"The Start of Something Beautiful..."

 Hey all you lovers of the The CW's Beauty and the Beast! It's been a long time since I've gotten a chance to roar over a new episode of BATB but I'm pretty sure I still remember how. There is a ton to discuss so let's get started.

If I had to sum up this episode succinctly, I guess I would break the episode down like this: Vincent had wedding bells on the brain. VinCat was a seemingly happy couple enjoying an ordinary life so Vincent thought that the timing might finally be right to pop the question until Cat stumbles on an extraordinary case with the DHS involving somebody who goes on a superhuman rampage. Though reluctant to engage with the case for fear of losing the normality he has found, Vincent finds himself with no other options when Cat is injured after discovering that someone is drugging innocent victims and transforming them into super-humans. Meanwhile, Tess accused JT of stalling his recovery as he tries to understand how he’s still alive.


I guess it's a new tradition to start each season with a soft retool and for the episode to be written solely by Brad Kern. As you may or may not know, I actually loved the season 2 premiere for the most part. It was just most of what came after that, that left me slack-jawed and scratching my head both story and decision wise for a majority of the season. Beast of Wall Street continued a few other trends as well, mainly improved production value (with the exception of that damn infernal green screen rooftop backdrop situation), some sweet ramped up fight choreography, bigger better foes for Vincent to go all code yellow on as well as intense stunt sequences.

I thought Kern did a pretty good job with the pacing and plotting, but all my favorite characters did feel a little off and out of character, but I can kind of write that off because of where these characters were left at the end of season 2. I initially got nervous about the central conflict, but was relieved by the episode's end when Kern let the characters come to the same conclusion we Beasties already know, Catherine and Vincent are stronger together and their love can literally overcome any obstacle.

I really appreciate the show getting an even more Sci-Fi and Action-Adventure vibe with season 3's debut (it made it a lot easier for my boyfriend to watch with me this time around, LOL). I think it's smart and could potentially bring in new viewers. I mean, think about it, The CW hasn't really hasn't had a female lead show with action and adventure with a side of romance since Nikita and if BATB can fill that void maybe this little show of ours can finally get the love, attention and promotion it deserves from it's parent network.

Our directorial execution was provided by Jeff Renfroe last seen sitting in the director's chair during episode 2x18: Cat and Mouse. I thoroughly enjoyed Renfroe's straight up old school procedural style of directing. Everything was kind of bare bones with a touch of 'back to basics' attitude. I loved the composition and lighting throughout the episode.

There was just enough of a mix between mid, long and close shots that made my giffing and screencapping fun, varied and interesting so kudos. Although I do feel like New York City is becoming less and less of a background "character" which is why I'm hoping that Cat and Vincent will be going on international adventures shortly because a cop show set in New York that doesn't have a distinct New York vibe falls flat on the ambiance front in my opinion (you can feel free to blame Dick Wolf for that).

I really love the recurring themes of fate and destiny in regards to Catherine and Vincent. I mean what's an epic love without those two things anyway, am I right? It feels like Kern finally understands what makes our show so special and is giving in to it. I think I even detected Kern channeling inspiration from Piper Haliwell and Leo Wyatt (hit me up in the comments if you get that reference) and that can only be a good thing. While Vincent might have been fated to become a beast, he was destined to meet Cat and turn that into something positive and become a hero. While it may have been Cat's fate to lose both her parents, it was her destiny to meet Tess, Vincent and JT and make a new family for herself that would let her grow and evolve into the best person she could be so she could save people like she was always meant to do.

There was also a motif running through this episode about being a part of something bigger than yourself. I'm not sure if that actually quite fits into the narrative of the story, especially when it comes out of Cat's mouth but I'm willing to give it a mulligan and see where this all goes. I just hope it doesn't try to go all religious for the sheer fact that it can alienate if the line is not carefully toed. When Tess yelled at JT about God not making mistakes my heart skipped a beat not only because it seemed a little out of character for Tess, but because if we are getting a science versus religion undertone added to the show, I'm not sure how I feel about it. It could be very disastrous. I love this show, but Lost it is not.

I thought a two month time jump was an odd length of time for a time jump choice. I don't feel like that was enough time for much of anything to happen or for a new base line of normal to have been established. But then again, I bet they thought they were going to be back in the fall at first so I'll let that go. Every character has a great place to start this season for the most. While I wanted VinCat's normal life to last a little bit longer I get that suits and writers think that it is boring and not something viewers actually want to see too much of. In most cases they'd be right, but when it comes to BATB I think the viewers deserve a little more calm and a lot less storm but that's just this reviewer's two cent.

Overall, I really enjoyed this episode and found myself looking forward to the potential that this new season has. I'm really hoping that the suits at The CW and the executives of the show finally understand the magic of VinCat. I think it is safe to say that what we the viewers yearn to see is their epic love overcoming all odds and making the world a better, safer place in the process. NOT them being split apart (a lesson those in charge over at Reign could stand to learn as well) so here's to the writers getting creative and being able to come up with a different way to drive the central conflict and giving us our dose of drama in a fresher manner.

I'm also yearning to see a BAMF Cat return to the forefront as well as Vincent being able to continue his work as a doctor and have an outlet to help people in a non-Beast manner. BTW, I would totally freak out in a good way, if JT became a beast-like creature and he Vincent hit the streets together (mainly because I know for a fact that it is something that Austin Basis is interested in happening). I'm not sure what I want for Tess's character all I know is that I want depth, complexity and MORE screen time. If they can swing all of that season 3 will be the best season ever.

Grade: A-

Episode Awards

Aces for Acting
• Jay Ryan

Character of the Night
• Cat

Best Character Interactions
• Cat and Vincent (duh)

Scene of the Night
• Cat soothes Vincent's beast side and prevents him from killing Tyler Zane.

Notable Quotable
• Tess: Batman needs a Robin.

Most Memorable Moment
• Vincent proposing to Cat on the rooftop.

That Awkward Moment
• That awkward moment when you're expecting a sexy fun time scene between Cat and Vincent and they cut to the next day. No bueno!

Auf Wiedersehen
• Agent Burnett

Looking for Highlights & Lowlights? Click here.


Miscellaneous
Style Spotlight: If you're a Beastie then you are also probably a Feastie as well like me and live to see what costume designer Catherine Ashton will put our beautiful cast in each week. This week I loved Heather's simple yet elegant wedding gown (and yes Heather I loved it more than the first one).



Crackpot (or Not) Theory of the Week
• The big bad for this season will end up being an offshoot of the Kabul from last season that Sam Landon went after.

Surprise of the Night
• The black DHS agent didn't die.
• Tess yelling at JT to get over it.

Spotted
• Tess stuck in the old character rut. But hey at least her and JT are getting back on track. I really hope they decide to actually develop the character of Tess this season because Nina Lisandrello deserves it.

Fun Fact: Il Cantuccio is an or rather was an  actual place in New York City. It was located at 91 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014 and is now located at 425 Farview Avenue
Paramus, New Jersey 07652.

Shameless Plugs & Self Promotion
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What did you think of this episode? What was your favorite scene? What was the most surprising thing about this episode to you?

As always, feel free to sound off in the comments. You know I love you for reading…