This was a truly amazing episode that leaves so much to talk about. We came off of last week's huge scene of Vincent telling the world he's still alive, and right into the ramifications of that, with the continued fallout from the VinCat breakup. J.T. and FBI Agent Dana Landon found major insights into the history of beasts that developed the show's overall mythology in fascinating new ways.
The VinCat relationship has had connections to Ryan Adam's music to me ever since his song "Desire" was used in a memorable season 1 scene. This episode made me think a great deal about Adams' song "If I am a Stranger." How do you become a stranger to someone with whom you've shared an epic love? How can one world be split in two, and to what extent can you forge a new destiny through independence? "Ancestors" explores these themes as Vincent and Cat both set off on their own mystery-solving expeditions with separate agendas. However, as divided as their purposes are, destiny pulls these two back together like a magnet, with some sexy and bittersweet results. Here are my thoughts on the episode, using some lyrics from "If I am a Stranger" along the way.
"For all the hours here that move too slow
There's all this letting go, that don't pass
If all this love is real, how will we know?
If we're only scared of losing it, how will it last?"*
The beginning of this episode was utterly brilliant in the way it threw the viewer straight into a scenario that was, for Beauty and the Beast, pure Twilight Zone. The incredibly secretive Vincent was being interviewed on The Talk! While this scene was cute and funny, and Julie Chen could not get over how good-looking Vincent is (understandably), immediately afterwards, cold reality seeped in.
Tori, who seemed to have taken on a new persona as Vincent's agent/manager, complete with a smoother new look, was all pumped up about how the audience loved Vincent. But for Vincent, it's hurtful that he has to lie, saying that he has no memory of his life after Afghanistan. Going public, which seemed to stand for honesty, has only led Vincent to further deception. It's incredibly difficult for him to continue recovering from his ordeals and find peace with who he is when he still has to spin the truth at every turn.
We got a fun scene with Cat and Tess discussing to what extent the former has moved on and can really live a "beast-free" life. We're reminded that Cat needs to forge her own path now after being the only one fighting for her bond with Vincent to stay strong and seeming to lose that fight in such a frustrating way. But as much as she needs to get away from the "B" word, we soon learn that's going to be harder than it seemed.
Afterwards, the ladies headed to the station where they were introduced to Agent Landon, who had a case for Cat. Since a notorious thief had turned up dead and her cohorts weren't aware of her demise, Catherine, who somewhat resembles Mara Angel (coincidental name, or Easter Egg-y reference to Elizabeth Rohm's time on Angel?), was asked to go undercover and take her place. This was a perfect opportunity for Cat to really get away from all of her problems: a chance to become someone else entirely. Naturally, Cat made the most of this new gig, not least of all because she also relished getting back into the kind of work she became a cop wanting to do.
Gabe was extremely opposed to the idea of Cat's becoming involved in such a dangerous and unpredictable case, and we realized that his feelings for her just keep getting more intense. The further along this progresses, the harder it is going to be for him to send her off into treacherous places. But as Tess sagely pointed out, Gabe respects who Catherine is far too much to stand in her way; it's an integral part of why he cares for her so much. I like this advisor's role that Tess has taken on with Gabe, where she's kind of his guide to living a normal, reformed, sensitive and considerate life.
Vincent and Tori showed up at J.T.'s after he was attacked and robbed by mysterious assailants. The baddies were after the shackle that was recovered from Tori's dad's secret crypt full of beasty artifacts. J.T. also let Vincent in on some of his findings regarding the skeleton: it is that of a beast from centuries ago, indicating "a beastly lineage that precedes Muirfield." This bombshell is made all too real by J.T.'s assurances that the evil scientists used DNA from an extinct species to create the kind of beast that Vincent is. I loved seeing this deeper unfurling of the show's mythology, which can only lead to Vincent going on a journey of self-discovery that he sorely needs. Unfortunately, Vincent's impatient methods of investigation yield a few problems.
