iZombie Review: You’ve Got to Hide Your Liv Away (Season 4 Episode 12)

iZombie Season 4 Episode 12, “You’ve Got to Hide Your Liv Away,” is exactly what a penultimate episode should be.

It stays true to the show’s way of storytelling, which has always been to escalate any remaining tension in the plot but never act on it. That’s what iZombie’s season finales are for.

Unfortunately, if you’re not one for tedious buildup these episodes can feel unvaried and uneventful after 4 seasons of the same structure. Which is understandable when you have a show that has been nothing but unpredictable since the start and yet, never really breaks from the mold when it comes to laying it all out in the second last episode.

But “You’ve Got to Hide Your Liv Away,” does it’s best not to feel like the dull speech before a villain sets their evil plan in motion, and more like the first of several goodbyes as we prepare ourselves for a high stakes finale.

First off, the character work in this episode is something to behold.

The wait to see Ravi overtaken by a brain with real personality is well worth it. While completely over the top and cringeworthy, Ravi dazzles us with his unbuttoned shirt and can’t-even attitude, but it is his valley girl accent that warrants the biggest laughs.

Thankfully we don’t have to endure his dramatics for too long as Ravi certainly would have taken away from the larger story with his antics. One thing is certain, Clive is taking back everything he ever said about Liv after working with diva Ravi.

Major and Liv are not about to let Ravi have the spotlight in this episode. They channel a sickeningly in-love couple with enough adorableness and irritability to warrant praise and a smack upside the head.

And in a clever twist, iZombie banks on the two coming off as annoying by adding that brilliant detail about the wife having driven her husband into oncoming traffic because she couldn’t take his singing anymore. It is a welcoming surprise and allows for the episode to move forward with a feeling of unpredictableness, despite knowing Liv will eventually find a way to turn herself in.

Which is why Levon confessing to Fillmore Graves that he is Renegade doesn’t come as much of a shock.

This guy is Liv’s boyfriend which means he already has a death wish. That and given the history of Liv’s past relationships, he will likely perish in the finale. It also doesn’t help that most of Levon’s screen time has involved lying next to Liv in bed.

Major stuck around after dating Liv because he became his own character, but Levon just feels like collateral damage as he throws himself in front of Liv to protect her. It’s hard to say if that’s just lazy writing or if iZombie can’t be bothered to develop every character that will ultimately end up being killed off.

Unfortunately, Levon’s character was introduced around the same time as Isobel, so it is likely the show put all its effort into building up Isobel’s character knowing her death would ultimately have a greater impact.

In the end, focusing on Isobel was a smart move for the show as the ramifications paid off in this episode.

The realization that Isobel’s brain is not the key to creating a cure, but is an actual cure for zombies is something that will likely have a great impact on Liv going forward. And with this next season being iZombie’s final season we can look forward to the zombie cure finally being in play.

While Isobel’s story works out in the end, “You’ve Got to Hide Your Liv Away,” shows what storylines are still struggling to find their footing even as we enter the finale.

Chase Graves has been underdeveloped and underappreciated.

That much is clear as we see the diabolical grin spread across his lips when Levon surrenders himself to Fillmore Graves.

Chase has all the makings of a Blaine-like villain operating in the grey area and ultimately terrifying us with his decisions. Instead, we get nothing but dull dialogue and vague answers as to what the hell the military contract organization has been doing this entire season.

Then there is Angus. Oh righteously terrifying Angus, you had all the makings of a scary cult leader and yet you still can’t manage to hold our attention.

A combination of underdevelopment and lack of motivation has really done this storyline in. It feels like Angus and his followers are no more than a brute army of mindless zombies that will only be useful in the finale when they need an angry mob. Angus’ character was far more effective when he was an opposing force for Blaine.

That being said, seeing Angus and Clive clash in the interrogation room is a fun moment for fans of Prison Break that remember on the unsuccessful spin-off series Breakout Kings when Malcolm Goodwin’s character had to recapture T-Bag, a character made famous by Robert Knepper’s portrayal.

“You’ve Got to Hide Your Liv Away,” is the start of the end and thus exactly as informative and as thrilling as it needs to be for a penultimate episode.

iZombie doesn’t need to knock things out of the park with this episode. Not when the finales are home runs every single season. This episode’s purpose is to surrender Liv into Fillmore Graves’ custody and in the end, it achieves its goal.

So prepare yourselves because the season finale is upon us and it is sure to be wicked as Liv’s allies fight to save her life and humanity. But enjoy it knowing we get to do this all again when our favorite crime-solving zombie rom-com returns for its final season next spring.

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

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The season finale of iZombie airs next Monday at 9/8c on The CW.

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