout long string of slang and profanity that is just a little excessive and fake – like her Britishness is really trying to be rammed home. I don’t know how noticeable it would be to someone who isn’t English, however.

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

Our podcast now broadcasts at 6:30pm EST, which is 11:30pm 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.

 

8th April - 15th April: The Queen is Dead by Kate Locke

15th April - 22nd April: The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C Hines

22nd April - 29th April: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

29th April - 6th May: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

6th May - 13th May: Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
13th May  20th May: Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

Orphan Black, Season One, Episode Three: Variation Under Nature

When we last left Sarah, she was meeting Cosima for the first time, having been introduced by Allison.  Cosima affirms that Beth was losing it clinically when Sarah gets upset about Beth's death.  Sarah wants answers and Allison eventually tell Sarah that they are clones and that someone is killing them off. Felix is still sitting in the car, when someone knocks on the door and tells him that he is not supposed to be sitting there at night.  Frustrated, Felix makes his way into Allison's house and she holds a gun on him wanting to know why he is there.  Sarah intervenes and vouches for Felix and when Allison lowers her weapon, Sarah slaps her across the face and says that if Allison goes anywhere near Felix again that she will kick the shit out her.  Allison takes off running and Sarah tells Felix that she needs to get her things, as Cosima comes out and informs Sarah that she broke the first rule of clone club.  Cosima hands Sarah back her things and tells Sarah that this is life and death and that she wants the briefcase, in exchange for answers.

Back at Felix's, he says that the last time he checked, human cloning was illegal and impossible.  Sarah says that it does not matter but Felix points out the number of clones who have died. He tells Sarah that she just cannot ignore it but Sarah is determined to stick to her original plan - get the money and leave town.

Sarah heads to the police station to see Art and she tells him that things are bad with Paul.  Art again asserts that she gets the cash when she is back on active duty.  They are called into Lieutenant Gavin Hardcastle's office where believing Sarah is Beth, she is reinstated.  Sarah grabs the badge and the gun, as she and Art leave the office. Sarah pauses to put on her holster in the bathroom, and then puts the ammunition in her back pocket, rather than loading the gun.  When Art and Sarah arrive at the scene, it's same at the same place where Sarah buried the German. Because Katja was buried near a quarry, the body has been ripped apart, so Sarah is told that reconstructing the face is going to be tough.  Sarah then calls Cosima to tell her that Art found parts of the German. Sarah is concerned that if the prints match hers that the cops will find a body that looks like hers with a criminal record and this will clash with the fact that she is already supposed to be dead.  Cosima advises her not to bolt and says that the cops cannot run prints that quickly.  When Sarah asks how much time, Cosima tells her to give her the briefcase.

Sarah heads back to Art and again asks for the money, so Art informs Sarah that he does not walk around with that kind of cash.  He then asks to see her gun, and discovers that Sarah did not bother to load her weapon. Art is not impressed and points out that an empty gun is not regulation, nor will it keep him safe.  Sarah tries to blow it off saying that they were headed to a homicide case.  Art tells her to get up to speed at her desk and then says that he will work this with someone else.  As Art walks away, Sarah again asks about the money but Art threatens to put it in the shredder if she asks again and then walks away.

Cosima and Sarah meet at a bar, where Cosima asks for the briefcase but Sarah says that she wants some information first. Sarah asks if she should be worried that the German was sick and Cosima tells her to hand over the case and she can have the answer in a couple of weeks. Cosima tells Sarah that Beth used facial recognition to identify the clones in North America but they don't know who the original is, who created them, or who is killing them. Cosima says that they really need a cop to find out who is killing them but Sarah is concerned that Art will figure out that she is not a cop.  Cosima replies that she gets it, but they are her biological imperative now. Cosima says that Katja's fingerprints will match her fingerprints and informs Sarah that she needs to do something about that.

Sarah goes to see Art, who tells her that he booked her practice time on the gun range. When Sarah asks about the prints, Art tells her to call for information and clear the pile on her desk.  Art then gets a call and the person says that "jane doe" (read Katja) is just one of a few not fit for family. Art leaves to do more investigation and Sarah sits at her desk.  Beth's computer is password protected and so she approaches Raj to reset the password and the procedure for checking fingerprints.  Sarah then heads down to the lab, where she deletes the fingerprints before anyone can link her with Katja.

Da Vinci's Demons, Season 1, Episode 1: The Hanged Man

Da Vinci’s friend shares with him some wacky baccy (which, y'know, at the time period shouldn't really contain tobacco at all) to help him see visions and demons – which Da Vinci doesn’t believe in; leading to the rather awesome response “then why do you fight so hard to keep both away?” There follows lots of nifty foreshadowing of how Da Vinci will change the world, history is a lie and seeing the future.

Well that was a pretty nifty opener I have to say, almost enough to make me forgive us now going 4 days earlier. I hate flashforwards.

To a man going through his morning routine and kicking a much younger man (who he calls boy) from his bed. After driving him out and throwing money after him he asks his disapproving manservant what day it is. Palm Sunday. His response is “balls” and to complain about his hangover.

Meanwhile several holy looking blokes are being searched for weapons, but the guards forget to check their holy books – from which they take thin pieces of weapon they build a weapon out of when combined with their crosses. It’s like Krypton Factor assassins!

So when our hungover man arrives at church in a grand entry (and bonus points for “artless fuckwit.”) he gets stabbed in the neck – courtesy of the “secret archive.” On a Palm Sunday in a church with a dagger made of a crucifix no less – maximum blasphemy achieved.

While all this excitement is happening, Leonardo is sketching a naked woman out in the countryside and telling a story of his past – when he was 6 months old he was left in a field in a basket and a falcon considered eating him. Well it perched on his basket and looked at him, which I interpret as deciding whether to eat him or not (makes more sense than it passing on wisdom – it’s a falcon!) His mother drove it away before it managed to eat the sweet baby meat and Leonard laments he can’t remember his mother’s face despite his super-duper memory. She amateur psychoanalyses him and they kiss.