Review: Spartacus: Vengeance "Balance"

Non Spoiler Review:

Ilithyia's capture creates shock waves at both the temple and the ludus. Spartacus is put in a difficult position that makes his decision with what to do with her far less simple. Meanwhile, Glaber tries to manage the issues around his missing wife, and his new love, Seppia. Lucretia endures further insults from Ashur, prompting her to come up with a new plan.

More fun melodrama this week, and some interesting internal struggles, especially with Spartacus, who is still coming to terms with revenge for his wife's death. The plot moves briskly, as usual, as plot points set in motion in the last couple of weeks get played out.

At this point it's growing tedious to say it all works. I can't remember the last episode where I thought the story fell short, so I'll just continue to applaud the writers for making every week just as compelling as the last. On a side note, I'm enjoying the forest setting, as it makes for some nice visuals that we're not used to, given the Capuan focus for the previous season and miniseries.

Spoilers Now!

Ilithyia is led through the forest by Gannicus, until they come upon a couple of travellers, requiring him to remove the blindfold and explain his wife fell off her horse on the road to Pompeii. Ilithyia takes the moment to plead for help, and Gannicus quickly dispatches all the men. He promises to hack out her tongue if she raises her voice again. 

Mira and Spartacus are hunting together as Gannicus arrives with his captive. He proposes Spartacus take the life of Glaber's woman as he took the life of Spartacus', and end the vengeance that is causing so much suffering. That leaves Spartacus with much to consider.

Lucretia is distraught that her slip of the tongue led Gannicus to know where Ilithyia was travelling. Spartacus and Gannicus have never met as far as she knows, but Glaber can't assume that she hasn't been taken there. They guess he must need her alive, but he forbids any word of it escaping his walls. Ashur has seen all traces of the attack covered up.

Training continues at the temple under Oenomaus' eye, and Naevia is showing quite a skill. Spartacus returns with the captive, much to Crixus' shock. Gannicus and Oenomaus meet eyes. Spartacus takes Ilithyia inside as she's taunted by the rebels, while Lucius wonders if their cause now involves killing a woman with child.

Glaber pays a visit to the brothel to ask about Gannicus' whereabouts. He has no patience for their silence and kills several people to extract the information.

Spartacus confronts Ilithyia and vows he'll have vengeance for his wife. He draws sword, only to have her reveal the child is his. Her monthly blood ceased after he came to her at the villa. She tells him to take her life if he choses, but his wife will turn from him in the after life. 

Saxa appears interested in Gannicus as she first lays eyes upon him. Crixus sits with him and suggests the disagreement with Oenomaus will pass, and congratulates him on the capture of the praetor's wife. But his only motivation is to end their cause, then goes to Spartacus, who tells him Illithyia still lives. Gannicus is not impressed. Spartacus wants Glaber, not a woman, so Gannicus informs him of the women tortured to death who whisper his name, and countless more will fall in the name of his rebellion.

Lucretia attempts to bond with Seppia, who is now firmly supporting Glaber. Lucretia suggests summoning Varinius from Rome—if she sends message she could regain his affections. But Seppia is more interested in Glaber now and suggests the gods have led her to this path as they've led Ilithyia away.

Lucius brings dinner to Ilithyia and recounts how Sulla ruined his life. He has no love for the Romans anymore. But she suggests she can help him, given her husband's influence. He tells her he can't free her. She just wants a message delivered and tempts him with suggestions all that was taken from him could be restored. 

Spartacus has confided the revelation to Mira, and how it was Ilithyia beneath the mask the night in the villa. She suggests Ilithyia be killed soon, but his mind has already turned from it, feeling he would become like Glaber.

Ashur was unable to glean any new information of Gannicus' whereabouts, despite massacring and torturing everyone at the brothel. As he sorts through his newly acquired treasures from his victims, Lucretia suggests she will entreat the gods for a response, but Ashur wants sex and tells her to abandon Ilithyia. She slaps him. Ashur pushes her to the ground and demands her apology, then rapes her again. On the floor she spies Seppius' serpent bracelet that has fallen out of Ashur's treasure chest.

