Lost Girl, Season Four, Episode 13: Dark Horse

Rainer and Bo argue and he declares that his intentions were true but that centuries of imprisonment weakened his judgement.  Bo is not impressed and reminds Rainer that she chose her friends over him.  I am glad that she could at least acknowledge that what she did was truly shitty but unfortunately, it took something bad to happen for her to acknowledge this.  Bo says that her father manipulated all of them and Rainer reminds her that they have an advantage because they share something real.  A mark appears on Bo and she realises that this is her father's mark.

Back at the Dahl, Trick finds Rainer standing over a weakened Bo and calls him poisoned.  Rainer snarks back, reminding Trick that as Blood King, he is far from a saint.  Bo says that it's the parapice and she tells Trick about the horse God, who the fighting nuns believe to be Bo's father.  Rainer and Trick go back to arguing about whose responsibility this latest mess is.  Bo tells them to stop because she can feel her father trying to cross the bridge.  Bo says that her father needs the dark queen - her.  Bo asks Trick to tell her everything he knows about her blood.

Lauren is tied to a fence as Massimo digs a whole.  Massimo declares himself a God and Lauren reminds him that his strength is diminishing because he killed Hale, who was the last heir.  Lauren taunts that the only chance that Massimo has of being immortal, is for someone to write a shitty pop song about a villain who cries about his mommy.  Lauren warns that it took a council of 6 fae to control the Unamenz power and that the human brain can only take so much. Massimo declares Lauren wrong and says that he is a man who will make his mother proud.  Massimo decides that he is going to bring Lauren's head to Ebony.

Back at The Dahl, Trick swears that he has no idea who Bo's father is.  Trick does say that the Blood King had no choice but to hand over Aife over to the dark, praying that she would be executed when she broke his laws.  It's interesting that much of the time when Trick brings up the Blood King, he slips into the third person, as though he is not talking about himself. Bo says that Aife was used all of the centuries that she spent in a dark dungeon.  Trick argues back that Aife has his light blood, the blood that drains life for nourishment for self survival but the blood of Bo`s father, allows Bo to draw life from many victims and transfer that life force to someone else.  This means that Bo has inherited her abilities from both her mother and her father. Bo calls it hybrid blood and Trick worries that this blood will help her father escape.  Rainer starts to talk about the potential that Bo's blood holds and Trick points out that Bo can enslave people if coerced by the wrong hand.  Bo suggests that they check out the portal but Trick argues that this is exactly what Bo's father wants her to do.  Massimo makes an appearance and suggests that Bo swing by his place because that is where he has Lauren. Massimo claims that what he really wants is Bo dead at The Morrigan's feet.

Dyson finds Kenzi going through Lauren's things and Kenzi says that not only is Lauren's blood everywhere, she was looking for something in the dark archives.  Ebony walks in and announces that she slept with Lauren and asks how she controls the temperature in the apartment.  Kenzi snarks that Ebony is going through fae menopause and Dyson reveals that Ebony is now human.  Kenzi steps forward and punches Ebony across the face.  Dyson asks how Ebony became human and Ebony snarks about Lauren and her miracle snatch.  Ebony says that she needs Lauren alive to fix this and that Massimo has her.  Kenzi moves to attack again  and Dyson holds her back.  Kenzi tells Dyson that Vex let Massimo out and so Dyson asks where Vex would have taken Massimo. Ebony talks about how Massimo wanted to be a fae when he was a child and that now he wants her.

At the Dahl, Bo tells Massimo that as much as she wants to tear him apart, she is busy dealing with a rising army of the dead.  Massimo asks if Bo has heard of a thunder beast and then sends a blast of power at her.  Bo strikes Massimo but it has no effect, so Massimo grabs her and starts tossing her around the bar.  Massimo grabs Trick next. and Trick realises that Massimo swallowed the seed from his vault.  Rainer attacks next and fails, so Rainer tells Trick to convey to Tamsin that his soul is hers again.  Bo watches in horror as Massimo snaps Rainer's neck.  Now that Massimo has killed someone who Bo loves, let's see if she gets around to actually giving a shit.  Massimo falls to the ground in pain from the backlash and stumbles out of the bar.  Trick declares that Rainer  gone, as Bo cries.

