iZombie 2.13 “The Whopper”

Major and Ravi are still hard at work digging for that tainted Utopium, so that Ravi can (hopefully) synthesize a cure for zombieism. Since this is iZombie we’re talking about, of course they find a completely unrelated dead body. Initially, Corey “Big Fish” Carp seemingly has nothing to do with the would-be Utopium dealers, but it turns out he has everything to do with the larger story arc. Not only did he work for Mr. Boss, but while on his brains, Liv has some very revealing flashbacks about her new boo. Sure we know Drake might be bad news, but he seems a much better fit for her than Major (RIP Lowell).

Show creator, Rob Thomas, wrote this week’s episode and it shows not only in the clever integration of crime and plot, but also in the resolution of the mystery itself. Thomas has always excelled at creating an intricate web of questions with answers that never undermine the viewer’s intelligence. “The Whopper” is no exception. Since Big Fish worked for Mr. Boss, Clive likes one of his hitmen for the job. However, Mr. Boss sends Drake to kill that hitman, because he thinks the dude’s gone rogue. Liv eventually learns through a vision that Don E killed Big Fish. Here’s where it gets confusing. Big Fish was in the field where the Utopium smugglers were buried (because he buried them). Don E and Drake went looking for those dudes, only to find Big Fish instead. He shot Drake, so Don E shot him.

Although convoluted at times, this week’s case is not only expertly woven through several dangling plot threads, but it showcased exactly how integral lying is to the forward momentum of iZombie. Everyone on this show is hiding something. As we watch Liv tall tale her way through this episode about everything from a winning lottery ticket to saving a man’s life, we really see the difference between these “whoppers” and the lies everyone is telling for basic survival. After hearing several of Liv’s embellishments, Clive has the conversation with Ravi that we’ve all been waiting for! He’s noticed that she takes on personality traits of whomever they’re investigating. Way to be a detective Clive!

This week in Blaine: He finds out during a reading of his father’s will that if foul play is suspected in his “death” (which it is), then Blaine gets nothing. Everything goes to Frau Bader, the nanny that tortured Blaine growing up. She killed his dog for fuck’s sake! Meanwhile, during an attempt to take his next victim, Done E and Chief capture Major. Blaine is all set to kill him until Major reveals that his father is still alive. Now, Major has not one, but two evil bosses. From now on, Blaine will be telling Major which zombies to “off.” In the episode’s most hilarious moment, Blaine has himself made up like an old man to convince his father that he’s been frozen for much longer than he actually has been. He follows that theatrical moment with allowing his employees who were shot and tortured by his father to take the pliers into their own hands to get daddy dearest to change his will. Cue the Les Miserables soundtrack.

Back at the morgue, things aren’t looking great on the cure front. New Hope, the zombie rat Ravi cured, who then reverted back to her zombie form, has just died. So not only will Blaine and Major soon be the walking dead, but shortly thereafter, they will be the actually dead. Luckily, Liv followed up on a lead from Drake and discovers where in that giant field those failed smugglers are buried. The episode closes with Liv, Major and Ravi triumphantly digging up the guys they’ve been in search of for months! Now if Ravi can only find a cure.