S02.E17: Reflections Of The Way Liv Used To Be

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Liv and Detective Babineaux are investigating the murder of Bailey Barker, a type-A, ambitious, hyper-competitive and driven student near the top of her class. After consuming Bailey's brain, Liv becomes very much like the girl she was before becoming a zombie. Meanwhile, things seem to be going from bad to worse for Major, and Blaine reaches out to Ravi for help.

 

Promo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXD8Kv1h97E

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Clip:

[swimmyfish]

Babineaux seemed deliberately unruffled at the claim that there might be zombie drug dealers in Seattle. I wonder if he'll get the whole story by the end of the season?

I like seeing Major on optimist brain! A nice opportunity for Robert Buckley ti stretch a little bit. And Don E. & Chief on folk musician brain was cute, except for how they're murderous drug dealers and all.

Otherwise, this was a good place-setting episode. Not the best but we're exactly where we need to be for next week's finale. I am really looking forward to it.

[Lady Calypso]

Really good episode here. The case was alright, but seeing Liv more normal than usual? It was cool to see parts of her old self through the zombie brain.

 

Major is a zombie, and he was on optimist brain! Cool! I also liked his plan....until he got arrested. Damn. So basically, the only way he'll be let off is if Ravi can find where Major stashed the zombies and have them freed. 

 

Don E and Chief being bosses! It's weird. Blaine being a good guy (I assume only temporarily) is weird too. 

 

Clive has to figure it out in the finale next week, right?

Rita looks really good with white hair, I'll be honest. Her dad, though? Such a dick. I assume she'll be found and let out sometime during the finale.

[Cranberry]

Rita looks amazing with the white hair. I want her to stick around and keep that hair forever.

Blaine's boring right now, so I hope he regains his memory soon.

Loved all the callbacks to previous episodes, with the optimist brain, the frat bros, the dog grooming lady, etc. It reminded me of Veronica Mars, which was always great about bringing minor characters back and building a real-feeling world.

 

I had no idea that they were airing a two-hour finale. I'm excited!
 

[elle]

 

The case was alright, but seeing Liv more normal than usual? It was cool to see parts of her old self through the zombie brain.

I got a kick out of Liv's roommate calling after her to remember to put things back in order around the apartment before embarking on something new.

 

Happy to see that Enrico was not the BIG bad, just a bad cop.

 

Loved Ravi's home!

 

And the episode's title has The Supremes - "Reflections" on repeat in my head.

Edited April 6, 2016 by elle

[GaT]

Loved Ravi's Godfather imitation, & I'm really hoping that Clive finds out everything next week. I'm also kind of tired of the whole Max Rager plot, so I'm hoping that gets wrapped up too.

[xqueenfrostine]

Please show, give Blaine his memories back!!  He's just so boring without them.  

 

 

Major is a zombie, and he was on optimist brain! Cool! I also liked his plan....until he got arrested. Damn. So basically, the only way he'll be let off is if Ravi can find where Major stashed the zombies and have them freed. 

 

Well presumably the FBI will ask Major where he disposed of his victims when they interrogate him, so he could tell them himself if he's inclined to do so.  Either way, he's likely screwed.  He can probably get off of his murder charges since no one actually died, but he'll probably still be on the hook for kidnapping.  I'm sure at least one of his frozen zombies would press charges even if Ravi freed them.

 

I'm concerned about the fact that it sounded like Vaughn's security guy found out about what Major was really doing with the zombies he was crossing off the list.  If he makes it to the storage facility before the FBI or anyone on Team Z, there will be problems.  

[Actionmage]

Babineaux seemed deliberately unruffled at the claim that there might be zombie drug dealers in Seattle.

 

 

Maybe we'll get a Lost Boys shout-out? " This was a nice town until the damn zombies moved in." *g*

 

Ravi and Major are a great team, so I was relieved at the talk at the top of the episode. Here's hoping Liv and Ravi can figure out how to smuggle something in for Major. Liv ( barely) managed a weekend, so maybe Major can handle a day or two?

 

Blaine and Ravi? That was the best cut. "How long you got?" boom, Blaine with a hanged head and Ravi finishing getting him up to speed. That was great. That Blaine didn't snap instantly into O.G. Blaine was neat and I appreciated that. I kind of hope he isn't faking one iota and yet he calmly retakes his business. He didn't look too happy at how things seemed to be going.

 

Chief had a really good episode, relatively. A) He got to be a bit more pro-active in the business, B) he got to be on bluegrass brains, C) he rocked the washboard, and D) he got to punch out a questionable cop while saving the business from marked cash, as he framed the aforementioned cop for the dead college pusher that Chief, himself, actually killed.  The look he gave that stack of cash as he left it on the table was nice. Chief may not be some Rhoades scholar, but he's not stupid. I like when the show remembers that.

