Big happenings on Moonlight: Mick does a lot of exercising without his shirt on! Oh, and something tragic sends Beth into a tailspin and Mick into vamped-out action-anti-hero mode, with bloody results. Whee!

In lieu of flowers, the family requests spoilers.

Hey folks: I'm your last-minute emergency backup guide to the show tonight, as Jessi was kidnapped by a Salvadoran drug cartel -- or her TiVo betrayed her, one of the two. And because I was watching for pleasure, not for work, I wasn't noting down Mick's tortured philosophical voiceovers about love and death and humanity and loneliness and all the rest -- I was too busy drooling over near-naked Mick, and then cheering all the butt-kicking and blood-sucking. Just trust me -- throughout all the action, Mick was feeling sad and alone. It's hard out there for a vamp.

ANYway: Josh is working on prosecuting a bigwig in a Salvadoran drug cartel, and when they get mad, they tend to get even -- by torturing and killing their prosecutor's loved ones. That means Beth is in the crosshairs. Beth is understandably freaked, but she convinces Josh that it is Good and Pure and Right and all the rest for him to keep going after the bad guy, because that's the kind of woman she is. Then they forget all their past troubles, have hot "I'm glad no one died" sex, and pretty much forget all about Mick St. John.

Josh is so fortified by the cheating-death nookie that he asks Mick to keep an eye on Beth until the police protection detail can get to her. Mick's super-powered vampire hearing picks up their pledges of love, and he's sad and brooding and alone and ...insert your favorite tortured vampire adjective here. While Mick mopes, Josh decides to make  the Salvadoran uncomfortable, which he does by arresting him at his daughter's sweet sixteen party. No one messes with the sweet sixteen -- come on, there are MTV series about it -- so the Salvadoran decides strike back. A couple of his hired guns swoop in on Josh (as he's waving goodbye to Beth while she looks out the window adoringly) and, when the cops come after them, shove Josh in the trunk of their car. Cue the high-speed chase as Mick and Beth trail the getaway car, eventually using Josh's cell phone signal to track him down to a secluded area in Griffith Park. Mick vamps out and kicks butt, but one of the hired guns manages to pump several bullets into Josh through the back seat of the car.

Mick, who had been a medic in WWII (did we already know that?), valiantly tries to save Josh in all sorts of painful and unpleasant ways -- using the car's cigarette lighter to cauterize a wound was particularly squicky -- but Josh is in bad shape. Beth begs Mick to save Josh by turning him, but Mick refuses. Josh dies.

Beth blames Mick for not saving Josh, and wants nothing to do with him. This leaves Mick free to do what he does best -- mope about his lost humanity and the girl who cannot love him, and get all vampy and scare and/or kick the crap out of any bad guy who crosses his path. This leads to a rather spectacular bar brawl (complete with the bartender pulling a shotgun out from under the bar right on cue, which Mick notes sardonically in voiceover), and to Mick vamping out and taking a big chunk out of the Big Bad Salvadoran's neck. As there's no one there to cauterize the guy's wound with a cigarette lighter, I'm thinking he's dead.

There's some reconciliation between Mick and Beth at the end -- she asks him if he'd have turned her to save her if she'd been the one near death. Nope, Mick replies -- I'd be killing you, and I can't do that to you or anyone else. If it's so miserable as a vamp, why do you keep on living? Beth asks. Ouch. Did she just ask why he doesn't kill himself? "I live for you," Mick voiceovers, but of course he doesn't confess that to Beth. Oh, the angst!

