What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

 

General Hospital

Maxie barges into Sam and Jason’s place. She yammers about them being media moguls now, and asks if there’s anything else she should know about. Sam says she had no idea Jason was buying the company until she was signing the paperwork. Maxie is like, wow. She never thought Jason would willingly enter a corporate boardroom. Sam says it’s exciting; it will be a challenge and a new life for her family. Maxie says Sam has to make the launch monumental, so she brought Sam a dress. But there’s a catch. She needs Sam to do her a favor.

Nathan hunts Amy down at the hospital. She has great news. The rest of the advance came in, so Chet’s expenses are covered. Nathan thinks that’s great, and it’s time to kill Ask Man Landers.

Griff tells Ava that he fought it a long time, but couldn’t deny the truth that the priesthood isn’t for him. She wonders what it means for them. Where do they go from here?

Ned and Olivia-Q go to ELQ. She was hoping when she woke up, that they were still on their honeymoon, but he says time to return to the real world. She has to pick up Leo’s medicine, and he tells her by the time she comes back, everything should be settled.

On the phone, Michael says he doesn’t like it. The proposal is too high risk. Ned knocks on the door, and asks if everything is good. Michael says it’s fine, except his phone is giving him problems. Ned talks about the honeymoon, and a villa in Tuscany. It gave him a chance to do some thinking about his role at ELQ.

Dr. Kline is annoyed with his men. He thought they were professionals, and Patient 6 walked away with their guns and money. Thug #1 says they were caught off guard. Kline says he told him Patient 6 was fast; did they think he was making it up? Thug #2 says they’ll get him next time, but Kline says Patient 6 knows the city better than them, and if he hooks up with Sonny, it’s going to be a whole other game.

Sonny tells Jason the only reason he’s bringing him along is because it’s personal to him and their history. Jason says that’s why he’s going.

Patient 6 waits on the footbridge, and says, come on, Sonny, like he’s a racehorse.

On the phone, Monica asks someone for figures for the board meeting, but she’s having problems hearing them. Olivia runs up and hugs her, and Monica tells her welcome back. Monica says she walked out the door and walked into this, handing Olivia a piece of fake spiderweb. Yeah, I know all about those. I used them once and it took me a year to get them out of the bushes. Olivia says she decorated for Halloween. Monica noticed everything all over the place. She thinks Halloween is fine, but a jack-o’-lantern or two is enough; her living room looks like the great pumpkin exploded there, and Olivia never even consulted her. Olivia says she was doing something nice for Leo and the grandkids. Monica tells her it’s way past time they discussed boundaries.

Ned thinks Michael should cut back on green initiatives. They’ll keep what’s performing well, but they’ve been neglecting other opportunities that could be lucrative. As the VP of new business, he should have an opinion, unless Michael has changed his mind

Griff tells Ava that he doesn’t know, and knows I don’t know isn’t good enough. Ha-ha! The only real commitment he’s ever made is with the priesthood. Ava says it’s probably wise not to jump into a relationship; no hard feelings. He says walking away would be the easy choice, but wants to kiss her. For the love of all that’s holy, there can be a middle ground. How about dating?

Thug #2 says Patient 6 has had no contact with anyone.  Kline hopes he’s right. Patient 6 is dangerous, and they have to stop him.

Patient 6 sees a car coming, and hides. He sees Sonny, and almost reveals himself, but Jason walks onto the bridge behind him.

Griff feels a strong connection to Ava, and she says she feels it too. He tells her that he just failed at the biggest commitment of his life, and walked away from what he thought was his calling. She tells him that she never said anything about a commitment. She’s not asking for promises. He made her feel wanted when she thought she never would again. He says she accused him of mixed signals. She admits she did, saying it made her mad. Friendship aside, maybe they’ve been using each other to feel alive, and shouldn’t expect anything more. She tells him if he wants to kiss her though, don’t stop on her account. He does. Kiss her, not stop.

Michael hasn’t changed his mind. Ned says grandfather groomed him to run the company. Michael has thought about diversification, and Ned says some cuts need to be made. Some of his green projects are bleeding cash. Michael says he’d hate to cut them short before they turn a profit. Ned wants to go over projects, but Michael has a board meeting at GH.

