Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In!

Warner Bros. Television

Rob Thomas, I don’t know what kind of site you think this is, but I can’t cover every episode of your show, iZombie, that is not what I do. I watch a series, say a few clever things, and I move along. This is now my fourth iZombie post. I don’t like excess RT, no one does, it lacks class. So I must implore you, the iZombie cleverness must stop – you know I can't resist the meta!

From the most epically timed cold open–thank you, David Anders–to the verbatim line, 'Just when i thought I was out, they pull me back in,' from the Season 2, Episode 1 cold open of Verionica Mars, I knew we were in for something special. On this week's investigation, Method Head, Liv visits the set of her favorite TV show, Zombie High. Fueled by a TV dinner featuring the brain of a recently deceased teen heartthrob and method actor, Liv is at the ready to not only solve the case, but to run lines and spout the virtues and emotional truths of acting. Meanwhile, the zombie extras hang around craft services discussing the improbability of a show where a zombie is the star. See what he did there? Damn you, Rob Thomas. 

Liv's trusty partner, Ravi tries to resist the power of a TV show like Zombie High that 'worships at the alter of youth,' but despite the 'wooden acting and poorly constructed stories,' he can't. And neither can I. Thank goodness such pedestrian flaws are no match for the whip smart writing and performances on iZombie. You're on fire, Rob Thomas – and I'm loving every mental-pork-rind-filled minute of it!

MVP: David Anders

Warner Bros. Television, Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Oh, David Anders, how many ways must you surprise and delight! When we met, you were the smarmy underling, Julian Sark on Alias, then the sometimes evil, general downer, uncle John Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries, and last year, on iZombie we met Blaine DeBeers who set of the whole zombie story into motion. Sure there were many, many roles in between on everything from Once Upon A Time, to Heroes, to  24, but those are all outside my wheelhouse, I'd rather stick with zombies, vampire hunters and criminal masterminds. The man, a true chameleon, can do it all. iZombie's Blaine is often merciless, regularly a smartass, and always a highlight of the show. Despite what he did to Lowel in Season 1 – I don't want to talk about it – David Anders makes me cheer for the bad guy. Thank goodness he gives us plenty of opportunities to do so! Top left, just look at that face! Who wouldn't love that brain eating face??! Thank you, David Anders! May Blain continue to be a nuisance to Seattle's iZombie residents. 

A Long Time Ago, We Used To Be Friends

Warner Bros. Television

I’m sorry Rob Thomas, do you want the entire Veronica Mars universe to explode after dropping an easter egg of that pop culture magnitude without any warning whatsoever??!! In the photos above, I’ve left in the center image from last week’s ‘Zombie Bro’ because that was my EXACT reaction upon hearing iZombie's Liv utter those beautiful words, formerly from the VM opening credits, ‘a long time ago, we used to be friends.’ Sigh. Props to Rose McIver for delivering that line without a trace of irony.

The episode, 'Real Dead Housewife of Seattle,' gets props in general – Liv acts as a lady who lunches, acrylics and all, ‘sparkling water with a splash of lime, s'il vous plait.’ Bonus points for using the throwback track Voices Carry by 'Til Tuesday.

But nothing, nothing compares to dropping a VM gem on this die-hard fan. Thank you, RT. That doesn’t make up for what you did to Lowell in Season 1. While you get a pass for tonight, “I'll most likely kill you in the morning.” See!! How does it feel getting hit with Dread Pirate Roberts out of nowhere?!! I rest my case.

You and Me Could Write A Bad Bro-mance

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'Whazzzupp, just had a viz!' This week, iZombie’s Liv Moore feasted on Nachos a la Bro, that’s right, frat brains. Ravi cautioned, ‘Hope you like Jager Bombs and homoerotic subtext.’ Not to worry, he paid for that comment – every time I look at that photo of Ravi above, I crack up. In 'Zombie Bro,' Liv filtered everything through the ‘bro-zone’ – chillaxing, Solo-cup carrying, beer shotgunning, suggestive skeleton rearranging, and most importantly, Pong crushing. There was no reigning in the bro – and it was epic! I can’t get enough of Liv saying ‘bro’ and generally bro-ing out. A few ‘bro’ gems: 'You got this, bro.' 'Trying to be bro-active.' 'I got you, bro, I got you.' 'Not cool, bro.' 'No disrespect, bro.' This week, Liv proved bro brains are the best brains! Bring on the bro!

You Killed My Zombie Boyfriend!!

Warner Bros. Television

Only with the hope of regaining some degree of proximity to Veronica Mars would I even consider playing this far outside my preferred genres to frolic with zombies. But for VM Creator Rob Thomas, I would. He wouldn’t lead me astray. He knows he would need to keep iZombie humorous, witty and keep the gore factor at a low to minimal level. In this understanding, we had an amicable relationship. I would dance with undead, he would not scare the bejesus out of me. However, at no point did we discuss not killing off a romantic lead. With the sizzling shipping success of Veronica and Logan I didn’t think such clarification was necessary. However, here is where we have come to our unfortunate impasse. 

Rob Thomas, I wanted to support you but you gave me a zombie boyfriend with intrigue, charm, a British accent and even a Big Star t-shirt – and then, you took him away! You took him away, Rob Thomas! Sure, Liv still has Ravi, a friend and ally who describes himself as 'a tall doctor with fantastic hair and a British accent.’ And yes, of course, any gal would want Ravi as a BFF/coworker to confide in. But you just can’t take my zombie boyfriend away and think we’re going to be okay. I’ve seen the zombie love, Rob Thomas, and Major couldn’t be further from it. So here’s my suggestion, RT, at the start of season two, introduce some quickie reanimation storyline, bring back Lowell, and we'll be all good. M’kay?