by Catherine Wignall
iZombie is such a fun show. There. I said it. I’ll probably say it several more times before the season is through. Sure, it’s still learning, but it’s learning fast and has really been building on the strong groundwork laid out in the pilot.
iZombie is such a fun show. There. I said it. I’ll probably say it several more times before the season is through. Sure, it’s still learning, but it’s learning fast and has really been building on the strong groundwork laid out in the pilot.
This week saw Liv & Co. investigating the death of a recluse who had been dead for at least a week before he was found. Poor guy. Babineaux suspects a heart attack, apparently because he believes in stereotypes about gamers, but Ravi thinks otherwise. With uncertainty over the dead man’s death hanging in the air, Liv is forced to take one for the team and slurp down his rotting, liquefied brains. It’s surprisingly hilarious, illustrating the show’s wonderful ability to walk the line between gross-out and humour.
It soon turns out that our recluse was a renowned troll called The SIM Reaper who was hated across the internet. Perhaps this shows how much time I spend online, but it seemed surprising that iZombie felt it needed to explain what internet trolls and MMORPGs are. Doesn’t everybody know? Regardless, exploring the life of an internet troll was a smart move for such a youth-oriented show and led to some fun gaming scenes with Liv and Ravi. Liv was aided by the putrefied brains of the dead hacker, of course, but Ravi was in his element. (Ravi was already charming, but knowing he’s an enthusiastic gamer is just the cherry on top.)
The case of the week was irritating in its use of stereotypes, and yet it allowed for a brave denouement. No, not all gamers and internet-lovers are overweight, aggressive, basement-dwelling fiends, but The SIM Reaper was and he ended up cyberbullying a girl to death. There was nothing sympathetic to be found in his personality, no sad backstory to explain how he got this way. Similarly, the killer showed no remorse. SIM Reaper had bullied the killer’s sister to death, and causing his death (via peanut-coated confetti) was the natural course of action. It’s an interesting choice to make and it’s hard to say whether the black-and-white approach taken to this week’s murderer and victim made the episode better or worse.
It soon turns out that our recluse was a renowned troll called The SIM Reaper who was hated across the internet. Perhaps this shows how much time I spend online, but it seemed surprising that iZombie felt it needed to explain what internet trolls and MMORPGs are. Doesn’t everybody know? Regardless, exploring the life of an internet troll was a smart move for such a youth-oriented show and led to some fun gaming scenes with Liv and Ravi. Liv was aided by the putrefied brains of the dead hacker, of course, but Ravi was in his element. (Ravi was already charming, but knowing he’s an enthusiastic gamer is just the cherry on top.)
The case of the week was irritating in its use of stereotypes, and yet it allowed for a brave denouement. No, not all gamers and internet-lovers are overweight, aggressive, basement-dwelling fiends, but The SIM Reaper was and he ended up cyberbullying a girl to death. There was nothing sympathetic to be found in his personality, no sad backstory to explain how he got this way. Similarly, the killer showed no remorse. SIM Reaper had bullied the killer’s sister to death, and causing his death (via peanut-coated confetti) was the natural course of action. It’s an interesting choice to make and it’s hard to say whether the black-and-white approach taken to this week’s murderer and victim made the episode better or worse.
Meanwhile it looks like we might have a love triangle on our hands. While Liv may not be over Major it does make sense for her to be drawn to a fellow zombie, and Lowell’s the first guy she’s met who is a) a zombie and b) not completely dripping in evil, like a certain zombie called Blaine. However, there’s something about Lowell that suggests he might not be so good as he makes out. Who wants to bet money on him either being in cahoots with Blaine or part of another enemy group Liv is yet to encounter? Frankly, he seems to good to be true.
Speaking of too good to be true, Major continues to be painted as a saint. Seriously, what is with this guy and his messiah complex? He’s gradually becoming more integrated with Liv’s zombie world, and this week inadvertently clues Liv and Ravi into Blaine’s involvement with the Candyman and the missing teens. They’ve been a little slow on the uptake but it’s good to see them realise Blaine really is the evil guy they’ve assumed since they met him. (By the way, that scene with the drill? Not nice.)
A remaining weak point each episode comes in the form of Liv’s family. Since the pilot they’ve barely appeared and were really struggling for relevancy within the story. However, things look like they’re about to change when Liv’s mom runs in to Blaine down at Meat Cute. In need of a new delivery boy (seeing as Jackie ate the last one) Blaine’s advice that Evan should apply suggests Liv’s about to see her brother get in to a whole lot of hot water. Again, it’s been a slow progression, but if Liv’s family are finally being drawn into her zombie world then the show is about to feel a lot more cohesive.
Speaking of too good to be true, Major continues to be painted as a saint. Seriously, what is with this guy and his messiah complex? He’s gradually becoming more integrated with Liv’s zombie world, and this week inadvertently clues Liv and Ravi into Blaine’s involvement with the Candyman and the missing teens. They’ve been a little slow on the uptake but it’s good to see them realise Blaine really is the evil guy they’ve assumed since they met him. (By the way, that scene with the drill? Not nice.)
A remaining weak point each episode comes in the form of Liv’s family. Since the pilot they’ve barely appeared and were really struggling for relevancy within the story. However, things look like they’re about to change when Liv’s mom runs in to Blaine down at Meat Cute. In need of a new delivery boy (seeing as Jackie ate the last one) Blaine’s advice that Evan should apply suggests Liv’s about to see her brother get in to a whole lot of hot water. Again, it’s been a slow progression, but if Liv’s family are finally being drawn into her zombie world then the show is about to feel a lot more cohesive.
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