"A Fistful of Blood" is definitely a step down from the previous episode "The Gentleman's Agreement," but that's also acceptable since the latter was a downright fantastically entertaining effort and undoubtedly the best entry in the series (although I haven't seen all episodes yet). This is one of the more above average instalments, with a good setting and an old-fashioned but delightfully despicable villain. The title, obviously, but also the plot and the ambiance are a clear homage to Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars". It's nice and apt to process some love for Spaghetti Westerns into a show like "Blood Drive", for sure! On the 10th racing day, through the wasteland area, Grace and Arthur are pulled over by the eerie small-town Sheriff Leon. He spots Arthur's police uniform and insists that he helps to arrest a supposedly criminal community, but are they really the enemy? Meanwhile, Grace and Slink engage into a duel of whiskey-drinking, while Christopher brings out genuinely romantic feelings in cyborg Aki. Less outrageous than usual, but with some very meaningful (and well-acted) sequences, like the tender moment in the bathroom or the suspense-chemistry between Grace and Slink. Danny Keoh has an awesome guest role as the nightmarish sheriff Leon.
PS: one of the great things about "Blood Drive" is that every episode has a "fake" VHS-cover/poster. The poster for "A Fistful of Blood" looks, whether or not intentionally, very much like the poster for the Chuck Norris vehicle "Good Guys Wear Black".
PS: one of the great things about "Blood Drive" is that every episode has a "fake" VHS-cover/poster. The poster for "A Fistful of Blood" looks, whether or not intentionally, very much like the poster for the Chuck Norris vehicle "Good Guys Wear Black".