Monica is delighted that Olivia feels comfortable, but since she moved in, she’s fired Cook, planted a vegetable garden on the croquet court, and put brick oven on the terrace. Olivia says she’s trying to make it less stuffy, and is bringing in life so wrong? Monica says Olivia is a guest in her house. Olivia says she’s Ned’s wife; it’s supposed to be her home. Monica understands that Olivia was the matriarch of her family, but at the end of the day, it’s Monica’s house. Olivia says only because Alan gave it to her. She stomps off, and Monica says, the more things change…

Amy tells Nathan that Ask Man Landers is a breakout hit; why shut it down? He says it’s one thing to be ribbed by his fellow cops, but it’s hard on Maxie, and he’s not willing to put his marriage on the line. Amy said they raised enough money. She says if he doesn’t want to do any more public appearances, she can talk to Quinn, but he says his face and image will still be associated with it. They’ve accomplished what they wanted. It’s time to shut the blog down for good.

Sam tries on the dress. Maxie says it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but Derek Wells Media is the parent company of Crimson. She asks if Jason could order Nina to rehire her. Sam explains it’s autonomous from Derek Wells Media, but Maxie says they sign off on budget. No surprise, the dress looks fabulous on Sam, electric blue with black mesh accents. Maxie tells her it’s time to join the couture  crowd, and retire her motorcycle jacket.

Jason tells Sonny that whoever sent the note must have reconsidered. Sonny thinks that could still show up. Sonny’s guard, Troy, discovers Patient 6, and holds a gun on him.

Griff tells Ava that they should stop and not go any further while they’re sorting it out. Ava says he’s right, but they go back to kissing. Then they start taking off their clothes. I guess we all have different ideas of what stopping is.

Olivia asks, how did it go, and Ned says, it went. He knew if he came back, Michael would be his boss, but didn’t know the corporate hierarchy was so entrenched. Michael has grandiose eco-projects that should be cut back, but as CEO, Michael gets the final say. Ned tells her it’s an adjustment, learning how to take orders from his 20-something cousin. He’ll have to make peace with Michael calling the shots. Olivia asks why the hell he’d do that.

Michael asks Monica if he can escort her to the meeting. He admits to missing Tracy, and Monica says she had an inexplicable way about her. They talk about Jason buying the media company, and Michael says he didn’t see that coming. Monica says all she’s ever wanted is for him to be safe and happy, and he’s finally found something stable – even if it’s competition for Michael. The secretary of the board calls Monica, saying the meeting is canceled. She complains about her phone to Michael, and says she’s been getting static all week. Michael makes a puzzled face.

Kline says his client wants updates. He hopes this is the worst they have to deal with. Thug #1 says at least now they have a better idea of what to expect. Kline tells them if Patient 6 reaches Sonny, his client won’t be happy. He’s paying for a service and wants results.

Troy tells Patient 6 to put his hands behind his head. Instead, he grabs Troy’s gun, and the struggle. The gun goes off. Sonny and Jason hear it. Patient 6 holds the gun on Troy.

Sam tells Maxie that she’s not ready to hang up her jacket; it’s symbolic, and reminds her of he old life with Jason. The represents the new one. She says when dust settles, she’ll ask Jason to talk to Nina. Maxie wonders why Sam can’t talk to her, and Sam says Jason is the CEO. Maxie says she never thought she’d hear Sam say that. Sam tells her things change. Maxie says she never thought she’d be stuck being Man Landers’s wife, with women showing up at all hours, and sending obnoxious tweets. She reads some of the tweets to Sam. Sam gets it, saying Maxie is the one used to being in the spotlight. Maxie says she’s going to find a way to embrace it and make it work. She calls Sam a genius.

Amy realizes that as long as Man Landers keeps blogging and writing books, Nathan’s reputation will be on the line, and he’s already done so much for her. Nathan thanks her for understanding, saying some things aren’t meant to last. He tells her to keep writing, but she says it’s really just a hobby; she’s a nurse. He thinks she can be both. It’s her words people are responding to, not his picture. Amy says they made a good team. She’ll call Quinn first thing in the morning and tell her that Ask Man Landers is no more.

Ned says he thought Olivia loved Michael. She does; she’s just projecting. Ned asks projecting what, and she tells him about her run-in with Monica, and that things got scratchy before she left. Monica called her a guest, and it’s frustrating that Alan’s branch of the family gets all the deference. Ned says she’s sounding like his mother, and she says she thought she was channeling Tracy during the argument. Ned says she didn’t remind Monica that Alan – and Olivia says she did. Ned says they could move, but Olivia says the spirit of the home is the Quartermaines, and he’s just as much of one as anyone else in the family. He asks what she’s suggesting, and she says to take back what’s his.

