"Brain Drain" has it all. A more subtle performance from Denis Forest than in "Cupid's Quiver". More screentime for Jack, and an opportunity for Chris Marshak to do some acting. A touching musical score by Fred Mollin. An antique where the ramifications of its use are at least touched on. Does Jack have the "right" to kill Stewart to get Viola's intellect back? And Stewart points out that he's all Jack has of Viola. The questions are raised but never answered.
Downsides are Carrie Snodgrass, who never quite sells her passion for Jack. The cousins don't have much to do, and the reason for Stewart's obsession with his first victim's research is never explained. Yes, you can figure that Stewart got the obsession alone with the victim's intellect. But we never saw the victim that obsessed, so why is Stewart?
There's also the dumb looking "Chekov's Brain" in a tank. Yes, it eventually pays off. But throughout you wonder about Stewart's obsession with it. And why does it "breathe"? Brains don't breathe, last time I checked.
Those are relatively minor nitpicks, however. The plot rushes along, which does make the Jack/Viola reunion rushed as well. But it also means we don't have much time to question it until after the episode ends. And like I noted, Wiggins' acting sells the relationship. As does his anger and final grief. I'd be concerned for Jack if I were the cousins: he seems suicidal at the end, saying that he hopes to meet Viola in the afterlife.
As noted, Forest gives a much more subtle performance than he does as Eddie in "Cupid's Quiver". He captures the transferred mannerisms of his victims, from Robeson's filing his nails, to Verner's accent, to losing the glasses and acting like Viola after he steals her intellect. The show also returns to the more sympathetic angle on the killer, even if it doesn't play it up. Stewart is a near-retarded man who is treated like garbage by Robeson, so one can sympathize with him killing Robeson. Verner is unlikeable. It's only when Stewart transfers Viola and dumps her in an alleyway that he becomes unsympathetic, because we've grown to like Viola because Jack likes her.
So overall, as I noted, one of the best of the series. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
Downsides are Carrie Snodgrass, who never quite sells her passion for Jack. The cousins don't have much to do, and the reason for Stewart's obsession with his first victim's research is never explained. Yes, you can figure that Stewart got the obsession alone with the victim's intellect. But we never saw the victim that obsessed, so why is Stewart?
There's also the dumb looking "Chekov's Brain" in a tank. Yes, it eventually pays off. But throughout you wonder about Stewart's obsession with it. And why does it "breathe"? Brains don't breathe, last time I checked.
Those are relatively minor nitpicks, however. The plot rushes along, which does make the Jack/Viola reunion rushed as well. But it also means we don't have much time to question it until after the episode ends. And like I noted, Wiggins' acting sells the relationship. As does his anger and final grief. I'd be concerned for Jack if I were the cousins: he seems suicidal at the end, saying that he hopes to meet Viola in the afterlife.
As noted, Forest gives a much more subtle performance than he does as Eddie in "Cupid's Quiver". He captures the transferred mannerisms of his victims, from Robeson's filing his nails, to Verner's accent, to losing the glasses and acting like Viola after he steals her intellect. The show also returns to the more sympathetic angle on the killer, even if it doesn't play it up. Stewart is a near-retarded man who is treated like garbage by Robeson, so one can sympathize with him killing Robeson. Verner is unlikeable. It's only when Stewart transfers Viola and dumps her in an alleyway that he becomes unsympathetic, because we've grown to like Viola because Jack likes her.
So overall, as I noted, one of the best of the series. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?