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Felt and fangs on 'The Middleman'
If you took a shot for every time the phrase "pure Carpathian wood" was uttered in this episode of The Middleman, you'd be in a bad condition by the end of the hour.
Spoilers
At a party they're throwing, Jamie the Tarot Girl does a card reading for Wendy. While it's completely wrong, she does go into a creepy eye-rolling, gravel-voiced, tongue-speaking trance that says "Young Noser will be rend limb from limb to save you."
Wendizzle is appropriately worried considering she hasn't heard from him in days, but that must be put to the side to accompany Middleman to an auction of estate pieces from Vlad the Impaler's castle in case any of it could be used to resurrect an army of bloodsucking fiends. Everything goes well until the last, surprise item pops up - Little Vladdy, a puppet made in Vlad likeness as he had a passion for ventriloquism. The auctioneer (played by the lovely Steve Valentine, Nivel Townsend of Crossing Jordan) tries the puppet on and becomes possessed, a mere vessel for Little Vladdy to act through.
The shear absurdity and inherent creepiness of a "living" vampiric puppet is really effective. And hilarious. There's nothing like watching a fight scene between Dubby and puppet wielding minions. I appreciated the set ups this week. It was probably the smoothest Lacey and Noser have been worked into the scene of Wendy and MM's final villain fight. Situational conveniences can be hard to pull, but this one went off without a hitch. Add that to the vampire pop quiz in the car ("A vampire offers you soup..."), the ventriloquism convention and a "terrible" secret revealed about Noser and it all adds up to one of my favorite episodes so far. I feel like I say that every week but it's true.
Assorted Bits & Pieces
- Usagi Yojimbo got mentioned twice by Wendy. Awesome.
- References for tonight were clearly vampire related - from Bram Stoker's Dracula (John Seward Home of the Criminally Insane where past Little Vladdy victim/vessel Renfield currently resides) to Marvel Comics vamps (Montesi Vaccine, Blade references). Sadly there were no "Smile Time" Angel bits that I caught.
- The Secret Identity Crisis of the Week wasn't too crisis-y. Lacey's been having naughty dreams about Pip, the d-bag who stole Wendy's art and tried to pass it off as his own. When they team up to track down Noser and Wendy mocks her about it on the phone in front of MM, he's horrified to learn about the dreams. Because he's a plagiarizer. And because he's still sweet on her. But it all ends well with Lacey's little fantasies reverting to their original star - MM.
- Vampires have killed more Middlemen more than any other threat in history - two.
- I've liked Lacey so much more in the last few weeks. She's stopped being preachy and hasn't been mewly in quite some time. Kudos! This was a really good week for her. Brit Morgan does various forms of dazed and sassy-ness very well.
- Wendy is super-psyched for this case because she's always wanted to dispatch of a creature of the night. She prayed for the opportunity when she was young.
- No Tyler this week. I kind of missed him.
- Also, we get to find out quite the interesting bit about the Middleman towards the end of this episode, both about his feelings for Lacey and why he can't be with her. Mmm...sweet morsels of mystery.
- Speaking of MM, one of his exclamations was "Transylvania 6-5000" - the name of an awesome Big Band song as well as a cult classic movie staring Ed Begley, Jr., Jeff Goldblum and Geen Davis.
Quotes of the Week
"Ah...I'm gonna get my Buffy on." - A psyched Wendy while practice-staking the air
"Let's just say that Van Helsing might as well been Dutch for 'Middleman'" - MM on the extinction of vampires in the late 1800's
"How you like me know?" - Mouthed to a rival bidder by Wendy after winning an item
"Dubby, did he just turn into a bat puppet?" - MM asking a rhetorically question, the answer to which is yes
What say you about tonight's episode? Did I neglect to mention your favorite reference? Are you as creeped out by puppets as I am? Or are clowns by far creepier? Any other thoughts?
So what *DOES* it mean if a vampire offers you soup?
sydd | Aug 18, 2008 10:51:09 PM | #Turning into a bat puppet was grat. I absolutely love this show. If it gets canceled, Im gonna be really upset.
Syxx Gage | Aug 19, 2008 7:13:29 AM | #I agree about Lacey. I really liked her in this episode and the way the romance between her and the Middleman was handled really well again. I am intrigued by who else could the Middleman be in love with as well.
