Hello all and welcome back to our coverage of SyFy’s Deadly Class TV show. This week is a little bit of a weird one. We get to spend more time with Fuckface (as I’m sure all of you wanted this), we reconnect with an older King’s Dominion teacher, plus we get a little more light shed on Marcus’ origins in the orphanage. On the brighter side, Willie spends more time with his new friend and Luther is back for about five seconds.
Let’s dive right in, whilst being aware of Spoilers!
1. Psychopath on the loose.
The most interesting hook of this episode is that French Stewart gets to reprise his role as the Scorpio Slasher, the teacher of Fundamentals of Psychopathy from a while back. Marcus and Saya decide that the best way to catch a psychopath is to employ one of their own, and while I don’t necessarily agree with that train of thought, it does make for some entertaining television. The Scorpio Slasher delights in messing with Marcus, always being quick to point out the similarities between them and that one false step could lead Marcus down a similarly psychopathic life.
Whilst I love this criminal aspect that Stewart plays up fantastically, the moments where he gets to revel in the mundanity of life are equally as fun. The Slasher’s vocals are kept at a flat monotone, which makes his bizarre antics all the wilder. He keeps the same voice timbre when enjoying his carnitas burrito as he does when disemboweling one of Fuckface’s thugs, and I’m all for it.
2. El Diablo, baby.
Maria had it tough last episode with Madame Gao and the rest of the Mexican Cartel keeping her on edge and questioning her regarding Chico’s murder. Now, she’s got it even tougher with Chico’s father and her adopted guardian Diablo coming to her for answers. Played by the stone-faced and manipulative Joe Pistone, Diablo has a terrifying way of getting inside Maria’s head, questioning her loyalty and studying her every reaction. He’s a more fearsome version of Chico without the moments of redemption, especially as he threatens Master Lin for failing to keep Chico protected.
Diablo’s a behind-the-scenes operator in every sense of the term, too. We see him send one of his Cartel goons to threaten Maria, saying her speech wasn’t convincing and that she has only twenty-four hours to come up with something better. Diablo himself isn’t present, but you can feel his intimidating aura through the boy, and it’s hard not to be terrified for Maria.
3. Chico Lives Again.
Maria may have sliced open Chico’s throat, but he’s far from done with this show. Yes, Chico is still dead, but he lives on in Fuckface’s twisted fantasy vision, serving as the devil on his shoulder and pushing him to lead a life of villainy. Since this is Fuckface’s perception of Chico, what we get from him this time around is less of the terrifying, clingy antagonist type, and more of a wacky, macabre henchman. It’s surprisingly fun, especially as Chico constantly sits in his bucket of ice, surrounded by beers and unable to keep his mouth fully closed.
Things get heated later on in the episode as Fuckface contemplates his situation in the bathtub with a smoke and a bottle of whisky. Chico riles him up, getting him pumped up to ‘go and cut some people up’. This insane sequence of Fuckface rising naked from the bath in fervor with Chico’s severed head cheering him on is somehow one of the most entertaining scenes in the episode.
4. Willie and Gabrielle
Amidst all the panic and chaos of the episode, it’s nice that there’s still time to explore Willie’s new relationship with Gabrielle, the fellow comic nerd from the last episode. Willie goes back to her place after a date, and at first, keeps up his bad-boy veneer. However, after a few minutes of acting tough and talking smack about his father’s funeral, we get to see the good Willie come out as he reflects on his father’s passion for singing. It’s charming and shows viewers that he’s comfortable around Gabrielle, to the point where she questions whether this is part of his charm-tactics.
Continued belowBedroom romance ensues, and the aftermath is relaxingly casual. In a nice character moment, Gabrielle wraps herself in the covers to go to the bathroom even though Willie has, in his words, ‘seen the whole package’. Willie then gets a call from his gang back at King’s, but Gabrielle tries to remind him that he doesn’t need to keep up the facade with them, that he can always leave if he wants. It’s lovely, and I want more Willie and Gabrielle. Please, and thank you.
5. Gao always finds out.
Gao’s presence is still felt in this episode, though she comes off as a little more human and believable here. We see the relationship between her and Master Lin explored, as Gao reveals to viewers that she too had a son, whose death inspired her current tenacity for control and supremacy. It lends more depth to her character and makes her more sympathetic to viewers, especially as she’s a lot less overacted in this episode. However, she talks with Lin about his daughter Naya (who we found out is actually alive in secret last episode) in such a way that she’s probing him to reveal his secret about her. It’s subtle but keeps Lin and viewers on edge with concern.
We get a confrontation in the latter half of the episode, however, as Gao surprises Lin and Naya together, revealing she suspected him all along. The moment is heavy with tension, portrayed especially well with Naya’s facial expression. What’s even more interesting is that Gao doesn’t reveal her hand for what she well do in reaction, keeping us in suspense as she now holds Lin in the palm of her hand.
That’s it for this week’s coverage! Did you have anything thoughts on “Rise Above” this week? Were you also shocked but impressed when the Scorpio Slasher disemboweled poor Jimmy Jones? Have at it in the comments, and come back for more thoughts next week.
