Bitten, Season 2, episode 1: Bad Blood

We have a man, Nate Parker, being rather brutally interrogated and tortured. He has very obvious injuries. He tries to tell his questioner about Malcolm Danvers’ plot to try and take over the Pack last season.

After thoroughly terrifying the man, they open the doors and he makes his way to the surface – and runs. He shifts into a wolf, runs (running past a little sign with a symbol on it which I take as significant) – and is shot.

To the Pack; Elena and Clay are interrogating Mutts to find out where Malcolm is – and learn he’s setting up a meeting with other Mutts to continues his campaign against the Pack. Meanwhile, Jeremy has a meeting with the Alpha Council, apparently leaders of other Packs, who are not impressed by the way Jeremy has been taking care of business and allowing a rebellion on his turf. He’s been too weak so they’re giving him an ultimatum – he finds Malcolm and kills him within a week to prove his pack’s strength; or they find Malcolm and take over his pack at the same time. In the meantime one of the Alphas, the Spanish Alpha Rodrigo, is going to hang around and be a nuisance

Rodrigo is at least sympathetic to Jeremy, unlike the Russian Alpha, Roman, who dripped disrespect everywhere. Jeremy and his guest discuss the possibility of Malcolm being aided by a foreign Alpha trying to take over North America. He agrees to help Jeremy kill Roman is Roman is behind the plot.

Finding Malcolm seems to also involve Nick seducing a woman and removing a badge she’s carrying for Joey to tamper with. Using the camera on her badge and a fake FBI call, they use her to check Malcolm’s financial records and find a possible base of operations.

 And because this is Bitten this is also our cue to zap in on Elena and Clay having sex. Afterwards, Clay tries to confront Elena about Phillip’s death which she’s really not dealing with, especially since his family are trying to get in touch and she is being consumed by guilt weasels.

The guilt weasels also means she brutally kills their next potential source of information rather than getting all the possible info out of him, much to Clay’s disapproval. He tries to get her to leave the dirty work to him so she’s not haunted by it but she throws back that he doesn’t need to be haunted either.

They’re then ambushed by three people with hammers. One of them asks them to deliver Malcolm, calling him the “one true cursed” and also saying “for the undoing, the destroyer comes.” Well that makes no sense at all – so we’ve got a new mystery to solve. They fight – and the leader keeps chanting her lines even when stabbed in the stomach. Clay and Elena kill the four attackers. They all have the same brand on their necks (the same sign we saw the opening werewolf, Nate, run past) and Elena remarks on how they didn’t feel pain.

12 Monkeys, Season One, Episode Four: Atari

It's the year 2015, and Cassandra and Cole are talking about possible sites for the night room that she has discovered. Cole is impressed that she got all of this from the CDC but Cassandra is concerned that there are still to many possible sites and reminds Cole that the 12 Monkeys already have Jennifer.  Cole says that they will have to get through Jennifer's "crazy" before she leads them anywhere.  Cole makes it clear that once the 12 Monkeys are found, they will have to be killed.  Cole tells Cassandra that if she could see where he is from, she would understand.  This prompts Cassandra to ask, adding that while Cole knows everything about her, including where she is going to die,  she knows nothing about him.  Cole tells Cassandra to stay focused on the mission, adding that none of that is going to matter.  When she walks away in frustration and questions what it is he doesn't want her to know, Cole shifts away.

It's the year 2032 and Cole and Ramse are armed, making their way through a building, talking about the fact that they are down to scraps.  Cole sees a whining dog and Ramse tells Cole that the rule is whoever sees it kills it.  When Cole balks, Ramse steps forward saying that hes is starving.  Later that evening, the men sit in front of a fire with the dog by their side, as Ramse complains that they are going to starve.  Ramse says that they are in Atari - a game he used to play when he was a kid - signifying that they are out of moves.  The dog stands and starts to bark suddenly.

Cole arrives back in 2043, and is immediately injected by Dr. Lasky, to help with the pain of an unscheduled early return.  When Cole exists the chamber, he is told by Ramse that they took down two scabs on the perimeter with marks akin to the marks that Ramse has on his arm. The two men talk about the possibility that Max lied and that Deacon knows about the facility.  Ramse and Cole then join Jones and Whitley and discuss the possibility of imminent attack.  Whiteley believes that with their defenses, they can take a few dozen scabs but Cole is adamant that since the scabs are West 7 (his old crew), being led by Deacon, they pose a real threat.  Jones orders Whitley to take Cole and Ramse up top.  Whitley says that he doesn't need them but Jones is adamant that this mission is everything and that Cole and Ramse have experience which Whitley does  not.

