Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Season 1, Episode 4: All the Mirrors of the World

Lots of chaos as Lady Pole is dragged screaming into the house after trying to kill Norrell and the injured Childermass is taken in to be treated. While doing so he has an odd vision about ravens and cards.

Of course Norrell is most upset about what this will do to his reputation and the reputation of magic – after all, he was the one who drove Lady Pole insane. His minions insists they can pretend the attack was a French spy and quietly shuffle Lady Pole off to an asylum.

When Childermass wakes he finds Norrell there, not out of concern, he wants to know why Childermass was using the magic he taught in the square – Childermass says he sensed magic and he thinks Lady Pole is a magician because he sensed power on her. Norrell insists that was just the magic he used to return her from the dead though Childermass doesn’t believe him. He also makes a completely unfair remark about how useless Childermass has been recovering – then apologises. There is some heart to the man. Of course he also expects Childermass to take care of Lady Pole – after all if she is put in Bethelem, people can pay to stare at the insane and there may be TALK!

Jonathan clearly believes the lie about the French spy as he talks to Arabella (who insists on dressing him and in his medals – with a nice natural byplay of him subtly altering how she thinks he should wear his coat). She’s would also prefer if he didn’t go back to Norrell – but of course he must

Norrell and Jonathan have been called in to meet the King himself – King George the third, the Mad King. Though as Norrell points out, they cannot cure madness with magic but Jonathan is willing to try – and what could be more respectable than performing magic for the crown?

Of course, Norrell is right and they can’t help the king, though Norrell does take the chance to not-subtly question Jonathan on whether he used black magic during the war as rumour says. But they’re distracted by a painting of the Raven King which, of course, fascinates Jonathan. In the paining is one of the King’s “fairy servants” – clearly the Gentleman. Norrell quickly scorns the whole thing as disgraceful and destructive to real magic

Arabella craftily questions her maid about the real culprit who attacked Norrell and, through servant’s gossip, learns it was Lady Pole and she will be shut away.

When Jonathan returns home he tells Arabella they tried all of Norrell’s spells that both didn’t work – and that he doesn’t think Norrell even wanted them too. We also learn of Arabella having to put up with a young woman lying about how Jonathan had taken her on as a pupil (and she has fannishly decorated her room with John’s pictures). She’s quite annoyed and exasperated by the whole thing. They also both admit that Lady Pole shot Norrell – and Arabella is upset about that because she didn’t see it coming and was in denial about Lady Pole being mad. She can’t bring herself to think about it any more

Despite that, she still watches as Lady Pole is taken away

Salem, Season 2, Episode 10: Till Death Do Us Part

Marburg bathes child John the sacrifice while singing creepy drowning songs and preparing him to be properly killed. Baby John wants his mother, but Marburg is all for the drowning so she can reunite with her beloved master. She also kisses the boy – full on the mouth… seriously that’s the second time this child has kissed sexually, how the hell is the network getting away with this on a child actor?

Cotton has been dragged out of town and now realises that shenanigans are afoot. He doesn’t get murdered because John rushes in and murders his would be murderers. Cotton is a little bemused as to how John even found him but John responds cryptically either to hide the fact he used magic or to hide the dodgy writing. John wants Cotton to exorcise his son of the devil so he boy is saved, the witches are thwarted and Marburg will just kill them all in a grand wave of awesomeness (ok the last part may be my plan).

After briefly considering just killing the boy (also my plan) Cotton agrees to help with the exorcism while John expositions how he’s basically hooked all his hopes/redemption/struggle/whateveron his son surviving and not being a demon.

Mary plans to use a special spell to allow her to reach the ship while with Marburg so she can break what makes Marburg immortal and then John can get with the stabbing.  They also have a big angsty romance moment which may be them looking to reconcile or grim John planning to kill Mary. Or both

In the church, Magistrate Hawthorne rants away (everyone’s still freaking out about the comet) and there’s friction between the Marburgs as Sebastian is increasingly seeing his mother’s plan as not necessarily in his best interest. Mary joins them in church to convince Marburg that she’s on board with kiddy sacrifice with Marburg drawing comparisons between Mary and the Christian Virgin Mary watching their kids be sacrificed (and throwing in some criticism of old Mary’s mousiness while reminding us that Marburg is super-duper old). They’re also still a little snarly at each other.

