Voices From Krypton

MOONLIGHT: "THE MORTAL CURE"

Moonlight: “The Mortal Cure”

Title: “The Mortal Cure”

Episode: 1.12

Original Air Dare: 1/18/2008

Rebroadcast: 4/18/2008

Writer: Chip Johannessen

Director: Eric Laneuville

Starring: Alex O'Loughlin (Mick St. John), Sophia Myles (Beth Turner), Shannyn Sossamon (Coraline), Jason Dohring (Josef Kostan)

Guest Stars: Jason Butler Harner (Lance), Meredith Monroe (Cynthia), Bitsie Tulloch (Celeste), Christopher Stapleton (Officer), Lonnie Hughes (Clarence Brown), Charley Rossman (Security Guard), David Blue (Logan), Jeremy Forte (Scientist), Tasha Tae (Hostess), Jill Latiano (The Cleaner), Marques Johnson (Minister), John Everlove (Paramedic)

Note: This review was written in January following the original broadcast date, but held for publication until there was a new episode confirmed! So here it is! DSB

Plot Summary: Beth is dealing with the aftermath of Josh’s death, and getting his affairs in order when she discovers information leading her to believe Josh was cheating on her. At the same time, Mick is looking for Coraline, his search accelerated by a visit from two medieval vampires. Upon finding Coraline, he also finds a temporary 'cure' for vampirism and a surprising link to the French Revolution.

Review: Immorality versus mortality—what would you choose? Mick doesn’t hesitate when offered the chance to become mortal, even if it’s temporary. It is what he believes will rid him of his loneliness and self-loathing, and earn him the right to love Beth. On the other hand, Beth is facing the consequences of mortality. Her boyfriend is dead, and the aftermath of a mortal’s death is icky business from searching through private papers and journals to insurance to investigating a mysterious calendar entry.

   

This episode frustrated as much as it astounded. Watching Mick and Beth deal with their individual issues apart was new ground for Moonlight. For me, our hero and heroine are at their best when Mick isn’t dealing with Coraline on his own, and Beth isn’t left to pursue her natural curiosity undirected. In other words, I believe Mick and Beth together cancel out each other’s extreme tendencies. They save each other in many ways, not just the obvious.

   

But let’s take a moment to review the procedural elements of “The Mortal Cure”, for which we had a twofer, Mick and Beth each had a case to solve.

   

Beth’s investigation leads her to delve into the possibility that Josh was having an affair. But was there legit cause for concern, or guilt leading her curiosity? I’d say the latter and quickly we discover that Josh was meeting a jeweler, resetting his grandmother’s stone for an engagement ring. A marriage proposal to Beth was in the offing. Crushing news to a young woman burying her boyfriend, but for Beth, weight that down with a ton of guilt. She’s fallen hard for Mick St. John, and recognizes that her answer to a Josh marriage proposal would never have been yes. At Josh’s burial, as Beth looks into the battered face of Mick St. John, I believe she accepts why she and Josh were never met to be. Just as Mick recognizes he and Coraline’s fate.

   

On the other hand, Mick’s case is all about finding Coraline and the cure for vampirism. Next to the developing love story between Mick and Beth, Mick’s search for a cure has been the biggest story arc of the 12-episode season. It doesn’t take him long to find Coraline, the cure and to test it. He knows its temporary, and the other plot points of this episode are just that – bits of information he’ll worry about later. From the origins of the organic compound to its mysterious connection to the French Revolution and noble bloodlines, as far as Mick is concerned it’s all blood over the bridge. Mick just wants to be human again.

Signs of Mortality

I was impressed with the way the writers of “The Mortal Cure” wove the classic symbols of mortality and immortality into the episode. From an engagement ring, a symbol of forever love, to a cure for vampirism that was temporary, we were regularly reminded of the ways mortality and immortality connect, and then break apart.

   

Throughout this episode, I kept thinking…you may never get what you want, but you always get what you deserve. Is that an old adage, or the lyrics to a song? Whatever, it brings a whole new meaning to the last exchange between Mick and Beth, when he refers to his relationship with Coraline and says, “It was never meant to be.”

Best Lines

Josef: “Boy, newly turned vampires, no matter how good they are, when you’ve been playing for 200 years, it’s hard to lose.”

Josef: “Eight ball, nine ball?”

Josef: “What did they look like?”

Mick: The talker was big, six one, two hundred pounds, dark hair. I don’t know. Strong, confident.”

Josef: “Sounds like someone’s got a crush, huh? (snicker)”

Coraline: “I think Beth is starting to like me. She didn’t stab me this time.”

Coraline: “Maybe love can’t exist without mortality.”

Lance: “Hello, sister.”

Lance: “There will be consequences.”

Mick: (voiceover) “First time in many years I can sleep in a bed. Too bad I don’t have one.”

Mick: “Still human…(laughs softly)…still human.”

