Dominion: Favorite Scenes: Broken Places

I said no photos!

                 "Broken Places" was what hooked me completely and where I think the show found its rhythm. "Broken Places" for me was about our characters showing vulnerability and seeing how one deals with personal shattering events: face it or run away. I picked these scenes based on character, production value, and memorability. 

This diner has only half a star for a reason...

             1. Gabriel & William eat out: A dusty diner in the harsh desert scene isn't complete unless one is playing a Johnny Cash song "God's Gonna Cut You Down" to set the mood. I loved how we got to see more interaction between William and Gabriel to get a peek into the nature of their odd relationship. Carl Beukes and Luke-Allen Gale were wonderful in this scene. We clearly see that William has been taken in by Gabriel's devilish charm and that the Archangel uses this to his advantage, playing a supportive father-figure. But we know Gabriel is a cold-blooded serial killer of course as to prove a point he murders everyone in the diner with brutal savagery  demonstrating "strength". I was very amused by Gabriel's nonchalance in the diner where we see his humanistic vice for pudding. What was more chilling was Gabriel, blood splatter all over his face, picking up the now neglected pudding still sitting pristine on the counter then taking a taste. Turns out the pudding wasn't half bad after all as he first commented. 

"Murder is a crime for men. Is it a crime for angels?"

          2. Michael answers a few questions: After the surprise attack from Felicia, the Senate is faced with the terrifying idea that there could be higher angels hiding among them. The Caravaggio lighting was perfect. Michael stood alone in the spotlight while the Senate sat in the shadows. Tom Wisdom continues to hit the mark as he played the stoic always cool under pressure Michael. The lighting made it seem like Michael was under some sort of microscope for the Senate to examine and see what he could be hiding. Of course David couldn't pass up the chance to grill Michael to see if he could make this Archangel sweat. Anthony Head and Tom Wisdom have created a convincing hostility between their characters that intensifies the situation. David tried very hard to get a rise out of Michael but Michael ended up turning the tables and leave David (as well as the Senate) speechless then with great stride walked out of the room. If Michael had a microphone he would have dropped it at David's feet like a victor does after a rap battle. Becca's little smile at seeing David defeated was a nice cherry on top. For all of David's bluster, being threatened with bodily harm by an immortal being is enough to keep his tongue behind his teeth. 

Arika just waltzes right into the lion's den

         3. Arika in the lion's den: Seeing Arika is always a highlight in any Dominion episode. Now that David knows who he's dealing with the dynamic of their relationship sort of changes with slightly more aggression added to their conversation:

             David: "You were told not to roam around unaccompanied."

             Arika: "I was restless."

            David: "Oh."

            Arika: "You take pleasure in caging things that were once free."

            David: "Only beasts that can kill me."

         That last line is probably one of the best ones that could describe Arika. Their game of cat and mouse has gone to a new slightly more dangerous level where threats of death are becoming more frequent. But Arika doesn't seem discouraged. It's more like she enjoys their game. 

Compassion is in Alex's nature he can't help it

          4. Alex spies some road kill: What really made the scene for me was Alex's capacity for compassion. He comforted a complete stranger and put him out of his misery. The look Christopher Egan conveyed was so emotional and full of pity that it touched me deeply. He really shines with this role. Alex says he doesn't want to be the Chosen One or have the fate of the human race placed on his shoulders but Alex can't help but care. It's in his nature. The bodies in the road were gruesome and set the whole horror tone of the moment. Pop culture sort of demands at least one carcass for the vultures to feast on in the desert landscape and having human bodies litter the road just fits with the desolate setting.

I called "shot gun" first

         5. Alex & Michael play chicken: Don't play chicken with Michael. You'll lose. The car speeds up then does an amazing veer off the road while Michael just stands there looking on calmly. Love Tom and Christopher's energy in this scene. It feels like they have more room to vent their frustration where as in the city it was more confined and restricted. Michael's humor sort of lightens the tension with him calling shot gun on Alex's road trip. Even though Alex holds a gun to his head, Michael gives fair warning that guns have done more harm to the person firing them more than they do to him. Alex has spirit but it falls short to Michael's iron fortitude. Alex caves and decides one small detour would be enough to get the angel off his back.

So Archangels really do cry!