Sebastian is all pouty and jealous at Mary who is not impressed, making it clear how little she gives a damn and how she’s not going to flirt with a man who is dedicated to another woman – his mother. He also pretends he was totally on her side in killing her friend Wainwright because he is a distraction. Ahhh smell that paternalism. He continues to promise he’s totally Team Mary

Hawthorne continues to stalk and intrude on Anne to tell her that Cotton has been killed, by Native Americans honest and how she should totally marry him before his body gets cold. Which is when the very alive Cotton appears to accuse Hawthorne of murder. Cotton seems to have found a spine somewhere as he slams Hawthorne against a wall and threatens to expose him as a murderer before the bigwigs in Boston. Hawthorne hurriedly leaves.

Killer Rayne (The Rayne Whitmore Series #2) by Alanna J Faison

Rayne has passed through her trial by fire of the first book. She has been Unmade, her family has been destroyed and her first forays back into the world have not gone to plan

Now she prepares, she rallies her allies, her friends, she claims what is hers, she demands loyalty and lays down the foundations for the coming war.  Namen Young has destroyed her family, the lives of so many and is threatening to destroy everything – and Rayne is raising what she can to stop him.

This book is relatively slow paced – and certainly a lot slower than the last one. Its story is more an interval than a closed character arc without on particularly storyline or a real conclusion at the end so much as it is another chapter in Rayne’s ongoing saga. It absolutely cannot be read stand alone – as without the former book and the book which will come next it is completely lost without context or purpose

And all of this is a good thing. The first book was so incredibly fast, jumping from plot line to plot line to event to event so quickly that a slower paced book to consolidate was needed. As part of the series this book is excellent, it gives us time to catch our breath, remind ourselves of what is at stake and who the major players are in Rayne’s world and her battle against Namen. We’re reminded of the nature of the war and what all the powers are (since this world is so wide and varied with a lot of complex forces in play).

We ran through the world last book, introducing everything at a break neck pace but without really having the time to get to know anyone or look too far beneath except to know there was a lot beneath to know. Now we get to slow down and really look at things like the werewolf past, the nature of the witches, the relationships between the characters, the society of the vampires and look at the various motivations that drive everyone

It also really laid down how this fight was going to happen – not just as an epic battle of claws and swords and woo-woo powers (though that would certainly have a place) but also through proxies and by influence and generally by controlling mortal forces and supernatural allies. Ultimately, part of this conflict began – and certainly the reason it slaughtered Rayne’s family – out of fear that humanity were going to rise up and use their numbers and new technology to destroy the supernaturals. This not only affects Rayne through her business (and her father’s arms business targeting supernaturals) but also lays the foundation for what they want and looks at the balance between humanity as victims or a threat. Again, there’s a lot interesting topics and conflicts that are now being developed to make for a much richer story

Penny Dreadful, Season 2, Episode 6: Glorious Horrors

A maid discovers Sir Malcolm’s dead wife, Gladys.

Dorian wakes to see Angelique preparing for the day and Dorian wants to go out shopping in big public places while Angelique is wary and wishes for more discretion. Of course, Dorian won’t hear of it, he “celebrates the unusual”. Aie so it looks like the good path of last episode is not being continued. To get the “thrill of the forbidden” he decides to throw a ball for Angelique, a “proper coming out.”

Creepy Victor wakes up to find Lily making breakfast and it’s all very lovey dovey except, of course, for the whole lack of awareness and consent which ruins it.

Speaking of, Evelyn wakes before her drugged victim, Sir Malcolm and steals some of his hair.

He goes home in very high spirits only to find everyone in the house very grim to pass on the bad news about Gladys. He seems completely unemotional and rather horrifying unbothered. When hearing his wife slit her own throat his only remark is how he will have to replace the carpet.

Sembene insists that something is wrong, despite Ethan attempting to rationalise it (and thinking that maybe Malcolm just didn’t care that much). Vanessa sharply disapproves and Sembene is quietly insistent – that was not Malcolm.

And they get a visitor – the man Ethan mauled as a wolf. In private there’s lots of taunts and threats as the man tries to be very loquacious and talk about how he murdered some Mexicans while Ethan is curt and short. He insists that Ethan’s dad wants him to come home and makes it clear he hasn’t given up taking him and threatens to kill everyone in the house to try and force him to go back to America. He singles out Vanessa specifically

Oh he doesn’t know what he is messing with. The werewolf is the least of his problems

Victor and Vanessa discuss the verbis diablo when Vanessa talks about John Clare and Victor realises she’s met his creature. She misses his shock and pokes him about his romance with Lily and he’s all gleeful and awkward and a bit dorky and she’s all nice and kind and happy for him. It’s sweet.