Michael says he’ll take Monica’s phone to the IT guy at ELQ; it’s one of the perks of being the CEO. He looks at the phone with a worried expression.

Patient 6 suggests Troy just pretend he was a guy who was lost. Jason wants Sonny to leave; he’s the target. He tells Sonny to go back to the car, and let him do his job. He walks over to Troy, and asks what happened. Troy says a guy jumped him, but then let him go. He doesn’t understand it.

Maxie tells Sam that she’s going to embrace being Mrs. Ask Man Landers until she gets what she wants. She wishes Sam luck.

Thug #1 says since Patient 6 knows the town better, he might have resources they know nothing about. They need to switch tactics.

Ava and Griff once again bask in the afterglow. Ava tell him to relax, and Griff says it was different than last time. Ava suggests that’s because there was no fear of being turned into a pillar of salt. He says it was a first for him, not violating his vows. She asks how he feels about that, and if it’s still the same if it’s not forbidden. He says it’s better. Ava says it’s getting late, and Griff asks if she’s kicking him out. She says staying over would imply a commitment, and they agreed they’re not doing that. They both just stare straight ahead, and it looks like a scene out of The Graduate.

Nathan sees Maxie at the hospital. She asks why the smile, and he says he may or may not have news. She says she has something she’ll enjoy not telling him either. They leave for dinner as Amy watches.

Griff tells Ava that he’s getting up early to figure out the logistics of his new life. Whether she meant to or not, she made him figure out what he’s been denying for too long. Ava says all she did was call him on his BS, but he says it’s what he needed. He needed to take responsibility for his own decisions. He says he’ll call her, and Ava says, or not. They’re keeping it casual, remember? In the hallway, he leans on the door and ponders. Inside, Ava smiles.

Olivia tells Ned that they need to assert themselves. They’re not going anywhere, and the home is shared. She says it’s the same with Michael and ELQ, but Ned says he’s not in the mood for a corporate coup. Olivia says she’d never wish Michael harm, but he’s young, and might have gotten in over his head. Ned was the last CEO, and has the experience of having observed all the others. Ned says in other words, Michael might have the corner office and title, but he could be the one with the real power.

Sonny tells Jason that whoever was waiting for him, disarmed Troy – why? Maybe killing isn’t the goal, but he can’t figure out what the guy wants. Michael walks in. He tells them about his and Monica’s phones having problems with static, and he brought them to ELQ’s IT guy. There was spy software on them. Sonny asks him to give the phones to Brick, so he can take a look. He tells Michael that someone is targeting him. They want access, but why Monica? Jason says Sonny isn’t the target – he is.

Patient 6 goes back to the footbridge. He remembers seeing Sam and Jason in the apartment, and Ava showing him the press release. He thinks about seeing Jason and Sonny on the footbridge, and ponders. He heaves a sigh. I have never seen a soap character sigh this much.

Kline thinks it will work. He tells the thugs to try and intercept Patient 6 before he makes contact. They need to get ahead of him. They’re going to take someone he cares about, and wait for him to show up.

At the apartment, Sam looks at her jacket. Outside in the hallway, Thug #1 puts on his gloves. Sam puts her jacket on.

On Monday, Griff talks to Anna, Sam has an announcement, and Franco talks to Andre.

Once Upon a Time

Back in the fairytale day, Cinderella looks for Henry in the forest. A man says come with him now, and calls her a murderer. She says she did nothing, and he says that’s what a murderer would say. She fights him, but another one grabs her from behind. She’s saved by another princess who introduces herself as Tiana.

In Seattle, Lucinda misses Lucy. Her friend, Sabine, who looks suspiciously like Tiana, says she’ll get Lucy back. Lucinda wonders if she’s cursed.

Roni lets Henry into the bar for an early meeting. Rogers tells him that Roni is ornery today. She tells them last night she had a customer who works for the building commissioner. He got drunk, and spilled everything, saying he was going to make a lot of money off of Victoria Belfry. Rogers says apparently bribes are happening. Henry says it’s a bad thing, but would make a great story. He has the true mind of a writer. Rogers is going to stake the building commissioner out. Henry asks to tag along, but Rogers tells him to stay behind and do research. Roni says, baby steps.