Gannicus has words with Oenomaus again, who accuses him of simply wanting to lighten his conscience. Gannicus claims he would not see his brothers fall to their foolish cause, but Oenomaus feels they no longer stand as such—the brotherhood was all lies and deceit. He holds no further vengeance against Gannicus, given his death would not see Melitta returned, and would be a mercy only to Gannicus. He stands for nothing, as he always has.

Mira catches Agron and Nasir fooling around when they're supposed to be standing guard. She tells them to take to their beds and she'll watch over Ilithyia. She goes in to see her and asks if it's true. Mira won't let Spartacus be destroyed by having to kill her, so she'll take responsibility for killing her herself and begins to strangle Ilithyia. Spartacus arrives to save her, angry with Mira and tells her she doesn't know his heart. He orders her to leave them.

Lucretia finds Seppia in the morning, who his virtually gloating about her new position with Glaber (they finally got around to resuming their previously interrupted tryst). Lucretia warns her about the man she has affections for, and has something to show her. But Tarsus arrives with news of Ilithyia—Lucius has brought his message and reveals she's being held by Spartacus.

Glaber wants to know where she's being kept, promising reward for the information. Glaber assures him it's within his power to grant anything. What of his own wife and children, Lucius asks. Is that within his power, too? Lay a hand on him and his wife dies, he says. Lucius explains that if he does not return in a reasonable hour, she dies. Any attempts to follow—she dies. Lucius tells him he is to enter a nearby town on foot in exchange for a single wagon loaded with weapons, and he will return Ilithyia. If not, she'll be lost to him forever. Glaber lets him go.

Lucius returns to Spartacus and has done what he was asked. The rebels are in desperate need of good weapons, and the deal should see them well-stocked for battle. Spartacus insists that the rebels will honor their word and take just four men with them—Agron, Crixus and Oenomaus want to be counted among them, but the latter has not yet recovered, so Gannicus offers to attend, given it's a cause Oenomaus believes in. Mira says this is all madness. Spartacus trusts in his friends and will get his means to strike back at Glaber.

In the town, the Romans arrive with the wagon. Spartacus and his men emerge to greet Glaber, Ashur and Tarsus. Spartacus gives Glaber a strip from Ilithyia's dress to prove she lives. He refuses to kill a woman for Glaber's crimes, and one day soon he'll have his life. Glaber prays his decision is not one he regrets. The wagon is offered, and Spartacus assures him his wife will be returned, and then, when his child is born, he'll look into his eyes and see Spartacus' reflection. 

Glaber counters that he's not like him at all. He doesn't care about his wife. As Agron opens the wagon Ashur's men spill out and battle begins. Spartacus' men put up a valiant fight, but the numbers begin to overwhelm them. Spartacus shouts now! and Glaber is shot in the chest with an arrow (!). Mira and Lucius arrive to even things out. Tarsus takes Glaber off the streets as the horn is sounded, bringing more men towards the gates who have been lying in wait. Crixus is nearly killed by Ashur's deadly Egyptian mercenary, until Lucius shoots the man in the leg. Spartacus orders them to fall back but Lucius prefers to cover their escape and is killed by the Egyptian.

Wounded Glaber is being tended to back at the ludus, and Lucretia is horrified he never intended to make the bargain in the first place. Glaber is sick of hearing about the gods and announces he will grieve the loss of his wife and child in coming days, and that's the end of it.

Lucretia finally confronts Seppia as she gets wine for Glaber, telling her his actions have brought them to ruin. Seppia has grown increasingly impertinent with her now that she's sharing his bed, so Lucretia produces Seppius' bracelet, explaining the gods led her to the truth—hidden among Ashur's treasures from those who have died at his hand. And Ashur moves only upon the command of Glaber. 

That produces the desired result. Later in the bath with Glaber, Seppia is silent as he muses that without such tragedy they would not have found themselves in each others' arms.

Spartacus takes Ilithyia into the forest and asks if she knows what it is to love. As he removes her blindfold he tells her Glaber chose vengeance against him over her own life, so taking hers now will balance nothing, given Glaber doesn't love her as Spartacus loved his wife. He warns her not to think of it as a kindness, and leaves her in the forest. 