Dorian pays a visit to the rest of the cast to invite Vanessa et al to Angelique’s ball.

Vanessa takes Malcolm his invitation and Malcolm continues to be creepily detached, not even wanting to go to the funeral. He’s even enthusiastic about going to the ball.

Game of Thrones, Season 5, Episode 9: A Dance of Dragons

Stannis’s Camp

Everything looks very cold because Stannis has abandoned tactical sense. To make things worse, half the camp catches fire in the night

Melisandre, you’re supposed to be the priestess of the god of fire and shadows. Things catching fire in the darkness are kind of your remit – get to woo-wooing right now!

She just stress so next day we hear Davros describe how Ramsay and his 20 men caused utter devastation because Stannis not only has the tactical ability of a carrot but his men don’t properly guard or set up their camp well. Davros protests that the men got in the camp unseen because the northerners know their land so well (so?! You’re in a wide open snowy plain! Knowledge of the terrain does not excuse crappy sentries who either let invades have free reign of the entire camp OR you were damn fool enough to put several vital targets in one place).

Davos again points out how terrible their situation is – they can’t reach Winterfell in the snow, nor can they get back to Castle Black. A shame they didn’t have a fleet of boats to take them to any part of the 7 Kingdoms other than the one colder than Canada (yes, Renee, I went there).

Stannis sends Davos to Castle Black to beg for supplies though Davos thinks it’s odd that he is being chosen since he is Stannis’s hand and too important. When Stannis insists he begs to take the Queen and his daughter with him to keep them safe. Stannis refuses again

Davos has a sweet little goodbye scene with Shireen who is far too good for this show (so is definitely going to die). Stannis has another sweet moment with Shireen who shows a lot of wisdom and not-subtle commentary referring to a civil war in the past that broke the Targaryens and shattered the kingdoms. He also has lots of ominous excuses about doing what he must – even as Shireen is so very eager to help. And he is eager for her forgiveness.

Aaaaaaargh. Shireen is lead to a pyre where Mellisandre waits. When she realises what is happening she panics and struggles. Stannis watches but she doesn’t see him as she panics – and Queen Selyse says how good it is they’re going to burn their daughter to death to save the whole army. But, at the end, when Shireen screams for Selyse it is she who cracks and says she can’t do this – and Stannis who stays resolute. She tries to run to her daughter and is held back by the men.

Shireen burns.

Orphan Black Season Three, Episode Eight: Ruthless in Purpose, and Insidious in Method

Delphine sits in a nail salon getting a manicure by yet another clone - Krystal Goderich. As Krystal gives Delphine a manicure, she tells Delphine about her attack by the Castors and her near escape. Naturally, Krystal has a fear of twins, who she calls creepy.  Krystal while relieved to have been saved, is saddened by the loss of Hector. Krystal is still positive and makes it clear that the human spirit cannot be crushed.

It seems that Dr. Coady somehow managed to survive the explosion and is actually at the same run down bar where Siobhan and Helena, had their little knock down drag out fight. Coady shares a drink with David, in which mourns the loss of the DNA because it means that the Castor boys don't have long to live.  David thinks to ask about Rudy, and is informed that Rudy is out in the field.  David informs Coady that he has a mole inside of Leda and reveals that if she can keep the Castors alive, he will get what they want.

Finished with her manicure, Delphine reports to Nealon that Krystal is still naive and has not pieced the Castor puzzle together. Nealon reports that Rachel still has value but Delphine believes that Rachel is a liability.

Cosima and Sarah are doing the skype thing and talk about what happened on the compound and Sarah's ability to survive the Castor sexually transmitted disease.  Sarah suggests that she be used as treatment for Cosima's relapse but Cosima says that Delphine has teams which are working on gene therapy. Sarah then questions where Cosima is and Cosima simply says at a friend. When Sarah pushes for more, Cosima reveals that things are good and are exactly what she needs right now.  Sarah says that she need a way forward because they are always a step behind. Sarah brings up Beth, and Cosima reveals that Beth is also on her mind.  Sarah doesn't want to lose another clone.  Cosima ends the call when Shay arrives but suggests that Sarah call Scott to find out what they have been working on.