Lucinda goes to the wishing well with letters to Lucy.

In the enchanted forest, Tiana explains she’s the leader of a resistance group that’s going to overthrow Cinderella’s stepmother and the royal family. Cinderella asks where she was before, and Tiana tells her they’re doing their best and they’ll win. She says Cinderella is good with a sword, and would be an asset. She tells Cinderella that Lady Tremaine planned her father’s murder. She took Cinderella’s home, and now is going to take entire kingdom. Cinderella’s father died standing up to her; don’t let it be in vain. Cinderella tells her get on the motorcycle. She tosses out one of her shoes, telling Tiana it’s for a friend, so he knows where to find her.

In the real world, Victoria approaches Lucinda at the well. She knows about the letters, and Lucy isn’t going to get anything from the well. The demolition for her condos is beginning today. Lucinda says the garden means world to Lucy. Victoria suggests she vacate. Lucinda says she’ll stop her, and Victoria tells the guys to start digging.

Rogers copies some stuff. Weaver tries to give him evidence to catalog, but Rogers says he has to leave for a court date. Instead, he waits on a bench, and watches as Victoria passes something to a dude on the street. Weaver watches too.

Lucinda tells Roni the community garden is in trouble; they’re ripping it up right now. They can’t let this happen. Roni says there was a payoff to the building commissioner. She says if people are paying for permits, they’ll beat Victoria at her own game. She pulls out a humongous book of building codes. She reads something about how a demolition can be stopped if a petition is presented saying it’s for the good of the community.

In ye olde woods, Cinderella hangs up her gown. Cobbler Jeremiah presents her with some boots. She tells Tiana she has shoes and an army, not what? Tiana tells her about Lady Tremaine transporting magic in. She shows Cinderella a picture of a box, saying it’s the only thing  they haven’t identified. By now, Lady Tremaine has learned there’s a resistance, and she’s going to want to fight it. Henry joins them, saying maybe they can help. He tells Cinderella that he has her shoe, and introduces Regina and Hook. Tiana asks if Regina has magic, and Regina says she knows her way around spell. Cinderella thinks maybe they have chance.

In the here and now, Lucy finds Henry at Roni’s. She shows him the petition, and says she knew he’d be back for her mom. He tells her that he’s only helping to keep her grandmother from destroying the garden. He wonders why she’s not more upset, and Lucy says her mother is starting to wake up; it’s happening. She says this isn’t about the condos, but what’s below the surface. Henry asks if she thinks something is buried there, and she says there’s one way to find out.

Lucy thinks something magical is under the garden that her grandmother wants, and she wants to get her hands on it before they do. The workmen hit something, and Lucy says, told you. She runs over to the hole, and jumps in. Henry jumps after her.

While the building commissioner is having a restaurant meal, Rogers sits down across from him. He has some questions about Victoria Belfry, but the commissioner says he doesn’t know anything. Rogers reaches into the commissioner’s pocket, and pulls out an envelope of cash, saying this would suggest otherwise. The commission tells him that he doesn’t want to do this, and suggests he keep half. Rogers arrests him.

Lucy and Henry walk through some tunnels. Henry is concerned about it collapsing. He says it seems magical, but it’s not. They just built part of the city over the old city. Lucy asks why it’s hard to believe. She asks him what happened at the cemetery, and he tells her that his parents weren’t there, neither was the cemetery. Lucy says it never exited; it was just the curse. She says they didn’t die, and he says maybe the graves were moved, or he had the wrong address. Lucy says he’s fooling himself. His family isn’t buried. They’re right there. He just needs to be willing to believe.

Lucinda gets more signatures. People line up to sign.

Way back when, Tiana heads up one group, and Cinderella, the other. They’re leaving in the morning. Henry tells Cinderella it will be okay; they take down bad guys all the time. When things are quiet, Cinderella sneaks out. She sees a sleeping Henry.

Forward in time, Henry tells Lucy if she gets found out, she’ll be sent to boarding school, and he’ll go somewhere a whole lot worse. She tells him that he’s just not seeing it; look closer. He says there’s nothing there, but she says there is. She shows him a piece of glass, telling him it’s from her mom’s slipper when she was Cinderella. Henry asks why Victoria would want a broken piece of a shoe, and Lucy says it’s proof. Maybe her mom will believe. She’s going to show the glass to her, and maybe she’ll believe who she is.

