Dominion: Favorite Scenes: Ouroboros

Let's try this eviction thing again

               "Ouroboros" was probably one of my top favorite episodes. There were so many great, memorable scenes but also because we got to a see a rattled, angry Michael that made him a deeper character who's past is coming back to haunt him. The symbol of Ouroboros represents eternity but William's interpretation is that it symbolizes greed. Both definitions can be true as the symbol is unique to some characters. For Michael it's his lies coming full circle and for David it's greed. Both are trials that our characters fail.

Yes be very afraid

          1. Ready, set, Flash Back to Babylon: The production value was just incredible. All those bodies, blood, and dismembered limbs scattered across the sand. Then the city with rising black smoke in the background kind of completed the image of carnage. Tom Wisdom proves his acting skills adding different more malicious intensity to Michael's persona. I actually felt a chill run down my spine as I saw Michael with a few blood splatters on his armor and face. This wasn't the Michael we knew from the Pilot who was zen and compassionate. 

Red Riding Hood wasn't creepy enough?

          2. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: "Little Pig, Little Pig"... Was that meant to sound creepy? It worked. What's more sinister than a villain chanting a children's nursery rhyme about a predator ready to go in for the kill? Kevin Otto who played Louis matched Carl Beukes perfectly on Gabriel's mannerisms. Throughout the whole episode really. In the Pilot Gabriel possessed a lower angel but the whole time he stayed in his lair but this time we got to actually see him walk around "in someone else's shoes". It conveyed that we know that it's really Gabriel but others only see Louis. 

Mmmmm fresh peaches

No possessions in the champagne room

          3. That's Not My Name: This scene was kind of funny. Despite the dark task at hand, it felt a bit light between Michael and Alex. They've reached an accord where Michael is gently supporting Alex in his efforts to evict eight balls while still expressing some healthy reasonable doubt. Also the setting kind of helped with the humor. A trashed strip club and did Michael add the chain for the eight ball or was that already there? I laugh at the thought. As far as detail into Alex's powers goes it was interesting to see that he could perform evictions however they weren't successful so far despite some coming back to the surface of consciousness but then suddenly dying. If Alex had more time he could probably perform one successfully. I did love the blood splatter after Alex put a bullet in Durge's head. The violence in this show is better than any zombie movie, but instead of just gore there's a bit of class when Alex apologizes to the man possessed by Durge.

               Alex: "Sorry."

           Durge: "Oh are you?"

          Alex: "Wasn't talking to you, Durge." 

Maybe we need a funnel

          4. David's Stockholm Syndrome hasn't kicked in: William just keeps trying to force that kool-aid down his father's throat. Luke Allen-Gale continues to hit home runs with his character as William genuinely expresses concern for his father's spiritual health despite David's insistence that all of this was about revenge for I suppose abusing him in his childhood (either verbally, physically or both). David's bed was a bit over embellished with the canopy and a royal bed post; gaudy but I feel that coincides with his personality where he has to have the best of everything and show it off.  

Glad it's not awkward being naked with your ex

Get ready for the slap

          5. Getting Slap Happy: I loved Kim Engelbrecht and Christopher Egan in this scene. Aside from the nice booty shots there's a casual chemistry here dispelling awkwardness that comes from sharing a shower with your ex. Noma isn't the bitter ex type of girl though. Good on the make up artists for the water proof of those designs all over Chris's body. They better be because they take a few hours to apply. Loved the lighting in the supply closet where Alex and Noma had their hot hook up. The lamp swinging illuminating but then swaying back leaving darkness. It helped to cover up certain body parts but also added an accent where this couple was back making a tryst in the shadows again.  

If this were New Orleans they'd be headless chickens

          6. Catch of the day is freshly butchered angel: Tom Wisdom and Rosalind Halstead were a good match. Not only did they click romantically but they really did give a sense of post break up tension in this scene where Michael is severely agitated and Becca is very upset to find that he was keeping this kind of secret from her. What did she expect? Besides she's not exactly honest about a few things either. 

This is awkward...

     I suppose their tension comes from their similarity in the desire to protect their own species. An instinct that is now driving a deeper wedge between them. Despite their issues, Becca still cared enough to lie for Michael although Riesen wasn't fooled. Jonathan Howard adds some depth to his character by surprising us with his hatred of angels. It's surprising how many citizens of Vega trust Michael, an angel, but despise all others which kind of puts Michael in a difficult position. Although Alex pointed out that these higher angels never hurt anyone, Ethan still maintains like most people that angels are not human but monsters that need to be eradicated. 