Up top, Ramse and Cole talk about the questions Cassie was asking. Cole suggests that Ramse would like Cassie because she is always waving her moral compass around.  Whitley reports that a vehicle is headed this way packing some heat and gives the order that the doors are to be secured.

In 2032, Cole and Ramse fight off an attack but are quickly overwhelmed by an armed group.  Seeing that they are outnumbered, Cole tells Ramse to put his weapon down.  Deacon steps forward, impressed by the fact that Ramse and Cole managed to kill two of the meanest members of his group. It seems that Deacon has a legacy of slaughtering people and he justifies this by saying that the world belongs to the immune.  Deacon says that since he has two openings and Cole and Ramse are survivors, they can have a warm place to sleep, with full bellies.  Ramse declines the offer but Cole says that they are listening and introduces himself and Ramse. 

In 2043, soldiers at the facility take aim at the approaching pick up truck.  A full out assault by scavengers begins and Cole and Ramse are in the thick of the action.  They contact Whitley to say that things are clear where they are and Whitley reports nothing going on up top.  Ramse and Cole realise that this was just a distraction and believe that Deacon has found yet another point of entry.  Deacon makes his way through the tunnels.

In the year 2032,  Cole and Ramse arrive at the camp, with Deacon saying that it's better than they are used to.  When Ramse snarks that Deacon is raiding survivors, Cole excuses Ramse, by saying that they have been on their own for a long time and that Ramse will be okay. Deacon calls over Max and introduces her to Cole, adding that Max is to be Cole's friend and show him around.  Cole tries to say it's okay but Max snarks about Cole having something better to do.

Helix, Season 2, Episode 4: Densho

All this science stuff isn’t getting us to the answers fast enough for the writers so we see one of the fruit pickers, Travis, at the Commune/Cult/Monstery be stung by a bee. That night he is sick with the nasty fungal growths

The next morning a woman comes looking for him. By what they both say we can guess that they are a couple – but that she’s slept with another man to get pregnant probably at the urging of the Cult (making it ever more cultish and creepy). Travis is full of the aggressive fungal-zombie disease and attacks and kills her, raging in his jealousy

Day 4

Peter exchanges text messages with someone – saying he thinks he should abort his mission but being told to find out what Alan is up to. Peter is up to something nefarious.

He finds Alan – who was knocked out last episode – unconscious and wakes him up. Peter grudgingly offers medical attention (by helping him stand before checking for head and neck injuries). He takes him back to their lab where Alan snarks over the antiquated equipment. Alan won’t answer any questions about what happened, to Peter’s annoyance. Peter’s also pretty annoyed that Alan hasn’t been in touch for 8 months. Alan wants them to leave. Peter refuses to. Well that was predictable.

At the compound Michael tries to apologise to Kyle for the kids attacking him and he tries to say the disease caused the behaviour change. Kyle doesn’t buy it; the kids were clearly free of disease – he accuses Michael of brainwashing. Michael and Sarah also have an odd moment where Michael wonders if he’d seen her before

Added creepiness – Michael refers to the kids as “my children” before passing it off as general cult children; but it suggests that he may be the father of all the compound’s kids.

Sarah and Kyle have a science moment reminding us that the disease is fungal and not inhaled and probably in the food – but they’ve not found a source yet which isn’t helped by the general unhelpfulness of the islanders. Sarah focuses on Soren whose immunity is the key – though they still don’t know where he is. With added notes about how unco-operative everyone is.

Travis’s body is found, much to everyone’s horror, dead from the disease. Sarah takes the opportunity from the crowd to speak to Olivia, Soren’s mother – but she refuses to help, spouting Michael’s homilies

Michael addresses his congregation – having to shout to make everyone be quiet (looks like Michael’s serenity is cracking). He hears all the rumours and panic and basically tells everyone to keep calm and carry on. But he also adds they should help the CDC doctors and let them help –because they are there to help them (despite Olivia’s objection). He finishes telling everyone to continue to be their true selves, which seems to be the mantra of the cult (and everyone’s true selves seems to be nicely conformist cult members. Uh-huh).