Pedaling back, Cinderella goes to the castle where she sees the box in the picture. It’s a casket. Lady Tremaine says she thought it would lure her in. She supposes it’s time they had a proper talk. Cinderella asks what Lady Tremaine did to her father. Lady Tremaine says she learned the truth, and Cinderella asks why, because of her? She wonders if there will ever be a time that she’s suffered enough for what she did. She tells Lady Tremaine to kill her now. She says she’ll get to that, but she still needs something from her. She opens the coffin. It’s Anastasia, perfectly preserved. Lady Tremaine says she has one breath left. She saved it until she could save her; Cinderella isn’t the only one with magical friends. Anastasia was innocent, with a pure heart, and can only be brought back with one equally pure. Cinderella realizes she means Henry. She’ll get Henry’s heart, and if she doesn’t, every person in the resistance will pay the price. Lady Tremaine waves her wand over Cinderella’s hands, saying to sacrifice that boy or sacrifice everyone.

In today’s Washington state, Victoria sees Lucinda with the petition, and says how quaint. Lucinda says she can sneer, but it’s working. Victoria tells her that she’s about to stop, and shows her the plans for the condo online. Lucinda asks why she should care about her crappy condo, and Victoria says what if one of them was hers? Lucinda balks that Victoria would just give it to her, but Victoria say, why not? This way everyone wins. She tells Lucinda to think of the life she can give Lucy. It’s a peace offering in return for one small thing. She gives Lucinda a lighter, and tells her to burn the petition – for Lucy. Lucinda thinks about it, and sets it on fire. I say, nooo! to the TV. Lucy approaches, and asks why she’s doing this. Lucinda knows it’s hard to understand, but she did it for the two of them. She’s not a hero, just mom, doing the right thing for them; they need to be together. Lucy says if this is what it takes, she doesn’t want to be together. She runs off, and Victoria looks triumphant.

At the station, Rogers sees Weaver shake the building commissioner’s hand. The commissioner leaves, throwing Rogers a look. Rogers asks Weaver what he’s doing, and Weaver says he could ask the same. Is he doing extracurricular work? Rogers says the commissioner is a criminal, and Weaver says Rogers is a liar. He opened a case unofficially; why is he interested? Rogers says he’s a bad guy who works for Victoria Belfry. Weaver tells him dealing with her requires finesse. Rogers says he’s letting a lowlife walk the street. Weaver says yes, and when Victoria makes a call to the lowlife, the lowlife will make one to him.

In not-Seattle, Cinderella looks at the sleeping Henry. She reaches for his heart. Her hand shakes, and she cries. She thinks of something, and goes to the cobbler. She whispers she’s sorry. Regina says she doesn’t want to do that. Cinderella says she wants Henry, but she couldn’t do it. Tiana said this man would give his life for the cause, and it’s to save everyone else. Doesn’t that make it okay? Regina says it took her a long time to learn, but it’s not. She takes spell off of Cinderella’s hands, saying that kind of sacrifice is never okay. She asks what it’s about, and Cinderella says she’s sorry, but can’t tell her.

In modern society, Roni asks Lucinda if she’s all right, and Lucinda tells her not even close. Victoria showed up, and Roni finishes, made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Lucinda says Lucy saw the whole thing. She has the idea Lucinda is a hero who does the right thing, but she’s not; she’s human, and just wants her kid back. How can that be wrong? Roni says it’s not, but this isn’t about Lucy. It never has been. It’s about her. She has to ask herself what she’s willing to give up. The Victoria Belfrys of the world will take everything if you let them.

Henry finds Lucy, who doesn’t want to talk about it. They see a crowd at the garden with wagons of plants. Lucinda thanks them for coming. She knows they signed it once, but she needs them to sign again. She’s sorry she let them down. She let herself down, and put the garden at risk. She tells them the garden isn’t what supposed to be. She wants them to show Victoria Belfry that when you truly believe in something, you can change things. If they believe, sign and plant. They’re not just stopping the condos, they’re making something wonderful together.

