While her heightened sense is not surprising, that Scarlett hears it also erases some of the annoyance from having our emotions toyed with and furthers the possibility that she too has had her DNA tinkered with. As soon as the pounding heartbeat becomes audible while the four drive away in the reacquired Wanda, it’s clear we’re listening through Vanessa’s ears, and she believes Axel is still alive. Nevertheless, he is alive, and despite any reticence to accept this as believable, even within the context of a vampire tale, some good does come out of it. So when Axel turns out to be only “mostly dead,” perhaps we should try to imagine the terror one faces when buried alive and then be happy that such a formidable and likable character will still be around to fight the looming evil. Nobody cares if Jason or Freddy keeps coming long after they should be dead, or if innocent characters keep making bad choices, because within the context of the horror genre, these actions are perfectly acceptable. To ignore the inner struggle she’s experiencing over her set of circumstances and rebuke her for every questionable decision she makes seems patently unfair.Įven so, the entertainment landscape has changed, and though Van Helsing chronicles the hero’s journey of Vanessa, it is, at its heart, a horror story. We needed to see this side of her to remember that whatever she is, whatever she’s become, at her core, she’s still a human being. It’s a moving scene as we wait to see if history will repeat itself, and when it doesn’t, and Axel is restored, it’s satisfying to see Vanessa smile again. She finally articulates her reluctance to turn Axel a bit more clearly here, and as hardened has she’s become, even she can see the desperation in his eyes as he holds a gun to his head. Of course it’s convenient to forget the perilous road she’s traveled, and that her followers look to her for guidance and answers even though she’s just as lost as they are. One of the things I love about Van Helsing is how complicated Vanessa has become, and even though she’s the show’s hero, it’s sometimes difficult to like her. How fitting that the episode ends with that familiar, yet often ominous statement, “Don’t worry. While tonight’s episode title “Everything Changes” may be somewhat of a misnomer, the show’s direction continues to evolve, venturing now into the presumed civilized world of the military and the government.
“Creepy vampire dreams? Thanks for that.”Įvery good television series creates and develops characters with whom the audience forms emotional connections, and Van Helsing is no exception.