Bo wakes and finds herself back home with Tamsin watching her.  Tamsin says that Trick went to the light fae library to get a text which might contain information on the soldiers.  Bo sits up and says Rainer's name. Tamsin tells Bo that she is pretty beat up with a few broken ribs.  Bo tells Tamsin that Lauren has been taken and Rainer and Hale are now dead.  Bo thinks that she let everyone down (which she most certainly did) and now doesn't know what to do.  Tamsin tells Bo to suck it up and get her shit together and demands that Bo act like the supposed chosen one she is.  Bo draws chi from Tamsin and says that not only does she taste different, she tastes happy.  Bo says that she is not strong enough to defeat Massimo and that he basically won't die.  Dyson and Kenzi enter the room to check on Bo. Yeah, it's awkward because Kenzi has clearly not forgiven Bo.

Tamsin sits down with Kenzi and tells her that she has to forgive Bo.  Kenzi points out that Hale is dead and Tamsin argues back that Rainer is also dead (and why Kenzi should give a shit about that is beyond me). Tamsin says that she has a second chance to deliver Rainer's soul and that this could end her exile from Valhalla. Kenzi looks through Rosette`s notebook and asks Tamsin to translate a part.  It says that the daughter's heart will close the portal and they wonder if this means Bo has to rip her heart out.  Kenzi decides that their first priority should be to get Lauren back.

Bo and Dyson plan and she declares that Lauren come first.  When Dyson asks about her father, Bo says that her father waited 30 years to show up and that he can wait another hour. Bo asks Dyson to help her to get back to herself and she needs a witness.  Bo holds out her dark fae contract and rips it apart claiming that her ties to the dark are now over.  Dyson asks if she is okay and Bo declares that Rainer was a good man who wanted to end the tyranny between the light and the dark.  Dyson says that Hale had a purpose and that all his life he was searching for a king, when he should have been searching for a queen.  Dyson kneels at Bo's feet and declares his blood and body to be hers. Dyson swears fealty and claims that by Bo's side is where he wants to be forever.  Dyson and Bo hug it out and he declares his love for her.  Bo says that is why she needs him to serve with her and not for her.  They are interrupted by Tamsin, who declares that they found more stuff about the portal.  They decide to head back to the spiritual center.

At the center, Bo and Dyson look at the portal and she wonders what is going to come out of it.  Three men in uniform appear and Bo sucks their chi, turning her eyes blue and she declares herself the queen with her true army coming.  Dyson begs Bo to come back, as Bo declares that she will break the power of the precipice.  Dyson kisses Bo and she comes back to herself. Bo tells Dyson that he needs some new moves and they face the uniformed men.

Fangs for the Fantasy Podcast: 2014, Episode 6

It's Monday! Time for another episode of Fangs for the Fantasy, the podcast where we examine many of the shows we've been following this week, along with our book of the week and dissect them all from a social justice lens (though, alas, still no mermaids.).

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 (technology willing)

This week we discuss the hot mess of Lost Girl and how Kyle Schmidt deserves better, the totally broken, random plot line and the terrible treatment of Kenzi. The Walking Dead and the return of Carol and her fascinating scary kids. Bitten and Helix both managing to turn their shows around.

10th February - 17th February: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

17th February - 24th February: The Chopping Block (Grimm)

24th February - 3rd March: Undead Pool by Kim Harrison

3rd March - 10th March: Night Broken by Patricia Briggs

10th March - 17th March: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

17th March - 24th March: Daughter of the Sword by Steve Bein

Faefever (Mackayla Lane Series #3) by Karen Marie Moning

Mac continues her quest for the Sinsar Dubh – but also has to figure out what to do with it if she finds it. When she comes near the book she is unable to act due to the pain – and can she trust Barrons or V’lane, either one, with an artefact of such power?