         6.  Alex & Michael's Detour: Some old wounds for Alex are torn open as he and Michael visit the house where he and Jeep would go to play. Alex has visions of Jeep losing his mind. Langley Kirkwood with his walls of crazy was not only informative but also eye-catching. It must have taken a while for them to cover those walls with archaic symbols. Flash backs are tricky to incorporate. If done right they could enhance the story. This flashback was short but those quick flashes did their job of shaking Alex up. What I loved most was Michael allowing himself to be vulnerable. So much that he shed tears! Tom Wisdom amazes me with his emotional acting where even I got a little misty. This was more than enough to convince Alex that Michael may not be human but he is definitely capable of human emotion.

"When in Vega, right?"

         7. Arika & David prepare her sister's body: Shivani Ghai knows how to add layers to her complex character. One minute she was calm, cool, and collected, the next minute she's trying very hard not to cry as she prays for her sister and cleans her body. I also give props to Anthony Head for letting us see that David isn't always an arrogant jerk. He actually showed us his softer side, well... not a marshmallow but he helped Arika clean the body and offered to transport the body to the sea. He also gave Arika a sort of pep talk, reminding her that she can't wallow in her misery right now. She needs to regroup, strategize. And Arika did just that, impressively landing on her feet by suggesting she start a coup against her former wife. Divorce in Helena can get bloody.

Easy, Red Vine!

         8. Alex & Michael fight Furiad: I can't get enough of Furiad in battle mode. He and Michael face off again at slightly less fair odds. Alex didn't fair too well against his first higher angel but luckily Furiad only had eyes for Michael leaving Alex to go up against two rabid 8balls. Everything sort of happened fast so I had to watch a few times to see the whole scene. I saw that Michael was less focused than usual. Most likely because he was concerned for Alex's safety but this ultimately led to his fatal injury. Killing off Michael would basically kill the show but it does add some stake that Michael isn't completely invulnerable. Alex was faced with the realization that he could be without a guide and that Michael dying would be like losing another guardian that he cares about (despite the hatred we saw in the beginning).

"Nature is kind once in a while, isn't it?"
In other words: I wish you weren't my dad

        9/10. William & David discuss Lion Mating Habits/ William with his flock: This is a two for one because they weave together as a full picture of William's dual nature. We know that William and David didn't have a warm family bond but in this scene we truly see the strain in their father/son relationship. David clearly believes that William is weak and doesn't have what it takes, using his harsh bluntness to explain to his son the nature of things. But William, a bit wounded, has the last word saying that David wasn't really the best father a son could have. David's aggression and unsupportive attitude didn't motivate William at all but only hurt his feelings. 

This is a fire hazard. We should practice fire drills

           Then we flow into William's other "church business" where he goes from a wounded cub to a fierce lion. It was kinda scary actually seeing how zealous William was. He broke a guy's ribs with a look of triumph and pleasure on his face. Luke-Allen Gale shines in these two scenes as he gives us some insight into his character which is a switch between his light and dark side. I loved the production. So many white candles I felt it was a sort of fire hazard but they did add effect. The candle light worked well against the black, red, and gold. Given that the Church of the Savior includes white, having dark colors sort of adds some malevolence to the cult of Gabriel. 

Blow your horn, Gabriel (as cliché as it sounds)

You took the last pudding cup

        11. Gabriel punishes Furiad: The producers continue to impress me with their knowledge of angel mythology. The horn of Gabriel isn't really mentioned in the bible but John Milton makes a reference to it in his long poem Paradise Lost. Gabriel passes the time by playing a little tune on his trumpet but Furiad ruins Gabriel's leisure time. Carl Beukes proves that he can do more with his character than just smile and laugh maniacally. We witness just how ruthless the Archangel Gabriel really is and see that we don't want to be on the receiving end of his wrath. Gabriel's face looked so shocked and almost on the verge of tears. He was very upset to hear what Furiad had done. I saw Irin's (Furiad's 8ball girlfriend) face and even she knew that Furiad screwed up. I don't believe Furiad expected Gabriel to react this way but it shows us just how deep Michael and Gabriel's bond really is. Sure they're on opposing sides but Gabriel would never stoop so low as to have Michael killed. I believe that Gabriel was also angry with himself not predicting Furiad would go rogue. He seems to have some intuition that allows him to be a step ahead but this time he was caught off guard and almost got his beloved brother killed. So Gabriel taught the trembling Furiad a lesson and warned him if he tried again then Gabriel would kill him. I believe Furiad got the message. No one messes with your family but you.

Carl Beukes impresses me further with his ability to add
depth to his villainous character.

      A few Honorable Mentions that didn't make the top list but are still worth mentioning. 

