iZombie Review: Grumpy Old Liv (Season 2 Ep. 1)

October has hit, and with it come the spooks, monsters, and (my favorite part) the ZOMBIES! That means you iZombie! (Not that other show. You know which one we’re talking about.)

We start off Season 2 of iZombie with Liv lazing about, eating the brain of a grumpy old fart, and the bad guys back to their old ways (which are the same ways if we really think about it). This episode, titled “Grumpy Old Liv,” feels like taking a step back in this doggie revenge murder gone wrong.

Let’s talk about it!

Hi, Season 1 Liv. It’s nice (not) to see you again.

The season starts with Liv’s mother and brother not willing to see Liv. (Talk about setting a downcast and gloomy tone to things in the first couple minutes.) Obviously, she can’t tell them about her true nature or why she can’t donate blood to her family, but the fact that she doesn’t is taken as a slight against them. We’re on Liv’s side, because we see her struggle day to day, but her family’s reaction is warranted. They’re in the dark. This is the only thing they can do, because they believe she chose to let her brother die instead of helping.

Liv feels guilty for it all. In her eyes, being a zombie has ruined all her interpersonal relationships.

So she decides not to have them anymore. Liv reverts back to the season 1 version of herself, the one that existed in the months right after she turned. She lazes about the office, barely talks to her friends, and hides away in her room listening to music for long spans of time. It’s like all her hard work is being thrown clear out the window while she just stands by and watches.

It’s heartbreaking to see her fall back into her old ways and makes us want to jump through the TV to shake some sense into her. Even when the investigation starts rolling, and we’re laughing our heads off at Liv’s antics, she’s still sad. She’s still empty and directionless.

We’re not sure what will bring her out of this funk but it needs to happen soon!

Racist, Sexist, and Rude Liv?

This week’s brain of choice comes from that grumpy old man who yells at you to get off his lawn while complaining about the youth these days. That guy. You know who he is.

After nomming on his brain, Liv starts displaying some interesting habits. She is racist, sexist and has a strong hate for the youths of this day. And she is hilarious! Rose McIver kills every scene, every line without hesitation! She hobbles down the street, insults her partner Babineaux  as one of the ‘good ones’ (second hand embarrassment starts now) and sasses Blaine.

Hands down, this is the favorite brain to beat this season. (Are we sure there’s nothing left of this brain?)

Blaine hasn’t changed. (Surprise? Not.)

Were we really surprised that Blaine went back to this old ways? Nope. Well…maybe we were tricked there for a second. His opening scene makes one believe that he is working as some sort of priest and helping out the religious folk. It’s a welcome change and could be the start of something new and exciting for us. But nope. None of that. Blaine is selling coffins even after leaving Team Z.

Thanks for dashing our hopes, Blaine.

He even has a sassy meet up with Liv, where he teases her with the ability to taste regular food again and the fact that she gets off on being the zombie detective. And since Liv is flying high on old grumpy pants brain she meets him sass for sass. It’s like old times with these two, except it’s a little more relaxed than the previous times they’ve met up because Liv doesn’t see him as a viable threat anymore. He’s cured. Why should she fear him?

She should.

Let’s not forget all the utopium his minions cart into the basement inside a coffin. Classy Blaine.

Step aside Blaine. Max Rager is the REAL villain of this tale.

Now, here comes the most surprising part. Max Rager is still around and they’re bigger and badder than ever. They seem to have been on a downward spiral that involved lawsuits and a decline in sales, but that didn’t stop them. If anything their aspirations have grown. They now aspire to make a more potent energy drink to knock off your socks! (Side effects being that you might have crazy mood swings or turn into a zombie. Small price to pay, really.)

On top of that they’ve blackmailed Major to work for them. They’ve set him in between a rock and a hard place where if he doesn’t work for them Liv dies first or he goes to jail. No matter how despicable he thinks Liv’s actions were he still loves her. Somewhere deep inside she’s still a grand part of his life that he would sacrifice anything for. So he becomes the world’s best zombie hunter!

Bet you can’t put that on a business card!

The premiere ties off the episode with a pretty little bow in the form of mole, spy, and Max Rager employee Gilda, living with Liv. They’re crossing all sorts of boundaries that are not expected for the ridiculous goal of making more money. What they’re doing is a violation of privacy that will lead to Liv killing Gilda or Gilda feeling sorry for our heroine and helping her survive. The latter seems less likely.

They’ve really taken things up a notch in preparation for whatever they’ve got planned for the zombies of Seattle.

Other Observations:

• Peyton is sorely missed. Hoping to see her soon. And what’s up with Liv’s new roommate? Max Rager mole?!
• The Veronica Mars reunion of Adam Rose as Byron is very welcome (even if his crime was bland and forgettable). He is the third VM vet to appear on the show.
• Major’s new ability to sense zombies makes him the new zombie guard dog.
• Jean skirts are out of style Liv. Killing us.

Did you enjoy Liv’s skirt? Did you call Blaine not giving up his evil ways? Is there a zombie brain you enjoyed more than this old guys? Leave us a comment below and tell us all about it!

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iZombie airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.