uriouser and Curiouser
uriouser and Curiouser
When Nick efforts to stop a robbery without using his "vamp" powers causes a death, he becomes consumed with guilt. Nick's life seems to spin out of control and nothing seems as it is. Things truly become curiouser and curiouser.
This has to be the most bizarre episode of Forever Knight that I've ever seen. Even just halfway through my first viewing I dreaded having to sit down and critique it. It just doesn't fall into any normal sort of timeline. It just doesn't make much sense. For those of you who haven't seen this episode yet, nothing I can say will seem to make any sense.
The first sign that something's wrong is when Nick lifts a glass full of blood and sets down a glass of white wine. Then, LaCroix turns up dead, but "dead" as a mortal would die. Nick starts to look for Janette and Natalie, but they aren't around in their usual habitats.
But even though in this reality he isn't a vampire, he still has some vampiric powers in the very beginning -- like when he forces Amanda to reveal their past, and her certainty that there are no vampires. But as Nick becomes immersed in this alternate reality, he starts acting more human, and losing his seeming invulnerability. This is evident near the end of the episode, when he (for the first time) actually looks at his child, and tenderly kisses Janette on the cheek.
In this new reality, everyone has a radically different role, quite different from what they used to be -- but fairly close. And they still speak truthfully, such as when Janette notes "it's not the shootings that are driving you crazy, Nick; it's the guilt of losing your humanity." Which brings to mind the interesting fact that Janette is the one who really talks to Nick, helps him through, and sets him straight -- not Natalie, who usually has this role.
The murder of LaCroix is obviously a symbol of Nick's attempts to destroy his vampiric side and regain mortality. But when LaCroix tells him that he has to release his guilt, and Nick refuses, LaCroix suddenly says "then I'll do it for you" -- and tries to kill him? I didn't understand this, or why it brought Nick back to reality (once again, you could tell by the wine glass...).
This was actually a really neat episode, even if the references to Alice in Wonderland ran a bit too thick. Just being able to see LaCroix wearing an all-white suit made it worthwhile. And I'm certain that the actors had great fun in taking on each other's roles.
Episode rating (0 to 10): 8
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