 

Don E, though? Is a venal, little man. Blaine, in whatever flavor, may make him pay for the unnecessary dismissiveness and "secrets."  Another example of a little learning is a dangerous thing.  Yet, he seems a bit more happy, even before he was scratched. I guess it goes to how much/little you care about others. Blaine, for his narcissism, could care for folks- like Peyton and Lowell. Blaine just never let that stop him from what he wanted or if it endangered his business/ health.

 

As much as I love that Minor is one of the threads sewing up this season, I have to wonder about Dale being able to get the okay to take down Major on the say-so of a pet groomer. Granted, we know she's pegged the right guy, just like Ravi did. Still, the case seems hazy for a swat team to do a surprise takedown of a personal trainer at a major company and with civilians super close.  I just hope that Ravi and Liv can move the freezers and equipment before Du Clark's thug can get back to the storage space. 

 

Am I thinking that the only way to save Major is to give him the Amnesia Cure? That way he can truthfully say he has no idea why or how stuff happened. Also, if he was a big, scary serial killer, why would he use his actual name with someone who could identify him? (<--Questions  Major's lawyer could reasonably ask if Major Took The Cure.)

 

I am sad that Clive filled out the papers, even though it really is a potentially great move for him. (And just because he filled out the application, he is not guaranteed a job. I would be very sad if Clive left. His critiques of Ravi's impersonations are gold.)

 

*sigh* I am excited for the finale ( two hours!), but am anxious about leaving it for the summer. Yet, I'll be there next week, ready for anything!

[Cthulhudrew]

Chief's a lot smarter than he comes across. At least cunning, though it would be kind of cool if he ends up taking on a bigger role because everyone underestimated him. And man, that punch he landed on Venedetti! That looked like it hurt.

 

Have to echo the Rita as albino sentiment. She looked really hot in her alabaster glory.

 

This episode got me to thinking, though. What happens to non-light skinned people who end up zombified? I know that the lieutenant in season 1 was asian (Japanese, IIRC), and he seemed to have no issues covering up his albinism; kind of a cheat, really, but for some reason I didn't question it at the time. But what if someone of normally really dark skin were to change? What if Clive got zombified, for example? Would the show try and pull a Suzuki and pretend they just wear really believable makeup, or will they just not go there so they don't have to push the bounds of reality?

[thuganomics85]

Yep, I have to admit that usually redheads alone work for me, but Rita somehow looked tens times hotter with the white hair and zombie look.  Complete with the daggers shooting at Vaughn.  I so hope this ends with her getting her hands on him.  Although, I will be slightly bummed if he is done for, because he really is becoming one of my favorite villains on TV right now.  Steven Weber is just having so much fun in this, that it almost feels wrong.  That stupid commercial for Max Rager was the best.

 

The case of the week automatically shot up on my top list, simply for the return of Frat Boy Brody alone.  Loved how baffled he was over how different Liv was and him getting on Clive's nerves again.  But I also liked that it ended up being part of the drug war, and it led to more of this Benedetto character, who seems shady as fuck. I guess I should expect any Enrico Colantioni character have some kind of edge to him.  This version of Liv wasn't that flashy, but I guess it was kind of intriguing that this was closest to a Pre-Zombie Liv since the pilot.  I did like her confessions to Clive.  Their relationship can be pretty sweet, when they aren't bantering off each other (which I do enjoy.)

 

Oh, Major.  Loved him on Positive Brains and Robert Buckley seemed to be having a blast.  And his plan involving Vaughn as a guinea pig was twisted, but brilliant. So, of course, this means he's arrested for being the Chaos Killer.  And it was partially because of Minor!  Major really has the worst luck ever.

 

Ravi was slaying it with the lines tonight.  Rahul Kohli really is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

I do hope Amnesiac Blaine doesn't go on for too long, because he isn't as entertaining, plus I want to avoid any redemption arc.  But I did love his reaction when Ravi informed him that Major was the one that he did... well, pretty much everything bad thing possible too.

 

“That’s by Rob Thomas. There’s something so…compelling about the stuff he writes.”  I'm pretty sure that 90% of the reason they hired Musician Rob Thomas for the commercial, is just so they could work in that line.  Well played, Writer Rob Thomas!

 

Sad the season is already wrapping up, but a two-parter is certainly the way to go.  And I'm glad they're already picked it up for a third season! 

[AudienceofOne]

Great episode. Loved it. It's the little things about this show I particularly like. How randomly meta it can get at times. How Peyton casually asked Liv to clean the kitchen before eating a different brain. How Ravi explained to Blaine who Major was. The subtlety of Clive's ooookkkkaaayyy face. Major at the end looking normal because of the dye and spray tan but just-so-slightly off.