Beth: “Wait a second? Are you human?”

Mick: “For now, yeah.”

Beth: “How does it feel?”

Mick: The pain, the sun, the mortality…feels amazing.

Minister: “We’re all mortal…our time is limited, it’s part of what allows us to love and hurt. And in the end, it inspires us to make the most of the time we are given.”

Straightening Out a Few Facts

Some statements made in previous episodes were proven false in “The Mortal Cure”. For example, there is a vampire nation with a hierarchy and battles to be waged between the various fiefdoms. And as opposed to Mick’s words in “Dr. Feelgood”, there is a clubhouse where vampires hang out. Well at least where wealthy male vampires hang out, and thank you Josef for being a member.

Let’s Talk About Josef…The Most Complex Character on Moonlight?

Jason Dohring hasn’t had a lot of scenes on Moonlight, and relatively few lines, as well as no action scenes to showcase his machismo. Still, he has created one of the most complex characters on the show. A slight turn of the head, a shift of the eyes (always down and to the left), and a hitch in his throat, and we know Josef is as duplicitous as his last name. Konstantin or Kostan, we know Josef has lied to Mick at least once, and survived a blaze no other vampire could survive and each time he says Coraline is messing with your head, do you wonder how much Josef has messed with Mick’s head? If for no other reason (okay, excluding some kind of progress on the Mick/Beth romance), I want to find if Josef is really Mick’s best friend.

   

“The Mortal Cure” left a lot of dangling questions, but Loyal Viewers; we’ve got to wait. First, the writers strike has to end, and then CBS has to say, let’s do some more shows. And hopefully, those things will happen in the very near future.

   

Without the business of Hollywood getting in the way of speculation, I predict that when Moonlight returns, we might see a couple of episodes in which human Mick laughs, and not sarcastically, and Beth will kiss him wholeheartedly, and he’ll kiss her back guiltlessly.

   

But, let’s not forget Coraline. She’ll return—for Mick. And of course, Josef won’t be happy that he’s lost his best friend to humanity. Sure, he’ll get over it. He’s been around 400 years and has learned to deal with change. Then again, maybe not.

   

And damn, that pesky cure is temporary, and will certainly reverse itself at the most inopportune moment. Then poor Mick and poor Beth will have to deal with the consequences.

I, for one, Loyal Viewers, can hardly wait to watch what happens next.

Until sometime in the future,

Yours in Vampire solidarity,

Denny S. Bryce

SHOOTING "MOONLIGHT": 30 MINUTES WITH DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MARVIN RUSH

Part of the vampire P.I. series Moonlight's  appeal is the unique look of the show, the credit for which belongs to to director of photography Marvin Rush, who had previously spent 16 years toiling in the final frontier as part of the Star Trek universe. In this exclusive interview, Marvin discusses what he's been able to achieve on Moonlight, what the challenges of the show are and he even justifiably revels a bit in its success.

MOONLIGHT: "LOVE LASTS FOREVER"

Moonlight: “Love Lasts Forever”

Title: “Love Lasts Forever”

Episode: 1.11

Original Air Dare: 1/11/2008

Writer: Josh Pate

Director: Paul Holahan

Starring: Alex O’Loughlin, Sophia Myles, Shannyn Sossamon, Jason Dohring. Recurring Role: Jordan Belfi (Josh Lindsey), Brian J. White (Lieutenant Carl Davis). Guest Stars: Maurice Compte (Bustos),  Emilio Rivera (Chemma Tejada),  Manuel Urrego (Jorge Perez),  David Blue (Logan),  Margaret Easley (Dr. Alison Lin),  Luis Fernando Moncada (Huerta),  Jon Emm (Judge), Shelbie Bruce (Nicole),  Jeremy Denzlinger (Paramedic).

Plot Summary: Josh is working on a big case, a conviction against a member of the notorious MS-13 gang. In an attempt to force Josh to drop the case, the gang threatens Beth, but Josh refuses to fold and enlists Mick’s help in protecting her.

Review: To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. (Quote from The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis).  This excerpt, from an author best known today for his novel The Chronicles of Narnia, caught my attention as I contemplated my review of Love Lasts Forever, a fast-paced thriller of an episode that showed why Moonlight is deserving of all the buzz. (As well as a People’s Choice Award and possibly more recognition, if the writers’ strike ends before the beginning of the next millennium.)

Before I get philosophical, I want to give a quick overview of the procedural portion of Love Lasts Forever. Right off the bat Loyal Viewers, we know the bad guy, the bad guy’s goals, and that Josh Lindsey, Beth’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, is going to play a major role in this episode. The set up is that Josh, Mr. D.A., is going to take the hit for prosecuting a crime lord from El Salvador one way or another—and quickly, we learn that the way the bad guys want to play it is to go after Beth. Ironically, Josh asks Mick to protect their mutual ladylove. And that’s when it begins - a harrowing, exciting, angst-ridden, well-written episode that tore the guts out of our hero Mick St. John metaphorically, and out of Josh, literally.