And things are getting worse, more of Dublin is falling to the Dark Zones and the walls of the Unseeling prison are beginning to crack. If they cannot find a way to patch them before Samhain, then all hell will break loose.

At one point in this book Barrons complains at Mac that she is too passive. Well, I have to give the book one thing, they managed to lampshade what is probably her worst character trait (and it says a lot that this, out of all the other problems, is the worst character trait). Mac does nothing. If left to her own devices she would spend her entire time twiddling her thumbs in the book shop hoping that the Sinsar Dubh comes to her, that her sisters murderer decides to give himself up and that all the fae go away. She spends her entire time moping and reacting. That doesn’t mean she does nothing – but the only reason she ever acts is because someone has forced her – Barrons, V’lane, the Sidhe Seers, Christian – someone pushes her and she reacts. That’s it. And because she’s the protagonist that’s what we get for the whole book – her moping and occasionally doing stuff to react to the random events the various people force her into before going back to moping again.

Which means the book has no overarching plot. What is the book about? Finding the Sinsar Dubh – same as the last 2 books – except she doesn’t actually do anything to find it. So it’s just mope mope mope FORCED EVENT more moping and then all the action (which, to be fair, is pretty damn good) is kind of clinging in the last 8% of the book and ending with a cliffhanger.

Mac’s passivity manages to be even more annoying because the one “active” thing she can bring herself to do is to keep secrets. A large part of this book involves Mac deciding who to trust – V’lane, Barrons or whoever. These are reasonable concerns considering that neither of them are trustworthy and they both have zero respect for Mac. This would be fine if she did something with the knowledge she had beyond actively sabotaging their efforts to find the book. The Unseelie have to be stopped, the book has to be found but she’s not sure who she can trust with the book – fine; but how is it sensible to have the alternate plan “well no-one’s going to get it then!” and promptly stick your head in the sand. Which is basically how she ends the book with all this action – waiting for the worst to come and hoping others can fix it.

Her keeping secrets would also be better if she ever could actually manage it – but she fails completely to do the one thing she’s actually trying to do. Both V’Lane and Barrons easily learn everything she tries to keep hidden, making her one, tiny piece of agency collapse horribly. In fact, that pretty much sums up their treatment of her in general – she’s less than a tool to both of them, neither have any compunction about forcing her, marking her against her will, using their supernatural abilities on her to make her do what she wants which causes her to… mope. She is a passive, helpless, disrespected, badly used and often abused tool. On the plus side, she’s at least aware of this (hence her wariness of both of them), on the minus side, she definitely appears to be melting to both of them despite their abuses – and her main reason for that simply seems to be “they could abuse me even more than they are doing”.

This is perhaps Mac’s worst trait – because it breaks the entire story. It makes the entire book one long mope with endless internal monologues and no real advancement. It doesn’t help that the writing is some of the most painfully drawn out, over-descriptive, repetitive, distracted text I’ve read in a long time – and I’ve read a LOT of drawn out, over-descriptive, repetitive, distracted text. It’s also clogged with completely unnecessary recapping just for bonus funsies.

The Walking Dead, Season Four, Episode 10: Inmates

The introduction starts off with Beth in a forest talking about finding the prison and how Hershel thought they could make it into a home.  We see Daryl and Beth running through the woods trying to stay ahead of the zombies. Beth tries to shoot her gun but it is out of bullets and so Daryl saves her with his arrows.  She continues to talk about life in the prison and the delight of waking in her bed and how she is afraid to get her hopes up.  Beth says that she worries that it is easier to be afraid. Beth and Daryl dive into a ditch after having escaped the zombies.  We learn that she wished that the prison was her home for the rest of her life.

