"Better Off Dead" is effective on a number of levels. For one, it brings in actor Neil Munro in the first of his three appearances on the show. In this one he plays the relatively sympathetic Warren Voss. Who is trying to use an antique syringe to find a cure for his daughter "hyper-violence". Said cure involves using the syringe to extract brain fluid from abducted women, then inject it into his daughter's brain. This temporarily cures her, and turns the women into hyper-violent beasts themselves.
Voss alternates between being a loving father who is just trying to cure his daughter no matter what the cost. And ruthlessly abducting women to fuel the cure for his daughter. And trying to make a scientific analysis of what the syringe does. We the viewers know it's a fool's errand, because the syringe is a) magic, and b) like all of the items, extracts a price for its "gift" that has nothing to do with science. Unlike the other medical/healing items in the past (and future, "The Shaman's Apprentice", anyone?), the item only temporarily heals one person but requires the sacrifice of seven women to obtain a temporary "cure" for his daughter.
Basically, Munro's Voss is a more sympathetic version of the mother from season 1's "What a Mother Wouldn't Do", and the concept is the same. Kill seven people to cure one child. Even the number of victims is the same, if you count Micki as the seventh victim.
So you've got another "sympathetic" killer like season 2 seems to do a relatively lot of. Amanda is an ill patient, and her father is just trying to cure her. Heartwarming, right? But there's an antique involved, so the writers go to horror. First we see Lesley reduced to a slavering beast. Then Linda. And finally closer to home with Micki herself. First Voss kills Shiller without the syringe in sight. Then Micki shows up at Voss' doorstep and he uses her as his next "donor".
Then the horror really begins, since it's striking at someone in the cast rather than a guest star. Voss straps Micki to a gurney, turns on the classical music tape, and his caged lab primates chatter and howl as Voss uses the syringe to extract some of the brain fluid from Micki and implant the tissue from Micki to Amanda. This turns Micki into a feral animal, but fortunately the effects are temporary and she doesn't suffer any continual effects after this episode. Even if it's off-screen
There's the usual level of coincidence involved. Ryan and Linda just happen to be driving through the neighborhood, and hit the prostitute with the car, who fell victim to Dr. Voss and the syringe. Maybe the trio are cursed-antique magnets: later "Wedding in Black" seemed to imply that as well.
There are a few cute bits. I like the look of bemusement on the cab driver's face as Jack explains his theory to Ryan, in the back of the cab. The episode makes the most of the horrifying nature of doctors and medical experiments: a demented Voss begins cutting open skulls while playing classical music. Even without Micki as a victim, it's horrifying. Watching Linda and Amanda frothing at the mouth is equally terrifying.
The episode title doesn't make much sense, but the episode is the most effective of the "medical" episodes of the series. It's helped in large part by Munro's part, as he goes from caring father to demented surgeon without ever quite losing the first quality.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
Voss alternates between being a loving father who is just trying to cure his daughter no matter what the cost. And ruthlessly abducting women to fuel the cure for his daughter. And trying to make a scientific analysis of what the syringe does. We the viewers know it's a fool's errand, because the syringe is a) magic, and b) like all of the items, extracts a price for its "gift" that has nothing to do with science. Unlike the other medical/healing items in the past (and future, "The Shaman's Apprentice", anyone?), the item only temporarily heals one person but requires the sacrifice of seven women to obtain a temporary "cure" for his daughter.
Basically, Munro's Voss is a more sympathetic version of the mother from season 1's "What a Mother Wouldn't Do", and the concept is the same. Kill seven people to cure one child. Even the number of victims is the same, if you count Micki as the seventh victim.
So you've got another "sympathetic" killer like season 2 seems to do a relatively lot of. Amanda is an ill patient, and her father is just trying to cure her. Heartwarming, right? But there's an antique involved, so the writers go to horror. First we see Lesley reduced to a slavering beast. Then Linda. And finally closer to home with Micki herself. First Voss kills Shiller without the syringe in sight. Then Micki shows up at Voss' doorstep and he uses her as his next "donor".
Then the horror really begins, since it's striking at someone in the cast rather than a guest star. Voss straps Micki to a gurney, turns on the classical music tape, and his caged lab primates chatter and howl as Voss uses the syringe to extract some of the brain fluid from Micki and implant the tissue from Micki to Amanda. This turns Micki into a feral animal, but fortunately the effects are temporary and she doesn't suffer any continual effects after this episode. Even if it's off-screen
There's the usual level of coincidence involved. Ryan and Linda just happen to be driving through the neighborhood, and hit the prostitute with the car, who fell victim to Dr. Voss and the syringe. Maybe the trio are cursed-antique magnets: later "Wedding in Black" seemed to imply that as well.
There are a few cute bits. I like the look of bemusement on the cab driver's face as Jack explains his theory to Ryan, in the back of the cab. The episode makes the most of the horrifying nature of doctors and medical experiments: a demented Voss begins cutting open skulls while playing classical music. Even without Micki as a victim, it's horrifying. Watching Linda and Amanda frothing at the mouth is equally terrifying.
The episode title doesn't make much sense, but the episode is the most effective of the "medical" episodes of the series. It's helped in large part by Munro's part, as he goes from caring father to demented surgeon without ever quite losing the first quality.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?