 

This was a big episode for Jordan Belfi, the actor who plays Josh. His character is not confused about his feelings. He loves Beth and has for more than a year (pre-series). He also forgives her for getting caught up in the intrigue that is associated with private eye Mick St. John. He believes Beth cares about him and, although she went off to New York with Mick on a case, she came right back. So Josh is as pure as they come, an innocent bystander in the complex roller coaster that is the Mick/Beth relationship.

 

As C.S. Lewis says, when you’re in love, you’re vulnerable. The next thing we know, Josh becomes the victim of the revenge initially directed at Beth. This leads to a sequence of violence and bloodshed that is riveting. Once Josh is thrown into the trunk of that car, we know things won’t end well. I expected Josh to die, but I didn’t expect to experience each moment of his dying so vividly.

Kudos are well deserved for the actors’ work in sustaining the tension throughout Josh’s death scene. It was gory, bloody, and heart-wrenching, but we learned a lot about each of them—from Mick’s days as a medic, to Beth’s selfishness (more on that later), to Josh’s last words about his first days with the love of his life.

Best Lines

Mick: (voiceover) “How does an immortal handle mortal feelings?”

Mick: (voiceover) “Blood is vengeance.”

Beth: “Can’t be all that bad to live forever. You’ll see things when I’m gone, when everyone’s gone, that…we can’t imagine now.”

Mick: “Like what?”

Beth: “Cars that can fly. Diet soda that doesn’t suck.”

Mick (bar scene): “You missed me.”

Beth: “If you hate what you are so much, why do you go on living?”

Mick: (voiceover) “You make me want to.” (Mick laughs, sadly) I’m not really sure, I’m not really sure.”

Most Intriguing Voiceover

Mick: (voiceover) At the end of the day not a lot separates life from death…that’s what makes it precious. (He says this kneeling over Josh’s body, and then later, the last line of the episode Mick says: (voiceover) What I do know is that at the end of the day not a lot separates life from death…only one thing… eternity.)

Things to Ponder…

Where will the blood trail end? Is there really a vampire nation?

Mick Brings Out His Vampire

Two scenes that will standout as amongst the most compelling of Moonlight’s strike-abbreviated season are the interrogation sequence and the bar scene in this episode. Alex O’Loughlin, with no special effects outside of makeup, gave Loyal Viewers the face of a snarling, vicious, brutal vampire. It was horrific and mesmerizing.

The voiceovers in Love Lasts Forever were excellent, as well. We not only learned that Mick St. John was a medic during World War II, but that he also lies to himself and to others, in particular Beth and Lieutenant Carl Davis. But he tells Josh the truth, “I won’t let anything happen to her (Beth).”

Character Development and I’m not talking about Mick

Beth Turner’s character has intrigued me since episode 1.01. Young, 26, with a brand new shiny job—Internet crime reporter—and a year-long serious relationship with an up-and-coming DA, she’s a survivor of a horrific childhood abduction that didn’t leave her so crippled she couldn’t live her life. She developed a ravenous curiosity about living, which makes the Moonlight writers’ choice of making her a reporter almost a ‘duh’ moment. So when she meets Mick St. John, whose past links unexpectedly to her own, she feels an affinity, a connection she can’t shake off. She needs to be around him, learn his secrets, protect him, and find a way to deal with her fascination with him and his world.

 

In Love Lasts Forever, I got a real sense of Beth Turner (although, I still sometimes feel her dialog is choppy). I don’t believe she wanted to be in love with Mick, but she was falling, and until she came face-to-face with the devastating reality of vampirism (Sleeping Beauty), she was well on her way. That episode stopped her in her tracks.

 

From New York, she went back to her safe haven. Josh was her connection to the normal world of the living—a world that shouldn’t include Mick. That world died with Josh, and Beth was angry—angry because a man she cared about was dead, brutally shot in front of her, and the vampire she was falling in love with was a witness to the end of her normal world. Mick even tried to save Josh, but although she begged, Mick refused to turn Josh into a vampire. 

 

In this episode, Beth asked Mick all the tough questions from save him please, for me to would you have saved me? She also played self-preservation games, pushing Mick away casually with statements like “So take a vampire wife then.” She may have seemed hard, or even disloyal, but Beth is a survivor. She doesn’t like feeling vulnerable. Perhaps she realized that loving Mick could break her heart, and being with Josh wouldn’t hurt as much. That’s the mindset I believe she brought to the love scene with Josh—the need to connect to a future without Mick. That’s why she looked so uncomfortable with Josh (good work Sophia Myles). 

   Loyal Viewers, there’s only one episode left this season. Wow, what a ride! Stay tuned to Voices from Krypton during the hiatus (because I believe this show will return). We’ll have updates, special features and more, because we don’t plan on letting Moonlight fade away.

