Tim Minear, of “Angel,” “Firefly,” and “Wonderfalls” fame, wrote this episode. He also wrote the pilot, which didn’t charm my pants off (and in fact fed me every line I expected), but I certainly didn’t hate it. Did I hate this episode? Hate is not a word I take lightly. I went in to this episode, based on last week’s previews and the writing credit, with wildly high expectations. They were not met.
Be forewarned – sometimes I skirt around spoilery issues in these reviews, but tonight I will not.
Every scenario played out exactly as I would have guessed; Lana defeated Thredsen Slave Leia style, but of course she ended up back in Briarcliff, which is now run by Demon!Mary Eunice. Grace’s alien visitation resulted in blood poisoning, but since Dr. Arden (AKA Hans Gruber, snicker snicker snicker) wanted to prove he did not butcher the surgery, he saved her life. She lived to corroborate Kit’s alien story, so of course Kit accidentally shot her while he aimed at one of Arden’s monsters and we are left to believe she is dead. The episode largely felt like a Ben Stiller comedy if it were directed by Tobe Hooper and also not funny.
Some plusses were to be had! Frances Conroy, who we last saw as one aspect of a wicked hot succubus, is now playing an (the?) Angel of Death. She is gorgeous porcelain skin and ink black hair and giant wings that go “FWIP” when she unfurls them. It made for some gorgeous imagery, especially when she bestows her kisses. The show could have taken a lot of swings at questionable reality, but Demon!Eunice most definitely saw the angel and does not care for her presence. Her arrival came with a name written in blood (and Aramaic) on the bakery wall, and the show never clarified a translation. But I would wager a toe that it means “devil.” Or “death.” Or “Henry.” Whatever, that’s in writing so maybe I won’t bet one of my toes (a quick Google search has led me to believe that no Aramaic scholars watch this show, which is also not surprising).
What keeps me watching? Other than writing the review up every week? Well, I will admit to always having a little bit of fun. This episode was a little too much “out of the frying pan and into the fire and then oh oops right into one more fire” for me, but still fun. But what always gets me is the cliffhanger.
Sister Jude met the angel. She confessed she was ready for her kiss, but only after she accomplished one last task. She then traveled to the parent’s of the child she murdered all those years ago. Those scenes were tense and unyielding and were a great example of everything this show could be. But then came the one twist I never expected – the child lived. Jude had no, or a least a much lesser, confession to make. With the burden removed from her soul, I also assume she lacks reason for that kiss, and my hopes are that Jude returns to Briarcliff in full on beast mode to clean that mess up.