In the days of corsets, Regina catches Cinderella trying to jet. She says she shouldn’t be here, but Regina says she’s done worse, and Cinderella would be surprised what people can forgive. Cinderella says it’s not safe to be around her. Regina should take Henry home. Regina asks what’s going on. Cinderella explains that her stepsister, Anastasia, died at fourteen. Lady Tremaine blamed her father, but it was really because of her. Regina says now she wants to raise dead. Cinderella says she won’t stop, and doesn’t care who she hurts. Maybe chasing Cinderella will keep her busy. Regina says there’s a reason for Cinderella’s way of life. She’s punishing herself. Regina tells her the first thing is to forgive herself. Not for tonight, but for whatever happened with her stepsister. Make sure she makes her own wish come true, and not someone else’s.

Tiana tells Hook they have to make a move soon. Henry asks where Cinderella is. Cinderella joins him, and says it’s just Ella now. They can’t storm the manor; it’s a trap. Regina used a magic mirror, and saw Lady Tremaine is waiting for them. She asks if Henry is okay; they have to talk.

In Jet City, Lucinda tells Henry the Storybook Garden is a good start. He says he’ll run it by Lucy when he’s done. He tells them see you around, but Lucy has something for him. She gives him the piece of glass. He thought she was giving it to her mom, but she says her mom is already becoming the hero she’s supposed to be. The prince was really supposed to have it anyway. He tells her he’s not going down that path, but she tells him the family he’s looking for is right in front of him. All he has to do is believe. He looks at Lucy and Lucinda, and ponders.

Henry goes to the cemetery in town. He looks at the piece of glass, and sees the headstone of Abigail Mills.

The coffin is loaded into a freight elevator, and Victoria says good work; she’ll take it from there. She goes underground, and tells someone to come into light so she can see them. She pulls on a chain, and there’s a haggard woman at the end of it. She says it’s been a long time since Victoria visited; her plans must have gone awry. Victoria says to the contrary. She’s begun to dig. They tried to stop it, but it was too late. The woman asks why she would be interested in some thing Victoria dug up. Victoria says not something, someone. The woman says she found her. Victoria says she can help bring her back. The woman asks if she’s ready for what that means, and Victoria says nothing frightens her. The woman says it should, and asks if the boy believes. Victoria says no, but his daughter – the woman says her heart is protected. Victoria says she needs to stop believing willingly by having everything she cares about destroyed. The woman says she’s on her own. Victoria says she’s her prisoner, but the woman says they’re both shackled in their own way, and wonders who the actual prisoner is, and to whom. Victoria says this was a courtesy, but the peace offering is rescinded. The woman says she might destroy the girl and everyone she cares about to get her daughter back, but then she’ll have to deal with her.

Next time, it’s Halloween, Alice on loose determined to destroy a romance, and Rumpel is revealed.

Z Nation

The gang is beating the ever-loving crap out of something. When they’re done, we see a bloody pulp with one recognizable eyeball. Doc wonders why they can’t get peaceful Z’s who crave weed instead of brains. Murphy says they have lost the goons by now. They trek through a massive parking lot with thousands upon thousands of vehicles.

Murphy says Newmerica is looking better and better. If he was a Z – and he is an honorary one – this is one place he’d hide and eat the brains of anyone stupid enough to come along. He tells Roberta that he doesn’t want to be a buzzkill, but any idea where they’re going. She says East, and he asks how far? She tells him that she’s not sure, but for now, as far as they can go. She asks Lucy if she’s picking up anything, and Lucy says everything. The camera pans out on miles of cars.

In a narrative voice, Doc talks about what how they’re going east, back into the apocalypse. All this, on Roberta’s orders. He can’t shake the feeling that it’s all a big mistake. 10K says he already knows this, and Doc says he’s working on his inner monologue. Murphy suggests he try focusing on the inner part.

Murphy asks if Lucy is okay, and she asks why he cares. He says he’s her dad, but she says her dad was blue, he cared and they could feel each other and communicate their thoughts. He says things changed. Zona cured him. She says he wasn’t a disease that needed to be cured, and neither is she.

Every once in a while , we see a zombie trapped in a car. 10K can’t believe they had to leave Addie behind. Doc asks if he’s okay about Red, and he says he doesn’t have much choice. He wanted to keep searching; they’d promised each other they’d leave a sign, but there wasn’t one. He says she probably went to Newmerica. Doc hopes so, and hopes Addie is with her. 10K says he’d like to zombify sob who shot Addie. (D’oh!) He tells Doc don’t move. Doc asks if there’s something in his beard, but 10K says no, there’s something watching. Something big; some kind of critter. He aims his gun, and something starts moving around. He tries to get a bead on it. Doc says, rat Z’s? Large zombie rats begin to chase them, and they run just like you would if a large zombie rat was chasing you. Fast. Doc falls. Lucy is separated from the others, and is suddenly wrapped in an electrified net.

