A little goofy would be an understatement here. Is it still interesting? Sure, but the show is just not working.
2 Reviews
Some More Stuff Happens
Gislef8 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Things picks up in the penultimate episode. Maybe it's because Kevin Tancharoen directs: he's always had an eye for the action set pieces. We get at least a couple: Ana fighting Damion/Basar outside of Victoria's room, and later Basar telekinetically throwing Damion around as Damion tries to exorcise the demonspawn within him.
At least, I think that's what Damion is trying to do. The episode and the production staff throw a lot at us, and I'm still not clear how all the demon abilities work. They can possess people, but also are parasitic creatures that can attach themselves to hosts' spinal columns? I guess, but why they have two different means of possession, one spiritual and one physical, I have no idea.
I guess the parasitical method is a way to bypass the possession mark that they have to inflict on their victims. Maybe this is all explained in the demon backstory. Kthara talks about how her son Basar was out fishing (??) when humans stabbed him with spears. And how she told the "elders" about it but they didn't believe her. So there was a village of the little parasitical demonspawn? Or there are adult demons? Or what? I still feel like I'm missing a big chunk of the puzzle nine out of ten episodes in. There seems to be a whole backstory on demonology that the production staff knows but isn't telling us the viewer.
And why does Damion start to ignite when he tries to exorcise Basar from his spine? I wish the production staff would tell us what the heck Damion's "gifts" are, and at least a bit about how they work. They can always expand on them later. I just wish we had a baseline.
Or maybe they're making it up as they go along.
The performances are all good, even though Alain Uy doesn't have much to do. Ariana Guerra has moments of pluckiness. Even Tom Austen seems to be having fun playing evil rather than morose, most of the time. Sydney Lemmon has some humanity this time around, rather than snarkiness and rage. Lemmon and Wisdom have a good scene together, when Caretaker apologizes to Ana for not being there for her. I like Ana's response, which is more jokingly sarcastic than her usual rage/snarkiness.
We get a big chunk of Victoria as clearly herself, and Elizabeth Marvel is still the MVP of the series. She and June Carryl as Hastings have some nice bonding moments. They're not overplayed, but it's nice that writers Ian Sobel and Matt Morgan finally have the two women acknowledge that they've been through some tough times together and it wasn't easy on either of them.
Overall, "Vessels" is a decent episode. It still seems awfully rushed and superficial. But we do get some development in the various relationships once the show stops to examine them. Ana and Caretaker, Ana and Victoria, Hastings and Caretaker, Hastings and Victoria. Despite the fact it's the penultimate episode, the writers slow it down a bit to give the characters some time to grow.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
At least, I think that's what Damion is trying to do. The episode and the production staff throw a lot at us, and I'm still not clear how all the demon abilities work. They can possess people, but also are parasitic creatures that can attach themselves to hosts' spinal columns? I guess, but why they have two different means of possession, one spiritual and one physical, I have no idea.
I guess the parasitical method is a way to bypass the possession mark that they have to inflict on their victims. Maybe this is all explained in the demon backstory. Kthara talks about how her son Basar was out fishing (??) when humans stabbed him with spears. And how she told the "elders" about it but they didn't believe her. So there was a village of the little parasitical demonspawn? Or there are adult demons? Or what? I still feel like I'm missing a big chunk of the puzzle nine out of ten episodes in. There seems to be a whole backstory on demonology that the production staff knows but isn't telling us the viewer.
And why does Damion start to ignite when he tries to exorcise Basar from his spine? I wish the production staff would tell us what the heck Damion's "gifts" are, and at least a bit about how they work. They can always expand on them later. I just wish we had a baseline.
Or maybe they're making it up as they go along.
The performances are all good, even though Alain Uy doesn't have much to do. Ariana Guerra has moments of pluckiness. Even Tom Austen seems to be having fun playing evil rather than morose, most of the time. Sydney Lemmon has some humanity this time around, rather than snarkiness and rage. Lemmon and Wisdom have a good scene together, when Caretaker apologizes to Ana for not being there for her. I like Ana's response, which is more jokingly sarcastic than her usual rage/snarkiness.
We get a big chunk of Victoria as clearly herself, and Elizabeth Marvel is still the MVP of the series. She and June Carryl as Hastings have some nice bonding moments. They're not overplayed, but it's nice that writers Ian Sobel and Matt Morgan finally have the two women acknowledge that they've been through some tough times together and it wasn't easy on either of them.
Overall, "Vessels" is a decent episode. It still seems awfully rushed and superficial. But we do get some development in the various relationships once the show stops to examine them. Ana and Caretaker, Ana and Victoria, Hastings and Caretaker, Hastings and Victoria. Despite the fact it's the penultimate episode, the writers slow it down a bit to give the characters some time to grow.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
