Photo Credit: The CW - Kristin Kreuk (L) as Catherine Chandler, Jay Ryan (R) as Vincent Keller.
OVERALL GRADE = 88% (B+)
With one episode left to end the series, a sense of closure is felt throughout the episode as we wrap up some loose ends and finally address some of the 'ghosts of the past' that continually haunt both Vincent and Catherine by asking ourselves - how did we get here? We are invited to look inside these characters, delve into their past, and discover their truths. And it's important to dig up the past - especially for characters like Vincent and Catherine - because it reminds us of their journey and it helps us better understand the people they are today. Not only did revisiting the past strengthen the plot in terms of character development, it also produced standout performances from both Jay and Kristin. Spending four seasons with a character, trails along a history of feelings and moments that culminate into powerful scenes like these. And when nearing the series finale, these types of character introspections are greatly appreciated because they bring closure to a character's journey. We'll get a chance to delve into each of their performances and explain just how important these scenes were to their characters later on, but first - let's talk plot.
Early on in the episode, Agent Dylan reveals the true motive for arresting Vincent and why she was so adamant on capturing him. It goes beyond just the murder of Agent Hill - DHS believes that Vincent is a terrorist who is responsible for the murders of Braxton, Ecklund, Garris, etc. and is planning his next attack. That explains why DHS did not want to make any deals to exonerate Vincent. The question then becomes: who is framing Vincent? With Catherine being bailed out of jail by her sister, it's up to the team to try to figure out where Vincent is being held captive and exactly who is setting him up. But as JT points out, even if they do find out who the person or beast is - can they stop him? Can they do this without Vincent? Vincent and Catherine have been forced to work apart before, but things prove to be especially difficult at this crucial time - when they face a nameless and faceless villain who's got their hands tied behind their backs. And as such, it appears that there is "no way out." In fact, both Vincent and Catherine reach a point in their struggles where they feel broken; helpless in this endless fight for justice and thus arises the question: how did we get here?
Let's go back to season one. The answers lie in the very first episode where we get a quick glimpse of both Vincent and Catherine's backstory. Granted, we don't get much detail into their previous lives but it's enough for us to understand that they both come from a tumultuous, dark and tragic past. They both faced life transforming events that shook them at their core and left a permanent scar. Their perspective of the world shifted and in so doing, caused them to withdraw themselves from society in order to live in isolation. No one would ever understand them . In Vincent's case, he physically removed himself from the world while Catherine emotionally removed herself from the people around her. Think about it. She kept her distance with men, she constantly avoided her family, and she threw herself into her work as a way of keeping those relationships at bay. And it's perhaps why Tess was her only friend - because Tess isn't exactly an emotionally needy person and in some ways, is similar to Cat. Additionally, we must remember that there was a time when people were convinced that Catherine had suffered some mental trauma - believing that she had seen some sort of 'beast' the night of her mother's death. No one believed her. But it's that one night where Vincent and Catherine find each other - both scarred souls; both outcasts - in search of a common goal - to make things right - for they were hurt by the same people - Muirfield. And it is through this 'fight for justice' that they form an unbreakable bond and in the process, heal each other's scars, so to speak. But when does the fight stop? Here's where we discover the personal reasons why Vincent and Catherine don't want to stop the fight. And it's all in the family.
