Bitten Recap 'Of Sonders Weight'

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Season 3 Episode 5

The rules of secrecy that govern Bitten are absolute, and they are at the heart of why Elena was turned into a werewolf. When Clay brought her to Stonehaven to introduce her to Jeremy, an Alpha who was also a father to Clay, Elena turned for a second before entering the mansion. Just because there was a chance that Elena caught a glimpse of Jeremy as he was changing from wolf to human form, Jeremy planned to kill the love of Clay's life. Clay was so in love with Elena that he turned into a wolf and bit her. Clay could not have known that Elena was going to survive the bite; at that time, no woman has ever survived a werewolf bite. But Elena was dead either way, and Clay's faith was rewarded, to a certain extent. Elena survived. Elena was never comfortable with life inside the Pack, but she lived, long enough to reunite with Clay, long enough to meet her birth father and half siblings. Elena lived, and an emotional Jeremy, angry and heartbroken after killing Morgan out of Alpha duty, left Elena in charge at Stonehaven whilst he went after Roman.

F bomb and a new Queen as Britannia wraps its first series (Recap Series 1 Episode 9)

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(I wrote this almost three weeks ago, sorry, I neglected to post it.)

When I think of an overall theme of Britannia, the best that I could come up with was a profanity laden declaration by Queen Antedia after the Romans turned on her and her army. Yes, there are gods and prophecies and many trippy scenes but I am afraid, after nine episodes, I am going to have to throw in the towel and wait for someone smarter than me to parse all that out. Romans came to Britannia, Romans are terrible in general, and though Romans came up on top on this first series (season, for my American readers) finale, they have not won.

Bitten Recap 'A Quiet Dog'

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Season 3 Episode 4

The best thing about A Quiet Dog is that the mystery that has hovered over Bitten since its inception was finally answered. How did Elena survive the werewolf bite when no other female had before her? According to Konstantin, it was because Elena was the child of parents both descended from werewolf lines. Sasha, her father, was a werewolf. Natalya, her mother, was Roman the Russian Alpha’s daughter.

Bitten Recap 'Right Behind You'

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Season 3 Episode 3

I love mysteries. Since my early teens, I have collected mysteries. I am patient by nature, so I do not mind waiting for resolution on the stories I am interested in. The way Bitten has presented the mystery of the blood feud between Sasha and Roman, however, made this episode, and the previous one, feel light on information. Why did Sasha choose now, after 30 years, to introduce himself and his children to Elena? What was the cause of the blood feud between him and Roman? Why was he so convinced that the Russian Pack would not go after him if he killed Roman?

Bitten Recap 'Our Own Blood'

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Season 3 Episode 2

Since Bitten’s earliest days, Elena has always referred to Jeremy’s Pack as her family. Even when she was dating Philip, and relations between her and the Pack, especially Clay, were not great, they remained her family. With the introduction of Sasha Antonov and his children Alexei and Katia, Elena now had what she has not had for most of her life, blood relations… if what Sasha told Elena was true.

Dynasty Recap 'I Hardly Recognised You'

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Season 1 Episode 1

Though I have been watching Dynasty from the release of its first episode, I went back and forth on whether I was going to recap it. I have several ongoing recapping projects right now, and I intend to add more in the next few months. Though recaps seem the simplest of writing jobs, the truth is, they take time and energy to work on. It was not until a couple of days ago that I decided to finally start covering Dynasty. It is in keeping with my vision of Recap Lab, a small corner of the Internet where shows that are entertaining, but do not receive much mainstream coverage, can find a home. So, here we go.

Bitten Recap 'Family, of Sorts'

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Season 3 Episode 1

Part of my frustration on the early episodes of the second season came from this desire to learn more about the werewolves. The expansion of the story of the werewolves was briefly paused as Bitten pivoted to the introduction of werewolves and exploration of Aleister as the villain. Later in the second season, Bitten eventually melded the stories of the witches and the werewolves well, so that the show went into the second season finale strong. The witch part of the Bitten tale remains, but the third season opener saw the show firmly back on werewolf territory. Bitten explored the nature of the Pack, introduced a more dictator-esque Jeremy, showed more about the lives of werewolves outside the core members of the Pack and started to delve into the history of Elena via a man who claimed to be her father, Sasha Antonov. I have not watched ahead so I do not know if my optimism is misplaced, but I am hopeful that Bitten's third and final season will be a good one.

Bitten Recap 'Fine Temporum'

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Season 2 Episode 10

I am tired. I watched this episode whilst tired. I am now writing this recap even more tired. It is 20 minutes past 10 in the evening, the end of a long day. Usually, at around this time, I still have plenty of energy to write. But real world cares have a way of draining an already exhausted soul. So, though my grade for this finale is a B, it could be higher, or lower, upon rewatch, when hopefully I will not be tired anymore.