Michael meets with his three lieutenants and he is angry and distraught (pointing more to the dead woman, Misha, being pregnant with his child). He repeats Kyle’s suspicion about the children but Annie puts it aside and focuses on the harvest and all being good. He seems to get his mojo back, talking about feeling safe, how uncertainty is bad all the while creepily stoking the faces of his three female lieutenants, Agne, Anne and Amy. He refers to them as his “three best girls” and expects them to handle any “uncertainty.”

Constantine, Season 1, Episode 12: Angels and the Ministers of Grace

A woman, Taylor, walks through a poor, run down neighbourhood looking very nervous and clearly 

standing out. When a man asks her why she’s back there, she says her brother’s funeral is tomorrow. She buys two syringes of drugs from him.

She leaves, watched by something ominous and as she takes the drug all the electric lights around her explode in a shower of sparks. That’s probably not a good thing. A man/monster leaps out and attacks her, injecting her with both syringes and she dies as her veins turn black.

The cops arrive and examine her body, suggesting she was beaten to death. But her veins keep moving –and she wakes up, albeit with lots of shaking and nose bleeding

At the Mill, Zed is using some of the more calming magical woo-woo of the place to try and get a rest, a break from her visions, after the being put in hospital by the last attempt to communicate with a soul. Chas is all for this, John wants her back in the field (which would be kind of laughable given the number of times she’s been sidelined or left behind).

Manny also drops in because John makes a sarcastic comment about taking a holiday and he decides that they all need reminding of how evil the Burjeria is. John in turns snarks back with how little help Manny is giving; he’s also leery to take cases from Manny because he suspects manipulation. He’d rather use the scrying map – so Manny burns it. The Burjeria is all over, not just in the places on the map; he wants them to rely on signs, instincts and Zed’s visions rather than confining themselves to the map.

So the job is Taylor who has been taken to hospital which means they need to get into the same hospital – so they injure Chas. They get Zed to vision-grope the unconscious woman she sees darkness and a light that looks a lot like an angel that was also intensely painful. Taylor’s pulse drops causing the usual medical controlled panic.

While they try to resuscitate Taylor, Zed has a seizure.

She’s taken to an MRI while John pretends he isn’t worried to Chas (while clearly being so). John focuses again on Taylor and wanting to examine the body (she died) when a large man comes in with a wound from a bar fight (and missing a lot of skin on his face that he is having treated long term). He gives the nurse a whole lot of attitude and John takes an interest. I assume this will be relevant later

One spell on the body later and they learn Taylor’s corpse is full of dark matter, which it really shouldn’t be. Back on the case – though Chas insists John check on Zed first. The doctor tells Zed she has a mass in her brain, possibly a tumour, which would explain her headaches, passing out and even her visions (though John is quick to point out her visions aren’t medical). John and Zed talk and John tries to insist there’s no physical cause of her visions but Zed is more leery – and just because her visions are mystical doesn’t mean she isn’t dying

Zed goes to the roof – and meets Manny, cursing the angel for not telling them about Zed’s tumour, demanding Manny fix it and furious that he kept telling Zed to push through the pain and keep having visions. Manny tries the clichéd “it’s not your fault” (John’s blaming you, Manny). Manny says John can’t fix it, nor can Manny – and to get back on the job. And John magically knocks Manny out.

Grimm, Season Four, Episode Twelve: Maréchaussée

"Everyone sees what you

appear to be, few experience

what you really are."

A woman goes to a fortune teller to connect with her dead spouse.  Unfortunately for her, she ends up at Wesen fortune teller and Laslo of course woges in front of her, as proof that her spouse visited her.  The woman of course because that she has made contact with her husband because she saw the woge and hands over a wad of cash, as Laslo pretends to be weakened by the transformation.  The moment the woman leaves, a Maréchaussée enters and  woges into a manticore, killing Laslo and his partner Ava.  Back to his human self, the Manticore takes a picture of his victims.

Juliet talks with Henryetta about her desire to stop being a Hexenbiest.  Henryetta tries briefly to talk to Juliet into embracing who she is now but Juliet is only concerned with becoming her true self once again. Henryetta asks Juliet to woge, so that she can see what kind of Wesen Juliet is but Juliet is unsure of how to change.  Henryetta tells Juliet that she needs to learn to control her woge because Juliet now has access to a primal force of nature.  After Juliet admits that she hasn't told Nick, because she is afraid (okay Gimm, I am going to need some sort of context for this thus far unexplainable fear), Henryetta tells Juliet that she was wise not to because Grimms are not known to be fond of Henenbiests, adding that Nick's natural instinct would be to take Juliet's head off.  So Henryetta know this how exactly? Henryetta then takes a sample of Juliet's blood and mixes it with some herbs and potions, then advises Juliet that she will contact her when she has something to share with her.

