Once Upon a Time, Season 3, Episode 9: Save Henry

We begin with an epic flashback – to the Enchanted Forest with the curse cloud forming, people panicking and Regina gloating to an imprisoned Rumplestiltskin about her success before he loses his memory (which he won’t, of course, which is part of why he looks so gleeful since all of this has been his doing all along). He pokes her feelings about having to kill her dad to enact the curse and warns her that curses can be broken. She dismisses it, she can easily kill baby Emma – but Rumple says she has a bigger problem. She now has a hole in her heart and she will need Rumple to fill it. She tries to dismiss that as well, but Rumple is very very very very good at taunting. She accuses him of wanting to make a new deal to escape his cage and the curse but he points out he’s exactly where he wants to be.

I think he would be a very bad person to play chess against.

In the present, in Neverland, Regina, Emma and Neal all gather around the fallen Henry. Emma and Neal indulge in some taunting of Pan which achieves little while Regina stays by Henry’s side. Regina swears it will be alright:

And we have another flashback to 11 years ago with Regina, Mayor Regina, and Jiminy Cricket as Archie Hopper the psychiatrist. He is blunt and familiar as a therapist (and rude – psychoanalysing her without being asked, you don’t have to think you’re the queen to find that inappropriate) and points to her having a “hole” in her (just as Rumple said), that she, as a professional, successful career woman has no-one to share it with so feels empty. He asks if she’s ever not felt that way – and she has, when the boy Owen visited.

She goes to Gold to help her adopt – the waiting lists are so long and he has a talent for dealing with red tape. He’s sure he can help and he’s sure she will make a… well, a mother of some sort (Gold can lay some powerful put downs). He’s not sure she’s ready to have a child – that you have to put your child first (with some wistful Baelfire/Neal regret there) and doesn’t think it will fulfil Regina, but he does agree.

To the present and Neverland again where Regina casts a preservation spell on Henry to buy them some time. Neal makes a silly suggestion and Regina snaps at him. Emma tries to keep the peace but Regina snaps again, her son is dying. Emma counters with “our son” so she knows how Regina feels, but Regina strikes back – Emma has a mother, a father, Neal (whatever he is) and a pining pirate (*snerk*), Regina has nothing. All Regina has is Henry – who is everything to her. Emma acknowledges that and asks Regina how to save Henry – though Regina has no ideas. Neal worries that Pan’s power boost means they can’t stop him – but Regina points to the blood on Emma’s sword. She nicked him – if he can bleed they can hurt him. And if they can hurt him, they can kill him.

Go Regina.

Fangs for the Fantasy Podcast: Autumn 2013, Episode 9

t's time for another episode of our podcast, back again for the Autumn where we discuss our book of the week and some of the shows we've been following all through our social justice analysis.

You can join us here and you can listen live on our youtube channel, here, or in our sidebar. All will also carry a recording after the show is finished. As ever all our previous podcasts can be found in the archive

The podcast begins at 7:00pm EST

25th November - 2nd December: Deadshifted by Cassie Alexander

2nd December - 9th December: Under Wraps by Hannah Jane
9th December - 16th December: Blood Wager by Connie Stuttle

16th December - 22nd December: Goblin Quest by Jim C Hines

22nd December - 6th January: Fury of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Deadshifted (Edie Spence #4) by Cassie Alexander

Edie and Asher are getting away from it all with a cruise. A nice, relaxing cruise.

But the supernatural came with them – Asher recognises a man from his less-than-respectable past and nearly risks their relationship to try and salve his conscience.

And then people start getting sick. And then they start dying… Then it gets truly horrifying.

I really liked the plot of this story – it was part medical mystery, part detective work, part survival horror – all melded together into an excellent whole. There was also a really strong emphasis on that horror with massive amounts of tensions and considerable grisly and gory scenes. I don’t mean in a gratuitous manner, the book didn’t try to shock the reader with endlessly descriptive scenes of blood and guts and mayhem – but it didn’t sanitise everything and the raw realness of the situation they were in, the horror of it was really well conveyed. In fact, while the nastily mutilated corpses were horrific, they weren’t nearly so much as the rows and rows of dead, the despair of the grieving  and the growing shock of what was actually happening. The horror of the loss and human reaction was more compelling than the mere horror of the mutilated corpses. I really can’t praise enough how well done this was; scale of it was conveyed in a way that is really rare to see in books (at least for me, I’m more visual than that).

The pacing is excellent - not so rushed that it becomes an action film but not so slow that the tension of the horror fizzles and dies.

