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Tuesday, 06 November 2007 |
By John Keegan
Visit Critical Myth for an archive of John's TV Review archives, with more than 1100 entries.
Each new episode of “Moonlight” adds a new layer to the storytelling and the core relationship, and this is certainly true for this installment. The writers are not taking their time getting to the point, and the series is all the better for it. Once it might have seemed logical for Beth to be ignorant of Mick’s true nature; now, it’s impossible to comprehend how the story could have worked had that been the case.
This episode introduces Black Crystal, a substance derived from silver-laden vampire blood. It gives humans the ability to experience the power of a vampire with the additional benefit of full human sense and reaction. This is an interesting conception because it pushes Beth over a very distinct line. Before taking Black Crystal, Beth was attracted to Mick because he was different and unknowable.
That has changed, and in a fundamental way. Black Crystal is a trap, a ruse for humans anxious for supernatural experience. The users believe that they are experiencing the world of the vampire, but as Mick notes, none of the negatives are present. The humans feel so powerful and sensual that they want to feel that way forever, incapable of seeing the negatives. With just a taste or two, Beth was begging Mick to take her and turn her. If it hadn’t been Mick, a creature of much restraint, she would have found her wish granted (or worse, she would have been a late-night snack.)
Beth’s decision to keep the Black Crystal represents her ongoing temptation. She’s stepped into the supernatural world in a big way, and a part of her could never give it up and return to a “normal” life. She’s likely to hide it from Mick, and that could be dangerous. For one thing, she could slide into the underground under its influence, endangering her life on several fronts. For another, she could become addicted and risk overdose. That Black Crystal is essentially a plot bomb waiting to explode.
Considering how much of the story was dependent on Beth and her character turn, the success of the episode was dependent on Sophia Myles. Myles has always been attractive, but she pours on the sensuality in this episode. The chemistry between Mick and Beth was already evident; this twist takes it to the next level. That attraction is building to a crossroads, and it should be interesting to see how it evolves.
This is yet another strong episode, and the show continues to result in strong demographic numbers. Word of mouth is strong, but the advent of the writers’ strike is cause for concern. This series needs to be on the air, gathering momentum, if it wants to have any chance to succeed, and the writers’ strike makes that difficult (if not impossible). I fear that this show might have overcome its early struggles only to find itself a victim of circumstance. |