In one of the most powerful scenes of the series, we see Vincent being interrogated by DHS. And I say that it's one of the most powerful scenes because we see DHS try to mentally, physically, and emotionally break Vincent down; unravel him. Essentially, strip Vincent of everything he had gained through Catherine and through her love. They physically beat him, inject him with adrenaline, and attempt to psychologically control him by convincing him that he was a monster - filling him with guilt. And you can feel the torture that Vincent is going through because we must remember, that for a long time - Vincent believed that he was that monster. There was a point in his life where was filled with self-hatred and shame for what he had become. Only until Catherine came into his life did he start to see the "beauty" in himself and start to believe that he could still regain his humanity. And Vincent has always felt guilt about the things he's done - whether they were intentional or not. So for DHS to start to dig up those familiar feelings and insecurities that Vincent has always had, proves to be extremely challenging for Vincent. And in so doing, becomes a true testament to how far Vincent has come since season one. And the only thing that keeps him in control, the only thing that prevents him from falling into that hole again - is Catherine - the reminder of her love and what she taught him about himself. Which is why when he starts repeating to himself, "I'm not a monster . . . I'm not a monster," it's a way for Vincent to remember what Catherine said to him when they first met, "You're not a monster." It also proves how their relationship has evolved into something that transcends the boundaries of time and space. One where simply the memory of Catherine's love is powerful enough to provide guidance for Vincent in a time of need. And Jay's performance emotionally encapsulates Vincent's entire journey, including his constant struggle within: man vs. beast. In previous instances, Jay has been described by his peers as being "emotionally dangerous" and I think this scene is a perfect example of that - balancing that thin line between madness and sanity. And thus, because of the importance of this scene to Vincent's character and Jay's emotionally raw performance - this becomes one of the most powerful and memorable scenes in the series. But it also opens up a bigger conversation about the power of psychology and mental scars. PTSD is something real and it brings much more weight and depth to the entire issue.
Although the narrative that DHS feeds Vincent is a false one - to the outsider - it has all the reason to be true, if we leave out all the beast stuff. And here's where an alternative interpretation could be applied to entire series. What if there was no beast this entire time? And in fact, the 'beast' was just a metaphor used to represent Vincent’s mental and psychological scars resulting from the war? If we look past the supernatural and the sci-fi portion of the story, then it becomes a story about two psychologically scarred souls who found each other, found hope, and found love by mending each other's scars. Vincent, suffered a traumatic experience at war, and came home with a nasty 'scar' which we can assume would be PTSD. Catherine, suffered a traumatic experience, watching her mother die before her and thus, kept avoiding confronting her past. Thus, the ‘beast’ then represents the darkness in all of us (the scars) while the ‘beauty’ represents the love within all of us, which consequently heals those scars. If we look at the story in this capacity, then it opens up a bigger conversation about psychological trauma, bringing much more weight and depth to the issue. And this is what I like about this show, that although it is heavily based on supernatural concepts, it still leaves room for alternate interpretations that help ground the story in reality - placing it in a world that has suffered from these very same events - 9/11, the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Osama Bin Laden, etc. It's all very familiar to us and hits close to home - especially with 9/11 being remembered a couple of days ago.
Catherine’s loss of her mother has been the root of Catherine’s inner turmoil, trigger for growth, and the sole reason she joined the ‘fight for justice.’ It’s defined her relationships with the people around her and sharpened her perspective of the world and her place in it. And in some ways, because her mother was abruptly taken away from her, Catherine never had the appropriate closure with her - nor was she able to talk to someone about it. And it gets worse through the seasons as we discover that her mother was involved with Muirfield and had even known Vincent at one point. And whenever Catherine felt helpless or trapped, she would have a habit of releasing all of her pent up anger and bottled up emotions onto her mother - because she wasn’t around to explain everything. Only until last season, did Catherine finally face her past and learn to forgive her mother when she discovered her mother’s tape. That scene where Catherine is watching her mother’s tape is a huge scene for her character - because she’s finally moving on and learning to let go of something she didn’t have control over. In “No Way Out,” Catherine has a similar moment of release and confrontation. And it’s important because it is through this moment that we truly learn why she has never given up the fight. It wasn’t just because it was the right thing to do, it’s because it was a way for her to get rid of the guilt she felt. It was a way for her to compensate for the fact that she could never bring her mother back. That’s why she’s been so adamant on hunting the bad guy, searching for answers, determined to fulfill her destiny and be a part of something bigger. It’s a revelation and truth that perhaps Catherine knew was inside of her all along, but never wanted to admit it; confront it. And Kristin’s performance beautifully emotes that history of Catherine’s dark past and her heartbreak. After fourteen years of bottling up her emotions, Catherine can finally let go. And with that, we get closure with Catherine’s character and as a viewer, it feels rewarding to wrap things up nicely. Brilliant introspection.
