iZombie Review: My Really Fair Lady (Season 4 Episode 6)

Despite what the opening act of this episode may suggest, iZombie Season 4 Episode 6, “My Really Fair Lady,” does not focus on the murder of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Rachel Bloom’s pretentious theater actor.

No, in a surprising turn of events, her character is killed off in a bus crash that leaves no suspects and no one for Clive to investigate.

This predicament puts iZombie in an interesting spot, as the show is forced to strip away the crime-of-the-week format that has served it well on both the comedy and drama front while coming up with a different way to utilize Liv’s talents.

In return, we are treated to a show-stopping act unlike anything this show has done before, and it might just be the best episode of iZombie to date.

First, we have to talk about Liv. She’s our narrator and protagonist, but that doesn’t mean she can just walk into the room and steal the show. Not when Ravi and Peyton are already bringing so much to the table in this episode.

So iZombie wastes no time reminding us and Renegade’s army why Liv is not to be overlooked in a sea of her undead counterparts.

When Liv made the decision to take Renegade’s place in the Seattle underground railway, it was unclear just how important that storyline would be for her overall arc this season. But without her choice to become the face of a revolution, this episode would not have succeeded.

Liv would surely be stuck in some side plot with Major or Blaine that just wouldn’t do her justice.

It has been four seasons of watching the brain of the week overtake Liv — and not for the better, at times. What makes her scenes in “My Really Fair Lady” so impressive and important to the integrity of this episode is the way she takes her newfound acting chops and finds a way to use them as a practical skill set.

Sure, she still has a quirky moment here and there, but for the most part, Liv is able to separate her personality from the dead actor’s. In return, we finally get to see just how strong Liv can be when she is able to take control of a brain’s side effects and use them to her advantage.

Rose McIver deserves a round of applause for her portrayal of Olivia Moore.

She has always been incredible at character work — this show is a testament to that. But her greatest role has to be Liv pretending to be an overly friendly New Zealander.

Which, of course, is ironic when you consider Rose is actually from New Zealand and that is her real accent she is using in the scene. Sometimes, it is the performances closest to the truth that resonate the most with the audience.

This episode seemingly has everything! Rachel Bloom performs a lively musical about the undead, and Liv learns to channel her inner crazy-ex zombie.

And yet iZombie doesn’t stop there with “My Really Fair Lady.”

Ravi is particularly great on this episode, as he eats the brain of a heroin addict to help Peyton find a missing dog. This storyline is more on pace with a typical iZombie episode, as it has just the right amount of zombie antics and heart.

It looks like Ravi is over all that angst he was holding towards Peyton and Blaine last season. Which is reassuring as he falls back into a romantic relationship with Peyton again. Thankfully, he no longer bogs down the story with misplaced negativity.

In fact, there are so many moments where the characters could bicker or snap at each other. Yet, they don’t.

Blaine and Peyton are in a room together, and not one word is spoken between the two. Clive chooses not to confront Dale about her cheating and instead tells people they are in an open relationship. Even Liv and Major share screen time, and not one word is mentioned about Mama’s execution.

It would seem iZombie deliberately avoids any building confrontation in “My Really Fair Lady” to present an hour of television that feels light-weight and hopeful. With the show approaching the mid-season point, this is another particularly smart move from iZombie in its senior season.

TV shows such as this could always use more light-hearted episodes. Build-up has proven to be more effective than Major and Liv shouting at each other for 14 episodes straight, and iZombie confirms this with its recent choices to avoid confrontation as much as possible.

This only proves that conflict will eventually come to pop this blissful bubble, and rightfully so.

In past seasons of iZombie, the storylines have been rushed or pressed for time due to a limited number of ordered episodes. “My Really Fair Lady” is a perfect example of how well iZombie can succeed when there is time to plan and implement a proper season arc.

This episode feels like the first step towards the end of a momentous season and is a prime example of why this show deserves a renewal just as much as its superhero counterparts.

“My Really Fair Lady” truly is well-planned, well-directed, and well-executed as we are treated to performances that all deserve standing ovations.

Top Quotes From The Episode:

Liv: Hey fellers, I’m an American. I never had a passport and watery beer is the best.
Guard: Wow, you are so bad at American accents.

Nellie (Rachel Bloom): Look bud, you’re in New York, I’m in Seattle. There is a militarized border wall and 10,000 zombies between you and my stage. Good luck stopping me.

Blaine: Great! The churchies have found us.
Don E: There goes the neighborhood.

Ravi: I ate the brain of a heroin addict.
Major: Well, I better hide my China White.
Ravi: You got some?

Blaine: I really don’t want to have to shoot anyone in the face today.

Major: I’ve got work and Ravi can’t be alone.
Peyton: He can’t?
Major: He already got in the medicine cabinet. I had to pry a bottle of cough syrup from him. He bit me. I think he stole my other work uniform, and he won’t tell me where he put it. He offered to pleasure me for my car keys. Yeah, I think he was kidding, but I’m only 60% sure.

Angus: Son, I forgive you.
Blaine: You forgive me? You forgive me? I will kill you! I will kill you, and I’d make it hurt. You keep smiling! You keep smiling, you child abusing son of a bitch!

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

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

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