Daryl and Beth sit by the fire and Beth says that they should do something because they aren't the only survivors. Beth suggests that the residents of the prison could have made it out. Beth tells Daryl that he should track because he is a tracker but Daryl sits there silently. Beth stands in frustration and says that if Daryl won't track, she will.  Daryl stands, puts out the fire and follows Beth.  The next day, Daryl searches the ground for tracks and when he stops, Beth suggests that this means that someone is alive.  They continue to walk with Beth in the lead and Daryl finds more tracks.  Beth encourages Daryl to have faith but Daryl points out that faith hasn't done anything for them.  Beth starts to gather fruit saying that people will be hungry when they find them.  They come across two dead zombies and Daryl finds blood which is not walker blood.  Beth says they must have fought off the walkers but Daryl once again is not optimistic.  A walker jumps out and grabs Beth and Daryl beats its head in with a rock. They continue walking and now Daryl is in the lead. They come to a set of train tracks and find a group of walkers feasting.  Daryl makes short work of them with an arrow and Beth is shocked at the disgusting remains of the walkers feast.  Beth starts to cry, overwhelmed with what she has been through and seen but Daryl just keeps walking.

That night at a camp fire, Beth tells Daryl that they are not going to die and that she is believing for the sake of her father.

The kids make their way through the forest on their own. Mica says that she wants Carol and Lizzie points out that Carol isn't here.  Mica and Lizzie are with Tyreese, who is holding onto Judith.  That night, Lizzie kills a rabbit. Judith starts to cry, which causes Amy to panic. Tyrese promises that they will find a safe place soon. When Mica realises that there are walkers all around them, they get up and start moving again. The next day, the girls come across a grape tree and Lizzie and Amy stop eat, as Tyreese tries to calm down Judith, who is screaming.  Tyreese pauses to change Judith's diaper and Amy panics that the walkers will hear the crying baby.  Tyreese hears walkers in the woods and leaves the girls to watch the baby and heads towards the woods. Mica takes off running in fear and Tyreese and Lizzie chase her until they finally catch up.  Tyrese assures Mica that she did the right thing by running.  Tyreese hears screams and decides he has to help in case its people from the prison.  Tyreese hands them his guns, as Mica begs him not to go. Tyreese assures her that she can handle this and then takes off following the sound of the screams.

Tyreese makes it to the railroad tracks where he sees a group of people fighting off zombies, so he decides to help out.  Judith is still crying and Mica begs Lizzie to do something because she is scared someone is going to hear them.  Lizzie puts her hand over Judiths mouth, cutting off her oxygen, as Mica again points out the zombies.  Mica fires her gun at the approaching zombies and though Tyreese hears, he cannot leave because he is in the middle of killing off a small herd himself. Carol shows up with the girls and Tyreese runs and hugs Carol.   One of the men that Tyreese tried to save tells them to stay on the tracks because there is a place up the tracks that will be safe for the children. Since he has been bitten, Tyreese and Carol leave with the children.  Mica tells Tyreese that she didn't run or leave Lizzie.  Tyreese tells Carol that he didn't see her get out and Carol admits that she wasn't there but does not admit that she had been banished by Rick. Carol says that she saw the prison fall. They continue to follow the tracks and stop at sign that talks about a sanctuary and community for all. The community is named Terminus.

Fangs for the Fantasy Book of the Week

It's another Monday which means it's time for our next podcast - episode 6 of 2014 where we will talk about all of the shows we've been following this week (or as many as we can get to), our book of the week and whether Renee manages to carve through the permafrost to her home or not - all through our social justice lens. Feel free to join us, listen, ask questions or make suggestions

Like all  the Fangs for the Fantasy podcasts (archives here) we read a book and discuss it on the show. 

To give people a chance to read along with us, especially over the holidays, we 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

10th February - 17th February: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

17th February - 24th February: The Chopping Block (Grimm)

24th February - 3rd March: Undead Pool by Kim Harrison

3rd March - 10th March: Night Broken by Patricia Briggs

10th March - 17th March: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

17th March - 24th March: Daughter of the Sword by Steve Bein

Bitten, Season One, Episode Six: Committed

Philip and Elena are in bed and he points out that they have not left the house in two days and that it will be her responsibility to explain to Becky why they showed up at her wedding empty handed.  Philip does however say that Elena has enough going on with her family.  Elena gets out of bed saying that she is starving and Philip suggests that she order some more and points out that Elena has moved into the apartment by stealth.  Elena says that she doesn't cook or clean and Philip points out that cleaning services do exist.