How does he lift his merchandise without getting caught
is what I want to know

         1. Ethan with his locker of wonders: I was filled with giggles at the sight of Ethan's secret locker of lifted merchandise. Whatever you need Ethan's got it. Ethan's kleptomania aside we see that he's a very loyal friend to Alex. When Noma convinced him that something may have happened to Alex, Ethan went straight to Michael even though not many people would consider confronting a powerful Archangel. 

Um did you forget to wash that blood off
or is it a statement?

         2. Gabriel returns to his lair: What stood out most for me was the fact that Gabriel neglected to wipe the blood off his face from his massacre at the diner. It didn't seem to bother him much which gives us some insight into his sadistic character where he likes to wear his triumph like a badge of honor and that includes the blood of his enemies. We see that Gabriel is full of confidence that his plan will work but Furiad is very impatient. It leads you to believe that Furiad will definitely do something drastic despite Gabriel's assurances. 

Michael does some sleuthing err shopping...

         3. Michael in the market with Louis: Michael told the Senate that he had no idea that any higher angels were hiding in the city. Archangels are liars! But we should see this from Michael's point of view. He may have chosen the side of Man but he never really turned on the other angels. Michael respected their neutrality and gave them sanctuary. I found it strange though that no one found it... well strange that the Archangel Michael would be strolling around the market picking up some peaches to snack on. I mean he doesn't seem like a social person, but we do agree that Michael could use some back up. Gabriel has some higher angels on his side so Michael figures he needs some on his side too.

Not as much as Ethan is probably sweating right now

         4. Michael & Ethan: "Do angels sweat?" That line alone made this scene a highlight. Ethan was brave enough to confront Michael but he should have worked out a better way to break the ice. Then Michael's quick exit just made me laugh as he left Ethan gaping on the ground. 

What's in the box...?

         5. Arika & Ethan: Arika is straight forward. She also has perfect gay-dar. Not only is the military in Vega fully integrated gender wise but also integrated on sexual orientation. If you want to serve Vega they don't care where you're from or who you are. It was also nice to see that Ethan wasn't that stereotypical "Will & Grace" gay guy. But what tied the whole scene together was Arika receiving her sister dead in a box. Could have been worse, it could have been put in her bed while she was sleeping.

She's just not that into you, dude

         6. Claire & William in the marketplace: William maybe hiding his dark side but with Claire he's a love sick puppy. Claire still has that awkward body language around William whenever he tries to be romantic. I felt in this scene William was like a scared puppy that wet the carpet where as Claire was the supportive firm owner. It was adorable and I felt a little sad for William as Claire bolted out of there when he tried to suggest that they could be more than friends.

Using your illness as leverage is not cool, man

         7. Claire confronts her father on civil rights: Claire has a passion that one can't help but admire. Whenever Claire gets mad the men bow down as she gave her father a stern talking to after he arrested and interrogated her students. Claire has an understanding of basic civil rights and we completely agree that there's a right and wrong here. But Riesen couldn't help but use this opportunity to push Claire into her arranged marriage. Using his heart problems really seemed to cement Claire's cooperation as it gained her sympathy and love for her father. That's low, Riesen!

William could use some good news today...

         8. Claire tells William some good news: Before in the market, Claire couldn't wait to get away from William but in this scene she was more relaxed or should I say resigned to her engagement. The fact that she told William in person though was very sweet on her part. The engagement wasn't official official until Claire agreed to the match and telling her fiancé in person was Claire's way of saying she was willing to try to love William as more than just a friend. She realized that Alex may never come back and that she should move on with her life by throwing herself into her role as future Lady of the City. 

The lady knows how to accessorize

         9. Arika's accessories: Arika knows how to accessorize. Who was she signaling with those earrings? This scene sort of makes you wonder if her staying in Vega was all a part of some plan. Arika is a puzzle.

Someone call HBO cause they need to take a lesson
in subtlety like this

         10. Riesen with his 8ball mistress: Amy Bailey steams up the screen in this scene being completely nude and lounging on the bed enjoying some honey that Riesen brought. She was carefully covered so as not to show everything (it's not HBO but it's pretty close) but that did not dampen her allure. Like Clementine I was sort of laughing at Riesen's question if she saw any higher angels. Come on, I doubt she could just take a walk outside without getting killed by either another 8ball or humans. I guess it was Riesen trying to see if he could get more out of his twisted relationship other than just sex. 

David's being nice? What does he want now?