Of course, things run in the family. And Catherine is quick to warn her sister to not fall into the same tirade she had for years. And it’s a lesson that has taken Catherine quite a while to learn - learning when to give up the fight. And it’s a nice bonding moment between the sisters. Out of guilt for Kyle’s stupidity, Heather tries to make up for it by placing herself in danger and eventually gets herself shot. To see Catherine pass on her lesson to her little sister, feels like the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
What’s interesting here is that GUILT is what has made these people who they are. Vincent simply wanted to join the army when his brothers died in the Twin Towers. Cat joined the NYPD in order to bring justice to those who couldn’t protect themselves. JT wanted to make up for the fact that he unknowingly enlisted his friend for the super soldier program. Tess wanted to protect her friend and do the right thing. Heather wanted to make up for being careless with Vincent and Catherine’s secrets. It’s also important to note how quickly GUILT can turn into REVENGE. Which is a slippery slope that Vincent has almost fallen into many times.
Moving back to the plot, we learn that there is no beast. This plot twist turns things around because it explains plot holes in the prior episode that I had a problem with AND it also opens up the finale to something different other than the classic “beast vs. beast.” As such, it solves certain story problems and builds the series finale up to become something much bigger - which I like. What would make Braxton an even more exciting villain is delving into his backstory and discovering how he’s been following Vincent’s every step since the very beginning. What if he’s actually been around the entire series, been behind all of the bad guys - but we just never noticed? That would emphasize just how dangerous and stealthy this villain could be, bringing in more weight and depth to his character - like Liam. If Braxton has been this ‘invisible villain’ that has been around this whole time, then it literally finishes and concludes the fight. Because Vincent and Catherine would not just be taking down Muirfield, they’d be taking down the “true beast” all along - the root of both Vincent and Catherine’s losses and pain. I believe, then and only then, would Vincent and Catherine finally be able to live a peaceful and happy life.
On another note, I loved the song they played at the end when Vincent and Catherine visit the 9/11 memorial (season 2 vibes anyone?). The song is “Illuminate” by the Kite String Tangle. It was posted on my “New Music Discovery” page last year! So, if you have a moment, go ahead and check it out!
Until then, we’ll wait for the last and final episode!
With one episode left to end the series, a sense of closure is felt throughout the episode as we wrap up some loose ends and finally address some of the 'ghosts of the past' that continually haunt both Vincent and Catherine by asking ourselves - how did we get here? We are invited to look inside these characters, delve into their past, and discover their truths. And it's important to dig up the past - especially for characters like Vincent and Catherine - because it reminds us of their journey and it helps us better understand the people they are today. Not only did revisiting the past strengthen the plot in terms of character development, it also produced standout performances from both Jay and Kristin. Spending four seasons with a character, trails along a history of feelings and moments that culminate into powerful scenes like these. And when nearing the series finale, these types of character introspections are greatly appreciated because they bring closure to a character's journey. We'll get a chance to delve into each of their performances and explain just how important these scenes were to their characters later on, but first - let's talk plot.
Early on in the episode, Agent Dylan reveals the true motive for arresting Vincent and why she was so adamant on capturing him. It goes beyond just the murder of Agent Hill - DHS believes that Vincent is a terrorist who is responsible for the murders of Braxton, Ecklund, Garris, etc. and is planning his next attack. That explains why DHS did not want to make any deals to exonerate Vincent. The question then becomes: who is framing Vincent? With Catherine being bailed out of jail by her sister, it's up to the team to try to figure out where Vincent is being held captive and exactly who is setting him up. But as JT points out, even if they do find out who the person or beast is - can they stop him? Can they do this without Vincent? Vincent and Catherine have been forced to work apart before, but things prove to be especially difficult at this crucial time - when they face a nameless and faceless villain who's got their hands tied behind their backs. And as such, it appears that there is "no way out." In fact, both Vincent and Catherine reach a point in their struggles where they feel broken; helpless in this endless fight for justice and thus arises the question: how did we get here?
