Thursday, 15 March 2018

Dynasty Recap 'I Hardly Recognised You'

Image from Dynasty, streamed via Netflix
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.

Monday, 12 March 2018

Bitten Recap 'Family, of Sorts'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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.

Sunday, 11 March 2018

Bitten Recap 'Scavenger's Daughter'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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.  

Saturday, 10 March 2018

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

Image from Britannia, streamed via iFlix
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'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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.

Thursday, 8 March 2018

Bitten Recap 'Hell's Teeth'

Image from Bitten, streamed via Netflix
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. 

Saturday, 3 March 2018

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

Image from Britannia, streamed via iFlix
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.