iZombie recap: “Dead Rat, Live Rat, Brown Rat, White Rat”

Have you watched last night’s iZombie yet? If not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? If you have, well, let’s get to this I Know What You Did Last Summer-referencing thing.

Yes, in the penultimate episode of our first season of iZombie, we get a bunch of nods to one of our fave ‘90s slashers. But that’s not all! We also get some serious drama in terms of Liv’s nearest and dearest, not to mention Liv going from braindead cheerleader to brain stoned. Yeah, “Dead Rat, Live Rat, Brown Rat, White Rat” may be one of the best episodes yet and so, we’re best off not wasting anymore time not talking about the specifics of it!

BRAINSSSY:

• Yay for another girl-powered episode! “Dead Rat, Live Rat, Brown Rat, White Rat” was written by iZombie co-creator and former Veronica Mars producer/writer Diana Ruggiero-Wright, and directed by Mairzee Almas, who has also done episodes of Lost Girl, Smallville and Beauty and the Beast.

• Opening scene was both an overall I Know What You Did Last Summer reference, as well as a jumping off point for a Godspell reference. Hells to the yesss.
• Seriously, that blonde girl in the opener (Stephanie Bennett, also of Lifetime’s UnReal) was doing her best Sarah Michelle Gellar as Helen Shivers impression, down to rocking a letterman jacket over the little black something.
• “Have you seen Orange is the New Black? I’m not taking a shower using tampon sandals!”
• This Ravi moment:

• “You named the cured zombie rat Hope. And you bought her a toy!”
• Rose McIver doing her cheerleader impression is, naturally, hilarious. Only thing better might be Clive’s reaction to her going all Valley Girl on a witness in the interrogation room. If he’s not suspecting something is up, he’s going to start feeling that way and soon.

• Peyton is back and talking to Liv about something other than Ravi! Well, in addition to Ravi. But still, she knows about the Z thing now and this should open a lot of doors in terms of her involvement in Liv’s crime-solving life. Note: I said “should,” as I’m in denial that Peyton’s MIA after finding out the truth.
• “Girls can be anything!” “Yes! Please, let’s be politically correct when speaking of zombies!” This single Liv and Ravi convo might be the embodiment of the feminist struggle on the Internet.

• Is this the first time Liv’s had brain pizza? Because that just seems like a genius idea. Well, until it ends with Clive eating a slice.
• Speaking of, Clive’s disappointment re: Liv and Ravi having a pizza party without him is all too real.
• Stoner Liv is almost as good as Cheerleader Liv. Maybe better. I’m particularly glad to see that Liv isn’t giving up on her cheese puffs even after last week’s devil bag incident.

• Seriously, though, kudos to Rose McIver for managing to retain Liv’s personality while being influenced by not one, but two other ones. And for totally KILLING IT in that fight against Matthew MacCaull’s Sebastian. (P.S. – Is he actually dead, guys? I know he was stabbed in the head, but it seems quick to dispose of a great villain.)
• Looks like Liv’s boys are in #MajorTrouble with Blaine and boy, does that set us up for an exciting finale.
• Yeah, “Retrograde” by James Blake is the perfect song to set the ending of this ep.

BRAINSSSDEAD:

• Major is trying to win some points with us online by doing a vlog about his zombie-hunting adventures. But then has to ruin it by alluding to his future being death (!!) and making reference to the iZombie theme song while doing it (!!!!).

• This drawing did not look anywhere near enough like Sebastian to trigger Liv’s memories, you guys.
• “I’m seeing Hot McBody and I’m thinking I may take that oral exam!” Eww.
• “Good night. You were extremely easy. To work with.” Eww again.

• I wanted to fawn over Ravi taking Peyton on a tour of all the places they filmed Vertigo, but then she left him alone in his suit on the porch, which either means she’s totally lame (I’ll go anywhere with you, Ravi!), or she’s in serious danger. Either way, awful!
• Okay, it’s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, not I Know What You Did Last Summer 2. Also, there IS a third movie and it is called I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer and it went straight to DVD and it is … pretty terrible.

Emily Gagne (@emilygagne) is one of the founding members of Cinefilles, a site for wannabe female film and TV critics, as well as an admitted heroine addict. She may not have super strength, or be able to make a stake on command, but she can slay you with her rhetorical devices, endless knowledge of Final Girls, and passion for geek girl scoop.

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