In the fifth episode of the second season of iZombie, Major proposes a change; Babineaux learns disturbing information; Ravi has a revelation. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch iZombie.
Trigger Warning: For child abuse.
I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH. LET’S TALK.
Ravi
You know, I didn’t trust Blaine before this episode, so I definitely didn’t trust the offer of the tainted Utopium either. In hindsight, though, I think Blaine didn’t trust the mix that Gabriel had given him either, and thus, he set up Gabriel to reveal the truth. Tactically, it might be brilliant, but in practice, it’s yet another example of Blaine’s willingness to sacrifice everyone around him for his own gain. I suppose it’s even sadder to me because of the hope that came with that bottle of laced Utopium. Look how excited Ravi got. Look how Liv started planning!
And now they’re right back where they started. At least Ravi realized that the very existence of an anti-zombie serum was so dangerous that it needed to be destroyed. Again, that suggests that Blaine really did want to test Gabriel. Why else would he give Ravi everything he had?
Babineaux
So, I’m gonna just state this outright: I don’t know if Babineaux was abused as a child or if he just has an innate disgust with child abusers, but you better believe I am perfectly fine with him kicking the shit out of RJ’s dad for abusing his son. It’s great. Cathartic. A power fantasy! And I respect him a great deal for using the power he had access to as a police officer to get this man to stop beating his son. I recognize how weird that is to say because I’m so against police brutality, and yet, the context of the scene here did not trigger that anger in me. Instead, I appreciated that someone in power went after someone else in a position of power that was exploiting it.
You know, Babineaux’s got a lot on his plate in this episode, and it was thrilling. Not only was this plot unfolding during “Love & Basketball,†but there was also more flirting with Agent Bozzio, which brought about his further interest in the lack of a resolution of the Meat Cute case. Given how this episode ends, I desperately need Babineaux to know the truth about zombies. He’s so close! So terribly close!!! JUST MAKE IT HAPPEN, OKAY.
Love & Basketball
I just watched that movie for the first time in a LONG time this summer. It holds up!
Anyway, not the point. Oh, Liv. OH, MAJOR. Amidst the murder case that Liv works on here – which is about how someone’s risky behavior got them in over their head WINK WINK NUDGE NUDGE, MAJOR – Major tries to rekindle his relationship with Liv. I couldn’t ignore the way that Liv’s zombie-ness works as a stand-in for a sexually transmitted disease. Seriously! Think about how these characters talk about the exchange of fluids and what sort of sexual acts are fine or not. It’s a great conversation to display so prominently, and I’m proud of this show for writing a scene that didn’t feel preachy, but still nailed down the importance of communication around sex. Plus, we’ve all known that Liv wanted nothing more than to get back with Major for a long time, and suddenly that reality is presented to her. So what does she do?
Exhibit restraint. Consider the consequences and ramifications of her actions. Ensure that she can be good friends with Major first. IT’S SUCH A GREAT RESPONSE. It is also a sign of how much she’s grown as a character since we first met her, and y’all know I gobble up character development for breakfast. It’s refreshing, yet it never feels unrealistic. Liv grew from the events of this season! IT REALLY HAPPENED.
Hell, we even watch Major begin to move away from the toxic place that he was in. His personal store of Utopium is gone; he’s broken things off with Gilda. And thanks to the brain that Liv consumed this episode, she is able to push him owards a job that is perfect for him: a basketball coach for underprivileged kids. Of course, we have a complication awaiting Major. How much longer can he lie about the zombie status from the list? How can he maintain the illusion that he’s doing his job? That’s my worry right now. It’s only a matter of time before Vaughn loses patience. And what of Gilda stealing Liv’s blood? What’s going to come of that?
The video for “Love & Basketball†can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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