Series 2, Episode 3-Review (Spoilers)
Jul 23, 2014 21:15:19 GMT -5
Douay-Rheims-Challoner and Paleu like this
Post by Ice Cream Planet on Jul 23, 2014 21:15:19 GMT -5
'We Need To Talk': Episode 3 Recap
I Can Do Stuff, and You Can Keep An Eye Out
After two episodes building the backstory to the Utopia universe, as well as allowing the viewers a deeper peak into the psyches of the characters, Kelly and Munden are back at again. This episode has all the hallmarks of the program: gruesome, casual violence (RIP Joe), an intertwined atmosphere of humor and dread, a twisted plot with ever shifting allegiances, and at least one surprises reveal.
The surprise this time turned out to be Anton is actually Carvel ('Janus… You're all going to die). He's still rambling in foreign languages, but that announcement to Grant suggests his brain isn't completely fried. Similarly, the reveal actually ties quite nicely to the series premiere prequel episode. Many reviewers, even a few commenters here, thought the first episode was more elaborate water-treading, even if it was well-acted and splendidly filmed. However, in addition to the Carvel reveal, it's also fascinating to see Milner's softer side. Now, I'm a staunch believer that none of the worst things a thriller can do is to declaw an interesting villain. However, with Milner, that didn't seem to be the case. I'm not sure whether to give more credit to the writers or to Geraldine James, but her delivery of 'She's all I have left of him' had a stark, poetic quality that gave heart to a great villain while never selling the illusion that she isn't a ruthless killer. It's excellent characterization that ties nicely into the reveal and the overall mythology. Her reaction after hearing Carvel was alive was particularly brilliant.
Speaking of great villains, Lee is the one, at this time, without a backstory, which makes him all the more terrifying, even when he is being humorous. Utopia has always specialized in gory violence, but the protracted death of Joe (Ian's boss) was hard to watch. For a show with a lot of stylization, it's refreshing to see one where the messiness of death isn't sugarcoated. Lee's nonchalance only adds to the horror, and Paul Ready's performance is fantastic. His scenes with Wilson, where each comment was a mercilessly cruel, glib firecracker and Wilson's anger and pain to his remarks was palpable and tense. Lee remarks Wilson could only kill a person if he truly believed in it, so I'll be curious to see if that moment arises (it almost certainly will).
Anyway, back to the greater plot: Pietre and the gang are on the run, and like I mentioned with the shifting allegiances, it's almost impossible to predict what character will respond in what way. In short, it's a big part of what makes Utopia so much fun: the tiniest actions, a bit of kindness or malice, carry the potential to turn into tsunamis. Case in point: it is revealed that Becky once slept with Donaldson (a thought more horrifying that Wilson getting his eye pulled out). Her reconciliation with Ian, followed by Donaldson's spiteful, casual reveal that Becky tried to steal the manuscript from the gang to give to him, sends Ian off to cal Milner and reveal Carvel is still alive. To use a dusty old cliché, the smallest actions can have the biggest consequences. Or, in the words of Pietre, 'there are no sides, just people who help you.'
Speaking of alive, Jessica Hyde, the clever old stick she is, escaped having her head sliced open, by killing a doctor, forcing another doctor to give her a piggyback ride (while jamming a hypodermic needle into his neck), crawling out of a dumpster filled with medical waste. For a woman who superficially looked to have lost her marbles, it's a great joy to see her mind remains as smart and lethal as always. Following her escape, and revealed in the final shot of the episode, is one of the most deliriously entertaining shots I've seen in either series of the program:
We Need To Talk
Grade: A
Miscellaneous Observations:
*Yes, this is my third consecutive 'A' grade. While it would be nice to give a lower mark, simply for objectivity, these three episodes really are some of the very best TV I've seen in 2014 (or any year for that matter)
*I haven't been speaking much about Michael Dugdale, Geoff, or the Russian Flu plot. Despite the reveal that Russian Flu was weaponized and an outbreak is need toe the vaccine can be given across the globe, I'm refraining from commenting too much, because like the first series, I just want to see how all the pieces fall into place.
*That said, Dugdale channeling his own dark side and having Bridget, a fellow scientist and adorable geek, killed to protect the flu outbreak plot was quite grim.
*The cinematography in Utopia remains as gorgeous as ever. If Channel 4 were ever to release a calendar consisting nothing of the candy-colored skies and landscapes depicted in the program, I would buy that shit in a heartbeat!
