The Passage Review: That Never Should Have Happened to You (Season 1 Episode 3)
Humanizing monsters will almost always make for intriguing storytelling.
On The Passage Season 1 Episode 3, “That Never Should Have Happened to You,” we get the chance to see Shauna Babcock’s backstory. Before she was the vampire that so easily drained the blood of a janitor, she was a woman who had spent her time working toward a goal of making her life better, no matter how difficult that may be.
Her story is a tragic one, even as it includes her murdering her own mother. Everything leading up to that moment truly makes you feel for her.
Of course, Babcock is using that to her advantage. Fanning suggests to her that she make Clark understand her story, and her doing so saves her from a second death.
Clark’s resistance at that moment also gives him some humanity. So far, we’ve seen very little of that in him.
I appreciate that The Passage is taking the time to delve into characters in this way. Doing so is what will keep the story moving forward in a way that’s meaningful. Doing so makes this a show that sits with you long after you watch.
Brad’s relationship with Amy continues to have that effect as well. Brad easily takes on a father figure role to her, in part because he’s learned to care about her, and in part because she’s filling the void of the daughter he lost.
It’s clear this is a man who would have been a great father.
One of the most joyful things to watch when it comes to these two is how well they understand each other. They work together as an exceptional team, largely because Amy is so dang smart.
She figures out really quickly, for instance, how to get Brad to her room. That gives him a chance to be there for her when she’s injected — which is a profoundly horrifying moment despite how well he’s able to comfort her.
The concept is explained a bit further, too. Amy has the potential to save many lives because of what’s being done to her. At least that’s what Dr. Sykes believes.
“The needs of the many” is a concept that weighs heavily here, but it’s harder to swallow because it’s a child. It’s even harder to swallow because of what we’ve already seen these injections are actually doing.
Carter gets a few nice moments on this episode, from scoffing at Brad and the irony that they are now locked in rooms next to one another, to communicating with Amy through notes passed under the door. He already shows concern for her too and is quick to warn Brad not to let Fanning near her.
It’s satisfying to watch how Brad reacts to his surroundings, noting every detail and taking advantage of every small opportunity. It’s easy to understand that he was good at his job before all of this went down.
He manages to escape the room to investigate their surroundings without breaking any kind of sweat. What he finds, though, is terrifying even to him.
The appearance of Fanning as he gets closer offers a pretty good jump scare, that’s for sure.
Jonas takes the time to explain some of the pieces — the frightening pieces — that Brad hadn’t already learned. This is a new species. And even though he won’t say it, these are definitely vampires.
The scientists learn something new about these vampires, too. They’re communicating with one another. That should make all of this much more frightening to them.
Fanning, in particular, also has a way of communicating with others in the building: through dreams. Err, nightmares, actually.
His mind control in that way, especially as it relates to the janitor who shows up to Amy’s room, gives me serious Dracula and Renfield vibes, which really only makes me appreciate this story more.
Elsewhere, Lily remains an important part of the story as she works to investigate what’s really going on with the inmates who keep mysteriously dying before their execution dates. She knows her ex-husband isn’t dead as the news is reporting, and she’s been able to put some of these pieces together on her own.
I like her character a lot, though I will say, I wish we had seen a bit more connection between her and Brad somehow before this point. That would make her involvement more significant.
Oh, and big, happy news — Lacey is okay! We saw her get shot on The Passage Season 1 Episode 3, “You Owe Me a Unicorn,” and I personally assumed the worst. But I suppose I shouldn’t have been so quick to count out this incredible woman.
Overall, the show’s third episode keeps the narrative moving forward in a way that’s thought-provoking and emotional, with characters I’m eager to continue learning more about. In some ways, I think we could benefit from slowing down a bit to focus more intently on the details, but that’s only a small complaint.
What did you think of this episode of The Passage? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Passage airs Mondays at 9/8c on FOX.
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.