Beauty and the Beast - 2.20 - Ever After - Review: We are who we are.
Hey Beasties! Lilith here with a review on the latest episode of Beauty and the Beast, episode 2x20: Ever After. I’m afraid to say the honeymoon is over. This little Beastie is not happy with a majority of the events that occurred in this week’s episode. I do hate when the promos construct a better ideal for the episode than the episode does for itself. But I do have quite a few positive things to say about this episode as well. So, let’s just jump right in…
Honestly, I don't feel like a whole lot happened in this episode to move the story forward. I hope I am not alone when I say that these two past episodes have felt a little like filler when you stripped them down to the bare essentials. That is alarming and quite disappointing, considering we only have two more episodes left until a very long hiatus. Let me see, what did actually happen? Team Beastie now knows Gabe killed Watson the Witness, Gabe pulled the 'if I go down you all go down with me' card and we learned that Cat just isn't ready for a life in the 'burbs just yet.
This episode marked another new writer into the BATB family. Her name is Vanessa Rojas. I think she did a fantastic job with the pacing and exploring the budding relationship between JT and Tess. Which of course was very much appreciated. But I do feel she presented some out of character elements for both Cat and Vincent as well. While the moments were cute they fell short of my expectations (I guess I should stop reading fan fiction, LOL). But all-in-all I think this was a wonderful first outing. I felt that Ms. Rojas got what Beasties want for VinCat eventually but also showcased why it is much TOO soon for them to be even thinking of having a happy ending such as the one presented in this episode right now.
Steven A. Adelson absolutely knocked it out of the park this time around. This episode was breathtakingly beautiful. Mr. Adelson definitely made all the right moves on every front. He knew when to zoom, when to pan and when to give a wide shot to take it all in. Both the interior and exterior shots were wonderfully lit. The closeup shots were used sparingly and effectively and I feel like this is the best performance between JT and Tess since they've officially become a pair to date. I think Mr. Adelson really pulled some great performances from both Austin and Nina. If you appreciate the way he captured this episode be sure to let him know on Twitter via @adelsadelson.
The themes that I found to be most prevalent in this episode were 'you can't change who you are' and 'normal is relative'. I really loved that took back to season one and cooked up some classic recurring elements such as a wall of weird (this time it belonged to JT) and newspaper articles. They also revisited the 'Big Brother' element. I also love that we are seeing so much of the old Cat and Vincent who always tried to do what was right when they could. They make each other better people and are stronger together than they are apart.
While it was a pleasure to see Agent Knox once more, I'm just going to go ahead say it was a criminal underuse of Anthony Ruivivar. I like that he seems on the up and up and is doing his best to help Cat and Vincent. I also like that he seems frustrated with Cat and Vincent and their seemingly carelessness but also I feel like he admires them for trying to what is right under hellacious circumstances.
Let’s just address the elephant in the room that is Gabe, real quick so we can move on to happier topics. I feel that Gabe is taking up way too much time. Why can't we just throw him in jail? If they want to bring him back next season have him break out (and if they can swing it have him bring Papa Reynolds along for the ride as well). Right now we need to be focusing on Cat and Vincent rebuilding their relationship and giving us, the viewing audience, sometime to see them happy before this super long hiatus we as Beasties are about to embark on. I don't know why they keep letting Gabe get the upperhand. All I do know is that I want that character gone. I don't care how but it better be soon.
I don't know about you but I was absolutely thrilled to have JT Forbes back on my screen. He was sorely missed last episode and very much appreciated and showcased in this one. I love that we got to explore another facet of JT's personality, 'the doubting Thomas'. JT loves Vincent so much and puts too much pressure on himself. It just heartbreakingly endearing. I do wish we could have gotten a scene between just those two this episode but the scenes between JT and Tess more than made up for it. I'm really liking the dynamics between JT and Tess. We are getting to explore a lot of new territory with both of the characters.