The Verdict:

Balance is another character-heavy episode dealing with the weight of Spartacus' vengeance versus the greater desires of the rebellion. He could easily have killed Ilithyia, but chose not to, and likely delivered just as sharp a jab by letting her know her husband was eager to sacrifice her. Ilithyia's fall from grace has been really satisfying (and so well-played by the actress).

Ilithyia's pregnancy and how it's going to play out now is certainly up in the air. Does Spartacus have any wish to see his child born? Will she want to keep it, knowing Glaber has absolutely no need for her? I'm guessing given Lucretia's move against Ashur and Glaber, Ilithyia might completely throw in with her now to attempt to free themselves from their mutual servitude.

It's good to see Oenomaus back to his old self, and not wasting time with further battles between him and Gannicus. And even shallow Gannicus gets a bit more depth with his interesting motivation at securing Ilithyia for Spartacus. He definitely seems to have the greater good in mind, and it does suit his past characteristics—a man with no motivation would want to take the easiest way to end the suffering of so many rather than pursue Spartacus' more grand scheme. And many thanks to the writers for not having Lucius betray the group. He was a noble character (albeit with a brief arc) who went out with honour.

Ashur's massacre at the brothel was pretty disturbing, even for this show. I will definitely be cheering when Lucretia (I hope) ends his life this season (I hope). Now that the incriminating bracelet has crushed Seppia's dreams, it could make for an interesting alliance between her, Lucretia and Ilithyia.

The Walking Dead "Beside The Dying Fire"

Non Spoiler Review:

Beside the Dying Fire jumps immediately into the fire, so to speak, as Rick and Carl have barely enough time to process Shane's resurrection before a massive herd of walkers encroaches on the farm. With the survivors divided and fighting for their lives, death and destruction get doled out in healthy doses. And that's only in the first twenty minutes. What follows after that are some interesting shifts in the power dynamic, new directions and a little revelation from Rick that he's been keeping secret since last season.

The Walking Dead ends the season on a great high. If the first act wasn't tense enough, the fallout and drama between the characters as a result made for a nail biter of an episode. Finally, there are so many awesome reveals in the last few minutes I was giddy by the end of it. Season three is another long wait, but the sometimes questionable pacing choices of this one can be put behind it now that we've seen this string of top-notch episodes, and my fears for Walking Dead's future alleviated. 

Spoilers Now!

Back in Atlanta...a helicopter alerts a group of walkers and sets them following its sound out of the city. After a long journey into the country they reach the fences of the Hershel farm, and it's an extremely large group that break through in shear weight of numbers. In the night, the sound of Carl's gunshot gets their attention, and they follow Carl and Rick as they walk back to the house.

Daryl and Glen return to the house first, advising everyone about what they've found with Randal, as well as Shane's tracks that indicated they were together. Daryl goes out (at Lori's request) to find Rick and Shane.

Meanwhile, Carl wants to know what happened, wondering if they were attacked by a walker. Rick stops to respond, but they quickly hear the walkers approaching and take refuge in the barn, given they can't get to the house. The horde begins to pile against the barn doors, so Rick scatters gas on the floor and sends Carl to the loft to drop the lighter in order to provide a distraction. He throws open the doors and the walkers flood in as he escapes to the loft and the barn erupts into flames.

Daryl, Andrea and Glen see the walkers approaching the house. Lori suddenly realizes Carl is gone and refuses to leave without him. On the porch, everyone passes out the guns and decide to kill as many as they can and use the cars to lead the rest off the farm. Daryl gets his motorbike as the barn catches fire. Using the vehicles, they attempt to corral the walkers but they are proving too many to herd.

Lori is freaking out (as usual). They're guessing Rick set the barn on fire to draw the walkers so Hershel's son takes the RV to pick up Carl and Rick from the loft. They jump on top, but the walkers pile inside the RV and kill Jimmy. Rick and Carl flee.