Cat showed up to meet Mara's fellow thieves as they prepared for their latest heist. While Pete (it's Peter from Teen Wolf!) immediately distrusted Cat, his brother Patrick took a quick liking to her. Vincent and Tori, unknowingly on the trail of the same case Cat was working, came walking into the bar. Yes, the MacGuffin the thieves are after was a gem with ties to beastly history. VinCat cannot get out of each other's way!
The intense look between Vincent and Catherine when they saw each other was priceless and proves that the attraction and love between them still burns as hot as ever. Cat diffused the situation by grabbing Patrick and kissing him. It kind of served Vincent right to see this after all of the Alex and Tori incidents from episodes past, and here it really seemed that Cat was exerting her new independence in a feisty way. How BAMFY was she in that bar fight with the thieves, by the way? Loved it.
The intense look between Vincent and Catherine when they saw each other was priceless and proves that the attraction and love between them still burns as hot as ever. Cat diffused the situation by grabbing Patrick and kissing him. It kind of served Vincent right to see this after all of the Alex and Tori incidents from episodes past, and here it really seemed that Cat was exerting her new independence in a feisty way. How BAMFY was she in that bar fight with the thieves, by the way? Loved it.
I also liked her conversations with Patrick that contained a great deal more truth than one might expect from an interaction based on falsehood. She explained that what she was doing was not about rebounding, but that "this is my idea of being me again, separate from anybody else." This episode shows that letting go can be painful and liberating in equal measures.
How to rebuild the walls that someone has knocked down"*
Meanwhile, Tori was quite irritated that Vincent, ostensibly tracking the thief who attacked J.T., had led them straight to Cat. She admitted that she fears what may happen if Vincent becomes caught up in the past, in his relationship with Cat, once more. In Tori's view, returning to that past threatens Vincent's future, which she considers tied to her own. I get why this bothers Tori, but she's annoyingly aggressive about it. Vincent is going to need time to work all of this out for himself instead of following some script written by Tori of how his life should be now. Actually, considering how little patience he has with almost everyone else, Vincent was a lot more patient with Tori's attitude than I would have been.
Favorite J.T. quotes of the week, btdubs? "Beast up!" "Avenge me!" The guy gives an exceptional pep talk, and you have to love Vincent's deadpan reactions.
Gabe was still eager to pull Cat out of the undercover gig, but she was ever more determined to bust up the ring of thieves. However, he decided to trust her instincts and her strong desire to go off on her own, even to the extent of continuing to allow her independent approach to the case when she went over the bridge and destroyed her wire. Unsure of whether Cat was the ultimate survivor or a victim of the thieves' violence, Gabe told Agent Landon, "the only thing I'm sure of is that I'm worried sick." Landon replied, "How long have you been in love with her?" The complex emotions in this scene were superb.
When Cat and Vincent both showed up at the Russian consulate to snag the gem, the episode basically turned into a classy, Remington Steele-style game of deception and love/hate repartee, which was fantastic. Cat was posing as a waitress and Vincent as his "war hero" pin-up persona while both wheedled their way ever closer to the gem. The claws were out on both sides when VinCat argued over who should get the gem. Vincent needed it to understand the history of beasts and therefore who he is. Cat wanted to prevent any life-threatening mischief that might result from its ending up in the wrong hands.
Vincent warned, "Don't cross me, Catherine, I mean it," to which Cat fabulously quipped, "Don't make me shoot you again, Vincent, and I mean that."
That exchange was darkly funny and brilliantly showed off the chemistry between VinCat, but things turned deadly serious after Patrick got in the way of Vincent's making off with the gem. Vincent threatened to kill the thief, directly recreating the scene of Cat having to shoot him to save Reynolds' life. While Cat was incapable of shooting Vincent again, the pure depth of disappointment in her expression was potent.