Darius | Aug 19, 2008 9:14:10 AM | #"Transylvania 6-5000"
The title is a pun on
"PEnnsylvania 6-5000",
a song made famous by Glenn Miller.
and even tho,
the movie with jeff and geena
has its moments,
I believe they were refering
to the old Bugs Bunny Cartoon
where he gets lost and ends up
at the vampire castle,and he
says magic words and turns
the vampire into different
animals (i.e. mosquito, 2 headed volture)
also one of the minion puppets was a rabbit
but that could be a reference to to monty python's holy grail
and the killer rabbit
darn
i'm way too much into this show!!!
"Transylvania 6-5000"
The title is a pun on
"PEnnsylvania 6-5000",
a song made famous by Glenn Miller.
and even tho,
the movie with jeff and geena
has its moments,
I believe they were refering
to the old Bugs Bunny Cartoon
where he gets lost and ends up
at the vampire castle,and he
says magic words and turns
the vampire into different
animals (i.e. mosquito, 2 headed volture)
also one of the minion puppets was a rabbit
but that could be a reference to to monty python's holy grail
and the killer rabbit
darn
i'm way too much into this show!!!
I can't put into words just how much I love this show. Every single episode has been better than the last. I'm even beginning to enjoy the MM/Lacey aspect.
What are the ratings like? It would be a real shame if this show got cancelled.
I absolutely loved the reference to three canadian syndicated vampire shows!! One of which HAS to be Blood Ties. Unfortunately the Middleman is going to suffer the same fate...A great show completely ignored by the mass public AND its own network. (Once abcFam moved MM to 10pm the cancellation clock stared counting down!)
Rome | Aug 19, 2008 1:13:03 PM | #I'm usually not a big fan of vampire-related plotlines, because they've all been done, ad infinitum, ad nauseum, blah-blah-blah. However, this episode combined two things I generally enjoy: ventriloquism and evil entities possessing people (hence the nym, Dark Disciple). Buffy, of course, was the best show to highlight such goings-on, often in a humorous way, but this episode of Middleman ranked right up there. I won't say any more about ABC-Duh's idiotic treatment of this show, since that too has already been stated many, many, many times. I just wish I had been proven wrong in this case, and that the show was a definite renewal. All I have to say is that there had better be a DVD release, or some fur is going to fly.
Dark Disciple | Aug 19, 2008 1:44:01 PM | #With regard to the three Canadian syndicated vampire detective series, there's Forever Knight and Blood Ties, of course, but I can't think of a third, at least that made it to the States.
Steve | Aug 19, 2008 2:05:42 PM | #I don't know about the 9:00pm time slot argument-- I always watch it when it's repeated at 11:00pm, in the time slot Whose Line usually airs, so I watch anyway. If only I had the pull of the Nielson voters, I could help save this show. This program falls into my guilty pleasures category, right up there with Quantum Leap and the Buffy/ Angel franchise, and you know how those shows ended up, because the networks bounced them around the schedule, and even switched stations in one case. At least Family Channel has kept the show on the same day consistently, so we know when to watch. We need a petition to save the show, like the fanatics of those CBS shows, Jericho and Moonlight (have you SEEN how many lame polls about those shows are on the People's Choice website?) Maybe we should get the word out that way.
KB | Aug 19, 2008 7:16:53 PM | #This show is too good for this network, why doesn't SCI FI pick it up?, it better fits that brand.
This network picked up the really awful "American Teenager" and hasn't picked up this well written and acted gem. Good comedy is hard to find on television and this one should be on someone's radar even if this network isn't the one. This has been the real suprise of the summer.
The only thing this episode missed was a shout out to the hilarious "Angel" episode you mentioned. This episode was that good.
Please someone save this show. I have a feeling Matt Keelser is really going to miss playing this part and working with these rapidly improving actresses. There isn't this much chemistry on most shows on television and you cannot help but love the characters.
Brian | Aug 20, 2008 10:51:13 AM | #Tamara:
Great job on the recap! I was wondering what Wendy was mouthing to the other bidder at the auction. And I agree that Lacy has become much more likeable, especially in the last bunch of episodes.
With only 2 more eps left, I do hope we get to find out:
- who is the other woman Middleman loves?
- what will happen between MM and Lacey?
- will we hear some of Noser's concept album?
- will Wendy wear her catsuit one more time?
Javier continues to post the references from each episode himself after the show airs:
http://themiddleblog.livejournal.com/37364.html
Enjoy!
You know, I completely missed the Monty Python bunny reference - I was thinking more along the lines of a reference to the 1980's children's novel "bunnicula" about a vampire bunny. Oh, well...