Back at Stonehaven, Jeremy receives a call from Antonio, who he sent to reach out to the other North American families.  Jeremy tells Clay that Antonio found out that they are the only ones being targeted by the mutts.  Clay believes that the mutts are striking because Stonehaven is the strongest pack.  They talk about another family that Jeremy has arranged for Nick to talk to.  Clay gets upset and Jeremy asks what is really bothering him.  Clay wonders if Elena will come home and if Elena will turn her back on them for good. Jeremy says that they will deal with it but Clay argues that he will have to deal with it because if Elena goes rogue, as a mutt, it will be his job to make her life miserable. Clay says that he won't be able to force Elena to keep moving. Jeremy assures Clay that he won't have to do that.  They are interrupted by a knock on the door. Samuel introduces himself and Jeremy points out that he knew his father.  Samuel brings up the fact that only the pack gets to set up roots and that he wants what they have.  Clay grabs Samuel and drags him in house and tells him that he has one chance to make the right decision as he beats him. Clay then throws Samuel out and he quickly hops on his bike and rides away.

Philip and Elena are walking and she complains about Becky's bridal registry.  Elena suddenly stops and pauses and looks through the crowd when she thinks she spies Santos.  Elena quickly covers for Philip.  Back at the apartment, they sit together and Philip brings up how quiet Elena has been since they came home.  Elena reveals that she thought she saw someone - a neighbour of one her foster families.  She names Victor Olsen and says that he used the rabbits as a lore. Elena says that Victor is locked up but she still thinks she sees him sometimes.  Elena asks Philip to promise not to see her as damaged goods and they hug.

Later, alone with Logan, Elena reveals that she thinks she saw Santos.  Logan points out that Santos loves to play games and Elena adds that Santos had no real interest in rejoining the pack and simply wanted to stir the pot. Logan asks if Elena told Jeremy and Elena reveals that she asked Jeremy not to call her and that she would like to maintain the silence.  Logan advises Elena to keep her eyes open.  Elena then reveals that she lied about Santos to Philip and that she told him about Victor.  Logan believes that this is great progress for Elena because the truth she told Philip levelled a wall.  Elena then tells Logan that Philip asked her to move in with him. Elena asks Logan how he manages so well and asks how long he can keep the news from his girlfriend. Logan reveals that he has shared everything but the fact that he is a werewolf. Logan advises that Elena not allow her past with Clay to colour her future with Philip.

Elena returns home with bottles of booze and tells Philip that she will move in with him. Philip suggests that they go and pack up her stuff.

At Stonehaven, Nick calls and reports to Jeremy and Clay that Dennis Stillwell has been dead for two days.  Clay asks about Joey and Nick says that there is only one body and that Dennis was tortured.  Jeremy orders Nick to clean up the place and make sure that nothing goes back to them.  Clay asks who did it and Nick says that from the smell it seems that it was Cain and the mutt from the motel were there.  Jeremy asks about Marsten and Nick says that his smell is absent.

Becky thanks Elena for hosting the shower.  Olivia snarks about Becky's choice of flowers and she storms out.

Back at Stonehaven, Antonio says that it is only a matter of time until the other families find out about the Stillwills and suggests a truce with the mutts. Clay points out that mutts already think that Jeremy is weak and wonders how long it will be until the next mutt shows up thinking that he can challenge for Alpha. Clay says that they should reinstate the mutt hunts to teach the mutts that Jeremy cannot be pushed around.  Jeremy is not pleased with the suggestion that he is being pushed around and heads to the door when he hears the doorbell  It's Samuel again and he demands the right to challenge for Alpha and Jeremy invites him in.  They begin to fight and Samuel is shocked because he was told that  Jeremy wouldn't fight. Jeremy quickly pins Samuel and he begs to be let go.  Jeremy demands that Clay take Samuel downstairs and learn who sent him and who said the pack was weak.