Lucy hollers, and the others look for her. Two soldiers take her away, as she yells for help. Murphy drops down from a camper, but one of the soldiers knocks him down, and trains her gun on him. Roberta beats the snot out of her, but she turns the tables, attacking Roberta, who holds her shield in between them. Roberta sees a transmission tower in the distance, and pushes back, beating the woman to a pulp with the shield. Murphy continues to chase the soldier who has Lucy. Lucy is still yelling and the soldier zaps her, and throws her over his shoulder. Murphy calls them Zona SOBs. He looks into a humongous RV, and walks through, pulling the divider curtains down as he walks. He finds Lucy, and she says, behind you. He and the soldier struggle, and Murphy cracks him over the head with a bottle. Zombies start coming in the other way, and the three of them run out the back door of the camper

Murphy says thanks for the help. He asks 10K if he cares about anyone else. 10K says, them, yeah, but Murphy, not so much. Murphy gripes about Roberta leading them to nowhere, and Doc says team work makes dream work, which is the third time I’ve heard that in TV dialogue in a few weeks. Doc wants to stick together, and they all head through the cars again. Murphy is bleeding, and tastes his own blood. He reacts weirdly for a moment. A guy watches from a trash pile.

Lucy tells them that with regular zombies, she knows their names and parts of their lives, and she can talk to them. With the mad Z’s, it’s just screaming, and she can’t communicate. Roberta asks Murphy why he’s blue – ha-ha! – and he says his daughter is almost as old as he is, they have nothing in common, and he doesn’t know what to say to her. He tells Roberta that Lucy likes her more than she does him. Roberta says, so does everybody.

There’s a sneeze, and everyone says bless you, but they realize it was nobody in the group. Lily says, you in the pile, stand up or be mercied. This guy rises and he’s wearing armor put together with things like license plates and hubcaps. They call him an Ender, and Roberta says it’s better than a mad Z. Enders pop out of everywhere, all costumed in pieces of trash, with one guy having a toilet seat headpiece. There’s a brief battle, and the Enders run off with the guns and water. Lily can see the way out from the top of an RV, and Murphy tells Roberta to lead them to the promised land. Roberta is wading through the cars, and Lucy follows. Doc tells Murphy that the craziest person wins. Murphy says it’s time for a vision intervention.

The group sits in a camper with 10K on the roof. Roberta asks what this is, and Murphy tells her an intervention.  Doc says it’s words of concern from people who love her, and I think of Jeff Vanderhoosis from Intervention.  Murphy says she’s leading them into the bowels of Z hell. They’re going to die painful deaths if they don’t change course. He asks if he has any back-up, and Doc says he believes in her and would follow her anywhere, but she’s making decisions for all of them, and lately – is she trippin? 10K pops in through the skylight, and says Murphy has been acting like the blue messiah, and it’s pissing him off. Murphy tells him this is about Roberta, and he says he has no problem with her, and goes back up. Murphy tells Roberta if she wants them to believe, give them something to believe in. Roberta says she feels it in her gut, and it’s not something she can tell with words. Lucy says it’s real; she feels it when she’s near Roberta. Doc thinks maybe they can help interpret her visions.

She’s alone outside. The sky is on fire. It starts to rain; black, ashen rain. It melts everything it touches. Enders, zombies, and her. it burns. In her vison, she screams, and her face begins to fall off. Roberta says that’s all she’s got. Murphy doesn’t think it’s enough. He raises his hand, and says Newmerica. One by one, the others raise their hands. Lucy says Addie said she would meet her there. Roberta says all right. She can’t expect them to believe something she doesn’t believe herself. Doc says, all of them together, and Murphy says, let’s get the hell out of zombie town. They exit the camper. Roberta cries alone for moment. When she comes out, Lily says they won’t let her down, and gives her back her shield.

Lucy says, single file, eyes on her, due north. Lucy thinks they’re wrong; she can feel it. Roberta says what she feels and knows are two different things, and she knows she’s got to get Lucy to Newmerica Lucy says for Addie.