         11. Becca is blackmailed by David: David just can't wait until the wedding to seize power from the House of Riesen. I found it funny when David tried to break the ice with Becca by complimenting her, of course she rolled her eyes because if David's being nice to her (after years of disdain) then he definitely wants something. She holds out until David brings up her romantic rendezvouses with Michael in order to blackmail her. Remind me again why sleeping with an Archangel (especially one as fine as Michael) would make Becca a pariah? Personally I think all of those other women of Vega would be dying to spend a night with the handsome, stoic Archangel. I suppose it's that old taboo and the fear of getting pregnant with a Nefilim, the monstrous offspring between an angel and a human.

Are you not entertained?

         "Broken Places" was a hook for many people. It only gets more intense from here. Next week is "The Flood" where we see more family drama between the Archangel siblings (introducing the beautiful, enigmatic Uriel)!

Dominion: Favorite Scenes: Godspeed

Let's get this angel party started & revel like we did in Babylon!

                 I do hope our Canadian friends are enjoying Dominion. I see we are doing well and hopefully news of renewal will follow quickly. There were a good many great scenes in "Godspeed". I've chosen my top picks based on character, production value, and memorability. These may not be in order.

Nice to see you too, brother.

Nothing like a family chat by the sea.

            1. Michael & Gabriel's chat by the sea: A truly beautiful location to shoot with Tom Wisdom and Carl Beukes's incredible chemistry making this scene very memorable. We didn't see much of Gabriel in the Pilot but we got some sense of his character as being calm and malicious and now we see that he's very jealous and insecure of his Father's love for humans over angels. We see the brothers' dynamic and the depth of their family bond. Where Michael is reserved and reasonable, Gabriel is passionate and full of anger. Despite threats of violence, Michael and Gabriel never draw blood in this scene. Gabriel does have a sense of humor as well as deep seeded Daddy issues making him appear a bit childish (as Michael pointed out with some amusement) in his motivation. Gabriel pointed out that if the humans knew Michael was there talking to him then they would definitely kill him. That's very true. The only angel the humans tolerate is Michael but only because he's the only angel on mankind's side. So a very strong display of character combined with the breathtaking scene really makes an impact on the audience.

Don't put your nose in my face, kid!

            2. Michael & Alex have a not so pleasant chat: When Michael wants to have a discussion with you, you don't have much choice as he took Alex for a ride to the stratosphere. Christopher and Tom continue to allow those sparks to fly as tensions between the Archangel and the Chosen One have reached a more intense level of hostility and mistrust. Michael and Alex differ in height with Tom towering over Chris (with help from the camera angles) but Alex has no problem getting in the angel's face, showing no fear whatsoever. Then Alex decided to tell Michael what he read on his tattoos and warned him to stay away from him. Bravo guys! A fiery scene! We do understand Alex's point of view though. I do believe Michael didn't expect Alex to be so difficult after finding out about his destiny. Michael will have to try another method instead of the usual tough love routine. 

A new day brings a whole new mess of quarrels

            3. Claire & Riesen argue over breakfast: Roxanne McKee settles into her character very well showing us that Claire is not some spoiled princess but someone who can debate with logic and compassion. Claire is wonderful with kids as she takes the little V-1, Bixby under her wing and roof to her father's surprise. Every woman in the audience was feeling Claire's frustration in being treated like an object to be bought and sold into marriage to a man (no matter how sweet) she doesn't love. Alan Dale played the perfect disciplinary father and he and Roxanne had a real father-daughter vibe. I also couldn't help but notice how bright the room was. Morning sunlight just washes into the room giving it a cheery "hello another day has arrived" tone despite Claire and Riesen's heated conversation. Kids, right? But we agree with Claire completely and believe that given her stubbornness she could get out of this arranged engagement somehow like she promised she would to Alex in the Pilot.

Arika is fearless!

            4. David & Arika discuss culture: Arika never panics. She's always cool even when walking scantily clad before the angry lion while her hand maidens shrink in modesty in their cells. Once again Shivani Ghai and Anthony Head display their characters' wariness of each other but also David exhibits a small amount of awe about his opponent. Arika never shows fear even when David threatens to have her executed for treason. It was more or less like a staring contest to see who would cave and blink first. I did love Arika's line: "Evelyn believes in the Divine Feminine. We have no place for a male deity like Gabriel." You could hear the disdain and repugnance in her voice when she said Gabriel's name. It just made me smile for some reason. I guess I just loved Shivani's self-possessed character as she's stripped down to her underwear and brought into an informal interrogation being threatened with execution. Not even a sweat. If it were me I'd be a little afraid. What I also found interesting was David's case of Pre-Apocalyptic case of wonders such as the pocket watch he was fooling around with. A subtle description of David's character in holding onto the old world but also his desire to move forward to make a new one. 

