iZombie: Recap of Episode 1.09 – Patriot Brains; First Look at Episode 1.10 – Mr. Berserk

Matt Molgaard |

May 14, 2015

Last week on “iZombie” we learned that Lowell has been buying his brains from Blaine. Things pick up immediately from that point in this week’s Episode 1.09, “Patriot Brains,” and Liv’s head is spinning, especially as she passes her fellow zombie while departing her potential boyfriend’s place.

Even more interesting is the fact that Liv spots Julien outside, where he stands next to a car loaded with brain packages. The zombies are clearly spreading, and it has our heroine struggling to find a resolution. The vision she has of Julien in action (she ate some of Lowell’s leftovers, which have opened up the vision doors), kidnapping and helping murder Jerome in order to harvest his thinker, also leaves her quite disconcerted.

We switch gears and see Liv head into the morgue, where Ravi is monitoring himself 12 hours after being bitten by a zombified rat. So far, he looks okay. Liv lets her boss know that she’s now aware of Blaine’s actions and knows exactly where all the missing local teens have gone. No more questions about the mysterious Candyman. Ravi suggests developing a plan of attack before going after Blaine while Liv expresses her regret over not believing in Major’s theory, which is obviously spot on.

Once more we change directions (this episode is exhausting) and focus on a group of guys busy paintballing in the woods. Paintballing, that is, until they discover that one of the fellows participating has been killed. Let’s just say it doesn’t appear as though the man had a sudden heart attack. The guys freak out, book, and we now know this week’s case of focus.

Liv heads back to Lowell’s place to question him about Blaine. She wants to know where she can find him, and she wants to know why he’s been less than honest with her. Lowell claims he doesn’t know what the hell is going on, and he doesn’t hand over Blaine’s contact information either. He does, however, declare his love for the woman… given the situation, she isn’t able to reciprocate.

Blaine’s making plans to meet with a local club owner about a potential business endeavor, Ravi and Liv arrive on the scene in the woods (where they learn that the deceased was an accomplished sniper in the military), and of course, Clive is again in the mix of an astounding homicide case. There’s a lead that develops on the scene, and before we know it, Clive and Liv are pursuing the murdered man’s ex-wife and her new husband, who both have clear motive to murder him (Liv also has a vision of the victim – after consuming his brains of course – attacking his ex-wife’s new husband).

The investigation continues onward. Clive and Liv are digging as deep as they can, which leads to another vision for Liv. This time she sees the victim’s brother fooling around with the victim’s sniper rifle. What’s the vision mean? Could the brother be the one responsible? He looked awfully down and out earlier in the episode when he learned of his brother’s passing. He seems an improbable candidate, but when it comes to “iZombie,” the improbable is often the answer. An interrogation also seems to rule him out, though, as he appears to have an agenda: He wants to kill the one responsible for killing his brother.

Liv and Lowell mend fences. He arrives at her door and expresses remorse over consuming the brains of murdered teenagers. It’s an emotional sequence and it looks to be obvious that Lowell’s feelings are genuine. Liv’s heart softens before our eyes, and the scene – which is quite relevant, as she has been alone and empty for too long and really does need love in her life – proves to be memorable. We’re rooting for Lowell; he seems to be a decent individual. And on that note the scene ends with the two locked in embrace.

Lowell and Liv make love. And then the man finally shares Blaine’s information with her. She decides to kill Blaine and put an end to the slaughtering of children. Lowell phones Blaine and arranges to have him show up at his place in an hour to deliver some goods and check out some new tunes. Liv plans to be waiting.

Before we cross that bridge, we get a compelling look at Ravi in the morgue sniffing brains with a look of lust in his eyes. He claims he’s still okay after Liv catches him, but we’ve now got very serious reason to question the validity of his health and rejection of the zombie virus. Liv isn’t happy to know the man was bitten by the infected rat yet failed to inform her. She clearly cares about him, and her fate is not one she hopes to see Ravi forced to face.

A new lead in the murder case brings us right back to the victim’s ex-wife’s husband. It seems his company is working with drones, drones that can fire weapons from remote distances. This guy now looks certifiably suspect. There’s also evidence on the man’s laptop that implicates him. Just like that we know who the killer is. In fact, he doesn’t even attempt to deny it; he attempts to run, which doesn’t pan out for him, although it is quite comical.

The episode is winding down, and Julien and Major are once more brought together. All of Major’s snooping has brought the man directly to his door. Major’s blindsided when he comes home, and Julien prepares to inflict some very real damage to him before a commercial break leaves us hanging, anxious to see the shot play out. And when the episode returns, we see Major turn the tide, escaping the muscle-head’s fury. Major makes a break for his room, where he keeps his gun, and manages to put three slugs in him, bringing an end to the villainous bastard… maybe.

We then move to Blaine on the rooftop of Lowell’s place, chatting with the man. From a nearby rooftop Liv takes aim with a sniper rifle. But her morals move into the foreground, and she cannot bring herself to shoot the vile creature. While this goes down, Major gets in contact with Clive to come take care of the dead intruder in his home. But the dead intruder is no longer there. It seems those three slugs didn’t do the job, as not a single one made contact with Julien’s brain. Clive is thinking the man is crazy. We know otherwise.

The episode closes on a very dramatic note. We’ve already covered the fact that Liv couldn’t kill Blaine. But Lowell, while still on the rooftop with him, has a vision that fuels his anger. He attempts to do the job that Liv couldn’t make happen, but Blaine is prepared. Even worse, after being stabbed by the reclusive yet charming musician, he draws a firearm of his own, and while it happens off screen, he shoots Lowell, presumably dead – for good.

“Patriot Brains” offers a few major surprises. We may have seen the last of a character that has proven to be polarizing while endearing. Major’s knowledge of brain consumption has made him a serious target. Liv’s heart may now be broken yet again. Episode 1.09 delivers the goods in spades, and it’s got this particular viewer itching for next Tuesday!

“iZombie” Episode 1.10 – “Mr. Berserk” (airs 5/19/15)
STEVEN WEBER (“MURDER IN THE FIRST,” “CHASING LIFE”) GUEST STARS — Liv (Rose McIver) and Clive (Malcolm Goodwin) investigate the murder of a journalist working on a story linking psychotic episodes in a small number of consumers to the energy drink Max Rager. Liv goes straight to the top at Max Rager HQ and questions the man in charge, Vaughn Du Clark (guest star Steven Weber).

Meanwhile, Ravi (Rahul Kohli) tries to help Major (Robert Buckley), who continues to believe he’s going crazy. David Anders also stars. Jason Bloom directed the episode written by Deirdre Mangan and Graham Norris.

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