Felix has delivered Helena to Donnie and Allison and naturally, Donnie is not pleased with yet another addition to his household.  Allison asserts that they need to play their part and Felix argues that Helena simply needs a little bit of socializing. Yeah, well that's an understatement if I've ever heard one. In the meantime, Helena is with Allison and Donnie's daughter and she kisses the container holding her fertilized eggs.  Donnie demands to know why Helena cannot live with another one of the clones but Felix makes it clear that if Donnie does not agree to this, he will let the cat out of the bag about the drug dealing.  Helena makes her way downstairs wearing Allison's clothing and just looks plain odd.

Cosima lies on her back while Shay performs Reiki. Cosima asks if Shay knows anything about near death experiences and Shay says that before people die, people see who they love and if it's strong enough, sometimes people find their way back. When Shay points out that Cosima is late for work, Cosima asks Shay to come along and see the secret lab.

Sarah is doing the skype thing with Scott and learns about the book and the fact that not only is Rachel the only one who can decipher it, Rachel refuses to do so unless she talks with Sarah. Scott confirms that Delphine doesn't know anything about this but suggests that maybe they should trust Delphine.  Sarah however does not agree because with the book, Leda could restart human cloning.

Delphine goes to see Rachel, and is not happy to see that Rachel is improving.  Rachel realises that she is a threat to Delphine.  The moment Delphine leaves the room, Scott swings the camera to Rachel ,so that she can talk to Sarah.  Sarah asks about the book and Rachel is insistent that the book is hers and that her father left it to Kiera, so that the clones would cooperate. Rachel agrees to translate if she is allowed to disappear to Taiwan.  Sarah however points out that dead woman cannot pass customs, so Rachel brings up Krystal Goderich.  Rachel wants Sarah to steal Krystal's identity and get her out of Dyad and as proof that she can do what she promised, Scott reads the page which Rachel translated.

S and Sarah talk about whether it's a good idea to save Rachel, and Felix confirms that Cosima and Scott can get Rachel out of Dyad.  S however has her doubts and points out that if they break out Rachel, it will end the alliance with Delphine. What none of them realised is that Gracie was listening into the whole argument. Felix and Sarah decide to take a little road trip to get Krystal's information.

Cosima is showing Shay around the lab and introduces her to Scott.  Scott then confirms with Cosima that they are good to go on the Rachel situation.  When Shay finds the Dr. Moreau book on the shelves, Cosima is quick to take it away from her and Scott puts it in his bag.  Delphine enters and finds Shay with Cosima.  Delphine asks for a moment with Cosima and Cosima excuses herself saying it's work stuff.  Scott agrees to see Shay out.  Delphine makes it clear that her security concerns are not jealousy because as a French woman, she enjoys lovers.

Donnie is making soap as Helena watches.  Helena tells Donnie that Allison has good taste in men and that he is "strong like baby ox." Am I the only one who went eww at this?  Donnie is clearly flattered with the flirting and leaves Helena with the soap to talk to Allison.  Donnie brings up the kiss between Jason and Cosima and Allison promises to clear everything up. 

Gracie shows up for her first day of work at the candle store and is surprised to see Helena. Gracie reveals that she had a miscarriage and Helena tells Gracie that she can be an aunt to her child, absolving Gracie of responsibility. Helena hugs Gracie, kissing her on the cheek and all I think is AWKWARD.

Felix and Sarah arrive at Krystal's nailshop and it seems that Felix is going in for the sting.  Sarah is determined that Krystal stay ignorant about clone club.  Felix enters and drops his British accent saying that he has an appoint for a manipedi. 

Scott has returned home to find Rudy holding his cat.  Rudy comments on Scott's sci fi collection, adding that he is interested in getting The Island of Doctor Moreau.

White Cat (The Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black

 Spoilers Ahead, You Have Been Warned

Cassel comes from a family of workers.  By workers, I mean workers of magic.  His grandfather can kill people with a single touch, his mother has the ability to affect peoples emotions, his oldest brother can rearrange the bodies of others, easily breaking a limb and his other brother Barron, has the ability to affect people's luck - or so Cassel believes.  That's a very magical family to be born into and as luck would have it, Cassel has no powers to speak of.  He's a great con man and even acts as a bookie at his private high school.  The only thing Cassel knows for sure is that he has murdered his best friend and the girl he loves most of all.  The thing about memories, is that in a world where memories can be altered, how do you know what's true and what isn't?  When Cassel's memories start to unravel, he realises that there is more to his family than he realises.

