![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annavereThere's a careful balance this show needs to maintain between the vampire/immortal aspect (as Nick works to reclaim his humanity and redeem himself) and the police procedural aspect (in which Nick sometimes saves the night by flying across Toronto's traffic, but is otherwise just a cop). It's impressive how well the writing manages. But I like it best when the writers throw police procedural caution to the wind and really lean into the premise.
'Dying for Fame' was a bonkers episode in which Nick gets carried away into delusions of MTV horror while over-identifying with a shambling, alcoholic wreck trapped by her own fame. Unlike Angel's later 'Eternity,' which adopted a deeply cynical tone, this is played for idealism. Nick can't free himself yet, but he can break the machine trapping Rebecca and release her into the wilds.
It's also a great snapshot of the era's musical moment, as this episode is absolutely wedded to hair metal controversy, and Schanke is mocked as over the hill for his fondness for BTO - and I'm laughing at the lot, because Nirvana is now a major thing and is killing the careers of almost every hair metal act standing. Rebecca got out just in time.
Then, and even better, 'Only the Lonely.' In which Natalie takes center stage, and I finally care about the Nick/Natalie ship, and I finally meet Natalie's darling cat! This one had a high level of suspense, and a high level of WTF. I actually like Natalie's coworker, but what kind of coworker gives lingerie as a present? That is the sole reserve of intimate partners! I full-body shuddered! And this episode has a crazy rapist-murderer running around!
Honestly, this episode just made me feel so bad for Natalie (again; her last limelight episode was no picnic either). She does work too hard. Her days off get interrupted. The guy she has devoted what little spare time she has to curing barely notices her. Her coworkers are inappropriate. She barely has time to shop for cat food. And the one guy who shows an interest is a total psycho.
Nick and Natalie have great arguments where I can see both their perspectives and Natalie doesn't automatically come across as wrong. They should argue more. It's fun.
Also, highly appreciated the flashbacks to Natalie meeting Nick (where else but her examining table). He tried to put the mind whammy on her and it failed. She is too strong willed. There's also an implication that the victim must want to forget, so that's interesting. Really good episode.
Could have done without the trip and fall, though.
'Dying for Fame' was a bonkers episode in which Nick gets carried away into delusions of MTV horror while over-identifying with a shambling, alcoholic wreck trapped by her own fame. Unlike Angel's later 'Eternity,' which adopted a deeply cynical tone, this is played for idealism. Nick can't free himself yet, but he can break the machine trapping Rebecca and release her into the wilds.
It's also a great snapshot of the era's musical moment, as this episode is absolutely wedded to hair metal controversy, and Schanke is mocked as over the hill for his fondness for BTO - and I'm laughing at the lot, because Nirvana is now a major thing and is killing the careers of almost every hair metal act standing. Rebecca got out just in time.
Then, and even better, 'Only the Lonely.' In which Natalie takes center stage, and I finally care about the Nick/Natalie ship, and I finally meet Natalie's darling cat! This one had a high level of suspense, and a high level of WTF. I actually like Natalie's coworker, but what kind of coworker gives lingerie as a present? That is the sole reserve of intimate partners! I full-body shuddered! And this episode has a crazy rapist-murderer running around!
Honestly, this episode just made me feel so bad for Natalie (again; her last limelight episode was no picnic either). She does work too hard. Her days off get interrupted. The guy she has devoted what little spare time she has to curing barely notices her. Her coworkers are inappropriate. She barely has time to shop for cat food. And the one guy who shows an interest is a total psycho.
Nick and Natalie have great arguments where I can see both their perspectives and Natalie doesn't automatically come across as wrong. They should argue more. It's fun.
Also, highly appreciated the flashbacks to Natalie meeting Nick (where else but her examining table). He tried to put the mind whammy on her and it failed. She is too strong willed. There's also an implication that the victim must want to forget, so that's interesting. Really good episode.
Could have done without the trip and fall, though.
DFF
Date: 2026-02-16 04:03 pm (UTC)In many ways and most of the time, it is truly my one top favorite episode ever, period, though in some moods I will pivot to "Last Act," because LA is simply much better constructed and on point as an encapsulation of the whole series, and has flashbacks. "Dying For Fame" is held back from perfection, imo, by some oddly out-of-sequence "filler"/"establishing" shots and a major inexcusably unresolved point (whhhhhhhy did the obsessed guy shoot Wendy and the backup dancers; did he know it was Wendy or not; etc.).
DFF is ambitious and weird and there are exactly three other episodes in this particular sub-genre of FK episode structure -- inside Nick's mind -- two of which are beloved by different parts of the fandom, one of which won Canada's equivalent of an Emmy. DFF is far and away my own favorite of them, perhaps because it is the most idealistic -- or, rather, the least cynical.
DFF says Nick may be only halfway to his own freedom, but he is halfway; he has come a long way, and he can and will continue following this road. And, along the way, he will free others when he can. ♥
Re: DFF
Date: 2026-02-17 12:52 pm (UTC)The explanation for the crime was a bit perfunctory! Since the crime of the week was not the key focus, I didn't mind the lack of explanation too much. I think it was a coincidence, maybe? That the crazed fan was there to kill Rebecca, but happened to arrive the night of the coup? And possibly it was a demonstration that the crazed fan didn't really "see" Rebecca, and literalized the metaphor that she was a puppet of the music industry and her own fame. Like how her onstage breakdown was just part of the act, seguing into the next song. The fans didn't know her at all. She could lip synch, she could be performed by someone else, and they would never notice, because she was just a fantasy to them.
I like how experimental this was, and how it did the unexpected, and used the MTV format to explore Nick's self image. And the spinning fist pump at the end was adorable. I like it when Nick is happy and moving forward.
OtLo
Date: 2026-02-16 04:18 pm (UTC)Natalie's resistance to Nick's attempt at vampire hypnotism led to a lot of fanon about the nature of FK vampire hypnotism. In reality, the show is cavalier about whatever works for a given episode, and then the fandom back-builds it into semi-coherent canon.
Agreed, a well-written Nick and Natalie argument is a joy!
Re: OtLo
Date: 2026-02-17 01:01 pm (UTC)I will look forward to seeing more of Grace on the show (and eventually in fanfic).