Until next week.

Yours in Vampire solidarity,

Denny S. Bryce/denny_dc

 

 

 

MOONLIGHT: "SLEEPING BEAUTY"

Moonlight: “Sleeping Beauty”

Title: Sleeping Beauty

Episode: 1.10 

Original Air Dare: 12/14/2007

Writers: Trevor Munson & Ron Koslow

Director: John T. Kretchmer

Starring: Alex O’Loughlin, Sophia Myles, Shannyn Sossamon, Jason Dohring

Guest star: Jordan Belfi (Josh Lindsey), Tami Roman (Maureen), Nick E Tarabay (Ralf Martan), Ian Abercrombie (Richard Whitley), Alice Greczyn (Sam), Paul Rae (Tom), Kavita Patil (Doctor Duffy), Al Galvez (Dan)

Plot Summary: Mick has a lot on his mind after Beth’s staking of the hospitalized Coraline when he learns Josef’s office has been torched. Now he must deal with his best friend’s apparent death and finding Josef’s killer. Mick and Tom, Josef’s head of security, launch an investigation into the attack. This leads Mick and Beth to New York City and a surprising discovery about Josef’s past.

Review: “Hope, Lies and Sacrifice” could well be the subtitle of “Sleeping Beauty”, episode 1.10 of Moonlight. We had Mick embracing hope, Josef telling lies and three women choosing to make tough decisions about what they were willing to sacrifice to be in love with a vampire. Interestingly enough, two of the women — both from eras long ago — chose to jump into the flames for their vampire lovers, while one — Beth Turner — jumps into a cab to catch a flight (modern women can be so frustratingly practical).

But before I dive into all of that, let’s recap the procedural plotline of “Sleeping Beauty”. In this episode, Mick sets out to find the person trying to kill his best friend, Josef. At first, Mick does not question the why of the assassin’s motives. It’s a given Josef has enemies, and Josef reacts to this kind of attack from the eye-for-an-eye book of payback. But after finding out Josef’s not dead, Mick follows him to New York City in hopes of preventing Josef from doing something stupid. Mick and Beth (who comes along to “stop Mick from doing something stupid”) meet a 93 year-old man who has a lot of hate in his heart and revenge on his mind. Turns out Josef’s alias Charles killed (or as it turns out tried to turn) Whitley’s daughter in 1955.

This episode was enjoyable, yeah, and fast-paced, and almost breathless in its scene progression. We also had passionate performances from the main cast, and some of the seasons best choreographed fight scenes.

But Mick’s emotional journey was the star of the episode. From controlled anger, to uncontrolled grief to rage and finally elation, he covered the emotional gambit, including a scene where his grief was so raw it was tough to watch (more on that scene later).

Then there was Josef. He’s not big on telling Mick the truth. Watch carefully, if you’re into re-watching episodes, but Josef is showing himself to be somewhat of a master manipulator of the truth (could it be his hedge fund trader skills coming into play?). Not only did he mislead Mick about the human/vampire relationship deal, but when quizzed about Richard Whitley (Sarah’s dad) he flat out lied until he was forced to do otherwise.

I found Jason Dohring’s performance delectable in this episode. Some may say that Josef

behaves immaturely at times considering his age — being a 400 year-old vampire. But Josef was turned in his early twenties. And as we learned in “Arrested Development” (episode 1.05), vampires can be saddled with aspects of the personalities they had at the time they were turned. I believe we see that in Josef. He screams spoiled aristocrat from the 16th century, while Mick, for example, is a GI. He fought in World War II, most likely enlisted at age 20, and survived the Battle of the Bulge. Mick’s a warrior. Josef is a negotiator.

Other liars in the episode included Security Chief Tom, who paid for his deceit with a bullet in the head (we presume as much from the bloody computer monitor).

How much to sacrifice is the choice for the women in “Sleeping Beauty”. Clearly, Coraline will sacrifice whatever it takes to get Mick. It’s just that her tactics are a bit warped. Still, to me Coraline is a tragic figure. She loves Mick absolutely. She’s done bad things, yes, but her goal is clear.  “Mick” - That was her last word as her human life slipped away (which is what I believe we saw in that last scene, Coraline’s human death).

Josef’s Sarah sacrificed her family, and her human life for him. That’s a lot of love to end up in a coma.

However, both of these women were from another era. Could that contribute to their idea of love? Could be.

Because our Beth, Loyal Viewers, got in a cab.

I thought Beth’s dialog in “Sleeping Beauty” was inconsistent in some spots. I think the writers are working at nailing down her motivations, but she has a lot going on (Josh, Mick, Josh, Mick, vampires exist, Mick, Josh). But her actions were right on in that last scene in my humble opinion. She’s struggling with the idea of falling in love with a man that’s not a man (vampire, remember) and having loved or still in love with another man, a good man she’s left at home. Josh is the sensible option. And as mad as it made me, she had only one choice. Get in the cab.