Let's go back to season one. The answers lie in the very first episode where we get a quick glimpse of both Vincent and Catherine's backstory. Granted, we don't get much detail into their previous lives but it's enough for us to understand that they both come from a tumultuous, dark and tragic past. They both faced life transforming events that shook them at their core and left a permanent scar. Their perspective of the world shifted and in so doing, caused them to withdraw themselves from society in order to live in isolation. No one would ever understand them . In Vincent's case, he physically removed himself from the world while Catherine emotionally removed herself from the people around her. Think about it. She kept her distance with men, she constantly avoided her family, and she threw herself into her work as a way of keeping those relationships at bay. And it's perhaps why Tess was her only friend - because Tess isn't exactly an emotionally needy person and in some ways, is similar to Cat. Additionally, we must remember that there was a time when people were convinced that Catherine had suffered some mental trauma - believing that she had seen some sort of 'beast' the night of her mother's death. No one believed her. But it's that one night where Vincent and Catherine find each other - both scarred souls; both outcasts - in search of a common goal - to make things right - for they were hurt by the same people - Muirfield. And it is through this 'fight for justice' that they form an unbreakable bond and in the process, heal each other's scars, so to speak. But when does the fight stop? Here's where we discover the personal reasons why Vincent and Catherine don't want to stop the fight. And it's all in the family.
In one of the most powerful scenes of the series, we see Vincent being interrogated by DHS. And I say that it's one of the most powerful scenes because we see DHS try to mentally, physically, and emotionally break Vincent down; unravel him. Essentially, strip Vincent of everything he had gained through Catherine and through her love. They physically beat him, inject him with adrenaline, and attempt to psychologically control him by convincing him that he was a monster - filling him with guilt. And you can feel the torture that Vincent is going through because we must remember, that for a long time - Vincent believed that he was that monster. There was a point in his life where was filled with self-hatred and shame for what he had become. Only until Catherine came into his life did he start to see the "beauty" in himself and start to believe that he could still regain his humanity. And Vincent has always felt guilt about the things he's done - whether they were intentional or not. So for DHS to start to dig up those familiar feelings and insecurities that Vincent has always had, proves to be extremely challenging for Vincent. And in so doing, becomes a true testament to how far Vincent has come since season one. And the only thing that keeps him in control, the only thing that prevents him from falling into that hole again - is Catherine - the reminder of her love and what she taught him about himself. Which is why when he starts repeating to himself, "I'm not a monster . . . I'm not a monster," it's a way for Vincent to remember what Catherine said to him when they first met, "You're not a monster." It also proves how their relationship has evolved into something that transcends the boundaries of time and space. One where simply the memory of Catherine's love is powerful enough to provide guidance for Vincent in a time of need. And Jay's performance emotionally encapsulates Vincent's entire journey, including his constant struggle within: man vs. beast. In previous instances, Jay has been described by his peers as being "emotionally dangerous" and I think this scene is a perfect example of that - balancing that thin line between madness and sanity. And thus, because of the importance of this scene to Vincent's character and Jay's emotionally raw performance - this becomes one of the most powerful and memorable scenes in the series. But it also opens up a bigger conversation about the power of psychology and mental scars. PTSD is something real and it brings much more weight and depth to the entire issue.
Although the narrative that DHS feeds Vincent is a false one - to the outsider - it has all the reason to be true, if we leave out all the beast stuff. And here's where an alternative interpretation could be applied to entire series. What if there was no beast this entire time? And in fact, the 'beast' was just a metaphor used to represent Vincent’s mental and psychological scars resulting from the war? If we look past the supernatural and the sci-fi portion of the story, then it becomes a story about two psychologically scarred souls who found each other, found hope, and found love by mending each other's scars. Vincent, suffered a traumatic experience at war, and came home with a nasty 'scar' which we can assume would be PTSD. Catherine, suffered a traumatic experience, watching her mother die before her and thus, kept avoiding confronting her past. Thus, the ‘beast’ then represents the darkness in all of us (the scars) while the ‘beauty’ represents the love within all of us, which consequently heals those scars. If we look at the story in this capacity, then it opens up a bigger conversation about psychological trauma, bringing much more weight and depth to the issue. And this is what I like about this show, that although it is heavily based on supernatural concepts, it still leaves room for alternate interpretations that help ground the story in reality - placing it in a world that has suffered from these very same events - 9/11, the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Osama Bin Laden, etc. It's all very familiar to us and hits close to home - especially with 9/11 being remembered a couple of days ago.