She already went through 20 gallons of ice-cream 

          7. A Beautiful Disaster: I loved this scene mostly for its production value. The crew did a perfect job of wrecking the library. A library is a symbol of civilization and it's being abandoned sort of reflects how the world was turned upside down and the world abandoned all reason. Trashing the library, the last fortress of culture and thought, was symbolic of the current state of the world as devoid of the knowledge it once possessed. The angels destroyed human perception of the divine so why not abandon the old world? Also good on the detail of Michael taking off to glide up to a very drunk Uriel then having a soft landing despite the usual powerful take off. Uriel has sophisticated taste so of course she'd be listening to Chopin on an old record player. 

How to pass as a Vega citizen...

...wear the face of someone else

I think we've found the new Devil

          8. Gabriel plants the seeds of doubt: This scene was flawless in editing making the change from Carl Beukes to Kevin Otto fluid as they played each other's character as Kevin acted out Gabriel's mannerisms to still hold that it was the evil Archangel in disguise. I don't know if anyone else noticed but the decor of the room spoke volumes about Louis who may have been a minor character but we got to know him very well this scene that took place in his apartment. Louis really did love fruit! We know Alex isn't dumb. He's not going to fall for someone trash talking Michael but that doesn't mean he's not curious. Michael doesn't talk about his past much and keeping a secret as big as mass murder is enough to cause someone to stay for beer to talk about it. 

I'm betting PETA doesn't exist or Will would be
in trouble

          9. William teaches David about humility: Does anyone else feel that William is cruel to animals? Basically he forced his father to shoot a poor caged lion. Animal abuse aside, this was a powerful scene in terms of character. David finally sees that William was formidable for which he wasn't prepared before. The fight to stay strong and keep his dignity was taking it's toll on him mentally and somewhat physically. Anthony Head was fantastic here with David's drastic character change as he gave into William. The dialogue really glued this whole scene together. First David is condescending then angry and finally broken as he shot Samson. David didn't just kill a lion, he killed a part of his soul; the part that was full of pride but also in killing Samson, David killed his willpower. He gave up his power allowing William to finally dominate him. What gets me is that when David said William's mother would have been ashamed of him and that William agreed. So he knows that his actions are shameful but I suppose William feels he's doing something bad for a greater good. That excuse usually helps ease someone's guilt.

"This is the safest place for me to be..."

"....because I know who the killer is."

I want that laugh for my ringtone

         10. The Proof is Always in the Pudding: I had a theory that Noma was a higher angel! The hints were there but even if she wasn't I knew she was connected to Michael somehow or that she was important. Carl and Kevin once again nail it by being perfect mirror images of each other. The way Kevin was sitting in the chair so relaxed just as Carl was. The best line was: "I suppose the proof is always in the pudding, isn't it?" Gabriel really loves pudding. The search light emphasized the scene. The Black Acolyte's church is lit with only candles to detail their need to hide from the world but in the stratosphere the bright beam of light was meant to put a "spot light" on the truth that Gabriel was wickedly trying to show Alex. So it was finally revealed that Noma was a higher angel the whole time! I was worried for a second when that search light had Noma in its sights as she flew off. Thankfully no shots were fired and Noma got away but things between her and Alex have definitely changed.

Louis you have some explaining to do

         11. The Truth Will Set You Free: An epic scene where we have two powerful Archangels and the Chosen One in one room and reaching a boiling point. The tensions between all three characters just sizzled on screen. After Michael and Alex discover that Louis was being possessed by Gabriel there was no need to show Louis anymore because now we're not the only ones who know. Tempers exploded in this room. Earlier Michael was finally talking to Alex to reach an understanding but in this scene Michael took a step backward and starting talking down to him. 

Michael can't stop getting in Alex's face

    Alex and Michael once again butt heads and yes Alex can be reckless and impulsive but he knows who he is as a person while it's clear that Michael is having trouble with his identity. We see Michael's dark side; he's knocked off that pedestal that we placed him on in the Pilot and we see his own insecurities: his anger, his guilt, and his own self-destructive nature hanging on a thread of control that was ready to snap. But great news! Alex performed a successful eviction of Gabriel. He was laughing at first but that smile faded suddenly as Gabriel began to feel himself slipping away. I guess for angels possessing angels is more simple.