Loved this show! I somehow doubt it is going to be renewed since we haven't heard anything about it. Oh, well... guess I'll just have to get the dvds...
katie71483 | Aug 20, 2008 3:27:46 PM | #Bram Stoker's widow! and PMGO! (Puke My Guts Out) are 2 more great one liners from this episode.
I hope MM gets a second season. This is such a great show!
How clever was it when MM and Wendy show up at the Seward Home for the Criminally Insane as representatives from the Department of Education because "if you can teach the criminally insane you can teach anyone."
MM making a puppet out of his hand because "it's the only way to interview an insane ventriloquist" was priceless.
DaisyRose | Aug 20, 2008 3:40:38 PM | #Another wonderful episode! Wendy's enthusiasm to battle vamps was priceless (as was the Canadian TV line): that she battles evil in a totally angst-free manner (in fact, it's a nice break from her angsty love life) is one of the most unique and cool parts of the show. I've read that the 13th episode that was scrapped in favor of an extra day of shooting on Episode 12 was to involve the Middleman's origin, so I'm a little nervous that we won't learn the answer to that dangling question about the other woman he loves. But perhaps if the show is cancelled, they could include that unfilmed script with the DVD set. Vamp puppets are awesome, and I've really enjoyed the way some recent episodes have managed to add a little gravity to their gloriously absurd menaces (as with the Titanic tuba episode and last week's descent into evil by a former Middleman), and Vlad the puppet was actually a little bit scary, especially in the video footage of his televised attack on the arm of Renfield the ventriloquist. Plus, more Middleman/Lacey goodness. "Ride Lonesome, huh?" I love this show!
Lamar | Aug 20, 2008 4:36:47 PM | #OK, so I caught the the reference to 3 Canadian syndicated vampire shows and immediately thought of Forever Knight (I'm [was] a BIG fan and caught it all a 2nd time around when the SciFi Channel ran it all again. I STILL want a loft like Nick's.), and then more recently, Blood Ties (based on the Tanya Huff, Vickie Nelson books series which I've read) came to mind as based in Canada, but I can not come up with a 3rd, at least if there IS a 3rd, I never saw it here in the lower 48. As soon as I saw the puppet, I immediately thought of the Angel episode with the kid's show and Angel being turned into a muppet. What IS it with a vampire offering soup??? I think this show is really underrated. It isn't often that a show comes along that I really look forward to seeing every week like I do with this one. Am I the only one who actually knew a girl in my past named Wendy who we all called Dub, Dub-Dub and Dubby?
xyzzy.plugh | Aug 21, 2008 9:31:22 PM | #I also only got the two shows (I really wish they'd renew Blood Ties) but never to fear. Per Javier's blog:
'"three of the major syndicated canadian vampire shows" - actually, we only know of two major syndicated canadian vampire detective shows ("forever knight" and "blood ties" - but that just goes to show how much bigger a geek wendy is than we are)'
So, if you can find a third, you too could be the next Middleman.
Also, per the blog, the Transylvania 6-5000 was a direct reference to the movie - but good catch on the Bugs Bunny cartoon. I don't think I ever knew the name of that one despite seeing it a billion times.
And the vampire rabbit thing - how could I have missed a Bunnicula comparison? Shame on me! Loved those books. Also could be Monty Python. It's layers upon layers of goodness.
Tamara B. | Aug 21, 2008 11:13:51 PM | #If a vampire offers you soup, or any sort of red liquid, or any liquid at all because it is always possible to add food coloring, or any confection that could reasonably be filled with a liquid, it means that he is trying to trick you into consuming his highly addictive vampire blood. If you do so you'll become his ghoulish butt-monkey, willing to so anything for your next fix of vampire juice. For the love of all that is holy, don't touch the stuff.
hyzmarca | Aug 22, 2008 6:32:13 AM | #I've had vampire soup before--I believe the waiter called it "borscht." :P (and just for the record, beets are nasty! bring on the blood!)
Revenant | Aug 22, 2008 12:21:43 PM | #"...and it all adds up to one of my favorite episodes so far. I feel like I say that every week but it's true."
Tamara, its so wonderful to have a recapper who geeks out as much as we do!
My 2-cents on MM's other true love. I think he was married (and possibly still is) the way he was fondling the wedding ring at the end. (Brooding alone in a dark office just like a certain vampire detective in LA.)
| Aug 25, 2008 4:04:46 PM | #oh, the 2-centser opinion above is me.
Kalena | Aug 25, 2008 4:06:53 PM | #
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