Odds and Ends

·         Josef’s office—one of the most beautiful sets on the show—trashed—blown to bits! Where will Josef live now?

·         Mick is Josef’s muscle. But at least, Mick dictates housekeepingJ).

·         What’s Mick going to do with the vial of blood he extracted from Coraline? (I know, the cure.)

·         Male vampires come to Josef for advice about dating human women — check out dialog during poker game.

·         Beautiful aerial shots of LA and some nice lighting effects throughout episode.

·         Excellent scene for Josh elicited much empathy for his character.

·         Josef Konstantin becomes Josef Konstan! What’s up?

·         Bourne Identity-esque fight scenes rocked!

Best Lines:

“Trust me on this one fellas, you get mixed up with mortal girls and it never ends well.” Josef

“You can always turn them not mortal.” Vampire poker player

“It’s too much commitment.” Josef

~

“He’s a vampire.” Richard Whitley

“That’s not funny old man.” Ralf Martan

~

“Tracking says women 18 to 34 find you a little harsh.” Beth’s boss Maureen.

~

Things to Remember:

Every scene between Josef and Mick was intense and layered. That friendship is complicated just like every relationship on this show. Nothing is just on the surface on Moonlight.

Alex took a risk and went for sobbing instead of moist eyes in the hallway scene, and it was tough to watch. Why? It was so raw and personal. Male actors — especially sexy leads — usually avoid big time sobbing. But Alex didn’t and I salute his choice.

Mick and Hopefulness:

The last scene in “Sleeping Beauty” between Mick and Beth was a thrill ride of emotions—going in opposite directions. Beth was filled with doubt about Sarah’s sacrifice and perhaps some empathy for Coraline’s plight (maybe a reach, but…). While Mick, for the first time in the show’s 10 episodes, revealed to Beth some of the man he’d been before he’d met Coraline, before he was turned. As Mick said, “Josef Konstan in love? I guess that proves anything can happen.” And that translated into even Mick St. John can be happy.

One thing about watching Moonlight 1.10, we learned that this show doesn’t believe in making it easy on any of its characters — and that’s one of the things I enjoy about it.

Until next time.

Yours in Vampire solidarity,

Denny S. Bryce/denny_dc

MOONLIGHT: "FLEUR DE LIS"

Moonlight “Fleur de Lis”

Episode: 1.09

Original Air Date: 11/23/2007

Writer: Gabrielle Stanton, Harry Werksman

Director: James Whitmore Jr.

Starring: Alex O’Loughlin, Sophia Myles, Shannyn Sossamon, Jason Dohring

Guest star: Victor Webster, Kathleen Munroe, Richard Cox, Marc Anthony Samuel, Amayla Early, Bryn Early, Andrew Lin

Plot Summary: Beth convinces Mick to keep Morgan (the photographer/‘ringer’ for his ex-wife) occupied while she conducts a more in-depth investigation into Morgan’s past.  Beth wants to prove one way or another that Morgan is Coraline, the vampire who kidnapped Beth when she was a child.

Review: In romance novels, writers have rules about their male hero. They must be loyal, faithful, courageous, have a good sense of humor and great abs (okay, that’s moi interjecting again). They are also determined. I like my hero steadfast in his convictions and capable of falling deeply, single-mindedly, in love, despite his flaws and the obstacles that keep ‘pulling him back in’.  And oh yeah, he has to have a big heart. What does all this have to do with Moonlight’s “Fleur de Lis”, episode 1.09? Sounds a lot like Mick St. John if you ask me.

This episode peeled away another layer from our hero’s mystique. It also answered a question I’m not certain had been asked before—how far will rage take Beth Turner? Cleverly crafted, “Fleur de Lis” used the procedural investigation to provide a reflection of what’s happening in the lives of the main characters. It also plays homage to an Oscar-winning movie from 1974 called “The Conversation” starring Gene Hackman, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.  Check it out if you’ve never seen it. It might make you scream when you connect the dots to “Fleur de Lis”.

To recap: in the investigation portion of the story we have a head of household hiring Mick to check on his trophy wife, a stepmother found to be involved in an affair with a stepson, and other miscommunications that lead to errors in judgment. On the other side, we have Morgan/Coraline, getting to play multiple roles—photographer, forgiving new partner, and a mother dealing with her wayward children (Beth and Mick).

This was a dark episode. The dysfunctional relationship between parents and children and infidelity were examined.  And within this maze, we still have Mick being heroic, but making huge mistakes in judgment. He trusts information at face value until nudged by Beth or Morgan. He also wants to save innocent lives—that pesky heart of his gets him shot in the head (big shriek at that scene). He wasn’t the one who figured out the truth of who wanted to kill whom until it was shoved down his throat. That’s also reflected in what he’s doing with Morgan/Coraline. He wants a cure for vampirism—and might well have slept with Coraline out of sheer joy if Beth hadn’t interrupted.

