Contributor: Henry T.
Written by Sonny Postiglione
Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill
This episode was all over the place. It addresses some of the dangling plot threads from previous episodes, then introduces a new threat to the lead character that somehow feels out of place. This is because the context for the threat is missing, presumably to be expanded on in the coming episodes. So, as of now, I can’t decide what to make of it.
The other plotlines aren’t much better. Henry doesn’t want to revel in his heroics at the mayor’s house. Jane ends up threatened by the man who was previously made up of black smoke. The boring love triangle between Brian, Louise, and Alexis adds another man to the mix to balance things out. It’s a mess, and it’s one where the various plots go nowhere. Halloween at the Drake should have been more entertaining than this.
It’s looking more and more like a mistake for the show to make leads out of characters like Henry Martin and Jane Van Veen. It may be the writers or the actors (or a little of both), but they aren’t interesting in any way. Henry is a blank slate, a bland man who spends much of this episode moping and “staying humble” in the wake of saving Commissioner Pike from an assassin’s bullet. I get that it’s part of his Midwestern roots, but he’s a real buzzkill when it comes to any character interaction. What does Gavin see in the guy? Perhaps that’s why I think the possibility exists that Gavin sent Laurel to build up Henry’s image in the public eye. Gavin may be tempting Henry with the prospect of celebrity, thus gaining momentum for a possible run at public office. It’s hard to tell anything because Henry shies away from everything that’s thrown at him in this episode. At least Jane gets in on the action in this episode.
The Black Smoke Man turns out to be Peter Kramer, an apparition who killed his wife after the stock market Crash of 1929, and who apparently wants Jane’s necklace. Kramer’s wife tells her little girl, who is the same girl that’s been haunting Jane since last episode, to keep the necklace “in the family,” implying that Jane may be related to the little girl. Perhaps this is Jane’s grandmother? The timeline does make some sense. Kramer almost kills Jane in his rampage through the Drake, but doesn’t do so, and then disappears at the end. Will we see him again? I don’t know, but there has to be more to this story than the episode shows. It just never got the development it deserved here. After this scare from one of the secrets of the Drake’s past, I should hope that Jane would think long and hard about going back to that well again. It drives the plots of the show so I doubt that will occur.
By now, I’m out of words to describe what I think about the love triangle between Brian, Louise, and Alexis. Everyone involved in the love triangle isn’t interesting enough to hold my attention. For a moment, Alexis’ apology to Brian in the beginning seemed genuine. We don’t really know what Alexis’ ultimate agenda is, but she does seem to care about keeping her job as Louise’s assistant (although this is yet another case where we never get to see these characters work at their actual jobs) and it would be wise for her to keep things peaceful between the couple. That is immediately undermined by the presence of the handsome Dr. Scott, who suddenly appears in the building as a complication for both Brian and Louise.
Many of the characters’ actions and thoughts don’t make sense here. Louise uses the Drake’s elevator multiple times even though it tried to eat her (or kill her) just a short time ago. Alexis is shown to be a thief and seductress, intent on stirring up trouble between both Brian and Louise. So I guess Alexis’ ultimate plan is for her to have Brian all to herself, and whatever happens to Louise is left up to the fates. It’s all very uninteresting, and feels like filler to pad the episode’s running time.
Finally, we’re left to the Dorans, who remain busy throughout this episode since they are the hosts for the Drake Halloween party. Terry O’Quinn and Vanessa Williams can be great when presented with material that they can chew on, but it’s just not happening. This is especially true of Williams, who is still left with very little to do in the episode but look good in an expensive night gown and be unconscious due to some a gas from the Gas Mask Man. The man appears to be intimately familiar with Gavin, and swiftly takes the mysterious box that was in Gavin’s safe. There just isn’t anything at stake here. Gas Mask Man renders Olivia unconscious, but then leaves her up in the penthouse terrace with no bodily harm. Gavin doesn’t seem particularly angry that the man stole his precious box. There is also no indication as to what is in the box (similar to keeping the contents of the basement suitcase a secret… only to reveal that it held black smoke).
I should hope the reveal should be better than what came out of the suitcase. “A Crowd of Demons” isn’t a terrible episode, but there’s nothing that’s truly outstanding either. It goes for cheap scares (that aren’t all that scary to begin with) that are surrounded by this glamourous setting that has no substance. The show needs to go beyond the surface instead of staying where it is. It may be running out of time to really go anywhere.
Score: 5/10