 

The COTW was much better as well, integrated as it was with the main plotline. I'm going to be a bit different and say I really like what they're doing with Blaine. The character was getting a bit too one-note and the actor is better than that. Really interested to see where they go with it.

[possibilities]

it sounded like Vaughn's security guy found out about what Major was really doing with the zombies he was crossing off the list.

I didn't get that. I thought all they'd know is that major was getting arrested, and they would assume it was because of him having done all those (supposed) killings.

 

And actually-- Major could make a plea maybe, and turn in Max Rager?

[Ruby25]

I hope they give Blaine his memory back, because I need his one-liners in my life.

 

I'm guessing that they give Major the cure as well, so his memory gets wiped out and he can't admit to anything.

 

I love seeing Enrico Colantoni on a Rob Thomas show again- he's another one who's just fantastic with the snark. The only one who doesn't really have a lot of spark compared to the rest of the cast, imo, is Peyton. I used to think it was Major, but he's actually grown on me since they broke up him and Liv. Peyton though, is  kind of a flat character.

 

A good example of a small supporting character like her, but one who stands out SO much more is Dale. I love her, I'd rather they bring her on as a regular somehow.

[AudienceofOne]

I didn't get that. I thought all they'd know is that major was getting arrested, and they would assume it was because of him having done all those (supposed) killings.

 

No, Vaughn's security guy had found out that Major had the locker where the bodies are fridged. They were taking him down to it. That's why Major was hightailing it out of there with his "bag in the car" excuse.

[swimmyfish]

Major at the end looking normal because of the dye and spray tan but just-so-slightly off.

 

 

The make-up people did such a good job with that. It was subtle enough that anyone who didn't already know him wouldn't notice, but the hair was just a touch too dark. I got a real kick out of that.

 

No, Vaughn's security guy had found out that Major had the locker where the bodies are fridged. They were taking him down to it. That's why Major was hightailing it out of there with his "bag in the car" excuse.

 

I originally thought the security guy was outing Major in some way - either as storing the bodies, or that his recent purchases of spray tan & hair dye had pinged him as a zombie. But it does make sense that the head of security would have been notified of a SWAT team in the building looking for the person who happens to be visiting the boss at that very moment. So I don't know. 

[Chicago Redshirt]

Happy to see that Enrico was not the BIG bad, just a bad cop.

 

 

Maybe I'm too sympathetic to Enrico C, but I don't even know that he was a "bad cop." Forcing people to be off-the-books CIs might not be the nicest thing, but I don't think it is out-and-out evil in and of itself.

 

His motives seemed to be in the right place and it was for the most part working, if we are going to take him at his word. There was a stroke of bad luck that the VotW was overly ambitious and that she happened to cross someone who would suspect her.

 

Loved Ravi's Godfather imitation, & I'm really hoping that Clive finds out everything next week. I'm also kind of tired of the whole Max Rager plot, so I'm hoping that gets wrapped up too.

 

I enjoy Vaughn Du Clarke, at least in the doses we are getting him, and I think that it is unlikely we'll be seeing the end of Max Rager any time soon. I do hope that Rita does a coup and decides that instead of eliminating zombies, Max Rager should be in the zombie making business.

 

This episode got me to thinking, though. What happens to non-light skinned people who end up zombified? I know that the lieutenant in season 1 was asian (Japanese, IIRC), and he seemed to have no issues covering up his albinism; kind of a cheat, really, but for some reason I didn't question it at the time. But what if someone of normally really dark skin were to change? What if Clive got zombified, for example? Would the show try and pull a Suzuki and pretend they just wear really believable makeup, or will they just not go there so they don't have to push the bounds of reality?

 

One of the meathead personal trainer guys that Blaine employed and who tried to conspire against him to start their own brains-delivery business in season one was African-American. And although the show didn't go into whether he did anything to look like a normal African-American, he did look like a normal African-American. There may have been others.

[Chicago Redshirt]

I originally thought the security guy was outing Major in some way - either as storing the bodies, or that his recent purchases of spray tan & hair dye had pinged him as a zombie. But it does make sense that the head of security would have been notified of a SWAT team in the building looking for the person who happens to be visiting the boss at that very moment. So I don't know. 

While giving Major major stink-eye, Security Guy comes over to VDC and whispers "he has a storage shed" VDC says "really" and then says to Major that they're going to put the gym on hold and go to Tacoma instead. I'm fairly sure that is where Major's storage shed is. 

 

Major knows what's up and uses putting his bag up as an excuse to try to bail when the FBI shows up. The expressions on VDC and Security Guy's faces make it clear IMO that they had no idea the FBI was there.

 

As far as we know, the evidence against Major is (at present) pretty scarce:

 

1. A woman has identified Major as having the dog of one of the victims and acting sketchy.

2. Major was caught in a picture with Blaine.

 

That's about it.

