When Liv’s sorority sister from college jumps from an airplane and is impaled upon a tree when she lands, Liv is confronted with several complicated questions – both about the girl that jumped and about herself.
“Holly was the opposite of me – she was adventurous and free. I was disciplined and safe. She was unlike anyone I’d ever met… Even though I didn’t understand her, part of me wished I could be her.” Liv realizes in Flight of the Dead that even though she’s dead, doesn’t mean she can’t live. She doesn’t necessarily have to live as dangerously as Holly did, but she realizes she can take some risks – gamble a little – and see how much it pays off.
“Dying is a consequence of life kind of girl,” Liv remarks about Holly. Since Liv is already dead, she has little to lose. This statement becomes just as much about Liv as it does her deceased friend.
“Live Moore. Huh. So, do you?” Lowell Tracy asks of her in the interrogation room. The introduction of Lowell opens a whole new field up for Liv – she’s never expected to date again, let alone date a cute zombie boy. Also, he restores Liv’s ability to live a little more. To be a little human, to have a little crush. What I enjoy about this episode is that Liv’s character development doesn’t hinge upon Lowell – he just brings out a different side of her. It’s a side she’s hidden away under lock and key post-Major-breakup. She’s initially weary and affronted at Lowell’s invitation to a date, but the more she thinks about it, the more promising it seems. It may be Holly’s brain instilling a little courage, but to see this human side of Liv would be fun.
iZombie’s leading lady is unique because each brain she eats brings out a different (or entirely new) facet of her personality. The consumption of this particular adventurous brain causes Liv to take life by the horns and run with it. It’s reflected in the small daily choices she makes. However, these scenes are some of the more awkward in this episode. The idea is there, but the execution seems a little off.
The parts of the episode that faltered were the ones with Liv on her bike. I understand it’s a metaphor for her: take the bike and do something different instead of the car, which you always take. A car door flings open and it’s dangerous! She bolts down some stairs and it’s exhilerating! The bike metaphor didn’t quite work for me – I found it a little cheesy.
While I adore Liv, Clive’s character still isn’t as strong as it could be. He seems to take Liv’s visions without question – and at fairly high stakes. Liv and Let Clive started to explore the facets of their relationship, but their interactions still seem… off. Clive isn’t an authoritative cop, but instead comes off as passive and gullible.
Overall, this episode is on-trend with its predecessors. The snappy and witty dialogue, the steady character development, the interesting storylines – all are reasons why I love iZombie. This episode in particular interested me with the debut of Lowell, who could be a very good thing for Liv. I’m excited to see how Liv chooses to live in the coming episodes.