We open with Vicki in a comic book shop reading Henry’s
graphic novel - and being bothered by
creepy geek boys in a classic “zomg a woman in here” moments. But then Henry
arrives and we get back to some proper flirting.
To the plot we find a mother (Celeste) and her daughter (Sarah)
planning to move – the daughter doesn’t want to, has a temper tantrum and then
we get a whole lot of shaking and some very bad CGI attacking the mother
At work Vicki is fighting a losing battle about being
considered the “supernatural” detective – but gets a case to find Steve
Jeffries. An elderly woman wants to find her son-in-law who was estranged from
her now deceased and murdered daughter, leaving an orphaned daughter (Sarah) behind.
At the police station she learns more about the murder –
an open door and wounds inflicted by claws and teeth. And that Vicki’s own
run-away dad makes her rather testy about men who leave their families.
Sarah is currently living at the Cobb Academy – her boarding
school for gifted children (she’s an artistic prodigy) and Vicki finds out that
the relationship between Sarah and her father is fraught to say the least. She
goes on to search their house (bringing Henry along for no apparent reason…)
and finds a picture drawn by Sarah of a monster killing her mother – before her
mother died.
On to the pathologist – still dragging Henry. The
pathologist points out the body has been mauled by an animal that left no fur
nor salvia. She points out the police ignore things that are strange and don’t
fit (as Vicki used to). I really liked her – her eccentric thinking looks a
little fantastic and silly, but when considering this is an actual world with
supernatural creatures it shows just how no nonsense she is and how she, as a
scientist, isn’t going to let her preconceptions cloud the evidence that is in
front of her. I love her “if it existed… does it?” line to the picture of the
creature she’s presented. Not shock or horror or doubt – just simple curiosity.
She finds the father, Steve, but he’s utterly
uninterested and hostile to the idea of looking after Sarah. Returning to the
school we learn that the monster is “buttercup” a stuffed toy and that Lauren, Her
art teacher was worried about the art Sarah was producing. This leads to Cobb’s
“gifted” students in their special room testing magical abilities – and Cobb
manipulating Sarah into setting “buttercup” on Lauren – causing another load of
shaking and bad GI attack.
Consulting with the father basically confirms everything –
Sarah is telekinetic and Cobb is using her powers to kill people – and drive
the father away. Still despite original reluctance (and us seeing more of Vicki’s
father issues). On tom the school to reunite daddy and daughter with evil Mr. Cobb
on the sidelines to manipulate some more poor CGI deaths before the ultra ultra
twee ending. And Celluci arrests Mr. Cobb for – well, whatever it’s for I’d love
to see the court case
Celluci continues to try and check up on Henry out of
jealousy over Vicki, including abusing his police powers and contacts – and he
finds out that Henry is a “lady’s man” (of course, as a vampire he is feeding
on many women). He continues to follow up on him through the comic shop as well
and learns about his comics being “historically accurate” and Henry having a
thing for blood.
At last Celluci begins to believe in the supernatural –
namely that Henry is a vampire and dangerous. She he finally believes in the
supernatural when it suits his jealousy. This character is really not growing
on me.
I have to say the episode was rather predictable (and not
just because Cobb’s British accent proved he was evil by laws of television),
from the very beginning the cause of Celeste’s death was pretty obvious
Ok I can kind of accept that, even though she’s not a
police detective any more, Vicki’s past
links grants her enough respect to allow her access to crime scenes, police
interviews and even the morgue (kind of) but to do all that and bring a
nocturnal comic book artist along with her at the same time. And why? She has
no indication this murder is supernatural at the time – why does she, a police
detective renowned for her skill and success rate, need to be followed around
by a vampiric artist? This is a huge shift from the books where Henry constantly
came to Vicki because Vicki had skills and knowledge (as a detective) that he
and the supernatural community lacked.
I actually have no idea why Henry was in this episode at all, except to be stalked by the ultra-jealous Celluci
I actually have no idea why Henry was in this episode at all, except to be stalked by the ultra-jealous Celluci
We have some POC inclusion but it is still in rather
minor roles – an East Asian police chief (who has a hint of Dragon Lady about
her – however that could equally be bouncing off Vicki’s own abrasive attitude,
Celluci’s black partner/sidekick (who has more than a hint of servant about
him), and a South Asian pathologist. As
well as some episode specific POC as well – largely devoid of stereotyping.
The GBLT inclusion from the books seems to have been
erased for the television which amuses me not at all.
I still love Vicki as a character and the show is
intriguing but this plot line wasn’t exactly the best crime dramas ever – it was
far too predictable without any twists and, like so many shows the minutes kids
are involved, a ridiculously twee ending,.