Thoughts:

• I've gone on record that I thought Josh was basically a Plot Point hindrance to keep Mick and Beth apart, but I'll admit it -- I got a little verklempt when he died. But I imagine his relationship-blocking powers will live on, as Beth isn't too happy with Mick at the moment. Besides, it's hard to turn to someone undead for life-affirming post-funeral sex. 
• The other thing that might be important later is the whole deal with Coraline's blood. Long story short: There's nothing spooky about it, it's just plain old healthy human blood. The only quirks: It's so pure and untouched by free radicals that the researcher assumed it came from a child, and it's AO-, one of the rarest blood types in the world. Funnily enough, Beth happens to be AO- too. Huh. But when Mick is protecting Beth from shooting Salvadorans, Coraline's blood sample gets broken.
• I call foul on the "Sweet Sixteen" party -- that sure looked like a Quinceañera (complete with pink gown, I think), but apparently someone thought that was "too ethnic" or something.
• I loved how Mick's vamp senses made it possible for him to hear or feel just what was wrong with Josh's insides. Forget those new portable ultrasounds -- we need roving vampires in ERs everywhere.

What did you think? What did I miss? Did you love Mick's tortured philosophizing about Love and Death and Humanity, or were you just waiting for him to bite more people? Will Mick and Beth every truly reconcile after Josh's death? And what's up with Coraline's young and healthy childlike blood?

Comments

The blood type is AO- which to my knowledge doesn't exist. I thought the episode was good but clunky. It felt like a new director or editor, less moody in look with more mood in voiceover which didn't work for me. Beth's kissing of Josh was just icky, god I hope the girl improves before she lays the lip on Mick.

I still loved the episode as I only watch two shows, Moonlight and Blood Ties. I hope they renew BT. No such thing as too many vamp shows. There smokin hot!!! I think they need to have guy per week take off his shirt 8-)

assuit | Jan 11, 2008 10:22:38 PM | #

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Thanks, assuit, I made the correction. This is what happens when I don't save the episode so I can check things later.

If anyone cares, their is a genetic AO blood type, but it shows up as type A. If they REALLY wanted a rare blood type, they should have used the HH type. Yes, I'm geeky enough to have researched it. And fabulously enough, the National Center for Biotechnology Information uses an episode of General Hospital to explain the blood type. Hee!

Back to the show -- I do think the tone was a bit off. Yeah, it's as if they decided to make up for all the sunshine by having Mick say lots of depressed things in his head.

Sarah | Jan 12, 2008 8:57:56 AM | #

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The show captivated me first time I watched it. Not on account of the dialog though.

The dialog is awful at times and last night's ep had too much of it. I winced during this ep more than I've done in earlier eps. Not good.

Sarah, my thoughts exactly about the Sweet Sixteen party. Why it wasn't a Quince is baffling.

But I like the storylines very much, and I like all the characters including Coraline. So I'll keep watching, always with the hope that eventually I'll get through an entire ep without wincing.

Not kidding myself though; even if it gets worse, I'll keep tuning in. I'd watch O'Louglin snore for an hour every week.

I'm hooked.

Embeth | Jan 12, 2008 9:58:00 AM | #

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assuit-maybe it was just me, but i felt like the ick factor when beth was kissing josh was because she wasn't into it; moreover, that she did it because she felt she needed to for him-like she owed it to him, so she did it.
surely, they won't get her pregnant (rolling my eyes)!?

you know, i enjoy this show, but it just really isn't very good. the writing, effects, and acting are so very cheesy. and i know that i am in the minority, but i think mick was miscast; maybe he just doesn't do it for me but i do not find him overly "hot". regardless, i love vampire lore and will almost always watch it. i admit the show has improved as time goes on, but i think they need to find a new plot line that will keep the show fresh. it seems like it is really stretching to find a way for these two characters to interact and the writers or producers seem to have a difficult time interlacing the other actors into the plot, mostly because the plots have been so thin.

wow, didn't mean for this post to sound so negative. forgive me, i do enjoy the show and hope it gets renewed.

ghypscee | Jan 12, 2008 1:52:17 PM | #

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I also agree that the love scenes with Josh and Beth had major ick factor, she looked like she'd rather be anywhere else (especially when she woke up in the morning after sex with Josh). Although ultimately Beth and Josh would have to break up eventually to pave way for a Mick and Beth's romance I wish writer's didn't kill him off. There could have been good storyline potential with him suspicious of Mick and looking into his past. Mick did say that he did alot of things when he turned that he feels he needs to make up for. I hope this show gets renewed, it's getting better each week

moonlight fan | Jan 12, 2008 3:31:21 PM | #

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As a paramedic of 31 years, I was sooo mad at what the paramedics did on arrival. I did what I used to do when Emergency used to be on...correct everything they did. Do they even consult REAL medics when they make this crap up? Ohhh, let's do ONE compression and call it.... And does anyone know anything about ballistics? A weapon of that size would have made a MUCH larger hole. The writing here is crap. As a romance novelist, at least I do RESEARCH before I put my stuff out there. This is why I prefer CSI. At least it TRIES to be correct.

