News

“Carmilla” recap (2.27 & 2.28): These Dreams

This week’s Carmilla gutted me, in the best possible way. I was really taken by the craftsmanship of the whole thing, which I felt was stronger than ever. The writing, the acting, the direction, has never been finer than it was this week. So enough gushing, let me get to it.

So the last time we saw the Scoobies, Carmilla had changed her mind about drinking the fish god’s blood with Mattie, and stayed behind with Laura. Yes, she chose Laura again. Perry also pulled Danny aside to fill her head with some fears about losing Laura. We pick back up again with Laura and Danny fretting about Mattie’s whereabouts. Kirsh interrupts to give them some news about the Alchemy club being led to the crater. This is probably important but Kirsch needs to have some real talk with Danny first. He asks her, if it’s true, that he’s been friendzoned. I really hate that word. As if being considered someone’s friend is a terrible thing. Well Kirsch seems to agree because when Danny is honest about it and says yes, he’s geeked. Kirsch may not be the sharpest, but he does have a big heart. I mean, he still has hot pants for Danny, but he respects the fact that they are friends. He also calls her Joan of Arc which just melts my heart.

And he does. A little at least. Back to the danger. Back in the fish god hole, Corvae soldiers are using some type of machine that looks, from Kirsch’s expert description, a giant mobile. Basically, Lophi is about to become fish sticks. The whole gang gathers to discuss what to do. While Perry and Danny aren’t convinced it would be a bad thing if Lophi was killed, Carmilla reminds them that very bad things, like the destruction of a continent could happen if the fish god gets loose as Corvae tries to kill it. Or everyone could go mad. Basically, it’s not good.

Laura kind of wishes there were more puppies and less bullshit in her life, but that’s how the chocolate chip cookie crumbles. They have to save Lophi. Danny knows some Summers who would still follow her, so she plans to gather them and sabotage the “machine” while Kirsch distracts the Zetas guarding the crater. Good plan, right?! Nothing could possibly go wrong. They all break until 3am to sleep and have some angsty conversations with their exes.

Instead of sleeping, Carmilla and Laura play a game of…frankly I have no idea. Doesn’t anyone have fucking Scrabble in Styria? Anyway the game is about the underworld (naturally) and it’s a reminder that Carmilla is indeed death. Living, breathing, loving death, but death nonetheless. Laura takes the opportunity to ask Carmilla if she was really going to go through with the whole “drinking fish god blood” thing. Laura can’t even look at Carmilla when she asks if the blood could have killed her. Carmilla pretends not to need Laura to say she doesn’t want her to die, but she desperately does. Laura can’t believe Carmilla would seriously think that she’s still not completely invested in her well being. Love doesn’t play like that. It’s not a switch that turns on or off. It’s a constant, endless thing, that even if it wanes, still exists in some form. Even if that form is unrecognizable. As Laura’s heart and resolve begins to crumble, Carmilla simply does this:

Laura kisses her back but it’s too much. It gives Laura hope, and that’s something she can’t allow herself to feel right now. Anger, frustration, sadness, yes. But hope is far too painful. She does however give Carmilla a little hope when she tells her that after all the chaos that surrounds them goes away, and they live, they can talk. LaF comes in, looking dapper in their finest fish crater visiting suit, to remind them it’s time to go. In a rare moment on Carmilla, the scene fades to black. The next thing we see is Perry, talking to the camera. She’s got a strange look in her eye as she addresses the viewers. See Perry opted not to go along with the others because she either values her life, or has an evil plan. It could go either way at this point. She’s like, instead of helping my friends I made cookies and cleaned and also set up this really strange alibi. She comments about there being all this blood on the floor and Mattie emerges from behind her back.

Well that certainly looked ominous! The next episode starts off with a passed out and very bloody Mattie, slumbering in front of Laura’s computer. Laura, Carmilla , J.P. and LaF arrive back home after not seeing Danny at the crater. This looks bad, really bad. The gang all realizes Perry is missing and panic ensues. Carmilla asks a disoriented Mattie what happened, but Mattie doesn’t remember.

She does enjoy a quick tasty snack of sticky arm blood however. Mattie doesn’t take the whole thing as seriously as everyone else, especially LaF who wants to get their slay on right quick. Mattie, in her most Mattie way, is like, come on, I’m old and in control. LaF doesn’t believe Mattie, but Laura notices that the camera is still recording so they can find out what happened that way.

The film switches to earlier in the night, where Mattie taunts Perry about possibly/not possibly killing her. Mattie calls Perry out on the weirdness between them, an energy that is peculiar and unsettling. No, I’m not talking sexual tension. Ok a little of that too. Mattie confronts Perry, saying she knows much more than she’s letting on. She knows about the messages and dreams. Perry snaps, but it’s not really Perry. She gets right in Mattie’s face and spews all this cryptic info about great beasts, gates of hell, and the end of the world. Girl, I have those dreams too when I take melatonin.

Holy. Hell. If it freaks Mattie out, you know that is some seriously scary shit. It also gets a little weird because Perry calls Mattie “Rook” and then the video feed cuts out. (Terrific work here by Annie Briggs and Sophia Walker, who nail the weirdness and terror just right.) Carmilla immediately knows that Perry’s words were a death prophesy, and points out that Rook was the name their mother called Mattie. Well, kids, you were right. Looks like Perry is possessed by the Dean. But where is she? Mattie still can’t remember what happened after that, but I’m smelling a set up for sure. Mattie says that whether Perry is no more isn’t the important thing. It’s about to get apocalyptic in here. Just then, Vordenberg, Kirsch and a very upset looking Danny walk in.

When Laura can’t believe that Danny would betray her, Danny tells them all that Mattie murdered the Summers sisters. They were all dead when Danny arrived. She’s traumatized and looking for a person to blame, and the vampire covered in blood seems like the best option.

So what do we think? Was Mattie framed? Was she acting under the Dean’s influence? Are those marking on Danny and Kirsch’s head permanent? Will Carmilla and Laura ever get to make out again?! So many questions.

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button