The Leftovers. Season 1, Episode 10: The Prodigal Son Returns

Opening montage of everything being awful – Kevin is smoking by Patti’s corpse. Jill smokes in the Guilty Remnant headquarters, joined by Laurie. She tries to convince Jill to go because, as Megan keeps trying to remind her, something big is due to happen with the GR. Jill just writes back “Talk” and when Laurie refuses to, Jill changes into the white clothes of the GR. Laurie isn’t thrilled. The GR head out, along with a little montage with their activities to date.

They go out and place dressed replicas of the Departed around town – including Nora’s entire Departed family around her breakfast table. Whatever the power of Wayne’s mystic hugs, Nora collapses with a scream at the sight.

To Christine and Tom are still on the run with the baby. Christine realises Wayne isn’t coming for them but Tom promises to stay with her, find a job and help look after her and the baby. But when they stop to change the baby, Christine appears to have run off and abandoned her daughter.

Over to Kevin by Patti’s corpse and he calls Rev. Mat who arrives to be so comforting for Kevin, assuring him he’s a good person and totally downplaying the whole kidnapping/beating part of Kevin’s abduction and imprisonment of Patti. He helps Kevin dispose of the body but insists he read a Bible passage while doing so  - even acknowledging that neither Kevin nor Patti are Christian believers. If there’s a chance to foist his religion on someone, Matt’s willing to do just about anything

Including delivering Kevin to a mental hospital. Kevin is dragged into the building protesting while Matt shouts useless apologies. I’m sure there’s a more of a procedure behind being committed in American than “a vicar dumped you on the doorstep and we maced you”. While imprisoned in a cell, a National Geographic is pushed through the door – the same issue his dad wanted – with a note telling him to stop talking to himself.

They eventually let him into the TV room to talk to his dad. Who is not reassuring – saying they belong there because they’re both bad men. Kevin also joins his dad in hallucinating people – the same people apparently – seeing the dead Patti. Dead!Patti and Kevin’s dad argue with Dead!Patti wanting to get Kevin out and his dad (who really really needs a name) wants him to stay. She hugs him, kisses him then screams at him to wake the fuck up

And he does, not in the mental institution – but in a car with Matt. Damn it Leftovers for a second you were almost advancing some interesting plot! Instead they go to a fast food restaurant because hiding bodies makes Matt hungry… oooookay… is it just me or is Matt getting steadily creepier?

Matt wants to know all what Patti said while alive so he can continue his attempts to convert them by any means – and Kevin tells him about how she said he “understood”. Which he elaborates to mean how he understands why they stayed behind when everyone else Departed which leads to him describing how he was sleeping with another woman when the Departure happened (the underlying suggestion being that Kevin wasn’t Departed because he isn’t a good person – harking back to his dream!dad). Kevin tearfully recounts his experiences after the Departure and how grateful his family was to see him – even as he had being trying to escape them before.

Fangs for the Fantasy Podcast 2015, Episode 4

It's time for episode 3 of the Fangs for the Fantasy podcast! We continue our critical analysis of the genre in all it's many forms, all through our social justice lens

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

This week we discuss Sleepy Hollow, Vampire Diaries, 12 Monkeys, Helix.

We also discuss netflix and the growing diversity of media and diversity as a selling point as well as tokenism.

The podcast begins at 7:00pm EST (technology willing)

26th January - 2nd February: A Lady Integrity by Shelly Adina

2nd February - 9th February: The Diabolical Miss Hyde by Viola Carr

9th February - 16th February: Fury’s Kiss by Karen Chance

16th February - 23rd February: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop
23rd February - 2nd March: Dark Debt by Chloe Neil
2nd March - 9th March: Fury's Kiss by Karen Chance

12 Monkeys, Season One, Episode Three: Cassandra Complex

It's the year 2015, and Cassandra has a gun pointed at Cole.  Cole suddenly yells do it and Cassandra jumps but complies by pulling the trigger. Cole tells her that she cannot hesitate and seems completely frustrated, telling Cassandra that she has to do it again until she get it right.  Cassandra talks about how her father would be so proud because he worked three jobs to send his daughter to medical school and here she is learning how to kill.  Cole points out that if the guy who killed Jeremy shows up again the hard part will be over - knowing that the trigger is being pulled for the right reason.  This time, Cassandra is able to pull the trigger without hesitation, causing Cole suggest they move onto to live rounds.  They are interrupted by Chinese food delivery.  Cole and Cassandra talk about how long it might take for the 12 monkeys to break Jennifer.