However, his most evident flaw is his greatest attribute—the big freaking heart. He cares about too many things including Beth, his guilt over killing his wife, his guilt about being a vampire, his guilt about wanting to sleep with Beth, while at the same time loving her (and treating her) as if she was a child. Then he’s also got the other issue. As Josef said, Mick doesn’t always think with his big head – which rings clear in that shower scene.  Went Mick went in there, he wasn’t just searching for the fleur de lis on Morgan’s shoulder. Nor did he know for certain if she was Coraline when he opened the shower door. And he didn’t examine Morgan’s back first. Mick reached for her.

Well, Loyal Viewers, it was a complex episode – well played with a couple of surprises to boot. It even gave us a cliffhanger ending. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait three weeks to find out what happens next (new episode won’t air until December 14).

Things I liked: The surprise opening. Beth Turner letting us know she doesn’t forgive and forget. I was actually stunned by Beth’s rage. She was sure Morgan was Coraline, but she’d heard both Mick and Josef swear she was human. Nonetheless, Beth still staked a most likely human Coraline—no matter what she said about freezing vampires.

The women were the most clear-headed characters in the episode. They made the big decisions – the stepmother shooting Mick, Coraline rushing to Mick’s aid, Beth in about every scene was right on top of her crime investigative journalist game.

Things that made me go, huh? (in a good way): Beth’s in charge of this episode—and it’s more than getting to do the voice over (VO) for first time in the show’s young history. She handled it well, but it was a necessity. No way did we want to be in Mick’s head for this one.

What’s up with Alex’s patches of gray hair in the opening scene with the CEO? It disappeared later.

Stuff hits the fan: Beth’s words to Mick when Morgan slithers down the staircase are “How could you?” The implication is clear. She believes Mick has had “that good sex” with Coraline even after all she’s done to her. “It’s not want you think” he responds. But honestly, it is exactly what she thinks (see best quotes below).

The Funny: There were some good yucks to be had—Hari Krishnas dancing on the sidewalk, Mick stumbling over a baby carriage and the scene outside of Morgan’s apartment earlier in the episode—Mick and Beth dropping down in the car seat? Funny stuff.

Best Quotes:

Mick: “Okay, does this seem healthy to you?”

Beth: “Oh, she was a hooker!”

Beth: “Was the sex good?”

Mick: “You understand that, right?”

Beth: “You were on and off for like 33 years. Was it the sex that kept you coming back?

Mick: “Fidelity wasn’t our problem.” (Speaking to Morgan about his relationship with Coraline).

Mick: “I tend to work alone.”

Morgan: “I mean there has got to be something for Beth to do, right? We could make it a threesome or something.”

Beth: “I would love that, but I’ve got my own investigation going on.”

Morgan: “Hi Beth.”

Whether you allow Mick St. John his flaws or not, you’ve got to admit the writers of Moonlight aren’t playing it safe. I hesitate to give them too much credit so early in a series (they might backslideJ), but if I were writing this show, I’d want it to be as complex and dark and funny and surprising as it appears they are trying to make it. So a big shout out to the writers – please get that new contract signed to your satisfaction and get back to work on Moonlight.

There is too much fun here for it to end.

Yours in Vampire Solidarity

Denny S. Bryce/denny_dc

MOONLIGHT: "12:04 A.M."

Moonlight “12:04 AM”

Episode 1.08

Original Air Date: November 16, 2007

Writer: Jill Blotevogel

Director: Dennis Smith

Starring: Alex O'Loughlin, Sophia Myles, Shannyn Sossamon, Jason Dohring

Guest Star: Sarah Foret, Gideon Emery, Paul Keeley, Mark D. Espinoza, Lorena Segura, Aisha Kabia, Christopher Guyton

Plot Summary: When the followers of cult target a young woman based on their belief that she was responsible for their leader's death by execution, Beth gets Mick to help.

Review: Writers define a mystery as a story that elicits an intellectual response from its audience versus a thriller, which is all about getting to an audience’s raw emotions. So a thriller is like a tragic romance in that way—it gets under your skin.

   In “12:04 AM”, the writers of Moonlight chose to follow the highly anticipated and well-  received episode seven, “The Ringer”, with a scary, bloody, violent thriller that got a couple of squeals from a number of seasoned thrill-ride enthusiasts, including moi. However, it was a risky episode to throw into the mix. Loyal Viewers had been treated to the Mick/Beth relationship growing stronger each week in spite of interference from Josh (Beth’s boyfriend) and Morgan (Coralline), and Josef’s warnings. But what do the writers go and do? They up the tension between our hero and our heroine and leave out the rest of the familiar cast. Now, there’s no one in their way, just Mick and Beth and an evil sadistic killer and a young woman in need of protection, which sounds like our non-couple, except Mick’s not sadistic. (But did you see that bathroom scene, or the vampire priest in the confessional?)