Bitten Recap 'Scavenger's Daughter'

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Season 2 Episode 9

Part of me cannot quite believe how much I am enjoying Bitten now, given that I disliked the first few episodes of the second season. But here we are, the werewolf and witch parts of the story have beautifully melded, and Bitten is headed to the second season finale strong. Also, Zachary Cain is alive! Bitten brought back a werewolf who started as a brute but who later evolved into one of the show's most fascinating characters. I am not even mad that I was fooled into thinking Clay killed him in the eighth episode. I am just happy that he is back.  

Four moons later, in Britannia (Recap Series 1 Episode 8)

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One of the reasons why I wish there would be a second series (season, in the US) of Britannia is that, however one may feel about the stories presented, this is a show that is peopled by fascinating characters. Late into the first series, another one was introduced. General Aulus sent for assassins to track down Cait. There was Jhehutamisu Akbolla Ramses, an expert in poisons. There were the brothers Ashur and Aziz Ramand, from the plains of Assyria. Then, there was Hella, known as the Irish Raven, Slayer of Pharaohs, the best of them all, based on her work in this episode.

Bitten Recap 'Dark Arts'

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Season 2 Episode 8

This is the second good episode of Bitten this season, and I am happy I stuck around for this. Savannah needed to go through an Initiation so she could have her talisman and focus her powers, otherwise, she could be dangerous. Aleister as Clay convinced Ruth to perform the Initiation at Stonehaven before they left for home. Aleister's plan was to take Savannah after the Initiation was done. Early on, however, we were already given a hint that Aleister had messed with a force he did not fully understand. When he took over Clay's body, Clay's consciousness was supposed to have been gone. As Ruth explained to a pained Jeremy, a possession was always fatal to the possessed. Yet, Aleister realised that Clay's consciousness remained; it had merely been trapped in his subconscious' version of Stonehaven, where Malcolm and a young Clay roamed the halls. 

Bitten Recap 'Bad Dreams'

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Season 2 Episode 7

Seven episodes in, and I have finally warmed to this season of Bitten. This episode showed a fine melding of the werewolf and witch storylines. This is Bitten's best episode so far this season, and one of its best in its entire run.

Bitten Recap 'Nine Circles'

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Season 2 Episode 6

Because Elena and Savannah had managed to forge a friendship whilst in captivity, Aleister messed with Elena's mind so her stress and desire to escape would not mess with Savannah's concentration. The day of the Undoing had arrived. Aleister gathered his followers and the newly minted full pledged witch Savannah on the grounds of his compound. Elena's blood was nearby, ready to be used to kill all the witches.

Bitten Recap 'Rabbit Hole'

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Season 2 Episode 5

Okay, so I am beginning to become moderately interested in this season. Finally, we have answers regarding Aleister and the Commandment. Witches did not have male children, but this was not biological. Rather, it was a rule. From what Paige told Clay and Nick, male foetuses were aborted before they were born. This was because of a doomsday prophecy that was created at the time the werewolf curse was cast. Ruth explained that the werewolf curse so disrupted the natural balance of magic that the prophecy that a son born to a witch would kill them all was made. What Paige did not know, what Jeremy figured out, was that Aleister, also known as Timothy, was Ruth's son.

Bitten Recap 'Dead Meat'

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Season 2 Episode 4

To be honest, I am now just trying to get through the second season because I am hopeful that the third season will be better (I have not watched ahead). The witch storyline is not really working out as well as I hoped it would, which is bad news since the second season has been devoting most of its time on witchcraft. The good news is that I am finding these episodes more bearable on rewatch.

Bitten Recap 'Hell's Teeth'

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Season 2 Episode 3

The first time I watched this episode weeks ago, I thought it was a C, at best. I have tried to remain optimistic about the second season, but the introduction of the witches has not coincided with Bitten's best work. When I watched the episode a second time, for this recap, the flaws that I saw the first time were still there, but I did not mind them as much. This is something I have noticed about myself, that I tend to view TV shows with a kinder eye upon rewatch. 

All roads lead to Locerly in Britannia (Recap Series 1 Episode 7)

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There are two things that make this slow, moderately trippy episode of Britannia worth watching. The first was the conversation between Brutus and Philo after they sampled the stores of a witch doctor in Locerly. Yes, Brutus finally got Philo to speak, and when he did, he all but shattered Brutus' lifetime beliefs.

Everyone is after Cait in Britannia (Recap Series 1 Episode 6)

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'I don't have a name', young Cait told the newly crowned Queen Kerra. The Solstice where she gave away her name had been interrupted by the Roman attack. Yet, the eyes of the powerful in Britannia were suddenly drawn to this young girl. She was seen by both Aulus and Divis on their trips to the underworld. Kerra believed the runes written on the back of her neck referred to Cait. The girl with a blind father was hope. 