I’ve always loved the world building – the different beings in this world come from a unique perspective because it’s all viewed through Edie’s lens. There’s little romance in it, little fluffiness and little regard of them as sexy or special or shiny – they’re dangerous, creepy and disturbing in so many ways and that is never forgotten

The authenticity of Edie as a nurse is always there – and that’s something I really appreciate about the series. Many times I will read a book and the protagonist will describe their profession and… I’ll just not buy it. Or it will sit awkwardly on the character. Sometimes the author knows too little about the profession, or the character feels too under qualified or ill suited to the profession or the profession hasn’t truly integrated with the character leaving me saying again and again “wait, isn’t she supposed to be a cop/detective/astro-physicist/circus performer?” While Edie is a nurse. It’s a major part of who she is and informs her decisions and viewpoints. Whether that’s her compulsive handwashing, her medical knowledge or her fear that she may be tarred and feathered by the nursing community for the cardinal sin of dating a doctor. The whole realness of Edie’s profession – and the author’s medical knowledge – makes the character herself so much more realistic and tangible. She feels like a full person, a full character.

The Walking Dead, Season Four, Episode Eight: Too Far Gone

The Governor holds a meeting with his people to say that he wants them to survive and that they aren't going to last where there are because eventually there will be a herd of biters, or a group of savage people.  The Governor then brings up the prison and suggests that they can move there, if they are willing to take it from the people who currently reside there.  The Governor adds that he has captured two of prison and has a plan to take the prison without anyone getting hurt.  The governor does however add that they do need to be prepared to kill if necessary.  We get a flash to The Governor holding a weapon to Michonne and Hershel. The Governor says that most of the people in the prison are thieves and murderers and should not have a nice place when they are suffering.He lies about his relationship with them and blames them for killing Penny and bringing and end to Woodbury. The Governor says that they need move quickly to have the upper hand.  The group quickly says that they are in.

Lilly approaches and tells Philip/Brian that they don't have to fight for another place and is not impressed that they might have to kill people.  Philip/Brian replies that he is going to keep her and Megan alive.  Philip/Brian then professes his love and Lilly says that she doesn't know who he is anymore.  Philip/Brian tells her that she knows him and that it was always going to be like this before walking away.

Brian/Philip then goes to Hershel and Michonne who are all tied up to offer them food.  The Governor promises that no one is going to hurt them.  Hershel asks what's going on and The Governor says that it isn't personal.  The Governor says that there are people he needs to keep alive and Michone tells him that she is going to kill him. When Hershel calls him Governor, Philip/Brian says not to call him that.  Hershel then suggests that they can find a way to live together. Hershel adds that he and Rick have changed but The Governor believes he cannot live with either Rick or Michonne. Hershel suggests that The Governor will  hurt people and asks how he can threaten to hurt someone else's daughters, if he professes to know what it is to have a daughter.  Before leaving Philip/Brian simply says because they aren't his.

Philip/Brian has moved his camp to the river because the biters can't cross water.  Lilly suggests that they stay there if the place is safe. Philip/Brian argues that she should think about Megan.  Megan is down by the river playing the mud when Philip/Brian approaches.  He asks for a hug before he leaves and she says that her hands are muddy.  He picks her up out of the dirt anyway.  Lilly watches from a distance and is clearly still not happy.

In the prison, Maggie is watching over Glenn who jokes about a vacation.  Glenn brings up their anniversary and he and Maggie share a laugh.  Maggie brings up a vacation she took with Hershel when she was little and Glenn says that he will go load up the station wagon.  Maggie leaves to get Glenn some water, promising to be right back. 

Rick is telling Darryl about what happened to Carol.  Rick says that Carol is going to be fine because she is a survivor and has a car and weapons.  Rick adds that Carol did do this and wasn't sorry.  Darryl asks what they are supposed to do about the two girls and Rick brings up his promise to look after them.  Rick then adds that he hasn't told Tyreese yet and doesn't know how he is going to take it. Darryl and Rick leave to find Tyreese.

Bob is sitting by himself when Sasha walks in saying that he should get some rest.  Sasha says that she wouldn't be there if it wasn't for Hershel and him.  Bob denies that he had anything to do with it and Sasha reminds him that he put the meds in her IV bag and demands to thank him, as Bob starts to walk away. Sasha has a moment of weakness and tells Bob to help her.

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.

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.