 

Both of those are fairly easy to explain. Major found the dog after the real Chaos Killer took the victim, and when he saw the dog on the news, he wanted to return it without getting involved. There's nothing wrong with Major admitting that he knows Blaine. Mere acquaintance with him is nothing wrong. Especially given that the FBI has no real proof that Blaine has done anything but be a douche.

 

Meanwhile, the FBI does not have a single body. It does not have any forensics or eyewitnesses (as far as we know) tying Major to the scenes. It doesn't have a motive for why Major broke bad.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Chicago Redshirt

[Primetimer]

Bad decisions abound in the penultimate episode of iZombie's second season.

Read the story

[Julia]

Hey - I think I found an easter egg. Rita Hayworth's next movie after Gilda was Lady from Shanghai, where she was a platinum blonde.
 

Maybe I'm too sympathetic to Enrico C, but I don't even know that he was a "bad cop." Forcing people to be off-the-books CIs might not be the nicest thing, but I don't think it is out-and-out evil in and of itself.

His motives seemed to be in the right place and it was for the most part working, if we are going to take him at his word. There was a stroke of bad luck that the VotW was overly ambitious and that she happened to cross someone who would suspect her.

I love Enrico C too. And maybe it's that one of the places I love him from is Person of Interest* where he's evil, but I'm not inclined to give him the benefit of all that much doubt here. Just a little too much disgust at the thought of involving a judge. I don't like that in cops. Also, the one thing we know for sure about him is that he's a liar. His opinion of Clive is also remarkably similar to the unnamed source in the article.
 
*Galaxy Quest is my sentimental favorite.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Julia

[Triskan]

I really wished Major had time and opportunity to scratch Vaughn before getting arrested ! 

 

And it's a damn good thing he was on "optimist" brain, cause if not, he'd have likely made quite a fuss at the end there ! ^^

 

In other news, it's damn time for Clive (and likely his girlfriend as well) to learn the truth about zombies and I'm quite sure it will happen during the finale ! 

 

And on a completely less relevant matter, I'd really like Peyton and Ravi to get back together, but that's a story for another day (and another season ! ^^)

[AConspiracy]

To me he's stuck as Elliot from Just Shoot Me .

[dubbel zout]

How Ravi explained to Blaine who Major was.

I loved how awkwardly Blaine left the morgue, while Major, because he was on optimist brain, was all, "Yeah, bad stuff can happen, but we can learn from it!" Hee.

 

I'm really looking forward to the finale(s).

[Morgan of Hed]

Babineaux seemed deliberately unruffled at the claim that there might be zombie drug dealers in Seattle. I wonder if he'll get the whole story by the end of the season?

I reckon he's already figured it out and is just playing his cards close to his chest.

[Cthulhudrew]

I reckon he's already figured it out and is just playing his cards close to his chest.

 

Crazy thought of the day: What if Clive is a zombie himself?

 

I mean, probably not, but just thinking about it, there could be some subtle clues:

 

1) He used to work for vice, but then was apparently "drummed out" and went to work for the homicide unit. We know from Benedetti that the vice squad is investigating the Utopium trade, and Clive could have possibly gotten infected that way, and where better to get an "Eat! Brains!" fix than on the homicide unit?

2) He picked up a chorizo burrito for himself (a spicy sausage).

3) And... umm, that's all I've got so far.

 

Anyone else have any possible Clive/Zombie observations we could add? Again, he probably isn't, but it could make a fun game! :D

[elle]

"Just Shoot Me", "Person of Interest" and of course Galaxy Quest, all great Enrico Colantoni.

 

 

 

Maybe I'm too sympathetic to Enrico C, but I don't even know that he was a "bad cop." Forcing people to be off-the-books CIs might not be the nicest thing, but I don't think it is out-and-out evil in and of itself.

"Dirty" cop might be a better description, though we haven't seen him taking money or drugs, yet.  But, having untrained people as his own personal CIs, unknown to the appropriate department so they are without back up, is, as Clive pointed out, wrong and dangerous.  And I'm sure there is more to his character than we have seen.

 

 

How Ravi explained to Blaine who Major was.

Also how Ravi explained to Clive why Blaine was coming to him like he was his personal doctor.  "I'm probably the only one he remembers"  Yep.

 

Also, does Dale (Jessica Harmon) seem like she could be "Jane the Virgin" Petra's (Yael Grobglas) long lost sister?

Edited April 6, 2016 by elle

[fastiller]

Loved Ravi's Godfather imitation, & I'm really hoping that Clive finds out everything next week. I'm also kind of tired of the whole Max Rager plot, so I'm hoping that gets wrapped up too.

I'd be very surprised if we ended S2 without Clive finding out.  Then he'll be enlisted to 'protect' Major from (?Dale and?) the FBI, thus meaning he won't join the FBI.