This is...awkward to say the least

            5. Alex & William talk in the Market: We all know that William is Gabriel's spy (and possibly more than that but we're not really sure yet) but no one else does so that makes this conversation a bit more interesting to us because we know the motivation behind William's words. We also kind of smile when William says: "You have to forgive my father, he's a narcissist of the highest order." We instinctively wonder: "Which one?" after we see Gabriel's scene with Michael then we already know enough about David to see there's a competition to see who's the most self-absorbed. Loved how we got a look at Vega's own farmer's market. Very nice detail with signs and stands selling goods. It was also very closely knitted together kind of like a mall where the stores were right next to each other in close proximity so need to walk very far. Chris and Luke's characters didn't get enough scenes together but we see that it's more because of the awkwardness. Alex is in love with Claire and Riesen saw that as a threat so he transferred Alex to House Whele (he couldn't transfer him to House Thorn at least?). Alex is guarding his lover's fiancé. For Alex it must have felt very uncomfortable but even more so because he saw that William was such a nice guy, giving out extra ration tickets to the lower Vs. Any guy would feel bad for hating someone like that (good thing Alex doesn't know about Will's other night hobbies). I kind of rolled my eyes a bit when William said if Alex needed anything that he should come to him. Can you make it even more obvious you're a spy? Luckily Alex has others he can confide in. 

           6. Alex and Claire make up: Roxanne and Christopher have such a spark between their two characters and the producers continue to astonish us with scanty nude scenes as we get a view of our lovers from above with very little coverage. We see that Alex's tattoos are indeed all over his body! Nudity aside, the intimacy really permeated through the scene. Not only was it a romantic setting (soft lighting, shadows) but we also saw that Claire and Alex have a deeper connection by being able to confide in each other. Alex still refuses to accept his destiny while Claire believes he should. Alex is still insecure about Claire's concern for the people over him but I think he knows that she would be by his side no matter what he chose. Make up sex is the best with Claire and Alex walking out of her room arm in arm (kind of bold of these lovers given the strict laws). The little scene afterwards (these two bleed together) was endearing though too with Bixby joining in. It was quite the family bond developing there.

Should she be doing that inside?

           7. Alex & Felicia go head to head: A very exciting scene where we see Alex go up against a higher angel. There were some nail biting moments and as usual the wings were a real highlight. Unlike the fight scene between Michael and Furiad which was a dance of war, Alex and Felicia's fight was more or less choreographed to be a bar brawl (messy and bloody good) with Alex being unprepared and feeling a bit mismatched. However, Alex proves that he can think on his feet and using ingenuity lights Felicia up like a candle. Felicia got pretty crispy but managed to survive even after Alex kicked her out the window. My heart was pumping from that rush!  

We'll call it "food poisoning"

           8. Arika sits among her dead hand maidens: Shivani Ghai knows how to play the femme fatale as Arika pulls a drastic tactic in order to set herself free. The scene was very gruesome with Arika sitting among the bloody, mangled dead with a look of triumph on her face while David looked like someone had punched him in the balls. Arika could have moved those two bodies that she wedged herself between but I don't know if that would have had the same impact. It gave me the image of a proud jungle cat sitting atop her kill (she even had that killer smile to go with it). Well done! 

Hope you brought floss.

          9. Riesen & his 8ball mistress: If you thought there was nothing interesting about Riesen then you were proven wrong in this shocking cliffhanger. Talk about sleeping with the enemy! Amy Bailey makes her debut as the General's secret mistress and wow does she know how to leave an impression. She could have worn a simple silk robe but the translucent glittering robe hanging on her body cements our view of the angels of Dominion as being sensual, lusty creatures. It really plays in well with the whole character theme. I do love how creepy the Luxor played in this scene. It was completely trashed on the outside but the 8ball, Clementine's room was furnished and lit with candles. And the record player played very old music from the 20s-30s I believe. I'll have to check my musical archives (iTunes Library) to be sure but it gave me a haunted house feeling which sent chills down my spine. 


      Some Honorable Mentions that didn't make my top pick but are still worth mentioning.

David, you need a time out or something...

            1. David's in trouble: Boy was David in for a tongue lashing before the Senate. In the Pilot we saw that there was tension between Becca and David but we got to see that tension simmer in the Senate's Chamber. They even had a side eye battle going on; I thought lasers were going to come out of their eyes.

"We drink!"

            2. Gabriel knows how to party: Who said the Devil had more fun? Clearly you've never been to an angel bash. This was a very fun scene to watch. If you've seen Legion, you may remember sulky Gabriel whereas Dominion's Gabriel loves to drink and have fun. Nice touch on lighting to hide the fully exposed skin as we saw the 8balls really enjoy their new stolen bodies.

