Bitten, “Dead Meat,” was written by Jenn Engels and directed by James Dunnison, who also directed last week’s episode. Engels credits include Seed, Less Than Kind, and Dan for Mayor. The episode features some really beautiful camera work, and we end up with almost as many questions as we get answers in this episode. Once again Laura Vandervoort (Elena) delivers an excellent performance, and newcomer Kiara Glasco as Savannah is terrific.
Both werewolves and witches are now focused on rescuing their people and strike up a very uneasy alliance. Greg Bryk (Jeremy) and Tammy Isbell (Ruth) are great as they circle each other. Jeremy is very clearly trying to detect any weaknesses. However, it’s also clear that Ruth doesn’t trust the werewolves. Meanwhile, Elena and Savannah come to an understanding of trust by the end of the episode when Elena pledges to keep Savannah safe.
There is ample evidence in this episode – as if we needed more! – that Aleister (Sean Rogerson) is clearly the big bad of the season. If capturing, torturing, branding, abducting and hypnotizing a child, and experimenting on people wasn’t enough, we also have kinky witch-ritual sex. Up until sharing that ritual with him, it seemed as if Dr Bauer (Carly Street) might be an ally – though it became increasingly clear that she’s just as crazy as Aleister – maybe more so as she doesn’t even need a brand to obey him.
So, we learn that they are trying to bring about something called the undoing that relies upon witch and werewolf blood being mixed. Ruth uses dark path magic in a desperate attempt to get information from the dead Melanie Lau (Tsu-Ching Yu). After muttering some random memories, she responds to Paige’s (Tommie-Amber Pirie) question about where Savannah is by saying, “She is the one. Her moon blood will purge us of our sins for the undoing.” She also asks for Dr Bauer, giving the wolves a lead to follow. Of course, after having injected herself with Elena’s blood, it’s unlikely that Dr Bauer is going to be alive for long.
Laura Vandervoort is outstanding in this episode as she delivers a very physical performance. Her entire body language this season has been more lupine and animal-like and this is definitely carried through in numerous scenes. I loved her pacing about her cell, checking every inch of it. She definitely embodies being the strongest. Elena resists every attempt to force her to change into her wolf form – because, of course, that is the blood Bauer thinks she needs. All the time that Elena spent learning to control her changes in Toronto certainly stands her in good stead here.
One of the really beautiful shots in the episode is Elena back lit in the cage when they try to force her to change to fight Richard (Brock Johnson). I also loved that even here, Elena refused to give them what they wanted, choosing instead to submit, and again, she gets the body language perfect. Given the chance to escape, Elena is brutal, but her characterization never wavers from the fact that in addition to that brute force, she is still highly intelligent and compassionate. Even after Savannah turns her in, Elena reaches out to her.
Elena and Richard attempt to escape just as a reunited Logan (Michael Xavier) and Rachel (Genelle Williams) are as well. Rachel and Elena are stopped by their brands and Richard’s neck is blown out. Logan gives himself up rather than abandon Rachel again. Aleister then uses Rachel as leverage to force Elena to turn. I thought this was another brilliant scene. Aleister won’t even grant Elena the dignity of being able to change in private, and it’s a horrible violation. Rachel is horrified by the process, but this scene also contains another terrific shot as we see Elena’s wolf form reflected in Rachel’s eye.
I really liked the scene in which Paige contacts Savannah. Again, this is really well done as the two mimic each other’s body language. Paige leans around Ruth to get a better look at Clay (Greyston Holt), and Savannah asks, “Is he a wolf?” Savannah is a difficult teenager to say the least, resisting answering questions until some of her own are answered. I also liked after the connection is broken, Clay wants more answers. Jeremy reassures him both verbally and by laying a hand on his shoulder – the wolves are far more tactile with each other.
Jeremy gently probes Ruth for information even as he helps her paint her hands for the ritual. Interestingly, he tells Nick (Steve Lund) and Clay more than we see him garner from his conversation with Ruth. I thought there might be something brewing between Jeremy and Ruth – I particularly liked him teasing her about needing a broomstick for her ritual – but it seems clear that he has absolutely no intentions that way. He tells the other two that there are at least two dozen more witches in the north east and one other coven that knows of their alliance with the witches. Jeremy cautions that if the Alpha council finds out they’re working with witches, they’re all as good as dead.
Nick defends Ruth, and it’s clear that he is fascinated by Paige. He reassures Paige after her attempt to communicate with Savannah is cut short. Jeremy, however, stresses that they can’t trust them. That they only trust them enough to get their people back and that they never let their guard down. Trust is a strong theme throughout the episode. Ruth tells Paige not to trust the wolves: “We have to tread carefully with them. Their first solution is to kill. How can you ever trust someone like that?”
And it’s trust that Elena talks to Savannah about. Savannah is confused and doesn’t know who to trust – mainly because Aleister is using mind control on her, of course. Elena tells her, “This is how I judge. Who stands with you when you’re at your worst? They’re your family.” Elena knows that it’s a fine line between protections and control – she experienced it first hand last season. She wanted to be away from the pack’s control, but only put others and herself in danger. The pack really was just trying to protect her. It’s nice to see these themes come back and be played out further.
Elena asks Savannah if she can see the moon. She then tells her about when she was in foster care and used to imagine that her new family could see the same moon. That helped her not to feel alone. Werewolves and wolves have long been associated with the moon even though these werewolves aren’t tied to a moon cycle for their change. We learn that Savannah’s coven also holds the moon as special. And this takes us back to the reference of moon blood in relation to Savannah.
I also liked the careful attention to the different kinds of magic. Paige reacts strongly against Ruth using a left hand path of dark magic to summon Melanie from the dead. We see very clearly that Aleister is using the left path because he will only let Savannah use her left hand to move the glass. When Savannah is practicing in her cell, she is trying to move the book with her right hand but only has success when she uses her left. Ruth confirms to Paige that Aleister is a witch, but that means, according to Paige, that some commandment has been broken. Ruth denies any further knowledge, but it’s pretty clear she knows more than she’s letting on. Is she old enough to be his mother? Is he truly a witch or does the symbol he wear give him powers he wouldn’t otherwise have?
This was a really nicely crafted episode. The “dead meat” of the title refers to both the samples in Bauer’s lab and Melanie Lau. It could also be a reference to the dead meat both the wolves and witches will be if their larger orders find out what they are doing. I have to admit that part of me just wants the pack back together. I was a bit surprised that Clay is holding it together so well. I doubt he’ll keep that up if he’s faced with Aleister again. I can’t say that I was totally sold on the rather over-the-top ritual at the end – or Street’s performance – but I suspect she’s about to meet a rather gruesome end. What did you think of the episode? Are you loving the witches? Do you think Savannah is really being friendly with Elena or is she setting her up? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