 

Enrico! I never watched Flashpoint so I don't know his work there, but Keith Mars and Carl Elias are two of my favourite characters on TV.

 

So, I think they need to have at least one episode of Zombie High as an Extra when the show goes out on DVD.  I'd like to add to that list of Extras: the making of a MaXRager ad.

[Bruinsfan]

Well presumably the FBI will ask Major where he disposed of his victims when they interrogate him, so he could tell them himself if he's inclined to do so.  Either way, he's likely screwed.  He can probably get off of his murder charges since no one actually died, but he'll probably still be on the hook for kidnapping.  I'm sure at least one of his frozen zombies would press charges even if Ravi freed them.

The FBI doesn't know about zombies. They'd find freezers full of dead bodies matching the victims of the Chaos Killer; Major would probably never see the light of day again.

 

"Dirty" cop might be a better description, though we haven't seen him taking money or drugs, yet.  But, having untrained people as his own personal CIs, unknown to the appropriate department so they are without back up, is, as Clive pointed out, wrong and dangerous.  And I'm sure there is more to his character than we have seen.

Also, his choice of untrained personal CIs is apparently decent college kids who got into a bit of trouble with recreational drugs, not hardened criminals. He's threatening and endangering the sort of people he's supposed to protect, and all without oversight or legal permission.

[elle]

The FBI doesn't know about zombies. They'd find freezers full of dead bodies matching the victims of the Chaos Killer; Major would probably never see the light of day again.

I haven't been watching this show, just a bit here and there.  So I surprised myself with a snerk at this comment thinking about "how much fun" the FBI is going to have when those bodies start to thaw.  I doubt the conventional morgue would have things set for zombie-freeze.

Edited April 6, 2016 by elle

[Minneapple]

Major's transformation has been stunning since season 1. He's gone from Liv's wooden boring ex-fiance to a fun, complex character. I was cracking up at Major on the coffee shop owner brains. And he and Ravi together are the best.

 

I really hope Clive and Dale find out about zombies next week. And, I want Dale to stay. I like her. And I like her and Clive together. 

 

Wow, Enrico's kind of a douche! 

[regardez]

The thing that makes me nervous for Major is that his bag contained the knock out gun.... hard to explain that.

 

But he could definitely throw Max Ragger under the bus and hopefully get a good deal?

 

I, too, am waiting for Clive to figure out the zombie thing. I can't decide if I'd like it better if he's smart enough to figure it out himself or if I would prefer Liv confided in him. Maybe a combination of both?

 

Gilda as a blonde is awesome. I hope she turns on her father. 

 

I love Keith Mars! Hope he's back next season too somehow. And I agree about the minor characters coming back again. So VM!

[possibilities]

The FBI doesn't know about zombies. They'd find freezers full of dead bodies matching the victims of the Chaos Killer; Major would probably never see the light of day again.

If they find the freezer, they will know about zombies in short order, when the "corpses" thaw out and re-animate. Major would certainly have a lot of explaining to do, and would not be innocent, but it wouldn't be murder, it would be... kidnapping? Then some of them will say they wanted to be frozen (to get away from their hellish lives), and Major could testify against MaXRager, and at least some of the thawed will be able to give testimony against Blaine and Mr Boss and who knows what else. Major might not get off totally free, but then again-- how would the system react to the discovery of a massive zombie epidemic? All bets are off as to what consequences might or might not befall Major after that shit hits the fan. He will be the least of their concerns, and might even be considered a hero for protecting the masses from brain-eating hordes. Who knows?

 

However, I think the show does not want to change it's format that much, and so they will continue to try to keep the zombie epidemic a secret from TPTB, giving just Clive and hopefully Dale the info, and not spreading it throughout the system. Not sure how they will get Major out of jail and keep him from going berserk from hunger (maybe they'll send Peyton in there with a brain smoothee; she's the DA, she could credibly be dispatched to a private meeting while he's in custody) but the show doesn't seem to want to be so gloomy as to kill him off, put him in jail permanently, or to take the radical new direction of making the secret completely public.

[MisterGlass]

I really like this one!  I was initially unhappy that they did a case of the week with so much to cover, but the case tied in a lot more than I predicted to the mytharc. 

 

Ravi was a lot more trusting of Major waking up than I would have been.  Rahul Kohli owned that scene with a mix of disappointment and distress.  He's really good.  If Ravi could wake up and cure all Major's victims they wouldn't be able to tell where they'd been or what had happened.

 

Chief was a pretty competent and dastardly bad guy in this.  Don E?  Not so sure.  He's being a bit high and mighty with amnesiac Blaine, and he's being awfully free with the distribution of the drugs.