"What happened to you?" she asked Vincent, a simple question that perfectly encapsulated the feelings of disconnection between these two lately. After killing Shorty and coming so close to killing Patrick almost out of spite, Vincent's continuing to spiral out of control in a way that powerfully conflicts with his idealized new public persona. I wonder what it's going to take for him to find his way back to himself at this point.
"If I am a stranger now to you
I will always be, I will always be
Stronger now than me, stronger then you
Our love will always be
And if we let it go, I will try to be there for you
If I can, what if I can't?"*
Vincent and J.T. pondered what the shackle was really used for after they found that the gem fit perfectly into it. Meanwhile, Cat met up with Dana Landon, who revealed that she's been on the trail of some strange and unaccountable evidence on a series of cases that have links to Cat and her family. The name "Reynolds" showed up on a very old police report, indicating that her father's family has been entangled in beast cases for centuries. Furthermore, the gem has been found at murder scenes for many years - why? A very thought-provoking question. This scene nicely complemented the mythology-building we saw in Vincent and J.T.'s conversations.
The episode ended with yet another massive twist after Catherine acknowledged that Gabe had completely trusted her on the undercover case:
Cat: "I just realized, you uh, didn't call in the cavalry when my wire went dead. You trusted me."
Gabe: "You asked me to."
Gabe's act of extending this trust to Cat even though he wanted so badly to protect her by stopping her from putting herself in danger's way turned out to be exactly what Cat needed. He'd respected her skills as a cop and her independence. And then Cat kissed him! Right there in front of everyone! I really didn't see that one coming. It was shocking and daring, despite just being a quick smooch. It meant a whole lot to Gabe, but what did it mean to Cat? I'd guess gratitude and another chance to assert her independence and feel what possibilities are out there in a life beyond Vincent.
But kissing Patrick was one thing, and this is something else again. The kiss with Patrick was a fairly harmless way of proving her freedom with a stranger, but Gabe is a close friend and her boss, not to mention that she's blind if she doesn't realize he's crazy about her. So it's a big, risky, crazy thing Cat did in this scene that will doubtless have some serious follow-up in the next episode, whatever form it may take.
I've previously admitted that I enjoy the little pocket of 'ship that is Cat/Gabe, but it's only enjoyable for what it is. Sure, Cat and Gabe have chemistry, and Sendhil Ramamurthy has done a great job of making Gabe believable in his reformed state even though the writers rushed his change along too rapidly to make it realistic. Do you sense a "but" coming? Yep. But, the show is called Beauty and the Beast for a reason: VinCat are soulmates, they are the couple we're here to root for, and it's all about the when and how they'll find their way back to each other, not an "if."
The Cat/Gabe kiss was an exciting moment because it just stirred the pot of everything that's been happening even more. I liked the sheer, wild, escapist drama and the unpredictability of this episode. The romantic intrigue and fantastical mythology are ramping up to new heights as Season 2 moves forward.
All in all, with all the controversial developments mixed in with world-building backstory, this episode was miles better than last week's and found Beauty and the Beast in strong form.
What did you think of this week's episode? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Favorite J.T. quotes of the week, btdubs? "Beast up!" "Avenge me!" The guy gives an exceptional pep talk, and you have to love Vincent's deadpan reactions.
Gabe was still eager to pull Cat out of the undercover gig, but she was ever more determined to bust up the ring of thieves. However, he decided to trust her instincts and her strong desire to go off on her own, even to the extent of continuing to allow her independent approach to the case when she went over the bridge and destroyed her wire. Unsure of whether Cat was the ultimate survivor or a victim of the thieves' violence, Gabe told Agent Landon, "the only thing I'm sure of is that I'm worried sick." Landon replied, "How long have you been in love with her?" The complex emotions in this scene were superb.
When Cat and Vincent both showed up at the Russian consulate to snag the gem, the episode basically turned into a classy, Remington Steele-style game of deception and love/hate repartee, which was fantastic. Cat was posing as a waitress and Vincent as his "war hero" pin-up persona while both wheedled their way ever closer to the gem. The claws were out on both sides when VinCat argued over who should get the gem. Vincent needed it to understand the history of beasts and therefore who he is. Cat wanted to prevent any life-threatening mischief that might result from its ending up in the wrong hands.
