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Moonlight 1.15: "What's Left Behind" |
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Tuesday, 13 May 2008 |
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By John Keegan
Visit Critical Myth for an archive of John's TV Review archives, with more than 1100 entries.
| Shortly after this episode aired, the tide began to shift for ‘Moonlight”. Instead of an apparent lock on a second season, the series was suddenly facing cancellation or, at best, a 13 episode mid-season run. Sure enough, by the time this review was finally written, the show was cancelled and the reported cliffhanger ending to the season (now series) finale will never be resolved.
This episode continues to display the series’ strengths, exploring the many facets of the unusual relationship between Mick and Beth that has emerged after the disappearance of Coraline and the death of Josh. Beth was always on the edge of committing her life to Mick’s capable hands in every possible way, but now the decision has been straying towards a true love affair. Only the details of a vampire/human relationship, particularly sexuality, seem to be in the way.
Instead of focusing on what Mick and Beth might have, the story focuses on what they cannot have, specifically by exploring what Mick might have had. The kidnapping of a child just happens to involve a man who might be Mick’s biological son, based on his younger human exploits. This revelation is not easy for Mick to digest, because that would mean that he betrayed his best friend and fellow soldier back in the Second World War. To top that off, the kidnapped child would be his own biological grandson.
Even Josef understands the lure of such an improbable legacy. If there is any sure sign that Josef is beginning to get more comfortable with the idea of Mick and Beth circling each other so closely, it’s the conversation between Josef and Mick over children and what Mick can and cannot provide. Mick is forced by his circumstance to consider what the inability to father children might mean, while Beth’s reaction is caught between panic and bemusement.
As much as the episode focuses on Mick and his potential human family, there are stirrings in terms of the growing threat to the vampire world. Ben’s interest in Mick is based on the pictures he received at the end of the previous episode, and it’s not much of a stretch to consider that his job offer to Beth had an ulterior motive. It’s a foregone conclusion that this will factor in the series finale. |
