4.10 Oh Don’t You Die For Me This week’s plot could be summed up in a few sentences: the pack kidnaps Josh to try to force him to scratch some humans. Suzanna gives Aidan an ultimatum that ends in her own death. Nora prepares to move out, but not before telling Aidan that Sally’s in love with him. Usually, when the plot is thin things can go one of two ways: either the episode is a bit of a write-off, or it instead fills its time exploring relationships between the characters and in so doing, becomes a heartstring-tugging piece of television. This week’s episode is the latter. In lieu of a plot recap this week, we’re going to follow suit and instead talk about feelings. I hate using the word “pack” in this context because of how cliched it is, but when in werewolf land and all, so: Nora has been, until now, Josh’s “pack.” Although he wishes he’d never turned her, she’s been a steady companion for years now during his turn. With her gone, it’s not that hard to see why he’d accept being embraced by a new pack, especially when they treat him like an alpha. Josh isn’t an alpha, as Sally repeatedly points out, but when you’ve essentially been booted from your old one, it’s not hard to see why being immediately accepted as the leader of a new one has its appeal. Mostly it just drives home for me how lonely Josh is. He talks a big game about wanting to be left alone and needing to stay away from other people because he’s dangerous, but a lone wolf Josh is, for my money, more of a danger to both himself and others than a Josh with a pack is. Unfortunately, his pack has moved her things out of the house. And although Aidan’s story with Sally is endlessly awkward and entertaining, he actually has the gravest of the storylines this week. His relationship with Suzanna was always going to be fraught with what happened to Isaac the day she was turned, but this is so much worse than I predicted. Suzanna is an interesting character because although she has certainly helped Aidan’s journey this season, her arc has actually been all about her (a rarity for a guest star-level character). Her confession to Aidan about the death of their son was just the tip of the iceberg; this episode drives home how much this hasn’t really been about Aidan finding out and dealing with it; it’s been about her confessing and forgiving herself. It’s a subtle distinction but it’s absolutely imperative in their final moments together: Aidan has forgiven her. He knows exactly who to blame, and it’s not the newly turned vampire not in control of her hunger. But she’s a mother and this was her child. However much it wasn’t in her own control, she will never be able to see it that way. The truth is, Aidan can forgive her from now until the end of time, but she will never be able to forgive herself. And so Aidan grants her the absolution she’s been searching for since the day she was turned: she puts a stake through her heart and tells her she’s forgiven. And although it’s heartbreaking, it’s actually probably the most benevolent thing we’ve ever seen Aidan do. Tune in next week when the writers remember that whole Lil Smokie plotline that was left hanging weeks ago! Read Kaci’s review of the previous episode, Too Far, Fast Forward, here. Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