Hershel makes a stand to hold them off at the house, while the women try to figure out where Carl is. Carol tries to make Lori listen to reason and not to go off into the woods. The girls prepare to leave, but Hershel won't pull back. Patricia is grabbed as they make a run for it, and Lori has to drag Beth away to leave her as she's torn apart. Carol is cornered but Andrea saves her. A walker falls on Andrea and they think she's dead, so T-Dog has to drive away with Lori and Beth and leave her and Carol both.

Glen tells Maggie to drive and get off the farm as walkers begin swarming the vehicles. Rick gets Hershel's back and wants to know where everyone is. He tells them they have to go and forces him to come. Andrea tries to flag them down but they don't see her. She runs off with the bag of guns. Daryl watches the barn burn from the distance, then hears screaming and takes off to the house. He finds Carol nearly over run and saves her. Hershel watches the barn collapse as he, Rick and Carl drive away. 

As dawn comes, Maggie and Glen circle back to the highway. She's in shock at abandoning everyone but he tells her they can't go back. She stops the car so he can drive while she has a breakdown, and he attempts to assure her the others must have made it too, and tells her he loves her.

Back on the highway where they left supplies for Sophia, Rick, Carl and Hershel arrive. He had hoped the others would rendezvous there. Carl starts freaking out that they need to find Lori. Hershel tells Rick he needs to get Carl to safety and he'll wait there for the others and they can meet up later. Rick stresses that they have to stick together. 

Lori wants to get to the highway but T-Dog decides they're heading east to the coast. The others are on their own and they can't go back. She wants out and tells him to go back or let them out (and nearly jumps out). He concedes and turns around.

Hershel tells Rick his primary concern should be keeping Carl alive. Rick finally agrees and tells his son they have to leave. That's when they hear Daryl's motorbike, then Maggie and Glen, and finally T-Dog's truck. Happy reunions abound. 

Always ready to ruin a nice moment, Lori asks about Shane and Rick says he didn't make it. Carol tells them she lost Andrea and T-Dog confirms they saw her go down, as well as Patricia and Jimmy. Daryl wants to go back for Andrea (yay, Daryl!). Rick reasons she's either dead or somewhere else and there's nothing they can do right now. T-Dog still wants to head east. 

After driving awhile, the group stops on the road given they're running low on gas and need to make a fuel run in the morning. They opt to make camp. Rick wants to find a place they can fortify and build a life—they just have to find it. Maggie doubts they can ever be sure it's safe, given they fooled themselves that they were at the farm. Daryl then brings up the fact about Randal not being bit, and Lori wants to know what that's all about. Daryl explains Shane killed Randal.

Rick then drops the bomb that they're all infected. At the CDC Jenner told him that whatever the plague is, they all carry it. Glen and Carol are furious he never told them. He thought it best people didn't know and walks off to make camp.

Lori tells him she knows he had his reasons for keeping the secret. Then Rick admits to killing Shane and coldly explains what happened. He knew what Shane was doing, but Rick just wanted it over and wanted him dead. He turned, and that's how he knew Jenner was right. Lori is mortified and storms away.

Andrea is fleeing through woods teeming with roamers. After a day of running she's exhausted and gets taken down by a walker. It looks like the end for Andrea when suddenly its head is cut off by a sword. Andrea stares up at a hooded woman with two armless walkers chained behind her.

At night, Carol tells Daryl she doesn't feel safe with Rick lying and they deserve better. He asks what she wants. A man of honor, she replies. Maggie wants to leave too, suggesting they can't sit around waiting for another attack. Hershel advises them not to be foolish and to trust in Rick. But noises in the woods make everyone skittish to get back on the road.

So Rick tries to calm them down and angrily (and frustratingly) tells them he killed his best friend for them so they should damn well listen to him. They're a little horrified too (including Carl). He explains the whole Randal thing was staged and Shane took him out into the woods to kill him. He tells them his hands are clean. Maybe they're better off without him, he says and suggests they go ahead and see how far they get on their own. 