Vincent warned, "Don't cross me, Catherine, I mean it," to which Cat fabulously quipped, "Don't make me shoot you again, Vincent, and I mean that."
That exchange was darkly funny and brilliantly showed off the chemistry between VinCat, but things turned deadly serious after Patrick got in the way of Vincent's making off with the gem. Vincent threatened to kill the thief, directly recreating the scene of Cat having to shoot him to save Reynolds' life. While Cat was incapable of shooting Vincent again, the pure depth of disappointment in her expression was potent.
"What happened to you?" she asked Vincent, a simple question that perfectly encapsulated the feelings of disconnection between these two lately. After killing Shorty and coming so close to killing Patrick almost out of spite, Vincent's continuing to spiral out of control in a way that powerfully conflicts with his idealized new public persona. I wonder what it's going to take for him to find his way back to himself at this point.
"If I am a stranger now to you
I will always be, I will always be
Stronger now than me, stronger then you
Our love will always be
And if we let it go, I will try to be there for you
If I can, what if I can't?"*
Vincent and J.T. pondered what the shackle was really used for after they found that the gem fit perfectly into it. Meanwhile, Cat met up with Dana Landon, who revealed that she's been on the trail of some strange and unaccountable evidence on a series of cases that have links to Cat and her family. The name "Reynolds" showed up on a very old police report, indicating that her father's family has been entangled in beast cases for centuries. Furthermore, the gem has been found at murder scenes for many years - why? A very thought-provoking question. This scene nicely complemented the mythology-building we saw in Vincent and J.T.'s conversations.
The episode ended with yet another massive twist after Catherine acknowledged that Gabe had completely trusted her on the undercover case:
Cat: "I just realized, you uh, didn't call in the cavalry when my wire went dead. You trusted me."
Gabe: "You asked me to."
Gabe's act of extending this trust to Cat even though he wanted so badly to protect her by stopping her from putting herself in danger's way turned out to be exactly what Cat needed. He'd respected her skills as a cop and her independence. And then Cat kissed him! Right there in front of everyone! I really didn't see that one coming. It was shocking and daring, despite just being a quick smooch. It meant a whole lot to Gabe, but what did it mean to Cat? I'd guess gratitude and another chance to assert her independence and feel what possibilities are out there in a life beyond Vincent.
But kissing Patrick was one thing, and this is something else again. The kiss with Patrick was a fairly harmless way of proving her freedom with a stranger, but Gabe is a close friend and her boss, not to mention that she's blind if she doesn't realize he's crazy about her. So it's a big, risky, crazy thing Cat did in this scene that will doubtless have some serious follow-up in the next episode, whatever form it may take.
I've previously admitted that I enjoy the little pocket of 'ship that is Cat/Gabe, but it's only enjoyable for what it is. Sure, Cat and Gabe have chemistry, and Sendhil Ramamurthy has done a great job of making Gabe believable in his reformed state even though the writers rushed his change along too rapidly to make it realistic. Do you sense a "but" coming? Yep. But, the show is called Beauty and the Beast for a reason: VinCat are soulmates, they are the couple we're here to root for, and it's all about the when and how they'll find their way back to each other, not an "if."
The Cat/Gabe kiss was an exciting moment because it just stirred the pot of everything that's been happening even more. I liked the sheer, wild, escapist drama and the unpredictability of this episode. The romantic intrigue and fantastical mythology are ramping up to new heights as Season 2 moves forward.
All in all, with all the controversial developments mixed in with world-building backstory, this episode was miles better than last week's and found Beauty and the Beast in strong form.
What did you think of this week's episode? Share your thoughts in the comments!