Cassandra is now at the police station and being questioned about discharging a patient from the hospital.  Detective Roll brings up Jennifer and Cassandra admits that she saw the man who took her.  Roll states that Jennifer is considered very dangerous because she killed her co-workers a few years ago.  Roll pulls out a picture of Jennifer and points to a Black scientist who managed to escape the murder spree; however, the man is missing.   Roll then shows Cassandra a picture of  Cole claiming that he might be involved.  Cassandra then fakes getting a call and uses her phone to take a picture of the missing scientist.

Later, in the car, Cassandra shows Cole the picture of the missing scientist - Dr. Henri Toussaint, claiming that they met in Haiti, a year after Cole kidnapped her.  We get a flash of Cassandra working with Toussaint in Haiti during  an outbreak.  Cassandra pulls up to the CDC building saying that it's not everyday one sees the building you destined to die in.

Inside the CDC, Cassandra is told that she is welcome back, though she was a little off the rails in Haiti.  Cassandra makes it clear to Jules that she is not there for a job.  Cassandra claims that she needs some help on tropical infections and asks if Henri could help, only to be informed that Henri was shot dead by gangs apparently

Cole is determined to talk to Henri before he dies, saying that he can travel back to 2014 and make Henri tell him about the night before he dies.  Cassandra questions if there is another way but Cole believes  that if they waste time, Jennifer could crack and the 12 Monkeys could find the virus. Cassandra asks who Cole will find Henri and Cole suggests she tell him. Cassandra asserts that Haiti is dangerous and there were gangs who stole their medicine.  Cassandra adds that she sent Henri out to get more drugs and it got out of control  Cole tells Cassandra that it will be okay, but Cassandra is adamant that it will not and points out that Cole will see her there. Cassandra tells Cole to do her a favour and stay away from her while she is in Haiti.

Cole returns back to 2043 and Jones immediately asks for an update, so Cole explains that he needs to go back to Haiti in 2014. The scientist sargue about sending Cole back to 1987, or to see Leeland before his brains are blown out, or even before Jennifer is taken.  With the exception of 1987, this is all risky because Cole could run into a version of himself. A frustrated Cole walks away and joins Ramse, leaving the scientists to argue.  Ramse and Cole discuss scavengers. Jones joins Cole and Ramse and announces that it has been decided that Cole will be headed to Haiti but warns that Cassandra cannot see him and that there is an issue with solar flares.

In Washington D.C. in 2014, Cassandra informs Aaron that she is headed to Haiti.  Cassandra argues that people are dead and no one knows what it is.  Aaron is not convinced and suggests that Cassandra is chasing after outbreaks because her kidnapper told her that a virus is going to wipe out the planet. Aaron asks Cassandra when she is coming home and she replies that she doesn't know.  Aaron asks if Cassandra is going to show up at the hotel a year from now to find her kidnapper, adding that the world is not going to end.

Cassandra is now in Haiti with the CDC.  Cassandra makes her way into the containment zone and only pauses long enough to grab some gloves.  Cassandra grabs a patient but is intercepted by Jules (who btw pulls down his face mask)  Jules points out Henri, saying that they are lucky to have a local guy.  An angry man bursts in with a gun and demands a bed for a sick child.  Cassandra talks the man down and hands the child to Henri.  The man leaves and Cassandra is concerned that if the man who dropped the child off was infected, they just sent more infection to the outside world.  Cassandra calls for the isolation of the tents.  Jules instead orders the doctors to get some rest so they can start fresh in the morning.  Cassandra however heads to her tent and starts doing research.