"At a boy!"

            3. Alex's childhood memories: The flashback in the beginning was a real nice way to open the episode. We saw a slightly less scruffy Jeep with an adorable Alex. Then fun turned to fright as 8balls decided to crash on father-son time. Then the ending of the scene where Jeep promised to never leave Alex. That was heart breaking. Even more so when we fade into Jeep's funeral. Jeep broke his promise twice!

It's only fair if both of us are drink

            4. Alex & Claire's Lovers' Quarrel: All lovers have a fight now and again and sometimes both parties are drunk but Alex decided to come barging into Claire's room loaded. He was no match for Noma as she threatened to send him to the infirmary. Claire doesn't want to take over Vega but she certainly has the head for it, remaining calm and not letting Alex's hurtful words make her lose her cool. I thought she would at least slap him but it hurts worse not to sometimes.

            5. David & Riesen's Private Chat: These two old warriors have a really confusing relationship. Riesen gave David his own private scolding but David managed to make the Lord of the City laugh somehow. When it comes down to it, Riesen knows he needs David despite their rivalry and prefers to have Whele do the dirty work like say feeding someone to the lions. 

            6. Michael & Riesen discuss parenting: There may be hundreds of books on parenting but some things can't be taught. Michael and Riesen have great respect for each other. Michael has been around since God turned the lights on but he comes to Riesen for advise. There is a certain degree of honesty as Riesen claims he doesn't have all the answers and that sometimes you have to trust your kid will do what's right. There was also a very sobering moment where Riesen said that every decision humans make has an affect on their future, not just Alex's. Humans are responsible for their own fate.

What the hell is an infomercial? 

            7. Alex & David discuss the pitfalls of fame: This was probably one of the funniest scenes mostly because of the look on Alex's face when David tried to explain to him what a televangelist was... and then what an infomercial was. It was funny in another way where David tried to use his usual threats and "scared straight" speech but Alex was unfazed. Then William seeing Alex and bowing before him to David's chagrin. 

         If you're still not hooked now then episode 3, "Broken Places" will seal your addiction. See you then!

I'll drink to that!

Dominion: Favorite Scenes: Pilot

Get ready for a wild ride! The angels have invaded!

                I wanted to wait until Dominion premiered in Canada before I shared my favorite scenes in the Pilot so as not to spoil things for some future fans from the Great North. That being said there were a lot of scenes that I loved in the Pilot but I chose the top ones. I will however do some Honorable Mention scenes. I based the top picks on character, production value, and above all memorability. 

Beautiful! Stunning work!

           1. Prologue: The prologue opened with a beautiful Byzantium-like fresco that gives us a background look at the story. The mural just gives you an Old Testament Bible feel that really sets the tone for the show ("eye for an eye" old fashioned violence). The mural was done by a South African company called MOTIF. Beautiful work. As well as the narration done by Alan Dale with his stoicism and dramatic tone.

So what's around this corner...?

Horrific with an extra dash of creepy. I just got chills!

           2. Eight-Balls play Texas Hold Em: Not only was this a great introduction to Alex Lannon and a great action sequence but also it was an excellent horror scene where we got a look at the terrifying Dogs of Heaven or Eight-Balls as they're called. If you've seen the Eight Balls from Legion you'll remember they were pretty damn scary but the producers and make up artists added some spider-like black veins for a more gruesome affect. I loved the creepiness of the scene with their malicious laughter and the cracking of fingers (and the overgrown nails) as the bigger of the three beckoned Alex closer: "Join us. We have an empty seat."

It takes a lot to keep up with an angel's libido

            3. Michael's five-some then he takes a swan dive: We didn't get to see Michael in action (so to speak) but the shock value alone was enough to make this one of the best scenes. The opera music was perfect for the setting, really backing up the decadence of the scene as well as the low lighting. After weeks of suggestive promotional posters we finally get their meaning; who knew angels had such strong libidos. Then to top it all off, Michael's epic swan dive off the stratosphere. It was a very exciting part especially once Michael grew wings then took off. 

Alex is in for a whipping!

            4. Michael gives Alex a whipping: We get a first look into Alex and Michael's relationship in this scene. When Alex was labeled the rebellious soldier the producers weren't kidding. Alex has a real problem with authority especially when it comes to serving the Archangel Michael. Tom Wisdom and Christopher Egan have wonderful chemistry as they stress the strain and hostility in their characters' relationship. Then Michael's face in that scene that made me laugh:

        Michael: "Where were they?"