There are no takers. Carl's crying at this point and pretty much everyone is horrified (though Daryl looks impressed). But if they stay, Rick tells them, it isn't a democracy anymore. Everyone remains silent, and the camera pans up to to show that just over the hill is a prison.

The Verdict:
Having such an insane opening to the finale really worked. After complaints of a relatively zombie-light season, the herd that passes over the farm brought the outside world back to the survivors.

Rick's arc came to a chilling conclusion with this episode, and his scene with Lori at the end was so cold. Her reaction, of course, is typical Lori—and damn, she better understand that she was the cause of that whole mess (and I imagine she's wondering if she's carrying a zombie baby, too). Finally Jenner's secret is revealed, though I would have liked some explanation about the other dead bodies we've seen this season with no explanation of how they didn't reanimate. I can relate to Rick's decision not to tell everyone given he had no way of proving it until this week.

Hershel's development was just as interesting. I'm really enjoying his character now. He's grown so far beyond his initial religious perspective, and seems willing to adapt to the reality at hand and concede to Rick's decisions. Given Dale's unexpected death, I can see how Hershel can rise to fulfil a lot of Dale's role from the graphic novel if he sticks around (and I hope he does). After my initial balking at the way some characters lived and others died in contrast to the graphic novels, I'm actually excited about the prospect of seeing some characters live on, like Carol and Hershel.

T-Dog had a momentary burst of character development, but I found that to be the weakest element. Had we had more dialogue and a sense of just who he was, his threat to just keep driving might have carried a bit more tension. But would we really have cared if he had dropped Beth and Lori off on the road and drove away?

Of course, Michonne's introduction at last was a heart-stopper, and I'm excited that she'll be hanging with Andrea first. I'm pleased that Andrea has achieved her bad-ass status at last and I'm looking forward to these two starting off season three together.

We're left with Rick firmly in the driver's seat for the direction of the survivors (for good or ill), and that awesome final shot of the prison, with an equal mix of uncertainty and hope. Who is in the helicopter (personally I think it's the Woodbury helicopter)? How far did Rick drive from the farm—will they ever try to go back to get supplies? Have we seen the last of Randal's group?

Season three promises to be a very dark ride if Kirkman takes the show on its current path. But with extra episodes, as well, it's sure to be the best season yet.

The River "The Experiment"

 Non Spoiler Review:

The Magus crew explores the seemingly abandoned base, stumbling upon some startling discoveries (including another laptop everyone sits around and watches). The flashbacks fill in the backstory leading up to the expedition, as well as illuminate some details of Kurt's past.

The River definitely stepped up the tension with an interesting direction, turning from supernatural aspects to mad science. I found it a lot more compelling that recent weeks, and the resolution achieved at the end, as well as the questions raised have got me more interested in where the series is going. It's all still very much cliché, but the strength is in the frenetic pacing that keeps the show moving even when the story elements aren't that original.

Spoilers Now!

As the group explores the abandoned base, Kurt phones someone named Hana and gets her voicemail. There's some music playing as they search inside the building. The source is a radio in an office, which also contains books on genetics. The room appears to be barricaded from the inside, with bloody footprints leading to Emmet's hat, and finally a room of bodies covered in bugs.

Lincoln volunteers to check it out but he can't find his father in there. Kurt tries his call again. There are about 20 bodies piled up and Clark urges Tess to leave but she's adamant they keep searching. Everyone realizes Kurt has disappeared, as he's following the sound of running water in a bathroom. Lincoln and Clark find what appears to be an operating room and white board full of genetic mapping that Lincoln handily identifies as pharmaceutical in nature. They finally find a dead tribesman suspended in fluid, bearing the same mark as Lena, plus claw marks on his back.

Kurt finds Rosetta (Rabbit) in the bathroom and she appears in shock. She tells them they're coming and they're hungry. They're intercepted by a man running towards them whom Kurt shoots several times. They make a break for the office as a bunch of zombies give chase, and barricade the door behind them. 

