Bitten - Rabbit Hole - Review

Bitten, “Rabbit Hole,” was written by showrunner Daegan Frylind and was directed by Bruce McDonald, whose other credits include Heartland, Cracked and Queer as Folk. This episode revealed a lot more about the witches and what Aleister (Sean Rogerson) is really up to and why. The title works on several levels, referring to the two faced rabbit but also the expression ‘down the rabbit hole’ which can refer to a descent into the unknown – the wolves foray into the world of the witches – or can also refer to the mentally deranged.

The episode begins with a flashback to five months ago. Dr Bauer (Carly Street) is caught creating monsters through pseudo-science and cryptobiology and is thrown out of her lab by Randall (Richard Clarkin). There’s an indication that they have a personal connection. Bauer is distraught enough to consider suicide, but Aleister intervenes and saves her, though she does badly break her ankle. There is a beautiful shot of Bauer on the ledge when the flock of either crows or ravens fly up and knock her back. Rather than letting him numb the pain, she insists she wants to feel the pain – clearly she is a masochist. Of course, this also contrasts to her complaining about the pain to Elena (Laura Vanderevoort) when she is going through the change.

Was everyone else as shocked as I was that Bauer actually lived through the change? I thought we got some excellent gore and carnage as she rampaged through the compound. I particularly liked the scene in which Elena is trying to get Bauer to change back and Aleister’s man is about to attack Elena so she kills two birds with one stone by using him to block Bauer. Of course, Bauer doesn’t really come through the change unscathed. She’s clearly lost whatever was left of her mind.

Back at Stonehaven, Nick (Steve Lund) and Paige (Tommie-Amber Pirie) team up while Ruth (Tammy Isbell) and Jeremy (Greg Bryk) work together. Nick is clearly still fascinated with Paige and brings her a tuber of ginger. He’s looked it up and discovered that it’s a powerful protection – but Paige points out that it’s also used to heat up love affairs. They follow the trail of Tommy Ashmont who they’ve learned was Bauer’s boyfriend. His trail takes them to his mother Sadie (Lynne Cormack) who is in an institution.

I quite liked how the scene with Mrs Ashmont was cut with the scene between Elena and Aleister as we hear about his childhood so that we get both perspectives. Sadie tells them that Tommy was not her son and was full of the devil and that he did horrible things. Meanwhile, Aleister – who is clearly Tommy – tells Elena that he came into his powers when he was 12, learning that he could move things without touching them and bleed his cat to death without touching it. His father thought he could get the devil out of him by beating him with a leather belt with a buckle that said faith. Sadie tells Paige and Nick that Tommy killed her husband by bleeding him out even though the boy was clear across the field.

It’s interesting that Paige and Nick tell Sadie they’re from her church as their cover because religion really does play a role in this story. We’ve also seen that Aleister uses his followers like a religious cult as well. The theme of bleeding out runs through the cat, Aleister’s father, and finally is how he kills Bauer. Bauer’s death almost seems biblical, almost like a crucifixion. And of course, blood is how Aleister plans to kill the witches.

Ruth tells Jeremy that she hasn’t been entirely honest – which of course, he’s known all along. As always, Greg Bryk impresses me with his subtle portrayal. He is often the only still thing in a scene, and it’s important to observe how intensely he watches. Ruth takes him to see Clara Sullivan (Debra McCabe). According to Ruth, Clara was one of their most promising witches but had a dark side and turned wicked. Ruth was forced to shatter her talisman and take her powers. Ruth tells Jeremy that she may have answers, but that Clara hates her. Clara really does hate Ruth. We learn that Aleister is, in fact, Ruth’s son. And of course, Jeremy isn’t all that surprised. He already questioned why Aleister knew Ruth’s name after all. Interestingly, Ruth uses the same sleep spell on Clara as Aleister teaches Savannah (Kiara Glasco).

Paige fills us and Nick in on why there are no male witches. It’s not that they can’t have male babies and they don’t kill them once they are born – they simply don’t let it get that far. The reason they don’t have male babies is the Prophecy of the Tribulation. The prophecy specifies that a male witch will bring about their downfall, and they will all die. Coming back to the religious parallels, Paige compares the prophecy to the apocalypse. And of course, Aleister is able to have Elena’s blood attack Savannah’s by the end of the episode. I did have to love his little “Ding dong the witch is dead” as a Wizard of Oz fan. And I miss the touches of humor from last season.

Aleister continues with Savannah’s training even though he still has to use the lock and key spell to make her do it. She is clearly unlocking her powers, but when she tries to put the guard to sleep, she is still using her right hand. She wants her own talisman to help her focus her powers, but Aleister refuses, and in fact, when the guard goes to sleep it’s because Aleister has done it himself – you can see him use his left hand to do it in the background.

Rachel (Genelle Williams) appears to be being brainwashed into the collective mind. It’s quite horrifying as she is forced to keep her eyes open and is bombarded by sound and images. She pleads for them to at least consider the baby. I think I was most impressed by Williams in this episode as it’s the first in a very, very long time in which she actually did some proactive things to help herself and those around her. She fakes being brainwashed and makes a run for it. She finds Aleister’s spinning top. It is sitting on top of what appears to be a map of the compound. When she knocks it over her brand – and everyone else’s disappear and the other follower suddenly seem more aware as well.

I’m betting that this is Aleister’s own talisman. Rachel starts to run away, but stops to go back for Logan (Michael Xavier) and is captured. As soon as the top it put in place – and Aleister knew to go directly to it and was angry anyone had touched it – the brands come back.

Clay’s mission to get information from Randall seems pointless as the others have already learned the pertinent information about Tommy/Aleister, and they all learn that Bauer is dead when Paige contacts Savannah. I loved that Elena was able to talk to Clay through Savannah and Paige. I also like how close Elena and Savannah are growing. It’s killing me that Clay and Elena are spending so much of this season apart. While I appreciate a new threat, and I realize the witches are a big part of the books, I am a fan of the wolves. This episode felt very wolf-light to me. Except for this scene when you could see the love and concern between Elena and Clay even though they still weren’t technically in the scene together.

Elena is able to give them a lot of detailed information to find the compound. They also know now that both Logan and Rachel are also there. Jeremy tells Elena to set up a signal for them. Meanwhile, the episode ends with Aleister using the lock and key spell to force Savannah to kill one of the guards. Presumably this is a dark magic rite of passage – something she will have to pass before he can use her to kill the other witches. It’s interesting that the witches view the wolves as the cursed because they were created out of dark magic. Clay insists it’s a seventh son legend.

I can’t imagine that either Ruth or Jeremy are going to be pleased when it comes out that Paige and Nick have made love. Paige may say she just wants to be distracted, but it seems like more than that. Frankly, I find Paige to be as much of a spoiled brat as Savannah, but I did feel sorry for her being mostly naked up against that tree! That could not have been comfortable! It’s interesting, of course, that the wolves want only male children while the witches want only female – is it possible they could solve each other’s problems?

What did you think of the episode? Do you think Jeremy and the pack can find the compound and get there in time to stop Aleister? Are you enjoying this witch storyline? Isn’t it about time for the wolf council to return? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

About the Author - Lisa Macklem

I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.