 

I was actually interested in amnesiac Blaine.  I think this might be the start of a reset for him.  Blaine as we knew him up to this point was unredeemable, but this lost and helpless figure might have a window to avoid justified extermination.  His behavior right now reminds me of Blaine in the episode where he first met Liv post-zombie, when he was a moderately depressed grave robber who asked her for a handout.  I think the snark is still there, I just think it's waiting for a trigger.  I think he might inform on his own business to Peyton.

 

That look Rita gave Vaughn was a perfect combination of contempt and fury.

 

I'm sad next week is the season finale but glad to hear there is another year!

[Bruinsfan]

If they find the freezer, they will know about zombies in short order, when the "corpses" thaw out and re-animate.

That's if they wake up before the autopsies are performed on them. I'm pretty sure a Y-incision and removal of all the internal organs in the chest and abdomen would be enough to put even a zombie down for the count.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

This was such a fun episode - Don E. and Chief playing bluegrass was awesome, although Don E. needs to stop acting like such a dick to Blaine. I hope they let Blaine continue his amnesiac storyline a little longer (partly because I find it interesting to see him play a totally different character who is shocked/remorseful about the things he can't remember doing, which just goes to show that Blaine's moral compass wasn't totally broken) but I can't wait until Blaine gets his memory back and realizes how much Don E. enjoyed lording it over him.

 

Thank goodness that Ravi is a quick thinker and can lie on his feet. I enjoyed seeing organized focused Liv (as well as Peyton's look of resignation when she realized what was going on). Heh, the shot of their totally organized refrigerator and Liv deciding where to put her one bottle of juice was hilarious. I also liked that Liv came clean to Clive about what Benedetto told her AND about Drake. It was sweet to see Clive's initial reaction ("Uh oh, guy drama") and then his gentler reaction later when he told her that she could trust him and tell him almost anything.

 

I think that Major has plausible reasons for having Minor and knowing Blaine, but how is he going to explain having that syringe in his gym bag?

 

Loved all the callbacks to previous episodes, with the optimist brain, the frat bros, the dog grooming lady, etc. It reminded me of Veronica Mars, which was always great about bringing minor characters back and building a real-feeling world.

Yes, I loved seeing all of those things and people make appearances again this week. I agree that it makes their world seem more real (as opposed to tv shows where you see a guest star once and then they're never seen or heard from again). Loved that Ravi had some of the optimist lady's brain for Major. Poor guy is going to have a different reaction to becoming a zombie again when he has his next non-optimist brain.

 

And don't forget about the other Veronica Mars reference in this episode: mutually assured destruction with one party being a douchebag bro! I loved how excited Brody was to see Liv.

Edited April 7, 2016 by ElectricBoogaloo

[fastiller]

This was such a fun episode - Don E. and Chief playing bluegrass was awesome, although Don E. needs to stop acting like such a dick to Blaine. I hope they let Blaine continue his amnesiac storyline a little longer (partly because I find it interesting to see him play a totally different character who is shocked/remorseful about the things he can't remember doing, which just goes to show that Blaine's moral compass wasn't totally broken) but I can't wait until Blaine gets his memory back and realizes how much Don E. enjoyed lording it over him.

It was a hoot watching Don E. and Chief going all bluegrass.  I did wonder if it was added b/c one or other (or both) of the actors are accomplished bluegrass musicians and they wanted to show off the talent.

 

I also hope Blaine continues as an amnesiac for an episode or so more.  David Anders is great in this version of Blaine.

[Chicago Redshirt]

I love Enrico C too. And maybe it's that one of the places I love him from is Person of Interest* where he's evil, but I'm not inclined to give him the benefit of all that much doubt here. Just a little too much disgust at the thought of involving a judge. I don't like that in cops. Also, the one thing we know for sure about him is that he's a liar. His opinion of Clive is also remarkably similar to the unnamed source in the article.

 

"Dirty" cop might be a better description, though we haven't seen him taking money or drugs, yet.  But, having untrained people as his own personal CIs, unknown to the appropriate department so they are without back up, is, as Clive pointed out, wrong and dangerous.  And I'm sure there is more to his character than we have seen.

 

Also, his choice of untrained personal CIs is apparently decent college kids who got into a bit of trouble with recreational drugs, not hardened criminals. He's threatening and endangering the sort of people he's supposed to protect, and all without oversight or legal permission.

 

I don't think it's wrong for cops to be at least a little cynical about the legal system. It operates under the principle (at least theoretically) that it's better that 10 guilty men go free than 1 innocent person be imprisoned. Over time, that's a lot of guilty people going free.

 

Every one of our main characters has lied at some point -- Liv and Ravi tell lies of omission or otherwise as to the existence of zombies and the nature of Liv's insights into crimes on a weekly basis, for instance. Major has lied about being the Chaos Killer and numerous other things. That doesn't inherently make things bad.