   After some big fights scenes, crashing glass, Beth’s life on the line and a beheading, we are suddenly on a rooftop with Mick and Beth, with nothing standing between them. All of Mick’s secrets have been exposed and the audience knows Beth isn’t thinking about Josh. They’ve vanquished the bad guy and saved the girl, too. But our exhausted hero (he did roll down that hill) still walks away from the woman we know he loves. Why? Beth not only tells him, but shows Mick (more on that later), how deeply she cares about him, vampire or not. That’s a lot of story arc to throw into a thriller. Honestly, I don’t know if it worked, but I enjoyed it.

   I also liked Beth in this one, too. She was heroic (not just the over the top reporter girl), brave, and surprisingly capable of keeping it together. As vamp Donovan said, she wasn’t begging for mercy. She was going to freeze him with a stake in the heart (but spitting in the face works, too).

More things I liked: – I’ve always enjoy the music on Moonlight, but the entire score for this episode was a WOW, especially in the opening execution sequence. (What’s the name of that tune?)

   This episode also had a  few snappy, pop-culture lines, and Hollywood digs. There was great chemistry between Alex and Sophia as well. Not that there hasn’t been in the past, but they had a lot of emotion to deal with in that rooftop scene and they made it work there as well as in the lighter scenes (Me casa, su casa).

Things I didn’t like so much: The scene leading up to the reveal of the DA’s blood-covered office – the screaming executive assistant just didn’t do it for me.

   We could have had a more original look for Donovan. Admittedly he was creepy, but the longhaired blond vamp? Well, been there, done that.

Things that made me go, huh?: Vamp Donovan picking up Mick’s iPhone and immediately knowing how to use it. I mean the man was in prison for 14 years. It came out less than six months ago and it took me at least three days to figure out how to turn it on.

Continuity: The bullet Mick removed from his forearm in the opening sequence was from “Fever” (1.04) when he was shot in the desert. Enjoyed that refer back…

   How come the priest didn’t know Mick was a vampire when he walked into the confessional? He should have smelled vamp Mick.

Best lines:

Mick (voice over): “Sometimes I hate living in Hollywood.”

Mick (voice over): “I thought about being an actor back in the 70s, but I think I really just wanted to be Steve McQueen…there is a difference.”

Mick: I would recommend not going into the office.
Beth: Okay.

Mick: Okay…or upstairs…or through the gray door.

Beth: Wow! This all sounds so Alice in Wonderland.

Mick: Beware of the bottles that say Drink Me.

The Funny: Torture by nose pulling – seriously, folks. That was funny.

Kind of sad, but necessary: No Josef, no Josh, and no Morgan/Coralline.

The Ending or Stepping in Front of the Sun: Some might say it was heavy-handed, and I might agree, except my review is based on the idea that the emotions in “12:04 AM” had no place to go but up, and in the last act, that’s where these characters needed to be. Mick might have been prepared for Beth’s anger, but not her forgiveness. He doesn’t forgive himself for any number of things and only more episodes will show us the depth of Mick St. John’s self-loathing. But it was the intensity of Beth’s forgiveness that forced Mick to walk away. His laugh when she called him her “guardian angel” wasn’t about the funny. Plus, Beth wasn’t just blocking the sun, she stepped in front of it to protect him. What sacrifices will Beth Turner make for Mick St. John? He doesn’t want to have to find out.

But I for one, Loyal Viewers, am looking forward to it!

Until next week, yours in vampire solidarity,

Denny S. Bryce/denny_dc

MOONLIGHT: THE RINGER

Moonlight

Episode 1.7

“The Ringer”

Written by Josh Pate

Directed by Chris Fisher

Guest Starring: Tami Roman, Brian Maillard, Roddy Jessup, Rhomeyn Johnson, Stephen Jackson

Plot Summary: Mick arrives at a fire that is burning down a historic Hollywood hotel and sees a woman he believes is Coraline. But the dead ringer for his X-wife, and the vampire who turned him, is a professional photographer (and Beth’s colleague) who ends up asking Mick to find a thief who has stolen her expensive cameras.

Review: My fascination with vampire stories centers around how long they can exist and what that very long life can do to them emotionally.
   Viewers of Moonlight have been getting hints about the toll vampirism has taken on Mick St. John from the very first episode. But let me stress – we’ve only received hints. Mostly, we’ve seen Mick as a self-assured, intensely private, highly competent and hard to rattle vamp detective. Outside of his pesky blood habit, Mick has been the perfect primetime hero — and his story has been moving at a fast clip.

