iZombie - Killer Queen

While “Killer Queen” gives Rose McIver the chance to slip into the persona of an aging drag star performer, murdered by some colleague/rival at the club of the victim, the real meat of the episode focuses on Martin’s plot to spread zombies across the globe by sending his extremists through a coyote network out of Seattle—through manipulative cunning thanks to Graham helping Riley infiltrate Liv’s Rebel because of fear his lover would be killed if he didn’t—to Vegas and how Enzo (yes, fucking Enzo) takes it upon himself to move into the leadership position. Liv tried to convince her father to not go ahead with this plan to have his zombie women, led by Riley, pretending to be hookers at a Nevada sex ranch (after murdering the prostitutes who were there, taking their brains afterward), turning visiting clients into zombies, since they were from all over the world coming to Vegas to attend a convention. Enzo wasn’t about to let Martin interfere with his own plans to see zombies rise and humans fall. Enzo, who would be a frozen zombie icicle if not for Martin rescuing him from the Filmore-Grave’s freezer prison, turns on Martin. Admittedly, Enzo is not exactly the most intimidating or memorable villain you’d think would make it all the way to the end and be the heavy Major Lilywhite would have to upend…but this is how Rob and his creative team wish to close the series with. Martin departing the series this soon, with two episodes left, wasn’t expected. They did a lot of building to this point only to sweep it away with two gunshots…Martin, dying right before Liv’s eyes, a Skype between them, Enzo setting in motion what was started by pops, continuing the mission.

Blaine soon learns that Don E is working with Filmore-Graves, continuing the brain distribution. During the episode, Blaine is in contact with a money-guy, needing to know if he was paid for a Freylich brain provided to a client who was shot by his wife due to an affair. Blaine’s kidnapped teens are rescued by Ravi and Major when Ravi realizes through help from Liv that the woman involved in the death of the victim shot by his wife has connections eventually leading them to where the Freylich youth were being detained. Blaine’s plans for those kids, to kill them then sell their brains to high bidders. Major convinces the woman with connections that he could use a cure and would take her outside of Seattle with him. She connects him to the location of the teens and Ravi commandeers the van holding them, soon relocating them to Liv’s underground. Graham learns of his boyfriend’s murder from Liv, who is attending the autopsy of his body, shot in the head by Enzo (who convinced Martin not to stick to the agreement with Graham, which only worsens everything) and left in the woods. Enzo, who just can’t help himself, is very much like Blaine in that he will kill whoever he needs to standing in his way. Graham tells Liv about being kidnapped, helping Riley, the operation to get the zombies out of Seattle, everything.

The fun of seeing Liv within the personality of the drag performer, as they discuss fashion, rhinestones, glamour, the legends/icons of the past often serving as inspiration for stage acts, and a younger rival who poses a threat to that attention to detail and focus on the past could be quite a treat. The little digs, insults, ridicule, and remarks passed among the rivals (bitch is thrown around quite a bit) and how Liv, on the victim’s brain, gets all involved serves primarily the first twenty-five minutes while Martin’s story’s end, Blaine betraying Don E (it is clear he killed Darcy but is making her death appear as if the Freylich was responsible) after learning of the brain operation before their wedding (Don E proposing to Darcy, the ceremony at the bar is ruined), and Liv discovering her coyote network was exploited (as her trust) definitely get plenty of time; the case doesn’t impose much on the ongoing story arc, more or less allowing McIver one more chance to stretch her acting chops before the series is over. 3/5