*Lyrics taken from "If I am a Stranger" by Ryan Adams
Unfortunately not liking this season at all. I love the characters but splitting up Katherine and Vincent the way they are is just a little ridiculous. THEIR LOVE STORY and THEIR CONNECTION is the reason I love it so much. Cutting the connection and moving on by shooting him is just a little over the top. Sorry to say.
ReplyDeleteI'm also eager to see VinCat reunite sooner rather than later. Thanks for reading and commenting. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved your review! I am loving the season so far (I don't understand why others aren't... ), and am SUPER DUPER excited for the rest of the season! I am praying for a season 3 because I believe BATB is not over yet! I consider S2 a stepping stone for S3.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I was unhappy that the writers were going to split up V & C, but now? I'm over it! :) I see the bigger picture of the series and know that Vincent & Catherine WILL be reunited once again! Even if it's a few more episodes, I'll patiently wait! ^_^) Sometimes, in life, people have to go through the worsts before experiencing the best! I see the mega-breakup, Tori (no offense to Amber because I LOVE her as an actress) and Gabe (again, no offense to Sendhil because I love him too) as 'worsts,' and when the writers FINALLY bring Vincent & Catherine together (which will happen around 214 ish methinks), they will be BETTER and GREATER than they ever were in S1! :)
All I can say is for Beasties to continue to have faith! :) So what if Vincent & Catherine kiss other people? Technically, they're NOT dating? So ,deal! LOL :)
Thanks! I love this season too and agree with your positive outlook. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't want to have to wait for them to reunite! I agree with Daysnet not liking this season!
ReplyDeleteI am loving this season for the story lines and action. I miss VinCat but understand that for the longevity of the show, it had to have more than them being happily ever after each week. The journey of them getting back may be quite delicious! I do question the semi widely held belief that Cat kissed Patrick to make Vincent jealous. I think it was all she could do in the circumstances to prevent him from blowing her cover! The fact that he was jealous is a bonus and an indication that the feelings are still there. Everything now leads excitingly towards finding out the mystery of the beasts and Catherine's connection. Love the bromance scenes which are reminiscent of Season 1. Thanks for a balanced review!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant episode and review:) Cant wait for next week.
ReplyDeleteI loved this episode!I thought Kristin and Jay were wonderful in it.I like many other fans,was not crazy about some of the episodes.Most of us thought these two should have gotten back together sooner.I am still watching every week because I want to see where the writers leave us at the end of the season.Hopefully we will get that season 3.
ReplyDeleteAgree, that being apart for now is the most logical route to take. After "they lived happily ever after" the story ends and we don't want that to happen. I'm over the kissing stuff, they are apart and can kiss anyone they want to. V spiralling downward is very sad, but Jay is doing one hell of a job with the evolution of the meaner beast. He would be great at playing a vilain by the way. I am loving the action and the introduction of the mythology which connects the main characters. As for Tori, the character is quite annoying, contolling and childish (spoiled). Amber is doing a great job with it. Because her character is not likable, even V gets frustrated with her, but puts up with her, who knows why. Sometimes, I think deep down, it's probably V is feeling guilty because he killed Tori's father, and he feels responsible for her now. All in all, this episode was absolutely a pleasure to watch. This is why I wish my week away, can't wait to see what happens next, bring on the heartbreak.