Wu, Hank and Nick arrive at fortune tellers place, where Wu advises Nick that after learning that the victims had large chest wounds and scorpion venom in their system, he went to the trailer to investigate and now believes that they are dealing with a Manticore.  Nick affirms that they are indeed dealing with a Manticore, after looking at the bodies of Ava and Laslo. They find the fortune tellers appointment book and decide to visit the last person who they saw.

At the station, Reneard checks his email and gets notification that Adalind, Vikitor and Marus Rispoli have landed.

Nick and Hank go to visit the the woman that the fortune tellers spoke to the night before.  She reveals that Laslo channeled a spirit and changed in front of her. The woman is adamant that she communicated with her husband the night before and expresses shock that the couple was killed.

At the Beacon motel, the Manticore - Johnathon Wilde, looks at an image of his deadly work before sending it off via email. The image of the Kurlons and a payment for services rendered is authorized by the Wesen Council.  Apparently, along with the images of the Kurlongs, Johnathon also asked for permission to kill Casey Darwell, who has a bounty on him for 20,000 Euros.  Johnathon's request is granted.

Rosalie and Monroe are back from their honeymoon and of course, Monroe's first question is if he should call Nick to find out if something happened while they were gone. Why is he even curious about this given that he is a newlywed and just got back from an amazing trip? Can we have Rosalie and Monroe actually have something of a life not revolving around Nick and Wesen issues?  After Rosalie snarks but ultimately gives the go ahead because she is curious as well, Monroe hunts down his phone.

Back at the station, Wu reports that the widow whom the Kurlons spoke to is not a Wesen. Umm dudh. If she was a Wesen she would have not been fooled by a woge. Hank and Nick say that the widow was convinced because she saw Laslo woge, leading Hank to surmise that the Manticore had to show up just after the widow left.  The cops question if the Manticore was upset at being faked out because he would have recognized the Kurlons as fake fortune tellers.  It's Nick who wonders if this could potentially be a Wesen council thing.  When Wu asks what Nick is talking about, Hank explains that not everything is in the books.  They are interrupted when Nick gets a call from Monroe.  Nick immediately asks to stop by, saying that he needs Monroe's help.  When Monroe tells Rosalie that Nick and Hank are coming over, she snarks that it didn't take long. Good for Rosalie but the snark makes me wonder if she is taking over Wu's former role of the giver of snark on Grimm?

Viktor and Adalind check into their hotel room and Adalind's comes compete with a wardrobe filled with clothing which Viktor calls reconciliation but makes it clear that he has his own bedroom. Viktor affirms that they did not come this far to return to home empty handed.  Back in his room, Viktor opens the door to find Renard.  Renard asks about his brother's killer and Viktor says that he has not given up.  Renard then asks for Adalind and when Adalind enters the room, Viktor tells them that they need to discuss the future.  Viktor says that he underestimated Renard and Renard quickly declares that he does not have his daughter. When Adalind says that Renard gave the child to Nick's mother, Renard replies that he gave the baby to the one person he thought would protect her.  Viktor asks what the Resistance will say when they find out that Renard betrayed them and Renard affirms that the Resistance already knows and that he told them that he has no idea where is daughter is, or how to find her.  Adalind moves to attack but Viktor hold her off, saying that they are going to keep this civil at first.  Viktor makes it clear that neither he or Adalind is leaving without the baby. Viktor and Renard do the back and forth about the royal family and Viktor suggests that Renard think about his relationship with the family the way it is today because those who wanted Renard dead are dead.

Nick, Hank, and Wu, arrive at Rosalie and Monroe's and report that they are dealing with another Manticore.  Monroe quips that Matinticores are just about impossible to kill.  Rosalie suggests that the murder of Kurlons sounds like a hit from the Wesen council because the Kurlons were woging in front of people who are not Wesen. Rosalie and Monroe then bring up  a Maréchaussée (Wesen bounty hunter) and suggest that Nick stay out of this, if it is indeed Wesen Council. Nick however believes that he cannot do so because he is a cop, so Rosalie offers to see what she can find out from the council.