   In only six episodes, we’ve seen him get close to a human (our girl Beth), bite her, kiss her, and share some of his deepest secrets with her (like he’s a vamp). We also learned that he’s not ready for a loving and/or physical relationship, but he is willing to move, albeit slowly, in that direction. So, even with its obstacles (Beth’s boyfriend and Mick’s trust issues), the Beth/Mick love train has been rolling right along. And guess what? That’s exactly the way the writers wanted it until they went for our respective jugglers (no pun intended) and flipped the script.

   In the “The Ringer,” we learn that Mick St. John is not so together after all. Even before he was turned into a vampire, he was an obsessive guy. Throughout the episode, we see Mick unraveling, teetering on an emotional ledge. Then he jumps off in the final act when he attacks the photographer, Morgan, accusing her of being Coraline (okay, she is Coraline, but he has no proof).

So, in my humble opinion, this dramatic character reveal is at the heart of what makes “The Ringer” the best episode of Moonlight’s young season.

   It has it all: The first real appearance of Shannyn Sossamon as Coraline (aka, Morgan) was a great twist to the highly anticipated arrival of Mick’s sire. I really liked Shannyn in this episode. She stripped our hero bare (metaphorically) and played with his head without mercy. And by the way, Alex O’Loughlin owned Mick St. John in “The Ringer.” It was well acted and Alex had great chemistry with Shannyn, too.

Things I liked a lot: The relationship between Mick and Josef took a leap up on the intensity scale. I loved the scene where Mick and Josef teamed up to search Hank’s house. Also Josef’s growl…Josef jumping on the bed…Josef, period, was excellent.

Things that concerned me (in a good way): Mick and Josef both referring to Mick’s obsession with Coraline as crazy and insane, and that Mick was out of his mind over Coraline, both when he was human and a vamp. How wild can Mick get? Are the writers trying to warn us about something?

Another pearl: The scene in which Mick asks Beth whether she’s had an intense affair — he admits he has, she doesn’t know if she’s had one – yet. He describes his affair with Coraline as a fever, “It’s like an infection. It burns you up. It makes you do things you wouldn’t normally do.” Besides being fabulous dialog, was it also foreshadowing? Will Beth’s relationship with Mick become that kind of affair for her? (Is that why she hid the vile of Black Crystal in Episode 1.6—B.C.?).

Things I didn’t like: Not much, but the opening scene in front of the burning building with all three main characters was awkward. The actors looked uncomfortable and the writing was choppy.

   Beth’s jealousy didn’t click for me in all of her scenes. She’d underplayed that emotion a tad too much for my taste.

Things that were “hot”: Not much, seriously – not even the Body Heat (1981 Lawrence Kasdan thriller with William Hurt and Kathleen Turner) rip off scene was hot to me (chair crashing through window, man “takes” woman in angry sex). It was just another example of Mick St. John under emotional duress (and too much booze). The only heat in this episode was Mick reaching his boiling point.

More good: All flashbacks, all good. They are unique to the vampire genre in that they don’t stop plot or slow down story. They reveal character and motivation, adding context to our main characters’ behavior in the present.

Best Stunt: Mick fighting Hank at pool’s edge. That was Alex (doing his own stunt) arching up, wrapping his legs around Hank, flipping the vampire onto his back, and then pushing Hank’s face into the water. Way to go Mick/Alex!

Worst Stunt: Mick and Josef “flying” up to the rooftop. I saw the harnesses, I swear.

Pop Culture/Historical: Mahalia Jackson’s photo on Mick’s wall near the entrance showing up after the scene mentioning “The Devil’s Music,” a reference to black jazz in the 1920s (and beyond to early rock and roll days). Mahalia was an American gospel singer whose renowned career spanned from the 1920s through the 1960s.

   Can’t wait until next week!

   Yours in “Moonlight” solidarity,

   Denny S. Bryce/denny_dc

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, ALEX O'LOUGHLIN ON "MOONLIGHT," PART 2

Interview Conducted by Ed Gross

In the concluding part of our exclusive interview with Moonlight's Alex O'Loughlin, he discusses the challenges of doing the series on a limited budget, the appeal of playing Mick St. John and shares his feelings about the   relationship between Mick and Beth Turner.

Check out part one of this interview by clicking HERE.

"MOONLIGHT'S" SHANNYN SOSSAMON

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ALEX O'LOUGHLIN, STAR OF "MOONLIGHT"

One of the shows that critics had written off sight unseen this season was CBS' Moonlight, which stars Alex O'Loughlin as vampire private eye Mick St. John and explores his not-quite-requited  relationship with Internet reporter Beth Turner (Sophia Myles). Well the surprise is that Moonlight has done well for itself, even going so far as to win its timeslot last week. What follows is an exclusive interview with Alex O'Loughlin in which he discusses the evolution of Mick St. John. For more on Moonlight, check out our Vampires & Slayers page by clicking HERE.