In Britannia, Kerra becomes a believer (Recap Series 1 Episode 5)

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King Pellenor's blind belief in the Druids was perhaps the greatest source of tension between himself and his daughter Kerra. It was this belief, this trust, that led him to allow the wife he loved to be slaughtered, and later, to sacrifice his own life in the altar of the Druids. For King Pellenor, his best life could only be lived if he followed the tenets dictated by the Druids, for they were the ones who knew the will of the gods. Though she claimed she feared the gods, Kerra rebelled against at least some of their dictates, as interpreted by the Druids.

In Britannia, the unknowable will of the gods (Recap Series 1 Episode 4)

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Near the end of the fourth episode of Britannia, the scenes of the sacrifice of King Pellenor were interspersed with Sawyer's desperate plea for the return of his daughter Islene. Both men were, in their own ways, disappointed by their gods. King Pellenor left the mortal world, after asking and not receiving forgiveness from his daughter. Sawyer lived, now companion to his baby girl who tearfully vowed to look after him.

Gods and their earthly forms in Britannia (Recap Series 1 Episode 3)

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Aulus Plautius understood more about Britannia that he initially let on. When he placed that piece of parchment in the mouth of Antonius, then had him buried alive, it was to send a message to the Druids. He could negotiate with the Druids, when other Romans could only fear them. Was it because he had Lokka inside of him? We are rising, he murmured, as an otherness took over his eyes. We are rising. 

In Britannia, Aulus Plautius is Rome (Recap Series 1 Episode 2)

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Aulus has not been in Britannia for long, but he has already spread his tentacles throughout the region he meant to conquer. To get the Cantii's attention, despite King Pellenor's refusal to parley, Aulus ordered the crucifixion of Cantii prisoners. Amongst the men crucified was Cait's father. His life was saved because of the intervention of Kerra, who rode in secret to the Roman camp.

The Romans return in Britannia (Recap Series 1 Episode 1)

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When I watched the Pilot of Britannia for the first time, I could barely get past the trippiness. Still, I was not ready to give up on Britannia, a show that I looked forward to seeing since I first heard of the project some time last year. On second viewing, for this recap, I had sufficiently prepared myself for the trippiness that I could now see more clearly promises of a diverting story.

It was near the end of this episode that Lucius (Hugo Speer) asked General Aulus Plautius (David Morrissey) the question that could become central to this tale. Why did Aulus petition the Emperor for leave to return to Britannia? Yes, it was the land that Julius Caesar himself could not conquer. Did Aulus simply want to accomplish what Julius Caesar could not?

Tiempos de Guerra (Morocco: Love in Times of War) is your next Netflix binge

Set amidst the backdrop of the Rif War, Tiempos de Guerra continues a strong showing by Spanish shows on Netflix. In 1921, a delegation of upper class women nurses led by Duchess Carmen Angoloti (Alicia Borrachero) went to Morocco to establish a Red Cross hospital. It was part PR move by the royal family; no one could say the monarchy did not care about soldiers when aristocrats were sent to tend to them.

I am not ready to give up on Britannia

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The whole time I was watching the Pilot episode of Britannia, I kept wondering what it was trying to convey. Every story has a core, not necessarily a message but a basic story that it wants to tell. Britannia, or at least, the first episode of Britannia, was too weird to simply be a story of the Roman conquest of Britain. An exploration of warring faiths forced into confrontation by a Roman politician determined to conquer what others had feared? 

Cable Girls Recap 'Memories'

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Season 1 Episode 2

When Alba realised Francisco was not going to allow her to get the money from the company safe, she decided to leave her job and push the friends she made, Marga, Carlota, and Angeles, away. Later, when her sense of self preservation overwhelmed her desire not to involve the girls into her complicated life, she reestablished contact with them and told them a sad lie to get them to help her. Alba wanted to use the phone exchange to make it appear as though she had already left the country. The girls were caught by Sara, and the corrupt cop, who was on the other end of the line, figured out that Alba had not left the country after all. 

Cable Girls Recap 'Dreams'

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Season 1 Episode 1

It was 1928 Madrid, and women were at the forefront of a major technological advancement. At a telephone exchange company was an all women team of operators. Alba (Lidia) was a former prostitute, there to rob the safe and free herself from the blackmail of a corrupt policeman. Marga was a small town girl intimidated by life in the big city. Angeles was the best, most experienced telephone operator whose husband wanted her to quit her job and stay at home to take care of their child. Carlota was a wealthy aristocrat rebelling from her parents who refused to allow her to work.