Midnight, Texas: 5 Pressing Questions We Had After “Lemuel, Unchained” (Season 1 Episode 3)

I like Lem, and I really like Peter Mensah. Yet, despite being Lem-centric, Midnight, Texas Season 1 Episode 3 is a pretty big let down.

Overall, the hour’s got some noticeable pacing issues. The inclusion of the flashbacks to Lem’s past (his life as a slave, Zach turning him into a vampire, and his eventual break with Zach/turn into an energy-draining vamp) makes sense from a plot standpoint.

But in terms of structure, basically every single flashback sequence feels oddly placed and even a bit awkward.

In the end, I’m left with more questions than answers after watching this episode of the supernatural drama series. So, let’s dive right in…

1. Why are Creek and her family so boring?

I’ve not exactly been subtle about how much I dislike Creek as a character and Creek/Manfred as a relationship. Actually, dislike is the wrong word — I don’t care enough about her and it for active hate. It’s just blah.

There are several things wrong with this portion of the narrative that just won’t go away.

For one, Creek is just boring. There’s nothing distinctive, memorable, or interesting about her. Ditto her brother. Ditto her dad. Creek’s dad is actually the worst offender, which “Lemuel, Unchained” makes abundantly clear — the man is a total buffoon. I can’t help but groan at characters who are so obviously one-note and flat.

Plus, that moment when Creek’s dad refuses to listen to Manfred when Manfred is there to warn them about the vamps is so irritating. That’s my least favorite TV trope of all time.

I suspect that the show is building to some kind of big reveal about why Creek’s dad wants to keep her away from Manfred, but it better be good if they expect me to give a hoot.

2. When will Fiji and Bobo stop being so awkward and just make out already?

I mean, COME ON. Even the talking cat is giving Fiji pointers to impress Bobo. Pointers like, “You’ve got dirt on your face and your boo is coming” — paraphrased, of course.

I do enjoy how dorky and sweet Fiji is, and the dorkiness definitely dials up to 11 whenever Bobo is around. Their little solo adventure with the magic light bulb while cooped up in Fiji’s inhospitable-to-the-dead house is cute, but Bobo needs to get a clue already.

3. How can Olivia outmatch several vampires?

Olivia and her many guns are quite badass. Arielle Kebbel is killing it in this role. I really like Olivia, and her love for Lem is very clear and sweet.

That said, I’m going to need some answers ASAP for how Olivia became so fantastically proficient in fighting. What’s her deal? What is this “dark past” that she mentions to Lem in their final scene of the episode?

Clearly, the two of them are bonded by their own personal demons. We know what Lem’s are now. But how about Olivia’s?

4. Why are all these hundreds-of-years-old vampires so very, very dumb?

Manfred is not an overly-clever man. His plan to trick the vampires — also not too clever. So why in the heck did they all fall for it so easily?

In general, I don’t love how the show represented vampires on “Lemuel, Unchained.” The entire plot involving Zach and his group is incredibly predictable. There isn’t a surprising or interesting moment throughout the entire hour.

The vampires pretty much show up in town, and the Midnighters are suspicious. And guess what? Their suspicions are proven completely correct. Shocking, right? (Not so much.)

5. Why is Joe’s identity a secret?

Pretty much everybody in Midnight is, ahem, unusual. So what’s the deal with Joe keeping his angelic identity a secret?

His boyfriend clearly knows what’s up (that feather confrontation last week on Midnight, Texas Season 1 Episode 2 confirms that). Now the Reverend also knows. But Joe avoids telling anyone else the truth, even lying to Manfred about how he was able to shine the sun-light on the vampires. What’s up with that?

What did you think of this episode of Midnight, Texas? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Midnight, Texas airs Mondays at 10/9c on ABC.

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