Seven months earlier, Lincoln learns of his father's disappearance while in class (and with an apparent girlfriend). Clark visited Tess to sell her on the idea of the TV show, but she's in a depression. He advises her that a signal has been detected in the Amazon. In Berlin, four months earlier, Kurt leaves Hana lying in bed for South America. He asks her to marry him before he goes. Two months prior, Lena is working at a fitness store, and has a seizure, claiming Emmet is still alive.

Rabbit is sorry for leaving Emmet, but she suggests they just open the door, because it will all be easier to die now. Emmet was there at the infirmary when she got there, and the doctors said he was going to be okay. But then they changed. Tess refuses to believe Emmet could be one of the zombies.

Lincoln recovers some doctors logs on video on a laptop. They recount their search for a specific gene sequence (from the body in the tank). The specimen was over 50 years old, but with the cardiovascular system of a teenager, so they created a retrovirus out of his genes to use as a cure. Someone breaks in and shoots all the doctors, telling them their research can't be made public. The virus is released in the infirmary and everyone changes. It must have gotten out and killed the rest on the outpost. The girl in the video is Hana.

Someone from inside the infirmary tries to signal them with a mirror. The zombies abruptly disappear, but Rabbit claims they only do so for a little while. But there are tunnels that connect the buildings, so they make an attempt to get to the infirmary. They realize they're walking among the zombies, who are, in fact, sleeping. Kurt finds Hana lying on the floor, and then he kills all of them.

They get to the infirmary, but realize the signal is just wind chimes. Tess has to face the fact Emmet's gone. But...they suddenly see a dragonfly that leads them to another room and a cocoon (!) —containing Emmet.

Cut to an Emmet video where he explains dragonflies retreat into a cocoon to regenerate. 

Tess slices into it and releases him with her knife. He's alive, and they make haste away from the base given it's nightfall and zombies start running after. Back at the Magus, the dog refuses to get on board, so they set sail and take some time to chill after their eventful day.

As Lincoln and Lena decompress, he lets her know that he has a girlfriend back in Chicago. The plan is to stop at the first village, and Tess advises Rabbit she can find her own way back home from there. She suggests Rabbit chooses her words carefully when the reporters come knocking on her door. Rabbit is left alone on deck and is grabbed by someone and killed (problem solved).

Kurt visits AJ in the video room and orders him to erase all the video he took that day. AJ wants to know what he's really doing there. Kurt whispers he's going to kill Emmet Cole. Then he spies the camera shot of the deck showing dead Rabbit. Kurt goes to the bridge and gets Jahel, sending her downstairs to Lincoln. It's Hana who's loose on the ship. Kurt won't shoot, and tries to get through to her, though ultimately has to put her down. There's still another aboard who attacks Tess, but Emmet appears in the nick of time and kills it. He asks how his funeral was.

The Verdict:
I liked, despite it being 28 Days Later on The River. Now that Emmet has been discovered I feel the show can really move forward for the finale and get into the mystery surrounding the source (and whatever it was at the base). Is Emmet crazy, though? Is that even Emmet? Jahel's warnings of demons come to mind, too, so who knows what is inhabiting his body.

As far as the zombie virus, it did provide some exciting (albeit derivative) tension. Has it been contained to the base, or is there a threat of contagion beyond it? The mix of science and the supernatural (always a delicate business) kind of works, with what looks like the attempt to seize the genetic strength of the jungle tribes and market it as a pharmaceutical for longevity.

Kurt gets some intriguing elements added to his backstory, suggesting he has knowledge on par with Emmet about what's going on. But did he bring back Hana himself or did she escape? How did he allow her to get away with everyone so close (and manage to handle a high maintenance zombie, of all things)? It's the little questions like these that one thinks about afterwards that are the more annoying aspects of the series. However, I'm a little more excited about checking out the finale, and hopeful for a possible renewal.

Review: Being Human (USA) "When I Think About You I Shred Myself"

Non Spoiler Review:

Aidan descends into his old ways as he dotes on his wounded protege. Josh and Julia continue to reforge their friendship as someone (else) from Josh' past makes an appearance. Sally's reaper troubles catch up with her.

