iZombie Review: Goon Struck (Season 4 Episode 5)

iZombie Season 4 Episode 5, “Goon Struck,” is the episode horror and hockey fans alike can rejoice over. Filled with quippy goon lingo, some illegal body-checking, and one too many secret agendas, iZombie delivers a brain of the week that may just be the best yet.

While “Goon Struck” delivers on its promise for a fun mismatch of sports and the undead, the two barely cross paths. The first part of the episode is devoted mainly to Liv’s trip to the rink, and the second part is devoted entirely to Fillmore Graves’ arising issues with their zombie/human utopia.

These two plot points could blend together without difficulty. But instead, the episode almost feels split in half given how much the storylines contrast each other.

So, it seems only fair to look at both parts of the episode separately.

The concept of Liv devouring hockey player brain is brilliant. Frankly, the fact that we had to wait four seasons for “Goon Struck” is insulting.

But this episode doesn’t just feel like an ode to the winter sport and the Goon genre that makes for a fun B-list movie to watch from time to time. No, surprisingly, this episode of iZombie is an odd little nod to the home-country of hockey: Canada.

Most of the jokes directed towards Canada in this episode are so overdone and stereotypical that they could come off as insulting to natives if the mockery wasn’t so darn funny. Every detail, right down to the brain-cooking montage with poutine and the dead hockey player’s name being Gordie “Shultzy” Shultz (probably the most Canadian name someone could ever have), is just so enjoyable.

Most brain-of-the-week personalities aren’t as fleshed out as Liv’s hockey brain is. While a goonish hockey player would have been fine, the extra details make a huge difference when fleshing the character out for Rose McIver to play.

Hopefully for all fellow Canadians out there watching “Goon Struck,” Liv’s brain of the week brings you both pride and laughter, whilst reminding you to switch over to the hockey game afterward.

Clive’s impressions could use some work, but him being so excited to watch Liv go full Canadian is worth the cringe.

One of the greatest moments to come out of this brain has to be the one where a mother asks Clive which kid is his on the ice and he replies with, “the little blonde one.” The man is so proud of his little zombie morgue assistant, it’s like he’s replacing the family iZombie wrote off the show in Season 1.

Nonetheless, fatherhood is a good look on Clive.

Sure, while the entire bit at the rink comes off as more of a laughable moment, it seems like a natural progression in their partnership since Clive took Liv under his wing in the pilot. We could definitely benefit from more mock daughter/father bonding time between the duo.

And finally, the Fillmore Graves storyline in “Goon Struck” reveals the need for all this story build-up of Chase Graves’ Seattle utopia.

At the beginning of the season, the New Seattle storyline felt muddled and infuriating to watch as there was no clear direction or purpose behind most of Chase Graves’ intentions. This newest episode finally gives us that direction and reveals that this new world order has been built so that one day, Liv can tear it down.

Not only does this revaluation map out a clear path to the finale that the audience can better understand now, it also pushes Liv to become the face of a revolution and the hero of her own story on a much larger scale than we are used to seeing.

Liv started this journey off as a depressed creature of the undead that barely lived her life, and now she’s ready to fight humans and zombies alike for Seattle’s humanity. Her character development as the main protagonist is the most important element of storytelling this show has, and iZombie certainly has not squandered it this season.

As far as antagonists go, iZombie has always been brilliant at shaping well-rounded and sympathetic villains. So much so that we can’t even call Blaine a villain — and he turns out to be Gordie’s killer in this episode.

However, the two newest antagonists finally find their proper place in the sweet grey area this show operates so well in. Those two characters are Chase Graves and Major Lilywhite.

Chase Graves has been a dull character. Most of his conversations this season have been dry blabber about saving zombiekind whilst he does nothing about saving zombiekind.

His scenes with Mama Leone, however, bring out some much-needed emotions from the Fillmore Graves owner.

Chase genuinely seems to respect the woman for saving people when he couldn’t. There is also this kind of mutual respect between the two leaders for each doing what has to be done. That almost makes it possible to forgive the man for crushing her head with a guillotine. Almost.

At the end of the day, Chase Graves has a choice, and he still chooses to use Mama Leone’s death as a statement to better his position in the new world.

Speaking of choices, it seems that Major has made his as well.

Major has always operated in a morally grey area, kidnaping people quite frequently — some things never change — but he has never actually killed anyone.

Up until now, we haven’t had much reason to call him an antagonist. Yet he stands by and ignores Liv’s cries for help as Renegade is executed. His choice this time to sit idly by while a life is taken makes him no better than the killer in this case.

It is a tense moment to watch as iZombie solidifies the fact that Major will never be the good guy in this story. This is his development as a character, and while it’s the opposite of Liv’s journey, he is becoming an impressive opposing force to the progression of her arc.

Liv may be the monster of the story, but Major will always be the one to do what is considered monstrous.

The two storylines of “Goon Struck” offer jarringly different stances on what it takes to win.

The brain-of-the-week segments are blissfully cheesy and fun to watch. The concept of a Canadian hockey player is a simple one, but Liv’s over-the-top portrayal is worth every on-screen moment she spends at the rink. Surely she could have afforded to lose another tooth if it meant more screen time with the undead members of Seattle Sockeyes!

Yet, Fillmore Graves isn’t afraid to take shots either on this episode, as Chase finds himself having to crack a few skulls to make his point.

Now that iZombie has found its legs, it would be nice to see Liv’s brain of the week and the New Seattle storyline blend together better in the future. That way, it won’t feel like there’s such a clear divide between the two worlds.

Like the true underdog, Season 4 of iZombie is shaping up to be a real winner.

Top Quotes From The Episode:

Blaine [to Liv]: “What happened to us? We used to be the OG Z’s. Now, every time we get together, it’s all “Where were you the night so-and-so was killed?”

Ravi: Liv, I think Clive is cruising for a bruising.

Hockey Mom: They’re so cute. Which one’s yours?
Clive: The little blonde one. [Liv body-checks a player right in front of them]

Ravi: Oh, hell yes. Thanks for texting me.
Clive: Would you have forgiven me if I didn’t?
Ravi: Never.

Liv: I need you to gather whoever is left in Mama Leone’s organization.
Levon: Why?
Liv: We’re going to pick up where she left off.

What did you think of this episode of iZombie? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!