Catherine’s loss of her mother has been the root of Catherine’s inner turmoil, trigger for growth, and the sole reason she joined the ‘fight for justice.’ It’s defined her relationships with the people around her and sharpened her perspective of the world and her place in it. And in some ways, because her mother was abruptly taken away from her, Catherine never had the appropriate closure with her - nor was she able to talk to someone about it. And it gets worse through the seasons as we discover that her mother was involved with Muirfield and had even known Vincent at one point. And whenever Catherine felt helpless or trapped, she would have a habit of releasing all of her pent up anger and bottled up emotions onto her mother - because she wasn’t around to explain everything. Only until last season, did Catherine finally face her past and learn to forgive her mother when she discovered her mother’s tape. That scene where Catherine is watching her mother’s tape is a huge scene for her character - because she’s finally moving on and learning to let go of something she didn’t have control over. In “No Way Out,” Catherine has a similar moment of release and confrontation. And it’s important because it is through this moment that we truly learn why she has never given up the fight. It wasn’t just because it was the right thing to do, it’s because it was a way for her to get rid of the guilt she felt. It was a way for her to compensate for the fact that she could never bring her mother back. That’s why she’s been so adamant on hunting the bad guy, searching for answers, determined to fulfill her destiny and be a part of something bigger. It’s a revelation and truth that perhaps Catherine knew was inside of her all along, but never wanted to admit it; confront it. And Kristin’s performance beautifully emotes that history of Catherine’s dark past and her heartbreak. After fourteen years of bottling up her emotions, Catherine can finally let go. And with that, we get closure with Catherine’s character and as a viewer, it feels rewarding to wrap things up nicely. Brilliant introspection.
Of course, things run in the family. And Catherine is quick to warn her sister to not fall into the same tirade she had for years. And it’s a lesson that has taken Catherine quite a while to learn - learning when to give up the fight. And it’s a nice bonding moment between the sisters. Out of guilt for Kyle’s stupidity, Heather tries to make up for it by placing herself in danger and eventually gets herself shot. To see Catherine pass on her lesson to her little sister, feels like the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
What’s interesting here is that GUILT is what has made these people who they are. Vincent simply wanted to join the army when his brothers died in the Twin Towers. Cat joined the NYPD in order to bring justice to those who couldn’t protect themselves. JT wanted to make up for the fact that he unknowingly enlisted his friend for the super soldier program. Tess wanted to protect her friend and do the right thing. Heather wanted to make up for being careless with Vincent and Catherine’s secrets. It’s also important to note how quickly GUILT can turn into REVENGE. Which is a slippery slope that Vincent has almost fallen into many times.
Moving back to the plot, we learn that there is no beast. This plot twist turns things around because it explains plot holes in the prior episode that I had a problem with AND it also opens up the finale to something different other than the classic “beast vs. beast.” As such, it solves certain story problems and builds the series finale up to become something much bigger - which I like. What would make Braxton an even more exciting villain is delving into his backstory and discovering how he’s been following Vincent’s every step since the very beginning. What if he’s actually been around the entire series, been behind all of the bad guys - but we just never noticed? That would emphasize just how dangerous and stealthy this villain could be, bringing in more weight and depth to his character - like Liam. If Braxton has been this ‘invisible villain’ that has been around this whole time, then it literally finishes and concludes the fight. Because Vincent and Catherine would not just be taking down Muirfield, they’d be taking down the “true beast” all along - the root of both Vincent and Catherine’s losses and pain. I believe, then and only then, would Vincent and Catherine finally be able to live a peaceful and happy life.
On another note, I loved the song they played at the end when Vincent and Catherine visit the 9/11 memorial (season 2 vibes anyone?). The song is “Illuminate” by the Kite String Tangle. It was posted on my “New Music Discovery” page last year! So, if you have a moment, go ahead and check it out!
Until then, we’ll wait for the last and final episode!