Hemlock Grove - What God Wants

Christina has underwent quite a hysteria, seeing Francis in her dreams. And hairs on her head are losing their color of brown to grays and whites. Her friends are worried about her and Norman, her psychiatrist, is involved completely in the recovery process. Christina, when not besought of visions and bad dreams, seems perfectly normal. If she could just somehow get past finding that dead body in the woods and return to her life. But can she?

Christina’s two friends, Sheriff Tom Sworn’s (Aaron Douglas) daughters, have been worried about her welfare. In fact they wanted Tom to let Christina stay with them. Norman feels the time is perhaps premature to release her if she herself isn’t ready. And to think that perhaps if Christina had opted to go and spend the evening of the full moon with Sworn’s daughters: the similar fates they endure Christina would have as well. That is the climax of What God Wants, where fate offers up plenty of interference in how prepared actions might just have stopped a needless slaughter, as two teenage girls just singing to bubblegum music, playing dress-up, and dancing about in front of the mirror are savagely attacked by the first season’s vargulf. Norman admits to Marie that he prayed it just wouldn’t happen to his daughter, Letha…anybody but his daughter. Such disregard is rather jarring, but nonetheless the universe (God) spared his daughter that night. Sworn wasn’t so lucky. The very sheriff of Hemlock Grove couldn’t protect his own daughters…imagine how the town responds to that? How can they feel safe for their own daughters?

Peter is startled by an awakening Roman, popping up out of his coma all lucid and unimpeded by the time spent asleep. Roman is raring to go, ready to hunt the vargulf and make sure Hemlock Grove is no longer under threat. Obviously Peter is a bit hesitant, but Roman is determined to see it through. In werewolf form, Peter is set to find the vargulf but Dr. Chasseur interferes, pulling a gun on Roman after shooting his friend with a tranquilizer dart. Just out of the line of sight, hidden behind a pillar in the old Godfrey mill, Olivia plots to upend Chasseur’s plans to take Peter to her Catholic Dragon Order, particularly angry that she pulled a gun on Roman. Towards the end, Chasseur’s truck and investigation data (photographs mostly) are located near a culvert, indicating that perhaps Olivia had certainly “ended” anymore interference. Roman’s cage is damaged as is the inside of Chasseur’s truck. When approaching Chasseur, Olivia was seemingly unafraid of the gun pointed at her. The shot that echoes out seemed to indicate that perhaps Olivia was in trouble. The vehicle near the culvert would seem to say otherwise. And when a conversation between Chasseur and her brother about meeting at a certain place later produces a missing person meant to be there and a memory of one such encounter (in B&W, indicating flashback) about their Order, it is more or less a foregone conclusion Olivia had prevented her from any further involvement in their “affairs.”

I liked this little conversation between Norman and Letha about the full moon and potential attack that is on the minds of all of Hemlock Grove, regarding a daughter’s eventual disappointments in her father. I really think a lot of father’s fear that. I know I do. That day that comes when she looks upon her father, with accompanying resentment, is one many of us dread. When Letha reassures Norman that she isn’t disappointed, and his relief; I just thought it was a well acted scene and one of the better moments in a show I’m just not all that crazy about. Yes, Norman is having an affair and has distanced himself somewhat emotionally from his wife, truly longing for Olivia…however, you feel about that, his desires to be a dependable parent that isn’t a disappointment does seem to ring true. Or Dougray Scott really gets that point across and Penelope Mitchell’s calm expression and hand on his shoulder take care of the rest.

And one more good scene finally allowed Olivia to be somewhat paternal to Shelley. Comforting in their sitting together and just talking about Roman, Olivia isn't cold or remote to Shelley. Shelley has such a smile and almost giddy response to Olivia wanting to talk to her, to just share some time and "not be cross". Shelley's being able to even walk and breathe was perhaps by certain scientific methods that might even bring Frankenstein pause, so regardless of how Olivia might feel about her not quite being the daughter she'd prefer, at least there is someone that can be loved and offer love if allowed.