he Fix
he Fix
Natalie's research leads her to believe she might be able to cure Nick, if he's willing to take the risk. While taking the wonder drug, Nick and Schanke unofficially investigate the suicide of another cop. Is Nick just having incredible hunches or is the drug not quite what it seems?
It worries me when the writers of a show decide to place the main character out of context. Like in the Prisoner episode "The Girl who was Death" -- suddenly he's roaming freely around the countryside. A nice tale, but it not only doesn't advance the plot, it goes against the basic principles.
This episode was much better, though. Natalie found an experimental chemical that might just reverse his vampiric condition. And it really seemed to work in the beginning -- although I'm amazed that they didn't take more precautions, run tests, etc, before driving around in the sunlight.
Nick showed very little restraint in his actions. After restraining himself from his urges for so long, starving himself of blood, it's clear that he has a lot of self control. But when they confront Jimmy Vinetti, Nick suddenly starts eating Jimmy's food. I don't understand this sudden disappearance of his willpower. Ditto for his sudden addiction to this drug after just one dose. Maybe the drug was so powerful that it completely changed him -- but if so, how did he suddenly pull together and stop cold at the very end? When it was so strong?
And wouldn't he be massively sunburnt after a few hours outside? I am, after a long winter out of the sun, and eight hundred years is a lot more time. Admittedly, Schanke noted to Nick "you look all sunburnt" after his behaviour started getting really bizarre, but I didn't think he looked any different.
Then he flaunted his "mortality" in the faces of Janette and LaCroix. That might have been in character, but I don't think he'd be that callous, since he knows of their aversion to the concept. After all, during the flashback, they saved him when the "doctor" who was trying to help Nick become mortal again became overzealous, continuing against Nick's pleas. LaCroix also seemed truly concerned when he visited Nick, telling Nick the cold truth rather than letting him fail in another painful lesson. He even stood (painfully) in the sunlight for a while while talking to Nick -- though why, I'm not completely certain.
But no matter the flaws in reasoning, the whole idea of a drug that would return Nick to mortality was the dominant theme in this show. Sure, there was the base plot of some officer who killed himself, and the mob leader Jimmy Vinetti (played by Howard Jerome, oddly enough), who had corrupted fellow officer Fred Berman (played by David Eisner). But I'd be hard pressed to tell you much about that plot, even after two viewings.
A point to LaCroix, for saying "friends as old as I don't need invitation" when he entered Nick's home. An interesting reference to the legend that vampires can only enter if invited -- certainly not true in this show.
Episode rating (0 to 10): 4
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