zoesgarden | Jan 12, 2008 3:49:56 PM | #

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Moonlight has never been much for "logic" or "facts." It's also never been much for "research" into the various areas where it takes the audience plot- and character-wise. It's just a big, dumb show. But. Even for all of that, I do wish it would try just a teeny weeny bit harder sometimes.

I laughed when they suggested that AO was a super rare blood type. It's certainly not as common as O, but, then, since most humans on the planet have type O blood, I don't know that this is saying much. Kudos for the attempt, but ... really.

For all the stupidity, though, I did enjoy when Beth and Mick tried to save Josh. It was very satisfying to see Mick take the baddies out. It's easier to suspend belief (and a lot more enjoyable to watch) when it comes to things like Mick's supernatural powers than when the writers try to be creative with science and medicine.

I thought Josh was acting very manically throughout most of the ep -- threatening a known murderer and jumping all over Beth like he was steak and he a carnivore who hadn't eaten in a great while -- so I wasn't too surprised when he was iced. Too bad, and all that, but it kind of looked like it was inevitable to me.

Beth becoming petulant about Mick not making Josh a vamp was also predictable and, yes, seems like yet another way for his character to continue to come between Mick and Beth. I rolled my eyes A LOT throughout this part of the plot. Unfortunately, I have a feeling it's going to be a tedious addition to many episodes to come.

I've said before that I thought Coraline, rather than no longer being a vampire, was covering up her vampirism instead. Looks like she might be doing it by taking in (injecting? ingesting?) child's blood. Perhaps she took some of Beth's childhood blood when she kidnapped her and is synthesizing it for her own use?

That's my guess. I'm sure the writers' explanation will be good, though ... if only for a few laughs.

I, like ghypscee, have not been quick to see O'Loughlin's appeal. But there have been moments when his Mick is breathtaking. The opening moments of this ep was one of those for me. Nice!

Berlin | Jan 13, 2008 12:11:43 AM | #

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I think, that Coraline should say who turned her into, a vampire? and how long and how old was she, when she turned into, a vampire thats what i want to happened next week me, and my mother norma watch the tv show, alot I stared watching it because my sister adrianna got us watching it..
So, and now my dad Louie got watches it, with us, at 900 pm
on cbs 47 oky?! keep playing
for the tv show moonlight ok please keep, on playing it.
we live in Fresno ca, 93702
buy the fresno fair grounds,
I want Coraline and Mick stay human, forever k guys and i
want Mick and Beth to get married too in 4 weeks, from now? write us back at louie-
vasquez@sbcglobal.net oky please dont forget ok....
my name is amanda vasquez we are fans big ones? too

Amanda Vasquez | Jan 18, 2008 8:08:26 PM | #

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I think, that Coraline should say who turned her into, a vampire? and how long and how old was she, when she turned into, a vampire thats what i want to happened next week me, and my mother norma watch the tv show, alot I stared watching it because my sister adrianna got us watching it..
So, and now my dad Louie got watches it, with us, at 900 pm
on cbs 47 oky?! keep playing
for the tv show moonlight ok please keep, on playing it.
we live in Fresno ca, 93702
buy the fresno fair grounds,
I want Coraline and Mick stay human, forever k guys and i
want Mick and Beth to get married too in 4 weeks, from now? write us back at louie-
vasquez@sbcglobal.net oky please dont forget ok....
my name is amanda vasquez we are fans big ones? too

Amanda Vasquez | Jan 18, 2008 8:08:36 PM | #

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I just think we should all back off and let them do whatever the hell they want to do with the show. It rocks that fuckin much I wouldn't care. So long as Mick is there each week looking even more edable!!!