Becky has locked herself in a room and Elena asks to be allowed to talk to her.  Elena assures Becky that her mother and sister are in the kitchen, so Becky opens the door.  Becky says that she takes antidepressants and that she stopped taking them because she was worried about her emotions bottoming out.  Becky has been stressed out about the wedding and the fact that Olivia does not like her fiancé.  Elena assures Becky that love is messy and that who people fall in love with doesn't always make sense.

Lost Girl, Season Four, Episode 12: Origin

This episode begins with Hale's funeral and Dyson giving a eulogy.  Well that makes it official, Lost Girl has killed off its only reoccurring character of colour. The only one who seems wounded though is Kenzi.  When everyone is gone, Bo sits next to a mourning Kenzi who says that she needed Hale alive.  Bo promises that it will all get better. An armed knight makes its way out of the bushes and pledges her fealty to Bo, who is supposedly her queen.  Kenzi walks off in frustration, as the knight asks for instructions on where to begin.

At the Dahl the knight tells Tamsin and Bo that she is there to protect Bo and fight by her side. Bo says that she is not the queen and the knight warns that there will be more deaths because it was foretold that with the death of the Unamenz the perapice would rise.  The knight hands over a book that of course once again marks Bo as the super special succubus that someone is looking for.  Bo says that she doesn't care and that her family needs her before going to see Kenzi.  Kenzi wants the druid killed and Bo promises that the druid will pay.

Massimo is working on a spell when Dyson, Kenzi and Bo enter.  Massino tells the intrepid crew that for supernatural creatures, they don't know anything about their own lives, including the death of Rainer. Massimo says that when The Wanderer rises (yes, I'm still pissed that Lost Girl hinted at Odin and then went nowhere with it), another curse will befall him and he will expire in seven days, unless the curse is broken.  Kenzi demands the return of the twig and the Massimo taunts her.  Dyson grabs Massimo and demands information on Rainer. Dyson then announces that the cannot kill Massimo yet, even as Kenzi protests because he feels that Massimo must be brought to Trick. Dyson argues that there are larger things at stake than revenge.  Kenzi begins to beg but Bo tells Kenzi that they have to trust Dyson.

Lauren is looking through a fae book of records for Rainer. When she finally comes across a reference, Rainer is called the demon beast and that he shall be unbound.  Rainer will apparently betray the fae and reek torment. Ebony is downstairs and Lauren overhears her talking about how much easier things would be if Bo were dead.  Lauren puts the  book in her hand bag. Trick tells Ebony that she cannot kill Bo. Trick suggests that they put their differences aside to deal with Rainer.

Rosette walks into The Dahl and Rainer greets her.  Bo asks about the possibility of a prophecy regarding Rainer's death.  Rosette says that the alliance between Bo and Rainer would have assured that the earthly curse was broken.. Tamsin reads the curse that Massimo told them about and announces that Rainer has been on earth 6 days.  Tamsin adds that only the blood of the person who has cursed Rainer can lift the curse.

Bo pulls out the tarot card and says that she and Rainer need to form an alliance. Bo grabs matches and lights the card on fire, then quickly blows it out.  MMXIV appears on the card and Bo points out that this same thing happened to Kenzi.  Lauren enters and says that it could be cartography coordinates. Lauren hands Bo the book that she was reading from and assures her that history's memory of Rainer has returned. Apparently, either the warrior or the queen will die. Bo questions why Lauren is doing this and suggests that Lauren is doing this to get back at her.  Lauren says that she stayed with the dark for Bo and that this was all for her.  Lauren adds that she had to make Bo believe this if she was going to make the Morrigan believe it. Bo is not convinced and suggests that Lauren was busy digging up news on the man she loves. Lauren asks if this is it and Bo points out that she chose Lauren, until Lauren broke her heart. Rainer interrupts to say that he has figured something out, so Lauren leaves.

