I take it back: the Cabal aren’t Wolfram & Hart, they’re the Initiative, seeking to eliminate the threat of non-human life on the planet through military means. With the Initiative, it was “hostile sub-terrestrial”. For the Cabal, it’s “hyper-accelerated protean life forms”. Potato, potahtoh. The Cabal are running torturous experiments on Henry, and using a different sort of torture on Ashley: endless monologue-ing.
Meanwhile, in India…
(I half-expected goblins to crawl down these pillars)
Magnus and Co. have found their way into the labyrinth beneath the ruined vampire city, and it’s still fairly uncertain how they’ll possibly retrieve the Source Blood.
But what’s this?
TESLA’S BACK!
[Excited? Who, me? Nah.]
Druitt seems a little disappointed. “Oh, I know he’s difficult to kill, but I’m sure there are ways.” Turns out that Tesla, who really wants to get his skinny little hands on the Source Blood, has been coming to Bhalasaam for months. But alas, Gregory Magnus, puzzle-maker extraordinaire, has ensured that the blood can only be retrieved through full cooperation from The Five. They must each complete a test that is unique to their own abilities, and if they complete the test they will collect a key. The five keys combined can then be used to unlock the vial of Source Blood.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Will accompanies Clara to her test, which requires her to maintain perfect invisibility or else be engulfed by the earth. No pressure there. Clara wants Will to strip naked as well, despite his protestations that – unlike her – people can see him. But you know, Will doesn’t really have a whole lot to be self-conscious about…
Ooh la la.
Watson and Druitt have a combined test, which requires working together when they can barely speak to each other civilly. This whole scene between Watson and Druitt was absolute magic.
There’s a lot of pain between these two. The discovery that John Druitt was Jack the Ripper left Watson’s trust in his friends and confidence in his abilities forever shaken. “It was not just that I failed to see the clues laid out before me. It was that it was you, John.” Druitt, forever haunted by the actions that were not entirely of his own doing, is doubly hurt by the continued resentment from one of his closest friends. We discover so much about these two characters and their relationship, and it left me wanting more.
The same goes for the wonderful scenes between Tesla and Helen. None of the others really like Tesla that much, which is probably fair, given his track record. But while Magnus is definitely annoyed by the cocky scientist, on the whole she seems more exasperated than angry. There’s an affection between them that only old friends can have, and bravo to the the actors for that. They really do behave as if they’ve known each other for a very long time. Tesla’s history with The Five is as checkered as Druitt’s, as his grueling gauntlet of a test demonstrates. “Your father really didn’t like me, did he?” “You’re an acquired taste.”
Nikola is s-s-s-mokin’
So each of The Five retrieve their keys and together they get the Source Blood. And they all live happily ever after. The End.
Right?
Please?
Watson! NOOOOOO!
Excuse me a moment, I seem to have a bit of dust in my eye.
*sniff*
In the Cabal laboratory, Henry discovers that he has more control over his shapeshifting abilities than he ever realized, and uses this to escape and rescue Ashley. Wereboy FTW!
And just when you think it’s going to be a repeat taser performance, Druitt swoops in to save the day, and all is well.
For real this time.
Right?
That is one phenomenal cliffhanger.
Stray observations…
- Loved the continuing development of Watson as a character. He really took Will under his wing and encouraged our young doctor’s abilities.
“I am seriously geeking out right now.”
“As am I.”
And when Will and Clara returned, sans most of their clothing, I just adored Watson’s little “Well done, William.”
- I really loved The Five all together (well, at least the four of them). There’s a nice camaraderie there that really makes it seem like they’ve known each other for well over a century. And Magnus isn’t just the leader, she’s kind of like their mom. She breaks up tiffs between “her boys”, first Watson and Druitt, then Druitt and Tesla. “Honestly. I am surrounded by adolescents.”
- So it’s the Source Blood that keeps Druitt alive? That must be why he needs Helen’s blood.
“What the hell was all that about?”
“Well, the guy who invented radio just dissed Jack the Ripper.”
“Elementary, my dear Watson.”
“Oh, shut up!”
“You tried to kill me!”
“Yeah…but you know, we all hurt the ones we love.”
“Thanks for taking off your pants.”
“You never have to thank me for that.”
Hannah’s Notes
- Helen (speaking of ancient vampires): “They weren’t a threat to anyone.” Yeah, except they WERE, because they KILLED PEOPLE.
- Take the man’s dang backpack, John! Good grief!
- When exactly does Will find time to work out?