 

The only lie Bendetto told that we know of was to get Clive to the side. 

 

I don't think that in the real world, the average CI gets any special training or backup. I also wouldn't be surprised if there are a class of CIs that operate just as Bendetto's do -- i.e. those that aren't actively getting paid for info. I'll concede that it's morally wrong to hang it over someone like Bailey's head that she sold Adderall so she now has to get him 6 other drug dealers. And it was dangerous. But Bailey in her overachieving nature made it more dangerous by going it alone.

 

We only know of two of Bendetto's CIs: Bailey and the killer. So one innocent person (relatively, anyway -- from all appearances, she actually did the crime she was accused of in selling Adderall) and one person who is very guilty of dealing Utopium, continuing to deal Utopium and who went all the way to murder. We don't know if the rest of his CI crew are more like the killer or more like Bailey. I would suspect it would be more like the killer. There are probably not too many other people who can be tricked into selling drugs. 

 

Bendetto's "rat on 6 people, get off free" plan presumably would put a fairly serious dent in the drug trade if it is executed well enough. We don't of course know how well people do as CIs other than Bendetto's word that he was having success. But even if for each person he busted, they ratted out just two others, that's three dealers off the streets, hopefully.

[Bruinsfan]

Bendetto isn't Batman. If he wanted to run a ring of teenage undercover drug informants, he should have cleared it with his superiors first (and of course, they'd have said no). I'd argue that one non-willing participant dead outweighs any good he might have done cleaning up the university.

[Julia]

I don't think it's wrong for cops to be at least a little cynical about the legal system. It operates under the principle (at least theoretically) that it's better that 10 guilty men go free than 1 innocent person be imprisoned. Over time, that's a lot of guilty people going free.

 

Every one of our main characters has lied at some point -- Liv and Ravi tell lies of omission or otherwise as to the existence of zombies and the nature of Liv's insights into crimes on a weekly basis, for instance. Major has lied about being the Chaos Killer and numerous other things. That doesn't inherently make things bad.

 

The only lie Bendetto told that we know of was to get Clive to the side. 

 

I don't think that in the real world, the average CI gets any special training or backup. I also wouldn't be surprised if there are a class of CIs that operate just as Bendetto's do -- i.e. those that aren't actively getting paid for info. I'll concede that it's morally wrong to hang it over someone like Bailey's head that she sold Adderall so she now has to get him 6 other drug dealers. And it was dangerous. But Bailey in her overachieving nature made it more dangerous by going it alone.

 

We only know of two of Bendetto's CIs: Bailey and the killer. So one innocent person (relatively, anyway -- from all appearances, she actually did the crime she was accused of in selling Adderall) and one person who is very guilty of dealing Utopium, continuing to deal Utopium and who went all the way to murder. We don't know if the rest of his CI crew are more like the killer or more like Bailey. I would suspect it would be more like the killer. There are probably not too many other people who can be tricked into selling drugs. 

 

Bendetto's "rat on 6 people, get off free" plan presumably would put a fairly serious dent in the drug trade if it is executed well enough. We don't of course know how well people do as CIs other than Bendetto's word that he was having success. But even if for each person he busted, they ratted out just two others, that's three dealers off the streets, hopefully.

 

On the other hand, if he was a dirty cop working to clear away the competition for Mr. Boss, his operation would look pretty much the same. So, since we know he's a liar who works outside the system to achieve his goals, it just remains to be seen what he's lying about.

[Chicago Redshirt]

In fairness, we have been told that Mr. Boss has half the cops on his payroll, and Bendetto did say he was focusing on trying to get Lucky U off the street, which we know is not Mr. Boss's brand but Blaine's and now Donnie's/Chief's. (Side note -- was it said explicitly that the two of them had shared a folk musician's brain? If so I missed it and thought the hootenanny they had random and hilarious.) 

 

So I suppose it very well could have been that Bendetto was supporting Boss in his activities. Or it very well could be that he was focusing on Lucky U because it was making serious inroads in the drug trade and was particularly potent.

 

But I'd want more evidence before being convinced that he's all the way bad. 

 

Especially because IIRC, Bendetto is involved with Drake being undercover with Boss. If Bendetto is really a Boss flunky, he wouldn't go through the trouble of trying to get someone under with him, or at a minimum he would rat Drake out. Which we pretty much know he has not done because Drake was pretty tight with Boss before Major iced him.

[beeblebrox]

Crazy thought of the day: What if Clive is a zombie himself?

 

I mean, probably not, but just thinking about it, there could be some subtle clues:

 

1) He used to work for vice, but then was apparently "drummed out" and went to work for the homicide unit. We know from Benedetti that the vice squad is investigating the Utopium trade, and Clive could have possibly gotten infected that way, and where better to get an "Eat! Brains!" fix than on the homicide unit?