Later, Cassandra heads outside and runs into Henri, who is drinking and so invites him back to her room.  They share a drink and talk about the encounter with the man who had the gun.  Cassandra brings up infections and how Henri must be used to that kind of thing living here.  Henri talks about his sister dying of measles when he was child and how he believed that if he were a doctor, he would have a power, but now he knows that nature cannot be controlled - it only bends.  Henri questions what virus they are dealing with and Cassandra replies that it is something they should not under estimate.

Cole arrives in Haiti just outside the containment camp.

Lady of Integrity (Magnificent Devices #7) by Shelley Adina

Claire has finished the university and she is ready to begin her position at Von Zepplin’s dirigible works. And she has a wedding to plan to her fiancé, Andrew. The Mopsies are returning to school, everything is looking up

When Alice arrives who has lost everything – including her first mate Jake, and member of Claire’s extended family. He is being held prisoner by the Doge of Venice in what is little more than an extortion scheme. The politics of the situation are tricky and there are few people to intervene beyond Claire herself.

She has never abandoned her flock in danger

It’s another swashbuckling adventure for Lady Claire and her flock, the excellent Alice, Elizabeth, Maggie, Tigg and Andrew

And I think that’s the first thing I want to praise about this – I like most of the flock. Most of the characterisation has fallen on Claire, Lizzie and Maggie, of course, since they’ve been the main protagonists but every character has had some characterisation. Even though she’s the protagonist, Claire doesn’t exactly eclipse those around her.

The world setting has expanded nicely – we’ve already seen adventures in North America and some insight into France and Germany, while this book moves to Venice with some nicely original ideas and concepts. I like that even when we don’t look in great depth at the politics of all the places Claire has passed through, there is a sense that a full system has been developed (even if it is not info-dumped on us).

The adventure itself is fun, lots of action and plotting, some plans that go awry, many members of the party using their talents, their intelligence and their creativity to cobble together success as nothing quite goes to plan. It was a fun romp in which Claire and her flock got to remind us just how awesome they are on a regular basis. I won’t say the story was especially twisty or nuanced or complex – but it was fun, a nice adventure story we kind of knew how it was going to end, but it wasn’t any less fun because of that

Like the rest of the books in this series, Lady of Integrity contains a lot of challenges to sexism that is both accurate to the period and still very much in evidence today

I also really liked the direct challenge to the idea that a man wants to keep his beloved woman safe because he worries for her – throwing back the equal challenge that women worry about the safety of their beloved men as well, but everyone expects them to deal with it. If Andrew wants to keep Claire safe out of fear for her and he couldn’t bear to lose her, why shouldn’t Claire feel the same about Andrew? It’s a common excuse but it’s a weak one.

Book of the Week

It's another Monday and time for another episode of the Fangs for the Fantasy Podcast!

You will be able to listen to us on our youtube channel, or by the link in the sidebar or by the post here that will be posted. We hope to see you there

Like all  the Fangs for the Fantasy podcasts (archives here) we read a book and discuss it on the show.  For those wanting to read with us, our next books of the week are

26th January - 2nd February: A Lady Integrity by Shelly Adina

2nd February - 9th February: The Diabolical Miss Hyde by Viola Carr

9th February - 16th February: Fury’s Kiss by Karen Chance

16th February - 23rd February: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop
23rd February - 2nd March: Dark Debt by Chloe Neil
2nd March - 9th March: Fury's Kiss by Karen Chance

The Leftovers, Season 1, Episode 9: The Garveys At Their Best

In a hark back to the first episode we see Kevin jogging, only this time without all the Departure hints that were so common then. He also sneaks cigarettes when his wife can’t see. He also gets enthralled by the sight of a deer which I assume is related (artistically if nothing else) to the deer that trashed his kitchen

Yes it’s a flashback to before the Departure and everything is all idyllic and shiny and happy. Especially Jill who is overflowing and giggly. Laurie is less joyful because there’s an ominous doctor’s appointment she was avoiding.