        Alex: "Just outside the city a few miles away."

        Michael: "What were they doing?"

        Alex: "Playing Texas Hold Em."

       Michael: "?"

       Alex: "Not kidding."

      Tom Wisdom took Paul Bettany's steely eyed, intense stoicism and added some humanizing qualities such as a sense of humor and Canadians will see there's a lot more to Michael that Tom added to make him a more complex character. Then the whipping was a harsh scene but in a good way. Alex took those whippings like a champ. And Michael dealt them with serious conviction.

So much ass in this scene lmao! I love how bold these
guys are!

       5. Shower Scene: It's surprising just how bold SyFy allowed the producers to be when it came to showing some skin (did I say some? I meant a lot!). But it wasn't just the boldness of nudity, it was the fact that the barracks are coed. The men and women shower together showing that the gender line in Vega's military is nonexistent. Hooray for equality! Then there's the interactions between characters. Alex with his two closest friends and how they joke around in their down time. Jonathan Howard especially made us chuckle with his character Ethan's charm and his ability to lighten the mood. 

         Alex: "It's not a tiger, it's a lion."

         Ethan: "Is there a difference?"

         Alex: "Yeah stripes."

                   ********
         Ethan: "We're gonna eat like tigers tonight."

         Alex: "Lions."

        Ethan: "Tigers!"

Watch out Arika's packing heat...

        6. David & Arika at bath time: I feel like I tripped into a Bond Film with the seductive, smoldering Arika played by the equally smoldering and seductive Shivani Ghai bathing then pulls out a gun on David. Anthony Head's American accent just adds some fierceness to his character I just want to point out by the way. The lighting was soft but not for a romantic feel. It was more to denote that both characters are very vague, never revealing too much so as to keep their advantage but they also love mixing business with pleasure. For Arika pleasure is just business; another tool in her arsenal that she can use to work her advantage. Her ambivalent nature makes her an interesting character to say the least and Canadian fans will be both puzzled and intrigued by Arika's mystifying, yet dangerous nature.

Michael is ready for a fight!

         7. The Jubilee: Lights, camera, action! This scene had all three working for it. Even without the "s", Vega is still the place to go for a show. The flashing lights, David's talent for being a show man, and the flying camera movements were enough to get my heart pumping. One of the most striking parts of that scene was our introduction to the immortal enemy: the Archangel Gabriel. Although I wish Carl Beukes featured more in the Pilot I do admit that his short time on screen was well spent. A perfect way to introduce the antagonist where I was both awed and somewhat chilled at Gabriel's ability to possess someone and surprise you. 

Love the tint of the camera & the flowers 

       And seeing Gabriel in his lair, as an art lover and someone raised in Catholicism (lax) I was happy to see some small attention to detail with the Madonna Lilies beside Gabriel's throne. Gabriel is credited with telling the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Christ and as the Madonna Lilies represent her, the Archangel is often pictured holding these beautiful flowers. Moving on, Gabriel's creepy smile fades slowly turning into fury which erupted into violence and we got to see Michael take flight once more to take down the rabid Eight Ball. A gorgeous shot of Michael in mid-air, wings outstretched then BAM! Eight Ball's down.

Someone's had too many Red Bulls

I just love seeing Michael spread his wings

          8. Michael and Furiad fight scene: Furiad's armor was striking as well as intimidating. Anton David Jeftha certainly put the "Fury" in Furiad with his aggressive yet graceful movements in battle. I especially loved how the red wings sort of sung like daggers, steel on steel. The fight scene between Michael and Furiad was very well choreographed. I felt like I was watching a war dance; a dance of swords if you will. That alone made this scene stand out. Then came the BOOM when one of Furiad's higher angels did a kamikaze dive into the nuclear reactor as Michael had the red angel pinned down.

The laurels over head were a nice touch

         9. The Bunker, Alex is the Chosen One: Jeep's demise then Alex's revelation as he is revealed as the fabled Chosen One was enough to render me speechless. The look on everyone's faces as the cryptic tattoos transferred from Jeep to Alex. Langley Kirkwood brought a ruggedness to Jeep's character and I promise we have not seen the last of him as Jeep. You could feel everyone's shock (especially Alex's) to discover that the Chosen One was under their noses the whole time. Claire was the only one to fall to her knees of course but Alex grumbles for her to stand up. I could see he was a bit embarrassed; more because someone was bowing to him than for Claire's sake I would imagine. Also so far we saw Claire as no more than a somewhat naive person but the way she stood up to David when protecting Bixby we saw a glimmer of strength that will aid her in the future. Roxanne McKee plays her part well and we will continue to see how she has her character evolve wonderfully in the coming episodes. 