As a protagonist, Cassel is just an average teenage boy who comes from a very dysfunctional family.  He doesn't really know how to relate to people and tries to act the way he perceives people want him to act.  Everywhere he goes, the legacy of his family's criminal activity as workers follows him.  At the end of the day, all Cassel really wants is to blend in and try to forget Lila's death.  Cassel isn't particularly intelligent but is always working some kind of angle trying to end up ahead.

Cassel's insecurity was perfect for his age and the fact that his family is so dysfunctional.  What I didn't like is that Cassel is secure in the belief that blood is thicker than water.  Family is absolutely important but there are times, and most certainly in Cassel's case, where turning your back and walking away from family is an act of self preservation.  Considering the myriad of ways in which his family lied to him, used him, abused him and even almost turned him into a rapist using magic, Cassel's response is absolutely ridiculous and utterly naive. I am forced to believe that Black wrote Cassel's forgiveness for the sole purpose of having a hook to continue this series, even though it means sending the message that no matter what a family member does, we have to forgive them.

There is a small strain of romance running through White Cat because much of the story deals with what happened to the dead Lila - the girl Cassel loves.  The romance never overtakes the story and just sort of runs in the background.  There really aren't any convoluted love triangles, which as far as I am concerned, are far too common in YA urban fantasy.  Cassel's relationships with women comes down to trying to figure out what it means to be a good boyfriend, what it means to be a good friend and dealing with his domineering mother. 

As aforementioned, the main female character in White Cat is Lila.  At the very beginning of the novel, I very much believed that she would be the typical damsel in distress in need of saving. Black completely stomped on that stereotype and had Lila be assertive and calculating.  Lila is all too aware that in a crime family, her gender works against her and no matter what she has suffered, Lila is determined to get her revenge and rule her family one day.  Being a kid, her big plan is a touch ridiculous but Black makes it work in the end.  Had Lila's part of the story ended there, I would have been satisfied.  Unfortunately, Lila is touched by Cassel's mother and since she can work emotions, Lila is made to feel madly in love with Cassel, taking away her ability to consent.  Black made it clear that this is a violation and absolutely wrong but it still ended up turning Lila into a victim in the end and I really could have done without that.

Between, Season 1, Episode 2: Who's the Boss

Day 14: Death Toll 6,043

As should surprise no-one, Adam survived his little jaunt to the fence and has now set up a board of various things to think about – the victims, their ages, the fence et al.

Things are slowly decaying in town with a large number of orphans and drying up food supplies – and kids tasking up driving which doesn’t end well. It’s a nicely ominous “everything is falling apart” foreshadow. Gord and his sister                Francis speak to the little girl, Sarah who lost her brother in the car crash.

To Wylie and her newborn baby. Her sister, Melissa has taken in a lot of kids at the church to look after them and would really like Wylie’s help but Wylie has completely withdrawn, not going out and not even naming her new son.

To the rich folk’s household with kid Chuck completely failing to reassure his sister Amanda about their other sister Lana’s disappearance – she’s been gone for 4 days. Charles senior, arsehole rich guy, has finally died from the virus

Day 14: Death toll: 6,922

It’s time for another town meeting (led by Ms Symmonds the teacher) – but whole the last one was full of sombre and concerned adults, this is full of noisy children. They have a message to play from Minister Miller, the lady who holds some kind of authoritative role outside the fence. She confirms that everyone over the age of 22 is now dead which, bright side, means the rest of them probably will live. She wants the survivors to then burn the bodies.

Francis takes little Sarah to the beleaguered Melissa’s church hall crèche – I wonder if Sarah saying “he died” about her brother will ever be less heart wrenching?

Far more tragic is watching the survivors gather all the bodies of their loved ones to take them to the bonfire. It’s taking so long that Chuck eventually decides to draft all over 12s to move the bodies. Lana is also still missing

Gord goes around being a saint, first of all he and Francis steal food for the orphans from the supermarket and then he stops to lecture Ronnie on stealing drug. Ronnie pulls a gun and to make it worse Chuck and his cronies show up. Chuck is happy to back down from the gun wielding Ronnie, Gord almost has a death wish but they don’t stop Ronnie leaving with the drugs.

Gord and Chuck discuss the grocery store theft – and Gord apologises, he assumed it was a giant chain not belonging to his family, but he adds that there are kids who need food. Chuck does ask Gord talk to him about any future acquisitions – Chuck (and his hockey team minions) wants to hold the town together until the fence comes down and thinks about how to control Ronnie (with force) while Gord uses intelligence (getting Ronnie’s brother Pat to reel him in). We also learn Gord used to be on the hockey team before his dad forced him to quit and help on the farm.