Lost Girl 3.8: This Toy Will Play With YOU

 

After the seriousness of last week, Bo is back to training. Yet, as is wont to happen, what should have been a relaxing day turns into one of the more surreal experiences for Bo. And that’s saying something.  ”Fae-ge Against The Machine” ends up tilting Bo against events that are tinged with the sideways slanted humor that so effortlessly graces Lost Girl. A little fae strange goes a long way in this delightful, character-manipulating episode.

There are trials to be had, and with the Loadstar’s clipped, precise aid, Bo is determined to not fail.  After Bo… fails to catch the cricket of good fortune, Stella haughtily expresses her displeasure. Yet, there’s nothing anyone could do, and really, Bo could care less. Her lesson has been taught and she’s been granted an evening of reprieve while awaiting the invitation to The Temple.

Trick: “The Dawning isn’t all horror shows and near-death experiences… ” and Bo finishes, “it’s something that we all go through, and yes, some of it is difficult, but it is manageable.” However, it’s not all yew berries in the land of Dal.

Content to do nothing but relax for the remainder of the day, Bo makes last minute plans with Lauren . While on the phone, Bo innocently, oh, always with the innocence!, fiddles with some contraption in the Dal. The contraption begins to move and huff in a fabulously steampunk manner. And, creepily, seems connected to a young woman hooked up to a torture device.

Lauren, already having been en-route, meets Bo at the Dal. Lauren is keyed up to the extreme; her sciency self is being awarded a top-petri-dish award for her extraordinary research in free radicals. Lauren, on her nerd high (imagine all the Red Bull one can consume, then chug down one more), asks Bo to be her plus-one and then freaks as she realizes she needs to prepare for the evening’s formal events, leaving Bo still at the Dal, wondering at the whirlwind that is Lauren. This is a poignant moment, that while not expressed explicitly by Bo or Lauren, reminds us that Lauren is (a) human, and (b) owned. Lauren’s life revolves around the fae. This one thing is hers, all hers.

Tamsin, who’s been skulking around the Dal, pops up when Lauren leaves. And Bo, feeling pretty good about her day, cricket failure and all, is flatly informed that everyone’s been lying to her. If that’s not the attention getter…

Tamsin takes Bo out, to a Dark fae dive no less, to discuss the Trials and exactly how gruesome they will be. Tamsin, as usual, is a refreshing counter of secretive no b.s. to Bo’s just as frank, yet earnest character. It’s a nice balance that plays out well throughout the rest of the episode.  At the bar, Bo is menaced by some Dark jerks, calling Bo’s non-alliance into question.  Tamsin clocks the guy and the two make a quick getaway with the help of an outwardly normal guy. Disaster averted! Only, Bo’s severe lack of Fae Who’s What has her instantly indebted to the guy who helped them escape. He’s no human. He’s a Spriggan, and with a handshake and an “I owe you one,” Bo is bound to do a favor. This day gets better and better. The Spriggan, Balzak, wants Bo to help him find that which he truly seeks. This will turn out well.  After all, Bo only has plans to attend her girlfriend’s Very Important Evening.

Simultaneously, at the Dal, Trick is preparing for a date with Stella. Oh, those two. That is one adorable couple. Egregiously, the would-be date night for the dashing Trick is put on hold. Stella notices the contraption, quickly realizing that it’s Bo’s invitation to the Temple, the machine Bo so idly toyed with earlier. It’s an invitation in the guise of a game designed to test Bo. However, since she’s with Tamsin and Balzak, her closest blood relative must participate in her stead. That duty falls to Trick who, with guidance from Stella, begins to play. Each of the choices Trick is forced to make on Bo’s behalf has a direct influence on the events Bo is faced with since meeting the Spriggan.

Thing is, the Spriggan is looking for Fang, a fae Tong boss. And then the Spriggan needs a cookie. While avoiding Whitman, who’s trying to kill him. And get a prescription from the landlady. The cookie gains entrance to a place called Brazenwood. A place that spooks even Tamsin. And what could spook Tamsin, a Valkyrie, except a place where the Dark, unlawful Fae reside. So that Balzak can bounty hunt his way to Brazenwood and save someone named Hannah. It all sounds so deceptively simple, yes? Keep up! It’ll all make sense soon, promise.

