Damien Episode 1.05 – Seven Curses: Recap and Review with Spoilers
Damien has been growing insistent in his position that the madness stop. He’s not too keen on Ann running around killing anyone who puts him in danger. And, to his credit, Damien embarks on his own mission to get a little help. It’s nice to see, as it once again reminds us that Damien isn’t just a monster in the making; he’s still a man on a quest to make a fair and decent living.
But how long will that last? That’s the question viewers are asking as a collective unit.
There’s a great moment in the earlier frames of “Seven Curses” that sees Damien connect – in the VA – with the very same man that he saved on the train tracks just an episode or two back. These two have a lot in common and they share a very special and intriguing bond. We’re talking one – hands down – of the finest moments of the first five episodes, no two ways about it. It’s touching, it’s heartbreaking – it’s probably one of the most impressive moments I’ve seen on television in ages. And it certainly wasn’t expected!
Throughout the episode we also dig deeper into the lives of Damien’s friends. The few people that are close to the man seem to be torn on his mental state. On one hand Amani thinks all the man’s troubles are in his head, perpetuated by Damien, himself. On the other hand, Simone believes there could certainly be some truth to the thought of paranormal activity. To what degree, no one can say, but she doesn’t rule out the thought of a greater power navigating Damien’s life.
Shots like these show us that Damien isn’t the only character struggling to view his life in color as opposed to black or white. There are a lot of people in Damien’s life affected by his curious state.
Bradley James is a relative newcomer to this business. His screen credits don’t stretch far, but he’s lighting up like a Christmas tree, proving he has the chops to hang with the big boys. A stint on the CW’s “iZombie” led to his participation in “Damien” and now he’s already off shooting the fifth film in the Underworld series. He’s covering the bases required to emerge a serious star, and “Damien” is a crucial stop en route to that ultimate destination. Thus far he’s shown he’s capable and willing to do what it takes to stand out in the crowd. It’s awesome to see a fresh face excelling in such fashion.
“Seven Curses” gives us the chance to see Damien experience some very wild and evil shit. Watching the man trip out while in the middle of a circle of war veterans chanting demonic rhetoric was admittedly cool, and the editing in said sequence worked to effectively discombobulate viewers, even if only for a brief period of time.
The fact that channel executives and showrunner Glen Mazzara blend reality and perceived hallucinations is great. It can be said that with a story like this, there’s something to be gained from hazy moments open to interpretation. Everyone can potentially benefit from a little lack of clarity, an almost ambiguous approach, if you will. The line between fact and fiction, real and unreal, should hold a little bit of mystery, and that’s one of the things that “Damien” actually does exceptionally well.
Damien’s descent, or shift, has been delayed since Episode 1.01. The man doesn’t want to be evil. He doesn’t want to be the Antichrist. He doesn’t want to meet the expectations of the mysterious order that’s held close watch over his life since the beginning. That conflict is very, very compelling, but it’s also becoming a little bit of a frustration. It seems safe to assume that the man will eventually become the monster we initially met back in 1976. Many of us tuned in to see the actions of that boy, now a grown man, and how a life as the antichrist could unfold in a temporary setting. What we’ve gotten thus far is a one-man moral war. That’s a strange avenue to pursue in this particular form of entertainment. I’m not entirely certain this approach is the approach that fans were salivating over prior to the official arrival of “Damien.”
No matter what direction the show takes, my respect for the emotional side of this story won’t waver. Damien is a magnetic personality who’s facing some strange obstacles. The fact that Mazzara has affixed a strong backstory – often focusing on Damien’s days as a war photographer – makes for some intriguing scenarios. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’d like to see a serious showdown between good and evil.
If Damien is going to maintain his humanity and fend off the call of the dark side, great. If he’s going to allow himself to fulfill his destiny, great. But leaving us all hanging in that in-between zone, where so many questions linger and few resolutions rear their heads, feels a bit cheap. In some ways this could be viewed as the first chapter of a story on perennial repeat. It’s hard to imagine fans getting too juiced for an endless re-run. It’s time for Mazzara and company to make some big decisions, assuming they want to see the show continue on for more than a single season. Fans won’t wait forever for the big payoff. We’re a fickle and impatient bunch.
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