"Save it for your flock, William!"

         10. William and David argue politics and religion: If you've read the Bible (or at least heard stories) you'll find this show has a host of daddy issues. David and William are father and son but they definitely don't see eye to eye. Luke Allen Gale and Anthony Head did very well in this scene with their characters opposing ideals. You could really see the love but also a huge amount of friction where David was the dominant while William was the submissive power (although William did manage to bear his teeth once in a while). And like Lost Girl, Dominion is all for equality as it is revealed that Arika is Queen Evelyn's wife. Yep, somehow same sex marriages don't seem to get much flack in a post-apocalyptic world which is good because there are bigger things to worry about I think.

I'm not even sure it's even Greek to me!

          11. Michael and Alex talk about Destiny: This was a really humanized, softer scene between Alex and Michael where they actually talk to each other instead of talking at each other. I loved how Christopher Egan delivered his line "I'm just a man." It allowed us to view into Alex's justified anxiety and uncertainty as well as his vulnerability. A huge burden has just been placed on Alex's shoulders and he's not sure if he can handle it. But Michael shows himself to be encouraging and a strong faith in Alex even if Alex himself doesn't have enough faith in himself. Tom and Christopher show that there is more to their characters' relationship and that through real communication they come to an understanding. But that doesn't mean there still won't be a few lies or secrets they'll keep from each other as when Michael asked if Alex could read the tattoos and one said "Beware those closest to you" then said he couldn't read them. 

Beware of those closest to you indeed!

       12. The shocking cliffhanger: This scene was very short but no less astonishing as it is revealed that William is Gabriel's spy or one of his Black Acolytes. Furiad and Ronan were with Gabriel. Most likely to greater emphasize the fact that some of the higher angels have joined Gabriel's side in his war against humanity. The nature of their relationship is still somewhat a mystery to us but Gabriel calling William "son" does give us an answer but also MANY questions. 

Just because I love Chris's smile I'm posting this!

       Honorable Mentions: Although they didn't make my top favorites these scenes are still worth mentioning.

She starts out naive but Claire will surprise you with her strength;
she's every bit a leader.

       1. Claire tells a story: I loved how Claire told the history of the Extermination War to the kids. We already heard the story but Roxanne McKee tells the story with much more empathy and hope conveyed to the children. Then Alex and Claire stealing a romantic moment we see how happy they are and we are informed of the V-system's guidelines and rules about who can marry who. We also got to see quickly that Claire has two suitors and how her behavior is different with each: with Alex she's elated and hopeful but with William she's teasing like a sister and somewhat awkward when William goes for intimate touches such as prolonged hand holding.

"You still like the highest perch."

       2. Jeep and Michael talk about Alex: As I said before Langley Kirkwood brought a ruggedness to Jeep's character as well as some sarcasm to go with it. Langley and Tom gave us some insight into Michael and Jeep's relationship which was like two comrades picking up exactly where they left off years ago. We saw how both Michael and Jeep cared about Alex even though as far as we saw there wasn't much love lost between them and him. 

Political adversaries and sometimes friends... sometimes

       3. Riesen and David dinner by the pool: It was a very short scene but what stood out the most for me was the political and personal relationship of David and Lord Riesen. There was certainly some degree of familiarity but also a huge note of mistrust. David was the stormy wind while Riesen was the solid rock.

"What did you do now?"
Even Bixby knows Alex has a tendency to start fights.

       4. Alex and Bixby: Besty Wilke was just adorable as Bixby, the little V-1 and we saw just how much a softie Alex was as an adoptive parent figure for her. 

Family reunions really hurt don't they

       5. Alex and Jeep's Family Reunion: You'll find that the family reunions on Dominion can lead to some bruising. In this case the bruising was both physical and emotional. Langley Kirkwood and Christopher did a fine job with their scenes. Especially when Jeep gave Alex a picture of his mother, which may have repaired at least some damage to their relationship.

David is in disbelief!

       6. Michael and Jeep call a council meeting: The look on everyone's faces when Jeep walked into the room was somewhat humorous.

             Jeep: "Yep, I'm alive."

             David: "How?"

             Jeep: "Thick headedness."
         
        Also we got a look into the relationships of mistrust and David vs who ever stands in his way. 

        Next week I'll be telling you my favorite scenes from "Godspeed." I promise that by episode 3 you will be unbelievably hooked on this show!

It's going to be a great season 1!