After retrieving the entrance fee to Brazenwood, a fortune cookie, from Fang, Bo must pick a Tarot card to continue. It’s a choice that is made for her back at the Dal.  What she reveals is The Wanderer, a card that ruffles Tamsin. But there’s no time for that, the Spriggan is poisoned by the dart-blowing Sherriff Whitman.  Bo and Tamsin run the guy into the tarot reader’s trailer, trapping him there momentarily. Spriggan down, Bo and Tamsin continue to Brazenwood where they locate the pharmacist and find Hannah, the young woman whose face is attached to a tear-collection device that is somehow connected to Bo’s invitation.

Bo convinces Hannah to leave Brazenwood, as a Sqonk fae can’t be forced to leave any place or they dissolve into tears. Literally. New fae fact:  Squonk fae cry opium-like tears which are sold like good old-fashioned human drugs. Frustratingly enough, Whitman claims ownership of Hannah. And Bo must fight the Sherriff, using Dark rules –  that is, to the death – in order to leave.

The writing for this episode is cleanly and cleverly interwoven between Trick’s decisions with the machine, and the resulting impact it has on Bo’s actions. We are treated to Bo being unable to speak, her tongue frozen while confronting Fang. To her being magically intoxicated by her least favorite drink – and revealing that she’s aware of Dyson’s love having returned! And, to her surprise, using the infuriating cricket-hunt-training to defeat the Sherriff and rescue Hannah. Grandfather does know best.

Bo, having defeated the Sheriff  is allowed to leave Brazenwood with Hannah. In a notable moment between Trick and Stella, the two share a passionate kiss that is transmitted through the machine to effect Tamsin, who plants a burning smooch on a very surprised Bo. What will come from this, as nothing is mentioned of it for the remainder of the episode, can only be imagined at.

Tamsin, Bo, and Hannah return to the Dal, where a relieved Trick and Stella are waiting, alongside the Spriggan. Hannah is, indeed connected to the invitation, it’s her tears that concludes the test and passes Bo.  The success gives Bo her formal invitation to her Dawning.

Unfortunately, while Bo was out passing her little toy’s test, Lauren was left dateless. And ultimately decides to go out with a fellow – human – scientist. All the factors in this one day will clearly have an impact on the rest of the season’s relationships. Least of all Tamsin wanting some semblance of friendship, something she’s previously been denied, or has denied herself. The final scene, of Tamsin being showered with Wanderer Tarot cards, swings to the front the question of Tamsin’s motives. Largest of which, why she feels the need to be near Bo.

So many mysteries, only five episodes left. Let’s see where next week takes us, shall we? While we most likely won’t be treated to the Spriggan’s presence again, Ryan Belleville‘s performance was delightful. And the new human on the scene? A scruffy Shawn Doyle. Things are getting thick in faeville!

What the what?

1. Last week’s #5.1: The stress the Trials are putting on Lauren and Bo’s relationship is a weighty one, one that again tests this human/fae relationship.
2. Last week’s #5.2: Bo realizes Dyson’s love is back and with Tamsin’s help, knows he’s still over the full moon for her. What will come of that?
3. Will we hear anything about Tamsin and Bo’s kiss?
4. Remember when Tamsin lost that lock of hair in “The Kenziscale” (3.6)? It means something as the pharmacist most certainly wanted a snip of his own.
5. The Wanderer card rains down. Tamsin is terrified? Heartbroken? Whatever it is, she fears a certain “her” is Bo, and it signals something important.
6. The jerks in the Dark bar: they noted it was clear that while officially unaligned, Bo is considered Light. It provokes necessary thought as this has seemed to be the case. Will it be important in the five episodes to come?

Author’s Note: As always, please remember that SyFy’s airing of Lost Girl is approximately a minute and a half shorter than Showcase’s.  I tend to watch Showcase’s because I like the extra swearing.

 

 

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