 Our podcast will be at 7:00pm EST tonight 

25th November - 2nd December: Deadshifted by Cassie Alexander

2nd December - 9th December: Under Wraps by Hannah Jane
9th December - 16th December: Blood Wager by Connie Stuttle

16th December - 22nd December: Goblin Quest by Jim C Hines

22nd December - 6th January: Fury of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Atlantis, Season 1, Episode 9: Pandora's Box

Medusa lurking around a market at night when she is captured… by Hercules. They lay together and she talks about how she loves him so! But she has heard stories of his drunkenness, his gambling, his debts and his womanising – initially he denies it in typical high humour, but she asks for the truth and he admits it all – but it’s all in the past because he’s never felt this way about a woman before. Then something smacks Hercules on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious. Medusa screams

I don’t recall their relationship quite having reached this point yet.

He wakes up tied up with a sword at his back and explaining to Kyros, one of those aforementioned creditors, that he totally had his money, honest, but he got robbed. Kyros will forgive his debt – but he wants Hercules to go to Hades to retrieve a box, unopened. Hercules hears “Hades” and considers it just another way to die – and isn’t moved when Kyros mentions all his supposed heroics. So Kyros pulls out his leverage – Medusa. Hercules is knocked out again, after receiving a time limit to arrive with the box.

Jason and Pythagoras awake to horrendous mouldy bread and head out to the market – to find Hercules passed out in front of the door – not too surprising considering it’s Hercules. Then they notice he’s tied and gagged – not unconscious and drunk. They remove his gag and his first words are that they’ve taken Medusa.

Pythagoras also thinks the quest is suicide and that rescuing Medusa seems more sensible, but Hercules rules that out since Kyros had graphic threats for if they tried that. So that leaves them another option – the Hierophant Eunapius, servant of Persephone, wife of Hades who is said to have been told many secrets.

They find the Hierophant who, after establishing that they don’t just want to go to Hades (easy) but want to come back (considerably harder). Hercules draws his sword to threaten the man and they are surrounded by archers. Eunapius tells them to leave and when Jason refuses, he says a simple “kill him” – and then Jason deflects and arrow with his sword before spinning back and holding Eunapis at sword point

Ok, at what point is everyone going to realise that Jason is displaying some serious demigod power? The man couldn’t hold a sword in episode 1 now he can deflect arrows? After more ominous posturing, Eunapis agrees to reveal the secret to them (or he could just send them on a wild goose chase and have them shot as soon as they seem them returning – or have them drink poison. Much simpler).

Eunapis is not as crafty as I and seems to give them an honest ritual. Hercules and Jason will descend to the underworld while Pythagoras watches over their unconscious, near-dead bodies. When they want to leave, they blow a nifty horn and lots of crows will show up to tell Pythagoras they want to get out and he will wake them with his blood, which sounds both messy and highly unhygienic

Dracula, Season 1, Episode 5: The Devil's Waltz

Mina wakes up in the middle of the night to find Grayson in her room. Since Mina isn’t me, she doesn’t pull back the sheets and yell “YES THERE IS A GOD!” no, Mina is pretty perturbed but doesn’t scream for help. Grayson is there to tell her how miserably unhappy she will be with Jonathon (quite likely) and how he’s a much better choice (most certainly, bedroom stalking aside). But she insists she loves Jonathon and she will be his wife – and she sounds so very unconvincing. Especially when he tries to leave and she grabs him (though this could be a reflex to the horror of Jonathon Rhys Meyers leaving one’s bed). He returns to bed, kissing her, groping – they have sex… and then Lucy wakes her up.

Dream? Flashback? Memory of the last night? Could be any… Lucy is there to drag Mina out of bed to prepare her for her engagement party while pining away because her unrequited love will be eternally denied her with added salt being positively drilled into those wounds by her having to help Mina celebrate her engagement.

Grayson drops in on Van Helsing  to deliver a vampire he has imprisoned to help with his testing of the sunlight formula because people are all suspicious about his daylight shunning ways. He’s also noticed the absence of Renfield.

A beaten Renfield has his hood removed – he is being held prisoner by a disturbingly icily polite female torturer (this role is incredibly well done – continuing the theme of epicly awesome acting) who wishes him to answer questions. Renfield warns her of repercussions but she dismisses it as “bluster”. Her question is “who does Alexander Grayson love?” Renfield, of course, is silent. She finds the whole thing so tiresome.

Elsewhere in much more decorous surroundings, Jonathon discovers that General Shaw has been taking bribes, the naughty boy (Shaw is involved in the Ordo Draco).