Juliet is cooking dinner and she decides to practice telekinesis but has to stop suddenly when Nick arrives home.  Juliet has to give Nick a ridiculous explanation for how she hurt head.

Casey is walking down the street, arguing with what appears to be a prostitute. To settle the argument, Casey woges and threatens the woman, who quickly agrees to do whatever he wants. When the woman walks off, Johnathon confronts Casey, woges and quickly kills him.  Johnathon then takes a picture of his handy work. 

The Vampire Diaries, Season 6, Episode 13: Stay

Bonnie still exists! This is shocking news since everyone else seems to not only have forgotten this, but even forgotten that she ever existed at all

But no, she’s still there in the alternate dimension – and it’s now her birthday.

Over to Jeremy and Elena – and Elena has also belatedly remembered Bonnie’s existence and wants to have a birthday party for her! Yes, she wants to have a party for the woman who is incapable of attending or even knowing one is happening. But Elena knows Bonnie would have wanted her to have a party without her.

…

..

.

Do I even have to say anything about this? I mean, really? Really really? (Oh hey, how about invite Caroline-who-nearly-watched-her-mother-die to the party as well!?)

Jeremy points out how terrible this is. And they also talk about whether Jeremy can get into art school because he has talent but a terrible academic record; this actually implies Elena had a decent academic record to get into college despite never ever attending school. (Hey, these guys are talking about art school while a magically charged serial killer runs around, just reminding everyone. Oh, and Bonnie’s still stuck. Maybe we could free her rather than talk school?). Jeremy does remember Bonnie and says he doesn’t actually want to leave the area until they actually save her because she does actually matter and not just as an excuse to party.

Of course, the word party has been uttered so Caroline is all over that. She does share a childhood story with Stefan (who is just there to keep their romantic tension at a permanent slow simmer; kind of like my nana’s vegetables that have been boiled for hours and hours and hours until every hint of flavour and nutrients have been ruthlessly annihilated) about how she once hid Bonnie’s teddy bear. She decides to go find it. They flirt over each other’s coping mechanisms. Which is kind of disturbing.

In between Caroline digging random holes since she doesn’t actually know where she buried the bear, Stefan decides to taunt her in her pain because she needs to vent. Y’know not every emotional pain needs expressing through violent rage – maybe Caroline has her own way of dealing Stefan? Also, when Liz asked you to look after Caroline and help her move on, I think that was meant to be AFTER she died. They do find the bear and Caroline cries.

Time for Elena and Damon to be romantic. And Kai drops in. I’m sorry why is this character not already dead by vampire? Anyway, he wants to give a letter to his sister Jo who he can’t find. He also tells them how his usual sociopath self seems to have developed some kind of conscience after absorbing Luke; he has guilt weasels and has no idea how to deal with it. Hilariously, he also points out Elena should look past his bad deeds because this is the Vampire Diaries and this is what they do (even mentioning Damon). Elena realises they can exchange services – and get Kai to bring Bonnie back.

The 100, Season Two, Episode Eleven: Coup de Grâce

Bellamy awakes to find himself in manacles in the quarantine intake area, where he and the other men captured with him, are deloused, inspected and injected with some sort of drug. 

Inside the mountain, Jasper and Maya talk about the missing Monty. Jasper is distraught that his best friend is missing and Maya promises that they can check the harvest chamber again but warns Jasper that he has to look like everything is okay.

Clarke rides through the forest with a group of Grounders and they have been sighted by the Mountain People through the scope of a gun.  Clarke and Abby talk about the fact that the Grounders listen to her and Clarke reveals that Lexa ordered the Grounders to.  Clarke is insistent that they return quickly to the radio to find out if Bellamy has made contact.  Instead of focusing on the mission, Abby does her maternal routine, telling Clarke that she still needs protection and that she knows what is right for them.  The Mountain men fire off a shot and hit a Grounder, instead of Clarke.  Indra, Octavia and two Grounders come bounding out of the woods but Indra holds off the Grounders, announcing that this is Octavia's kill.  Octavia slashes Emerson's suit open and holds a cutlass to the Emerson's neck, as Indra calls for her to finish it.  Before Octavia can act, Clarke stops Octavia, saying that they need to question Emerson, before asking Octavia to look and see if Emerson has a patch kit.  When Octavia looks through the Emerson's things, she finds pictures of both Lexa and Clarke, indicating that they were the targets.  Indra sends warriors off to warn Lexa.