Nothing really outrageous happened to require a lot of detailed criticism. At this point it was just boring. Josh and Julia do nothing for the greater plot and are so uninteresting to watch given we have no history with her aside from what Josh reveals. And with past weeks, this episode is sporadic in what it picks up from previous plot threads. Sally's big twist at the end might have mattered had I given a hoot for this character anymore.

Spoilers Now!

Aidan brings skinned Henry home, much to Josh's annoyance, while Reaper is taking Sally out to learn the ropes of shredding. Josh suddenly runs into Stu at the hospital (the guy who went camping with him and died when Josh was turned). Stu heard through the ghostly rumour mill that Josh is a werewolf.

Henry isn't getting better (and looks quite a sorry state). Aidan goes out to get food. Flashback to France, 1918—Henry is an army doctor when Aidan is brought in with a gunshot wound. After he removes the bullet he finds his wounds are healing on their own. Aidan is caught feeding on some bloody rags by a rather superstitious soldier who recognizes him as a vampire and tries to warn Henry. Aidan ultimately freaks out in the tent and kills everyone, wounding Henry in the process. He makes him a vampire and they're BFFs after that.

Sally is shocked when Boner shows up at her house (which is horrifying given she was told Stevie shredded him by the Reaper). Apparently the only one Stevie shredded was Dillon to protect her. She doesn't reveal that Stevie's gone, but goes to see Nick and Zoe to get some otherworldly consultation. It's all news to Zoe about this reaper guy and she can't provide any help.

Aidan glamors a couple of girls to bring back to feed Henry. Henry gets a little out of control and starts freaking out the girls, so Aidan breaks both their necks (!) and Henry finishes them off. But that makes him all better again.

After making amends and hanging out so much now, Josh and Julia hook up (but it's Stu who's possessed Josh!). Josh wakes up to a headache and Stu confessing to what he did. Stu loves Julia, and that's why he was at the hospital, not to see Josh at all. Yes, it's all kind of rapey. Julia, is of course, quite happy to be back cuddling with Josh.

When Sally goes back to the ghost group, the room is trashed by the Reaper. He apparently shredded them all, and Zoe is in shock and tells her it's all her fault.

Henry meets Josh again, who kind of understands why he looks so much better (plus moving men are removing a big box that undoubtedly contain bodies). Aidan is promising it won't happen again.

Nick comes to see Sally with news they're going to get her help so she doesn't do it again. There is no reaper. It's Tyler Durden her! There's a series of flashbacks where we see it's been Sally all along shredding people. Though the fact that Sally is both an unlikable creature and a mass murderer somehow doesn't carry as much shock value as they likely intended.

Josh and Aidan walk in as she shreds Nick and tells them (in crazy demon voice) Sally isn't there anymore. Then she goes all poltergeisty. Aidan grabs the iron poker and stabs her, causing her to vanish. She then wakes up on the floor where she died, surrounded in a ring of salt to imprison her, as Josh and Aidan contemplate what to do (I vote shred!).

The Verdict:

Aidan and Henry's backstory came off as a bit mundane, with nothing really interesting in there at all. If this is all going to come around to Aidan realizing Josh is his best friend after all, and really has his back, it's a bit too late for that if I were Josh.

Aidan's appeal has diminished considerably. I really don't care about his fall back into his old ways, because that stuff is actually forgivable and he can be redeemed. But the whole reason for him being in that house appears to be based completely on his own selfish motivations—for Josh to save him. He's done nothing recently to show he's actually reciprocating. Never mind that the whole point of Josh's life is to get a semblance of normalcy, and Aidan is flagrantly abusing that by killing victims in the house.

Interesting that the episode ends with Josh and Aidan actually having to deal with Sally—finally. I can't really hold out any hope that they might be ditching Sally and getting a new ghost. I'm sure it will all work out fine and maybe even mommy Rena will come back to bring her daughter back to reality.

On another note, I've been catching up on the final season of the UK version. Watching one episode this week in conjunction with this one, I was struck with how that show conveys their three characters. Having recast pretty much everyone except for one, a simple two minute scene of the three actors sitting on the couch watching an antique show conveyed so much depth to their new friendship—more than the two whole seasons of the American version has ever done.