On to the scene of the party where Mina is staring into space and Lucy is doing all the work. Mina is confused by the guest list – the guests Jonathon put on it very high society and she never realised they were Jonathon’s friends (they’re Ordo Draco members Jonathon has been schmoozing at Grayon’s request). Grayson drops in to be charming and assure Mina that giving up an entire house for near strangers to party in is quite alright. Jonathon arrives with his news about Shaw but Grayson tells him to drop it for now – he’s quite insistent. He’s far far far more concerned with Renfield and, of course, can’t go to the police – he sets Jonathon on the hunt for where Renfield was to try and track him down.

Mina is wistfully unhappy and tells Lucy about her dream (Lucy is tantalised by the thought though Mina insists that it wasn’t “that kind of dream.” Which shows she is a liar, a dirty rotten liar). With the teasing Mina let’s slip that it wasn’t about Jonathon. Mina quickly lies again and assures her of course it was Jonathon (oh Lucy, don’t get your hopes up – you’ll only sink into despair and then this show will kill you off).

Grimm, Season 3, Episode 5: El Cucuy

“Duérmete niño, duérmete ya… Que viene el Coco y te comerá”

“Sleep child, sleep now. Or else the Bogeyman will come and eat you.”

A petrol station is robbed late at night by 2 men in masks speaking Spanish who savagely beat the cashier, Andres Venegas, while stealing the money. Andres goes to hospital in critical condition, unconscious with his mother watching over him, begging in Spanish for him to live and for his attackers to be punished. We move to see a figure watching the story on the news, his face his hidden but his hand is monstrous and clawed and slashes the chair he’s sat in in rage.

At home, Juliette is wandering back and forth worrying about the email Nick got from “M”, saying they loved Nick (I still place odds on it being Mummy Grimm). Nick comes home and she tries to pretend nothing’s wrong – really badly. Then she confesses she was in his email and she shouldn’t have been, to which he says he told her too and he has nothing to hide; again, not even slightly bothered. She springs on that and reveals the email. And she wants to know who “M” is.

He’s all distracted and doesn’t pick up the subtext and is worried about his mother while Juliette tries to absorb “my mother who died when I was a small child isn’t actually dead and is now in trouble.” Nick realises she needs some recapping and thinks he’s been keeping it secret – but Nick only found out last year when Juliette was in a coma (followed by amnesia – truly it has been epic the number of excuses Grimm has found for keeping Juliette in the background). We get some recap flashbacks. Juliette asks why he didn’t tell her and he points out that they haven’t exactly been together again until recently – also, Mummy Grimm is a Grimm (Juliette is shocked by this news – and realises that Grimmyness is genetic). Mummy Grimm couldn’t stay because of the naughty murder and now Nick can’t help her – but Juliette has gone from accusatory to supportive which is a wonderful relief.

Meanwhile, the two robbers who put Andres in hospital rob another store – hitting customers and the cashier above and beyond what they needed to in the robbery. But when they run back to their car, they’re attacked by the claw handed creature. It rips out one of their throats then hunts down his accomplice

Nick and Hank are called in and after seeing the bloody remains, speak to the witness – who is nervous and afraid to talk to them. They search the car and find the dead men’s hidden wallets and the masks they used in the robbery – it doesn’t take a brilliant detective to figure out they’re not good people. But what is surprising is the money has been left behind, the killer didn’t take it. Hank suggests Wesen but Nick says Wesen like money as much as the next person.

They head to the robbed store where Wu talks them through the scene (and they’re ranted at by an angry local, David Flores, who is important because the show has drawn attention to him). They check the CCTV looking for people who visited the store just before the robbery who may have seen them robbers come in or be attacked. One of them, reluctantly, gives the name Ray Bolton who keeps dogs – and fights them occasionally and they do get out. He’s nervous about giving the name and it’s inferred that ol’ Ray isn’t the friendliest of people

At home, Juliette is doing her own detective work – tracking the IP of the email from Mommy Grimm to a place called Visnja Gora. When Nick arrives she’s eager with the news having tracked the place down to Slovenia; Nick realises she’s on the way to Greece. (Possibly with the coins).

Next day, Hank checks Ray’s record and finds a “professional bad guy” (drugs, assault, etc) and he has worked with the two dead robbers before – and one of them testified against him. Nice revenge motive.

With animal control they go visit Ray and swab his dogs for DNA (shouldn’t you swab the wounds for dog saliva first? And weren’t the throats slashed by claws?), the ominous music drawing attention to a woman hiding in the house. Ray gets angrier and angrier, insists they’re not taking his dogs and Woges at Nick – when he sees that Nick is a Grimm he attacks and gets arrested. David Flores again shows up, this time to cheer Nick and Hank for locking Ray up.