That deer also breaks into the school and causes chaos. Because reasons. Apparently this is just one of many deer incidents and Kevin argues with his dad about killing the deer and putting tasty tasty venison on the table. Kevin also beats up a guy who hit Tommy – apparently Tommy’s biological father who Tommy keeps going to yell at or something

Therapist Laurie is visited by Patti who is feeling all ominous about bad things about to happen which Laurie puts down to her abusive ex-husband but Patti is convinced is more and that Laurie also senses it

Over to Nora and her Departed family and they’re all idyllic and shiny and happy and domestic. Nora goes for an interview to work for Lucy’s campaign to become mayor and we see Kevin’s dad running around as police chief.

Laurie gets a dog from dog breeder Gladys and cries all over it for some reason and then the whole town gathers at the Garveys to have a big party for daddy Garvey – and no, I’m not learning his name now, it’s episode 9. Rev. Matt has nominated the police chief as man of the year. Kevin seems to get an attack of the sad pandas half way through the party. His dad joins him as Kevin mopes about feeling dissatisfied despite having everything and his dad talks about people always looking for a greater purpose when what Kevin has is more than enough.

He’s still mopey the next day but leaves rather than talk to Laurie so she goes to speak to her son Tommy who is only wearing his underwear but is apparently quite content to have a conversation with his mother like that; it’s more moping about his biological father Michael.

Grimm, Season Four, Episode Eleven: Death Do Us Part

"He felt now that he was

not simply close to her,

but that what he did not know

where he ended and she began."

A group of ghost hunters show up at an abandoned house in order to capture on film their experience there.  This of course cannot end well. They are recording for a show called Ghost Seekers. Ray tells the camera that the Donovans were killed in this location by a massive jolt of electricity, which led to cracked skulls, shattered teeth and blown out eyes. Ray says that the legend has it that the husband haunts the house looking for his lost love while the killer of the couple roams free.

Nick has returned from dropping off Monroe and Rosalie at the airport, to find the house empty, so he calls Juliet and leaves a message.  Juliet is in fact still at Renard's explaining that her sudden identity as a Hexenbiest is the result of the potion which turned Nick back into a Grimm.  Juliet asks Renard how to make this stop and when Renard says this might take some time, Juliet begs him to call his mother.

The ridiculous ghost hunters enter the house and begin their set up.  Ray stares into the camera and promises that no matter what they see, they won't stop shooting. Ray makes his way upstairs because the murder took place in the master bedroom. Ray's EMF meter moves into the red and so he tells the camera that there is definitely a ghost in the bedroom.  Downstairs, Carol's EMF meter moves to the red and she calls Paul.  Carol notes that the ceiling light turned on and off and this is weird because there is no power in the house.  Upstairs, Ray is now in the bedroom looking at the scorched bed, while downstairs, the elements on the stove turn on.  Upstairs, Ray is attacked by a creature and screams. Paul and Carol rush to the base of the stairs, in time to see a scorched and quite dead Paul come tumbling down.

Juliet has returned home with groceries to explain her absence.  Nick and Juliet talk about how tense things have been lately but Juliet says that she is certain things are going to get back to normal now.  Later, Nick and Juliet lie next to each other in bed but neither of them sleep.  Juliet dreams of Nick at the Grimm trailer picking up a weapon.  Nick then heads upstairs and attacks her, saying that he knows what she is, causing Juliet to wake up.   Juliet calls Renard and learns that Renard has found someone she can talk to.  The two set up a meeting time.

The cops are all at the old Donovan house.  Wu calls the case weird and adds that he spent the night at the trailer.  Wu leads Hank and Nick into the house, where the dead Ray lies on the floor.  Wu says that the other two ghost seekers said that Ray's body came flying down the stairs.  The cops head upstairs and find Ray's camera, and wonder if it recorded Ray's death.  Outside, Paul and Carol explain that they are ghost hunters and how they have been doing this series for over a year. Carol and Paul say that Ray was killed by a ghost, just like the legends.  Paul swears to find the ghost who killed their friend but Hank and Nick make it clear that this is an open investigation and that it is up to them to find out who killed Ray.

Renard waits in his car and a car drives erratically around him almost hitting Juliet.  When the driver gets out, Juliet confronts him about almost hitting her but the man walks away.  Juliet woges and the car explodes. The driver rushes over, so Renard hops out of his car, grabs Juliet's arm and marches her away, saying that it is time for lunch.

