Being a zombie isn't just about spreading brains onto wheat crackers and waiting for the visions to start. Tonight's episode revealed a friend of Liv's survived the boat party incident, but she's gone zombie in a bad way. Like, the worst way possible. Introducing the idea of the typical zombie into the world this early on is smart. We've seen three different shades of the monster between Blaine, Liv, and Marcy and all of the information is greatly informing Liv's character and our emotions. At the beginning of the season, a zombie existence didn't look so awful but now...The contrast was particularly effective because in the not too distant past we saw Liv feeling optimistic about a permanent cure. Now she not only has to wrestle with the fact that it's possible to become a worse version of herself but that maybe she can cross a point of no return. All of these facets combine to create an enticing mix that enriches the series and makes watching Liv's development more fascinating.
And then there's all the guilt from killing Marcy -- it adds another layer as well. With Ravi's life in danger, I don't blame Liv for using lethal force. She didn't have much of a choice. However, I was surprised by Ravi's quick change of heart. One minute he was chiding her and reminding her of the sociopath in her brain and then he was just thankful for being saved. He's a curious scientist who saw Liv go full zombie for the first time, his life was threatened -- I get it -- but he should have a stern word or two for Liv.
iZombie: "The Exterminator" Photo Gallery:
The personality Liv received with her latest brain entree obviously contributed to her behavior towards Marcy and Ravi, and again, I'm happy to see they brought in such a different temperament already if for no other reason than to show off Rose McIver's range. This role is allowing her to stretch her legs, and she's proving herself to be quite versatile. She brought the disturbing to the table and gave Liv an almost tangible air of detachment and coldness. I'm now looking forward to seeing what kind of brain Liv gets every week because I want to see McIver wrap her talents around it.McIver's dexterity at melding others with Liv contributes to selling the case of the week format. Her chemistry with Malcolm Goodwin doesn't hurt either. Clive is the sort of detective every cop show with supernatural elements should have. He strikes an enjoyable balance between skeptic and believer, and every time he gives Liv a disbelieving look, it's priceless.Another benefit of Liv using her ability to investigate crimes and pursuing a case each week is seeing the life lessons she eventually comes to. Her inner monologues reveal she's learning more about herself directly because of others (and their brains) and she's living in a more empowered way despite being undead. On the surface, the twist sounds so obvious it doesn't seem like it should work, but it brings each episode home in a way that resonates. Plus, the moral of the story monologue scratches my Veronica Mars itch.