TV Korner: iZombie 2.14 – “Eternal Sunshine of the Caffeinated Mind”

“Eternal Sunshine of the Caffeinated Mind” pulls absolutely everything out in the third act to deliver a chilling resolution the will leave fans of iZombie stunned.

I can’t say that on the whole this episode was really all that special.  Liv eats the brain of a deceased coffee shop manager with a sunny disposition and a plethora of loved ones.  The mystery itself doesn’t pick up steam, nor does it unfold in a natural way.  The resolution comes all at once, so the episode suffers from a lack of progression.  There are some funny aspects of the main plot, including Ravi’s attempts to court a barista and an unusual yet effective alibi for a prime suspect.  It breaks up the action with levity, so it’s all appreciated, but it doesn’t change the lazy mystery that drives everything forward.  Then the third act happens, and all hell breaks loose.  I can’t say I saw any of the deception coming, and it’s so absolutely brilliant that there is no way in hell I could give it away.  The killer of the episode is one that is going to stick out in everyone’s mind, and may even be the killer that all of iZombie’s future killers are graded against.

The main mystery eats up most of the plot, but the cure storyline does bring the fear factor back to iZombie when the monster aspect of Liv’s condition is given form in an experiment gone horribly wrong.  It adds a tense element to Major and Blaine’s predicament though.  We’re able to get a more clear view of Drake’s actions as a character, which finally establishes his motivation in the series.  A little more of Blaine’s history as a former member of Mr. Boss’ organization is revealed, which leads to a reference filled ride that ultimately ends in a way that is way too obvious to allow any kind of surprise.  Not enough time is spent on Major’s own perspective of his ticking clock, and all the big ideas sit right at the tail end of the episode where they’re not allowed enough time to really blossom.

Final Word: “Eternal Sunshine of the Caffeinated Mind” is pretty by the numbers for iZombie.  Big ideas get their start but are mostly just teased.  The main mystery is bland, save for some humor here and there, but that villain reveal just makes me want to forget all of the times it dragged.  It’s just that good.

“Eternal Sunshine of the Caffeinated Mind” gets a 7.0/10.  Too much is going on in the episode, so all of the main story gets stretched thin, but a haunting resolution to the main story comes across as the end of a real crime thriller.