Back at the station, Nick and Hank talk about the strange stories of the house over the last few years.  Hank shows Nick two pictures of the Donovans.  As Nick examines the crime scene photos, he realises that it looks a lot like what happened to Ray. They learn that detective Mark Wilson worked the original case and decide to invite him in for coffee.

At the restaurant, Renard tells Juliet that he wants her to meet Henrietta. Renard doesn't know much about Henrietta but warns that Juliet might have to go through an evaluation.  Renard writes down the number and tells Juliet to memorize it and the moment she does, the number disappear from the page. Juliet is amazed and Renard explains that Henrietta did that.

Wilson is at the station and reveals that the cops couldn't get much off the Donovans bodies because of how badly burned they were.  Wilson adds that the weird part is that only the Donovans bodies and the mattress they were found on was burned; the rest of the room was untouched. Nick asks about a robbery but the money was still there.  Wilson says that they went with a love triangle gone bad because Patti Donovan was having an affair with Theo Hinkley and it turns out, Patti decided not to leave her marriage for Theo.  Wilson adds that they spoke to Lily, Theo's wife but she was only angry.

Stetson, who appears to be homeless, lets himself inside the house carrying a garbage bag. Stetson makes his way upstairs to the room where Theo and Patti were killed.  Stetson then lies on the bed.

Helix, Season 2, Episode 3: Scion

We learn that Isaac and Warren, the two infected, have both disappeared (or been taken as we saw last episode) and the CDC docs aren’t thrilled by this. Michael blames Annie who he thinks is losing control. All of this is explained by Landrey who seems to be getting a hand job (no really) from Annie’s daughter, Amy, who calls her mother’s control “an illusion” which they’re apparently manipulating. She’s also very firm that there “is no us” when Landrey refers to Annie finding out about them. She also expects something terrible to happen to the CDC doctors

She also makes a completely awful comment, given the circumstances, about taking things into their own hands

Next cast – Miksa (hey, didn’t he die last season?), Jay (Julia’s mother) and Hiroshi. They hear someone coming and Hiroshi tells them both to go inside – but he’s talking to air. Looks like Miksa and Jay are both Hiroshi’s hallucinations.

Day 3

Michael does something rather disturbing with pins and knives to a root – accidentally cutting himself – when Peter storms in demanding to know where Soren is. Michael is pretty unconcerned about Soren and rambles on about botany and mixing in humans so he sounds like a disturbing serial killer. Peter, becoming more and more like Alan in the first season, threatens Michael for hiding Soren.

When he’s gone, Michael asks Annie if they are responsible for Soren’s disappearance and she denies everything and blames the CDC. He also comments on how they’ve been at odds lately and how he’s not against outside forces bringing their opinions along with creepy sexual/threatening shoulder rubs.

Sarah wakes up with her usual morning sickness because of the eternal pregnancy before getting to work. She and Kyle do Science. But to do Science they need the samples for the ship (which they had been ignoring for now because Reasons) and they’re missing. Kyle believes he may have left them in Layla’s murder shack and Sarah is severely pissed. Peter arrives to stop Kyle going to get the samples because he thinks it’s far more important that Kyle flirt with Amy for information rather than add to their numbers going to Layla’s murder shack or prioritising the important medical samples. Kyle offers Sarah his gun (since she is going to Layla’s Murder Shack) and after a long moment, she takes it

Over to Alan who notices big barrels of mysterious substances but is told, effectively, to mind his own business.

Kyle uses his connection to Amy to question the children, learning that Soren was scared (even as Amy tries to edit what the child says) because he broke a rule and didn’t want to “go in the pit.” Pits are never good. Pits and children are especially bad.

Amy is not having these children speaking out of turn so she has Landry have them inhale a potion from a plant she has hidden away – one she describes as once making people slit their own throats.

Newly drugged with weird random eye movement, Lizzie interrupts Kyle (who has just realised Soren had sky high blood sugar) and lures him into the woods with talk of sick kids. He is surrounded by the drugged kids and typical, Helix odd cheerful music plays as they attack him with rocks.