Hmm follow a misguided angel or a maniacal one.... hmmmm

               Michael: "This isn't a war of humans vs angels. This is about what's right and what's wrong."

How's the view from up there?

         12. Surprise! It was Uriel the whole time: Remind me, who's side is Uriel on again? So that scene where Uriel was drowning her sorrows in champagne was all an act? I loved how Katrine lounged on those pillows it really gave me the image of a cat enjoying its game with the many mice before her. 

Soft landing at least

   I wonder how many times Carl had to land on his face in this scene. Luckily there were pillows surrounding that throne. Gabriel was surprisingly happy that Alex performed a successful eviction. Something about Alex being the true Chosen One. You mean there were pretenders? Either way, Gabriel was extremely confident that he could train Alex to end mankind and bring his Father home. Uriel seemed pleased also but I feel for different reasons. 

Michael looks ready to kill someone

         13. Michael walks in on a slaughter house: I appreciate the work that went into those mangled bodies and a wing sticking out of a body back. The sight evoked some disgust at the human violence and the pity for the neutral angels.  I've never seen Michael's feathers so ruffled in this episode but this scene is where we see him ready to kill someone. I actually half expected him to do so, but the Archangel decided to leave before he committed more violence. It infuriated Michael to see his fellow angels who never harmed anyone to be butchered so senselessly. Instead of lashing out with his blades, Michael chose to snap at Alex and just storm off. In Michael's defense, Alex was pressing for an answer as Michael looked on his slain kin. Give the guy room to grieve, Alex!  

What the hell happened to this guy???

         14. Another flash back & personality switch: Filming in the desert is no picnic. Luckily Carl and Tom managed to stay cool. Tom was wearing something light with less fabric but Carl was fully covered with armor and a cape. This ending scene just blew up everything we thought we knew about Michael. It was so shocking to see that Gabriel used to be the sensible brother and Michael the blood thirsty psycho. What stood out for me was Tom's line: "Father taught us never to leave our chores unfinished." In episode 2, Gabriel was quoting Michael verbatim. It makes you wonder how these two suddenly switched personalities so drastically. 

    Now for some Honorable Mentions:

Whatever happened to those drive through chapels?

          1. A true Vegas wedding quickie: I liked Claire in this scene. She's so casual despite what she's been through. The way she turns over each drinking glass carefully as she tells William about her good news. She's in a hurry to push her father out of office by moving the wedding up a week but plays it cool. Poor William doesn't suspect a thing. 

How did he get in?

"Umm personal space please..."

          2. Hello, Nurse: It was an amusing scene. It's not often you get to hear how others perceive you and Gabriel didn't seem too offended. "You know he's not such a bad guy once you get to know him." Yeah I'm sure he's a psychopath but he does throw the wildest parties so he can't be all that evil can he?

You should try Orbit to clean that dirty mouth, Michael

          3. Need to know: Still not sure why Michael accused Alex of killing three higher angels. Alex could barely defeat Felicia. However I'll just knock that up to stress. I'd be angry and frazzled too if someone strung up my family members like chickens. I like the shots in the alley way. Close ups then far away shots for us to get a better picture of Michael's rage. Also to see a place of privacy for our characters.

Yes, David, shiv that guy!

          4. Jail Bird is thrown to the lions: Karma is such a bitch, David. David is a stubborn survivor. He managed to pick a lock with only a metal lining of a lamp shade. Unfortunately David escaped one cage to be thrown into another, more dangerous one. Perhaps David should learn his body guards' names next time.

"Roger that, sir"

          5. Will they, might they: Ethan is as curious as the rest of us. Was the Alex/Noma hook up a one time thing or a step forward into a romantic relationship. But Alex doesn't want to talk about it. Wow, Ethan must have been awake or Alex and Noma need to do better at keeping it down a bit. My favorite part of this scene was perhaps the call Alex received from Gabriel. First we hear Louis and see him talking on the radio but then we hear Gabriel and see him talking. Afterwards we go back to Alex and hear Louis's voice again. A tango of identities. 

Say "Ahhhhh"

          6. I surrender: I loved the make up that made Anthony Head look like a glassy eyed broken mess. It really helped sell David's broken spirit. We wonder if he'll ever recover but for now he's a mute obediently eating his soup.

Cheers to a wonderful episode!