Speaking of Tess... OMG! Vanessa Rojas knocked it out of the park when it came to writing for Tess. She allowed for the character to show a softer side. Tess was so nurturing and reassuring. It was a welcomed change from the tough girl act that is trying to hide all her vulnerabilities. I think she understands being on the sidelines and in someone else's shadow very well. I love storytelling that shows rather than tells. Nina handle the material very well and really added a nice touch to this new side of the character we got to see.
I don't know how to feel about Cat in this episode. Cat has always been presented in this series as a little wishy-washy not to mention self-centered and self-serving. But it has always been balanced by being such a kick butt chick, her being loyal to a fault when it comes to Vincent, being good at her job and always wanting to right a wrong. But all these things collided in a manner that rubbed me the wrong during this episode. Cat keeps saying she will do anything to keep Vincent safe. Just a few episodes ago she was willing to let him walk away from her and sacrifice her happiness for his freedom and safety. But it came across to me that Cat was actively trying to sabotage the situation from the moment they arrived in suburbia. I feel like she blew her cover on purpose. Maybe not consciously but definitely subconsciously. I've always felt like Cat was an drama junkie and loves what a relationship with a wanted Vincent provides. Cat wants to have her cake and eat it too. She very much wanted normal last season and was the happiest we'd ever seen her to date during 'Date Night'. They were ready to leave it all behind less than a year ago and I'd kill to get some of that brief happiness back. That's just my two cents though.
Vincent has been slowly fading into the background and becoming more of a plot device than an actual character lately. I do love Jay Ryan's performance from week to week but I just wish he had more to do than save the damsel in distress. I really do appreciate how far they've brought Vincent in such a little amount of time. I'm fascinated with the approach they've taken by making Vincent funnier, more mellow, more pragmatic and definitely more of a fighter. Deep down somewhere season 1 Vincent is emerging slowly but surely. I'm very conflicted about Vincent. He did kill Kurt Windsor and the way I see it wasn't exactly self-defense but it is still a very sympathetic situation. I want Vincent to come clean to world and beat Gabe to the punch. I think it's the only way out of this mess.
Grade: B-
Awards
Character of the Night
• Tess
Best Character Interactions
• JT and Tess
Most Memorable Moment
• JT calls Tess
his girl.
Line of the Night
• Cat: Can we go home now?
Scene of the Night
• Cat and Vincent return to the streets of NYC (where they belong) and talk about what their normal is.
That Awkward Moment
• That awkward moment when Cat was channeling her inner Disney princess by communing with a bird. I thought it was cute and clever.
Classic or Cliché?
• JT utters 'I'm walking here,' as he gets splashed by a passing taxicab.
The Nail on the Head Award
• Vincent (to Cat): No! You like looking for trouble.
Miscellaneous
Spotted: Captain Ward actually contributing to the functioning of the 125th precinct
I Call Shenanigans - If it isn't revealed in the next episode that Gabe got a tail put on him after he left the precinct, I'm going to need the writers to stop trying so hard with the procedural and cop elements because at this point it is getting ridiculous.
That Looks Familiar - Well, you can tell me that BATB takes place in NYC all you want but you're going to have to try harder to conceal Toronto... I mean come on Urban Eatery is on full display. If I'm not mistaken I pretty sure that was Eaton Centre. Threw me out of the episode for a moment. Not to mention it made me hungry, LOL.
Style Spotlight - I loved EVERYONE'S Jackets/Coats. Send help! This is getting out hand. It's 90 degrees in NYC and I'm scouring the internet for outerwear. Not to mention I just ordered Cat's orange and black flannel shirt from two episodes ago.
Easter Egg - They made a Batman reference! As I mentioned in an earlier review, Anthony Ruivivar voiced the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman in the animated TV show '
Beware The Batman'.
Top Three Tweets
Shameless Plugs and Self-Promotion
BATB Podcast (now with improved sound quality)
BATB Podcast Fan Page
BATB Podcast Email
What did you think of this episode? How does it stack up against the rest of the episodes from this season? Is this reviewer off her rocker? As always, feel free to sound off in the comments. You know I love you for reading…
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