2) He picked up a chorizo burrito for himself (a spicy sausage).

3) And... umm, that's all I've got so far.

 

Anyone else have any possible Clive/Zombie observations we could add? Again, he probably isn't, but it could make a fun game! :D

 

We haven't seen him angry like yelling, screaming mad angry. He seems very level headed like disturbingly so. Has he been injured yet? We haven't seen him with a wound either. 

[Impish Dragon]

I still don't like Major.  But for me it's more about the actor than the character.  I do find he works best playing off Ravi.  I can even tolerate him in doses with Liv as long as romance isn't involved because the two just lack chemistry for me. 

 

I'm finding I like this Blaine better.  I'm not looking for a redemption arc for him, but he was too one note for me.  I've only seen David Anders in a few things, but it feels like those characters were all very similar.  With the amnesia storyline, I feel like he's getting a chance to stretch a few acting muscles and I'm enjoying it.

 

Ravi rocks but I really hope he (and Major) tell Liv about his deal with VDC.  Communication is important people.

 

I hope Drake gets defrosted soon, I like him and Liv together (despite still being bitter about Lowell).

Edited April 7, 2016 by Impish Dragon

[Julia]

Especially because IIRC, Bendetto is involved with Drake being undercover with Boss. If Bendetto is really a Boss flunky, he wouldn't go through the trouble of trying to get someone under with him, or at a minimum he would rat Drake out. Which we pretty much know he has not done because Drake was pretty tight with Boss before Major iced him.

 

Well (and mind you, this is purely theoretical, I don't have a strong theory either way), if Benedetto really is a Boss flunky, would he not assume the department would have a mole and prefer to have one he knew about, who trusted him, and who he could influence or eliminate?

Edited April 7, 2016 by Julia

[ElectricBoogaloo]

was it said explicitly that the two of them had shared a folk musician's brain? If so I missed it and thought the hootenanny they had random and hilarious.

Yes, they were reviewing the brain choices for their next meal (including a high school principal) and Don E. very enthusiastically chose the bluegrass brain.

[Chicago Redshirt]

Bendetto isn't Batman. If he wanted to run a ring of teenage undercover drug informants, he should have cleared it with his superiors first (and of course, they'd have said no). I'd argue that one non-willing participant dead outweighs any good he might have done cleaning up the university.

 

How do you know Bendetto isn't Batman? We've never seen them both in the same place? :)

 

More seriously, we don't know that all his informants are teenage, or really anything about them.

 

We don't know what his supervisors would do. This is, after all, a police department that allows a morgue "psychic" to accompany one of its homicide detectives regularly on cases.

 

I don't know if it's fair to put Bailey's death on Bendetto rather than on the sleazebag who killed her plus bad luck plus (as much as I hate blaming the victim) Bailey's overzealousness. But people's mileage would vary.  

 

I would also say that the moral mathematics are not necessarily that easy. What if, hypothetically, Bendetto's program has, by turning dozens of people into informants, cut down drug sales by 30 percent in Seattle and saved 10 people from overdoses, 50 people from getting hooked on drugs or what have you? I would argue that there's probably some set of numbers where the good that his program hypothetically does is worth the collateral damage of one dead Bailey. Another point on which people's mileage may vary.

 

Well (and mind you, this is purely theoretical, I don't have a strong theory either way), if Benedetto really is a Boss flunky, would he not assume the department would have a mole and prefer to have one he knew about, who trusted him, and who he could influence or eliminate?

 

If Bendetto was a Boss flunky, one would assume he would tell Boss that Drake was undercover so that Boss would not do such things as order Blake to kill people and so forth. Or that he would send Drake on wild goose chases rather than allow him to go as deep as any one ever has with Boss.

[elle]

How do you know Bendetto isn't Batman? We've never seen them both in the same place? :)

Oooo!  Let the conspiracy theories begin!  ;0)

 

If you've seen his character on "Person of Interest", it is not an unrealistic idea to think of Enrico C. as Bats, though his character on POI was Ra's Al Ghul level of evil.

 

I was originally commenting on how I as happy that Enrico wasn't obviously bad, definitely shades of grey, but not the bad as in POI.   Hoping that he doesn't fall into the same categories as Mark Pellegrino or Mark Sheppard, both of whom I lurve!, but one instantly peg them as the culprit with a few exceptions.  (would love to either or both of them to show up on iZombie)

[Bruinsfan]

If it's filmed in Canada I'm sure they will.

[sjohnson]

Really delayed in seeing this one. It seems to me to have been a Major misstep showing Major as cool with the brain eating. 

[Anela]

I'm watching this again, and just laughed out loud at Ravi's reaction to Major on positivity brain. "Can we play hooky, and follow him around all day?" haha.