*The song that was playing when Jessica jumped out of the medical waste truck was 'Bird of Paradise' by Snowy White.
I Can Do Stuff, and You Can Keep An Eye Out
After two episodes building the backstory to the Utopia universe, as well as allowing the viewers a deeper peak into the psyches of the characters, Kelly and Munden are back at again. This episode has all the hallmarks of the program: gruesome, casual violence (RIP Joe), an intertwined atmosphere of humor and dread, a twisted plot with ever shifting allegiances, and at least one surprises reveal.
The surprise this time turned out to be Anton is actually Carvel ('Janus… You're all going to die). He's still rambling in foreign languages, but that announcement to Grant suggests his brain isn't completely fried. Similarly, the reveal actually ties quite nicely to the series premiere prequel episode. Many reviewers, even a few commenters here, thought the first episode was more elaborate water-treading, even if it was well-acted and splendidly filmed. However, in addition to the Carvel reveal, it's also fascinating to see Milner's softer side. Now, I'm a staunch believer that none of the worst things a thriller can do is to declaw an interesting villain. However, with Milner, that didn't seem to be the case. I'm not sure whether to give more credit to the writers or to Geraldine James, but her delivery of 'She's all I have left of him' had a stark, poetic quality that gave heart to a great villain while never selling the illusion that she isn't a ruthless killer. It's excellent characterization that ties nicely into the reveal and the overall mythology. Her reaction after hearing Carvel was alive was particularly brilliant.
Speaking of great villains, Lee is the one, at this time, without a backstory, which makes him all the more terrifying, even when he is being humorous. Utopia has always specialized in gory violence, but the protracted death of Joe (Ian's boss) was hard to watch. For a show with a lot of stylization, it's refreshing to see one where the messiness of death isn't sugarcoated. Lee's nonchalance only adds to the horror, and Paul Ready's performance is fantastic. His scenes with Wilson, where each comment was a mercilessly cruel, glib firecracker and Wilson's anger and pain to his remarks was palpable and tense. Lee remarks Wilson could only kill a person if he truly believed in it, so I'll be curious to see if that moment arises (it almost certainly will).
Anyway, back to the greater plot: Pietre and the gang are on the run, and like I mentioned with the shifting allegiances, it's almost impossible to predict what character will respond in what way. In short, it's a big part of what makes Utopia so much fun: the tiniest actions, a bit of kindness or malice, carry the potential to turn into tsunamis. Case in point: it is revealed that Becky once slept with Donaldson (a thought more horrifying that Wilson getting his eye pulled out). Her reconciliation with Ian, followed by Donaldson's spiteful, casual reveal that Becky tried to steal the manuscript from the gang to give to him, sends Ian off to cal Milner and reveal Carvel is still alive. To use a dusty old cliché, the smallest actions can have the biggest consequences. Or, in the words of Pietre, 'there are no sides, just people who help you.'
Speaking of alive, Jessica Hyde, the clever old stick she is, escaped having her head sliced open, by killing a doctor, forcing another doctor to give her a piggyback ride (while jamming a hypodermic needle into his neck), crawling out of a dumpster filled with medical waste. For a woman who superficially looked to have lost her marbles, it's a great joy to see her mind remains as smart and lethal as always. Following her escape, and revealed in the final shot of the episode, is one of the most deliriously entertaining shots I've seen in either series of the program:
We Need To Talk
Grade: A
Miscellaneous Observations:
*Yes, this is my third consecutive 'A' grade. While it would be nice to give a lower mark, simply for objectivity, these three episodes really are some of the very best TV I've seen in 2014 (or any year for that matter)
*I haven't been speaking much about Michael Dugdale, Geoff, or the Russian Flu plot. Despite the reveal that Russian Flu was weaponized and an outbreak is need toe the vaccine can be given across the globe, I'm refraining from commenting too much, because like the first series, I just want to see how all the pieces fall into place.
*That said, Dugdale channeling his own dark side and having Bridget, a fellow scientist and adorable geek, killed to protect the flu outbreak plot was quite grim.
*The cinematography in Utopia remains as gorgeous as ever. If Channel 4 were ever to release a calendar consisting nothing of the candy-colored skies and landscapes depicted in the program, I would buy that shit in a heartbeat!
*The song that was playing when Jessica jumped out of the medical waste truck was 'Bird of Paradise' by Snowy White.