The Morrigan enters her home to find Lauren on her bed with champaign.  Lauren announces that she officially wants to join the dark.  The Morrigan points out that changes of heart don't happen for no reason.  Lauren says that she has felt weak and small but The Morrigan has given her strength and confidence.  Lauren brings up all of the bad things that the light have done to her.  The Morrigan asks what this is really all about and Lauren admits that she has nowhere else to go.  Lauren and The Morrigan start to kiss.

Team investigation head into a spiritual healing center and are greeted by sister Sister Epona.  Rosette immediately attacks saying that Apona attacked her. Bo warns Rosette off and asks about the horse.  Sister Epona tells Bo that the horse is great and all powerful with dominion over life and death.  Sister Epona tells Bo that the perapice is her father.

At the Dahl, Vex approaches Kenzi with a bottle.  Kenzi says that she needs to get revenge and Vex asks on who.  Vex wonders how Massimo managed to kill Hale and Kenzi reveals that she gave Massimo the twig. Vex argues that he is not a good fae and Kenzi begs saying that she needs the real dirty till the end Vex.  Vex agrees to handle Massimo but Kenzi stops him saying that Massimo took her almost future husband and that Massimo is hers.

Helix, Season 1, Episode 7: Survivor Zero

Day 7

And mysterious helicopters have landed – apparently ominously as Sarah and Alan agree while hurriedly playing the “let us never speak of this again” game about having sex. The ominous is rather confirmed by the squad of goons with guns who move in who Hiroshi calls his “corporate patrons”. It’s also so ominous that when Constance Stutton, chief operating officer (whatever that means) of Ilaria corporation introduces herself it’s all rather wonderfully anti-climactic.  She’s here just to help Alan!

Yeah right. And I have a bridge to sell you (also she’s not met Alan yet and doesn’t realise what an arsehole he is).

First thing Alan asks for is communication with the CDC. She points out that she neither has a satellite uplink in her pocket nor a magic wand – and like his helicopter in the pilot, hers left straight away but will be back in 2 days. Constance uses masses of honey to contrast with Hiroshi’s vinegar – and lots of really stupid corporate speech. And of course he can have Julia back and her deepest possibly sympathies for her being infected.

Of course, alone with Hiroshi, she shows a different side. She throws a book at him then grabs him by the throat – they needed 2 things from him: the virus and the cure. One without the other isn’t very good. They want to “think the herd” not make it extinct – and rule the herd apparently. She actually views the CDC as a good thing since they can find the cure. Of course, once the cure is found everyone dies – the CDC, Hiroshi’s employees (which he disapproves of them being his responsibility), everyone.

She’s also curious about the goo-zombies which were apparently not part of the plan and part of Hiroshi’s attempt to find a strain of the virus that could be cured.

Sarah and Alan also talk both agreeing that Constance is not to be trusted that, as a big corporation, her allegiance is to her bottom line not the people and, really, why send out the expensive private army when the CDC was already fixing things for them? So the plan is to find the cure – but not hand it open.

Constance continues the theme of no-one trusting anyone and goes to ask Daniel about Julia because she doesn’t trust Hiroshi to tell her everything or, well, anything. Of course, Daniel is unfailingly loyal to Hiroshi. He goes to report that to Hiroshi (who is busy looking through his Julia stalking book) who in turn warns Daniel how dangerous Constance is. Daniel asks for his father’s trust and Hiroshi brushes it off and adds a command – don’t let Constance reach Julia. Daniel wants to know what’s so special about Julia and Hiroshi brushes him off; Daniel should want to help because Hiroshi asks though he admits he thinks Constance will kill Julia. He also reveals that he doesn’t really care about the cure.

Just in case things aren’t freaky enough, we then cut to Constance using a metal grinder on her teeth.