ReplyDeleteGreat review; I however found the final scene very hard to watch (yes shocking for sure) but also very disturbing. I just can't buy the Gabe reform and both Cat/Tess's quick and seemingly blind acceptance of him. Both ladies were really hard sells last year, and didn't suffer fools easily so I just find this arc very difficult to accept. The writers seem determined to keep up this fascade, but I'm hoping that a twist is coming and that we see that he does have other motives (beyond Cat's heart). As for the actors - kudos as they are all doing such a fantastic job - Vincent (he's behaving like such a jerk/arrogant) Cat (was too clingy but now getting back to kicking butt), Gabe (saint Gabe) and Tori is such a brat - we love to hate her! Having said that I'm ready for Tori to be put in her place by Vincent - if she leaves I hope it is at his urging - that is the first choice that he makes versus her being simply killed off and that he makes the conscious decision that she is not good for him and that he still wants Cat unlike last year where it seemed if Alex had been able to accept him, he would have gone off with her so I'm really hoping that he takes control and he makes the decision versus having the decision made for him. Can't wait to see next week when Cat seems to lay a butt whooping on Tori but not sure how this ends in hostage situation but I think each show is getting better.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant fun provocative intriguing sexy ep and your recap does it justice ~ thank you! I was gutted when VinCat broke up in 2x09 but watching THIS episode I say bring it on! VinCat was smokin hot in all their scenes ~ purrrfect blend of light and dark ~ the humor and the tension just fuels their relationship and is a testament to the vastly improved storytelling in Season 2 BatB. Only negative for me was the ending kiss. I hate screentime wasted on Gabe's sickening pandering crush when we all know VinCat is endgame. Why waste precious screentime on Gabe that way? If he serves no purpose on this show any longer other than to make himself a third party nuisance like Tori ~ i say it's time to get rid of them BOTH. I'd rather the Writers spend more time working on VinCat's broken relationship especially on how the heck is Vincent going to redeem himself to Cat and the lovely mysterious new gem and bones arc. VinCat forever! ♥
ReplyDeletethis season is great .I liked your review, Cat and Vincent are destined and their chemistry is amazing even when they quarrel #batb
ReplyDeleteBut we do hope that the third season ... :) Great episode!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Virginia. I'm loving all the excitement in Season 2, the intrigue and mystery that keeps us guessing from one episode to the next. That's what great writing - and acting - is all about. Though I will admit, I will be very happy when we see signs of Vincent and Catherine recapturing their love.
ReplyDeleteLove your review...thanks! The journey is to the reward!
ReplyDeleteHi, Virginia I enjoyed your review of this cool episode, very nice your shout out to one of my favorite shows from the past Remington Steele, I was right there with you through most of your review, however Gabe is so not one of my favs, you actually feel chemistry between Catherine and Gabe, for me it's so not there, but oh well it doesn't matter (I hope) cause Vincat are gonna be together sooner than later!! Again enjoyed your review, great job!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much! I wonder if I'm the only one who likes Gabe, heeheehee. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! VinCat forever indeed :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and commenting, and good insights about why Vincent is there for Tori. I agree that Jay Ryan is doing a terrific job considering all of the curveballs the writers have thrown his character this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Can't wait for next week toooo :)!
ReplyDeleteLoved your review. Personally I am loving S2 so much its crazy!!! Every episode has been explosive & keeps getting better & better. S1 was a great start to the series, but S2 is just simply mind blowing. The show has huge potential & can go very far.
ReplyDeleteYes, like many fans of the show, I love VinCat and cannot wait to see them back together, but for the current separation is necessary to the storyline considering how S1 ended and what has happened since. Plus its definitely more exciting more to watch how VinCat overcomes these obstacles cos ultimately, the journey is what matters. I don't understand the negative reaction towards Vincent's character, considering what he has been through, its exactly how one would behave under the circumstances. Jay Ryan's performance this season is outstanding, my goodness, his talent is limitless. Superb!!!!
Loved the episode & cannot wait for episode 211.
Gabe & Tori will soon find out that VinCat are meant to be, and nothing can or will break their love.!! #BATB forever!
Getting a bit weird watching this show when I can´t stand one of the main characters anymore... Cath, I am looking at you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you daysnet I am not liking this split at all, and this damn ancestors episode why !!!!!! it just comes off as stupid and makes the writers look like they can't come up with any thing new so they are following VD and crafting this ancestors crap it doesn't grab my interest
ReplyDeletewhy do they need to go on mythology tip, they started on the created in a lab tip why are they making this turn to mythology? now they are trying to say that he had the genes to be turned into a beast and what JT just randomly threw his name into the pot, come on..........
ReplyDelete