And Beth, I mean come one, as cheesy and as non-American her accent can be sometimes (who could have picked she was a Brit! lol), she's hott!!
I mean don't get me wrong, I am happy being married to my husband and all, but come one - she is one sexy bitch!!

Anyways, to be honest I haven's been this excited about a new drama/ sci fi since X Files. And I was a true fan, and will be of Moonlight!!!

Belinda | Jan 19, 2008 5:15:47 PM | #

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I just think we should all back off and let them do whatever the hell they want to do with the show. It rocks that fuckin much I wouldn't care. So long as Mick is there each week looking even more edable!!!

And Beth, I mean come one, as cheesy and as non-American her accent can be sometimes (who could have picked she was a Brit! lol), she's hott!!
I mean don't get me wrong, I am happy being married to my husband and all, but come one - she is one sexy bitch!!

Anyways, to be honest I haven't been this excited about a new drama/ sci fi since X Files. And I was a true fan, and will be of Moonlight!!!

Belinda | Jan 19, 2008 5:16:10 PM | #

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Some of you people are harsh! I LURVE this show and was absolutely heartbroken that CBS did not add it to their pickup list. I guess they're waiting to see how it does with the new "handful" eps in April/May. ANYways...I guess I'm a pretty unreliable source of criticism for this show. I'll have to admit that I found this show slightly Kraft-like in the first epi but have adored Alex O'Loughlin from the get-go. He is *so* incredibly hot and I worship the ground he leaps over. HTG, I willingly suspend disbelief for these 44 or so minutes all the freakin' time -- got some of the epis on the DVR, some of them here from ITunes. Got to have me some Mick St. John at least once a day. I'm a sucker for vamps (I know, I know) and he's so freakin' beautiful and noble and slightly chauvinistic and a bit anachronistic and 100% perfect. I love the stuff others here consider hokey. There are times when the character (Mick) comes off as really old-fashioned and sweet and I say "Terrific!" -- spoken like a true child of the 40s and 50s. It should be part of his emotional makeup and I appreciate these little bits of characterization -- they make the character more authentic IMO. Can't wait for April -- what a great birthday present!

simbasue42 | Feb 16, 2008 6:26:18 PM | #

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The show has improved over time, and I hope that it continues to do so. The biggest draw for me is Alex O'Loughlin and has been since the first show. His accent is incredibly good for someone European. On the Peoples' Choice Awards" video of him standing on a beach talking in what must be his normal accent showed me what work he must do to sound American. The scene, even though he had on a shirt, was gorgeous, his hair blowing in the wind with flashes off the water. It didn't hurt at all that he sounded like a nice and normal person who was happy and excited at his good fortune, unashamedly happy.

To me, there is chemistry between Mick and Beth but not between Mick and Coraline. There exchanges seem as if they were heavy, as in hard work.

It would be nice to know more history, which I assume we will get in time. Much has happened in the few episodes we've had. There are many options for keeping the tale alive.

It did seem silly that the young girl's party wasn't called a Quinceañera. That's what I was thinking about it while I watched and didn't really register that it was billed as a "Sweet Sixteen" party until I saw the criticism above. What else would it have been? What's the largest quickly growing group in America? No, not drug dealers!

In my opinion there is enough of what is good, which continues to grow, to keep me coming back.

Friday just isn't the same anymore. Watching Miss Pure Boob-Baring Ghost Whisperer will NEVER achieve the dramatic heights this show has shown briefly and erratically. Please give us more and better of "Moonlight".

Loula | Mar 20, 2008 8:26:51 PM | #

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Sometimes I wonder what glass ball the Nielsen people are looking at to get their ratings. How can a show like Moonlighting be voted the best new drama show on the Peoples Choice awards and still show poor ratings by the Nielsen people. Tsk Tsk Tsk Break that ball and get a new one.

Moonlighting is developing into a fine show. Need I say more? Joan

Joan DeBaca | Mar 28, 2008 8:44:37 PM | #

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