Bellamy comes to full consciousness and finds himself inside a small cage.  Bellamy rattles the door trying to get it open and Echo warns him to be quiet because the Mountain people take the strongest.  When Bellamy says that he cannot understand Echo, and admits that he is a sky person, he is spit on for his trouble.  Bellamy asserts that the Grounders and the Sky People are not enemies anymore, adding that once he gets out of this cage, he is going to kill everyone in this mountain.

Jasper makes his way into Wallace's office to report that not only are two of his friends missing but one of them is Monty.  Wallace begins to say that he has no idea what Jasper is talking about but Jasper calls Wallace a liar, pointing out that Wallace lied about there not being any survivors from the Arc.  Wallace asks Jasper to sit down but Jasper instead grabs a sword, demanding that he be told the truth. When Wallace continues to deny any knowledge of what happened to Jasper's friends, Jasper asks if he looks desperate, causing Wallace to finally admit that he lied about the Arc and Clarke.  When Jasper becomes overcome with emotion, Wallace manages to seize the weapon, telling Jasper that the sword is not a toy.  Wallace calls for a guard and requests that Dr. Tsing and Cage be located.  When the guard leaves, Wallace tells Jasper that they should go for a walk and find his friends.

Emerson and Grounder are brought into camp Jaha and Abby and Clarke begin medical treatment.  Raven enters and when she informs Clarke that there is no news from Bellamy, Clarke snaps at her, causing Raven to say that Octavia is currently manning the radio.  The issue with Emerson is that he needs medical treatment but they cannot touch him.  Raven offers to go and rig something up, as Abby loses her fight to keep the Grounder alive.  Indra does the death ceremony for the fallen Grounder and confronts Clarke about the fact that a killer is still alive, while a warrior is dead.  Clarke says that they need information, so Indra requests the opportunity to make Emerson talk.  Clarke makes it clear that they are not going to torture Emerson and is backed up by Abby, adding that Emerson might talk because they saved his life.  Indra calls the mother and daughter pair weak and leaves the area.  Abby takes the time to check in on Clarke to offer motherly comfort but Clarke calls it another day on the ground, before leaving for engineering. 

The Mountain Men enter the containment area and start to open Echo's cage and so to distract them, Bellamy kicks at his cage door.  The moment Bellamy's  cage door is opened, despite being poised to attack, Bellamy is electrocuted and then injected, only later to be hung by his ankles.

Maya is making her way through sickbay, looking through files, when Lovejoy comes in, looking for Thorpe to determine how many cages to clear.  Lovejoy is shocked to see that the Mountain woman is having a 25 minute treatment, calling it a record.  Maya tells Lovejoy that Thrope may be at the mess hall. The moment Thorpe leaves, Maya looks to see where the tubes connected to the patient lead.  Moments later, Maya finds Bellamy hanging from his feet, having the blood drained out of him.  Maya injects Bellamy in the thigh, which causes him to regain consciousness.  Maya questions Bellamy about being from the Arc and asks if he knows Jasper.  Jasper asks Maya to release him and she agrees but before that can be accomplished, Lovejoy enters the room, questioning what she is doing there. Maya explains that she wanted to see what made Bellamy so special and claims that he is dead.  Catching the drift, Bellamy plays possum and is released by Lovejoy.  A fight breaks out between Lovejoy and Bellamy.  Echo manages to reach through her cage and grab Lovejoy's hand, stopping him from stabbing Bellamy and Bellamy strangles Lovejoy, as a stunned Maya watches, pointing a weapon.  Bellamy rises and thanks Echo before asks Maya if she is alright. Maya assures Bellamy that she is fine and then heads over to Lovejoy, saying that they need to get rid of his body. 

Clarke and Abby look at the Emerson who is now secure inside a radiation free airlock.   Abby says that she thinks that Emerson will  wake up soon and that their blood heals the Mountain people.  Marcus points out that this is why the kids in Mt. Weather are in trouble but Abby is only concerned about the fact that the Mountain People tried to kill Clarke. Kane reassures Abby that Clarke is strong but Abby is not convinced, pointing out that The Grounders look at Clarke like she is their leader and now Mt. Weather does as well.  Kane points out that Clarke is holding the alliance together but Abby complains that she didn't realise that she would lose her daughter becuase of it.

Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk #1) by Bec McMaster

After her father's death, Honoria has fallen on hard times.  Struggling to survive and escape the bounty on their heads, the family moves to Whitechapel district.  Gone are the extravagances and each day is a struggle to survive, as Honoria starves herself in order to ensure that her younger siblings have enough to eat and walks hours to and from work.  Honoria uses her education to teach at a girls finishing school but when she loses her job and her hope, Honoria is forced to turn to the one person she never thought she would ask for help, Blade - the master of the rookeries.  Unfortunately for Honoria the price of his aid is to become a thrall.  Though no one in the rookeries will challenge Blade's authority that will not keep Honoria safe from the Blue Bloods who seek her death.  Even Blade is finding himself having difficult keeping his control around Honeria.

Though this book is advertised as a steampunk, it is far more of a historical romance than a steampunk.  There are small elements like metaljackets and little robots who served tea but beyond that, Kiss of Steel is devoid of steampunk elements.  McMaster did however include an interesting origin story for vampires and the world also included a werewolf.  Kiss of Steel essentially focused on the budding romance between Blade and Honoria, while squeezing in some political intrigue to claim a plot. 

As protagonists go, Honoria is strong and never takes the opportunity to run away when those she cares about are facing danger.  She is well educated and stubborn to a fault.  Blade does use his physical strength and superior speed to bully Honoria; however, not to be outdone, Honoria does drug Blade and even pulls a gun on him.  These should be moments to celebrate but they only lead to Blade once again getting the upper hand forcing Honoria to comply to situations that she is not comfortable with.  

There were several other female side characters of note.  The Duchess of Casavian was made a blue blood simply because there were no male heirs and her ascension dropped her family's rank.  Clearly aware of this The Duchess has to be a strong character and seems to be playing the long game.  Unfortunately, we don't really get to know a lot about her.  Then we have the Queen who plays second to the Queen Consort.  Throughout the novel we are told that she has been reduced to a figure head status.  When she is finally introduced, her one act is to defy her husband publicly.  It's clear however that the queen lives in fear of her consort. Then there is Esme, who is one of Blade's thralls. Blade clearly sees her as family and the feeling is returned. Esme runs the house and is not afraid to put Blade in his place, or advise him.  Finally, we come to Lena who is just fourteen and yet somehow manages to advise Honoria on her love life.  Lena is a realist and like her sister is quite bullheaded.  

For all of the strong female characters we still had the problem of Blade's dead sister.  She doesn't really have a role in the book except to give Blade something to angst about.  It's yet another trope (think Supernatural).  A dead woman to build the character of a male character as well of course as to establish the villainous nature of another. 

Kiss of Steel is not a book a reader can enjoy unless there is a significant investment in the romance between Blade and Honoria.  Unfortunately, the relationship has problems from the very start.  Honoria lives in Blade's territory and she does not pay for protection or pay any sort of tribute and so Blade sends someone to demand her presence.  He is of course immediately attracted to her and seeks to weasel his way into her life, forcing himself upon her.

His firm, callused hands found her breasts, cupping them through the scratchy wool. Her eyes nearly rolled back in her head.

“Stop,” she whispered. But his hand was sliding down over the flat of her stomach, lower, bunching through the folds of material at her waist and lower…She caught it, her nipples aching through the constricting wool. “We can’t do this. Please stop.”

“You want it. I want it—”

“I don’t want it,” she shot back, then gasped as his fingers brushed teasingly against the juncture of her thighs.

“Don’t you?” His other hand cupped the full weight of her breast. “There’s no one here to see,” he said in that dark, compelling voice. “I’d hear them coming.” His fingers bunched in the folds of her skirt. “Honor. My Honor.” It came out with his breath. “I want to taste you. I want to drink you all up.”

Honoria shot a helpless look toward the building. She had to find some way to placate the hunger ruling him (page 133)

Every time Honoria says no to a sexual interaction, Blade continues to force himself on her.  Possibly to avoid the appearance of rape, McMaster has Honoria inform the reader how aroused she is becoming and how she really doesn't want Blade to stop even as she tells him no.  This is a ridiculous writers device to get around the fact that consent is something the male protagonist is willing to ignore because he somehow magically know that the female love interest's no doesn't really mean no.  It's a classic example of the overly permissive rape culture that we live in.  Kiss of Steel is filled with multiple instances of Honoria saying no and Blade pushing past her boundaries.