Lily sees an Ender, but Doc says it’s just a garden variety zombie. Lucy says his name is Alex. He’s covered with artillery, and Doc assumes he stole more than he could carry. Murphy says he wants a weapon too, and 10K gives him a pocketknife. Murphy asks if he’s supposed to whittle them to death, and 10K says it’s not the size that counts. They’re about to take the weapons, but Lily tells them to wait. Alex is boobytrapped. Roberta wants everyone to get back, but Lily refuses, saying she can disarm it; they need the weapons. Although we all wait for the explosion, she’s successful, and says the store’s open. They all choose weapons, and Murphy takes a Dark Shadows-ish cane. Doc asks if he’s killing zombies or doing a soft-shoe.

Lucy thinks she sees something, and a mad Z jumps down. Murphy whacks him with the cane, and the rest shoot him. He nearly gets Roberta, snapping pretty close to her face, but Murphy uses the cane to trip him. Murphy realizes the cane is a sheath for a sword, and does a Zorro thing on the zombie, who literally falls to pieces. Murphy says, that’s more like it. Newmerica, here we come.

Roberta is gone. They all call for her, but she’s taken her shield and is moving toward a real transmission tower outside of the lot. Zombies chase after her. She comes to a fence, and climbs up and over a camper. She grabs an ax out of a mercied zombie’s head, and chops a huge wire. It snaps, and she rides it to the tower like a zipline. The zombies gather at the bottom. Roberta sees her hand as bionic. She says, how can you have déjà vu in a place you’ve never been?

Roberta envisions bats, and the zombies claw at the tower. The others look for her. Doc thinks she ditched them, and they should leave for Newmerica without her. Lily says that’s not bad idea, but 10K says no way. Murphy asks if Lucy can connect with her. She feels something, but it’s just a zombie tied to a car. Lucy asks her name, and realizes she’s a bomb like Alex was. Murphy wants Lucy to walk away, but Lucy tells him to go. He’s only making things worse.

The zombies at the tower hear them arguing, and run in their direction. Lily tells Lucy it’s not worth it, but Lucy won’t let her suffer. Murphy tells them here come locals. Lily looks in the car, and the zombie is attached to an entire board of grenades. If she moves inch, they’re all dead, Doc says, puppies and kittens. Murphy says he’s a father, and stabs the zombie in the head. She starts to fall, and Murphy tries to get Lucy to leave, but she won’t go. He says they’ll blow up together then. Roberta returns, and tells Lucy the zombie is gone, she’s got to go. Everything happens in slow motion. They run, the zombie falls forward, and the pins pull from the grenades. Everything blows up.

There’s smoke everywhere. They all start to get up and call to each other, but it’s hard to hear. Like when a firecracker blows up too close to you. Lucy hugs Murphy at first, then pushes him away. Roberta says she found something. The others walk ahead, and Murphy hangs back, looking sad. He takes out the pocketknife, and cuts into an old scar. He eats a piece of his flesh, and gets a little, strange thrill. Blech.

Back at the RV, Doc asks if these are the antenna she saw in her dream, but Roberta isn’t sure. He asks if it was a woke up from a coma now psychic thing, but she says it’s not that either. Lily tries the radio. Something finally comes through and it’s Kaya from the Skya at Northern Lights! She sends a message out to Citizen Z, saying she has a baby who wants daddy to come home. Kaya says, your family is waiting for you Simon. Doc tries to get through, but it doesn’t work. He says at least they know she’s alive and okay. Roberta wonders about Citizen Z, and 10K says there’s nothing worse than not knowing.

10K slingshots a rat. Doc wonders if the Z rat just said ow, but a guy with a rat puppet stumbles out. They seem to recognize him, but I have no idea who it is. He keels over. Murphy says let’s never do that again. Roberta says she’s going east. She doesn’t have much of a choice, but they do. Doc says he hates splitting up; he goes where she does. They all decide to continue on with her. Murphy says he’ll throw some faith her way – for now.

Doc says, puppies and kittens, and they run.

Next time, a zombie funhouse of death

👻 Superstition, another SyFy effort, with Mario van Peebles at the helm, looks promising. He’s certainly no slouch. It’s centered around a demon-fighting family who owns a funeral home.

Quotes of the Week

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reigns. – Benjamin Franklin

Character – the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life – is the source from which all self-respect springs. – Joan Didion

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. – Amelia Earhart

I don’t have a weapon. Were you threated by my awkward running skills? – character to police in The Funhouse Massacre