The Passage Review: Whose Blood is That? (Season 1 Episode 4)
Anthony Carter’s story is one that will haunt you.
On The Passage Season 1 Episode 4, “Whose Blood is That?” we delve into a character we’ve been waiting to learn more about: Anthony Carter. Already, he’s someone we felt compassion for, but learning his backstory and watching as he suffers and eventually makes a horrifying transformation brings that to an entirely different level.
Carter never deserved to be on death row, but he felt at least partially to blame for what happened to the woman he loved. That makes his story even more heartbreaking. We get a chance to see his pain and to understand how unfair his situation is.
From the start, I’ve marveled out this vampire show is less about vampires than it is about characters and psychological questions. And the fact is, Carter’s race is absolutely a contributing factor to his being framed for murder. That makes this story so relevant that it’s actually painful, and I’m glad that’s being addressed.
Because of the other circumstances at the facility — a rogue guard with a gun who causes them to lose power — Carter almost dies. With Fanning in his head, though, he makes a choice when he learns he has one to make.
That’s a classic moment for any vampire story. When given the choice, do you let your life end, or do you choose to live forever even if it means being a monster?
McKinley Belcher III’s performance throughout the entire episode is remarkable. It’s impossible not to feel invested in his character, and it’s impossible not to be totally conflicted (and a bit hurt?) when he overcomes death only to emerge as a vicious monster who is instantly on the attack.
Still at the center are Brad and Amy, whose relationship adds such an endearing element to the show that’s easy to forget there are vampires involved in the first place. Their dynamic is a special one. They’ve learned to trust each other quickly, and they’ve developed a way of understanding one another that moves beyond words.
Part of this is circumstance — they have a common goal, so their understanding is necessary. But part of it love. They’ve become each others’ family, though Amy does seem to have a hesitation to open up completely. Brad remains “the agent” to her for a reason.
The treehouse idea almost seems too easy, though it is a good argument that a child would need the space to be outdoors and play. The real purpose, as it serves their goal of escape, is that gives them a view of the grounds.
When Amy learns this from Brad, she takes it a step further and convinces a guard to let her borrow her binoculars. How could you possibly say no to a little girl who says that may be her last chance to see nature again?
As for the nightmares, Amy has yet to receive a visit from Fanning, but she has received a visit from what seems at first like a friendlier face — Shauna Babcock.
Amy isn’t buying anything she says, though. She’s smart, tough, and understands right away that Shauna isn’t really there with her.
She insists, too, to see what Shauna “really” looks like. Then she demands that she leave.
Amy was already tough, hardened a bit because of what happened to her before all of this, but you can see her changing already. You can see her becoming stronger and more observant, and she’s clearly learning a few things from her new father figure.
The Passage continues to be thrilling, thought-provoking, and completely intriguing. However, the most surprising element of this show for me is how many emotions it brings out in me.
This isn’t necessarily the kind of show you need a box of tissues for every week, but it does have tearful moments that I wouldn’t have expecting going in. It has joyful ones too. The connection between Brad and Amy — and the way Brad so instinctively protects her — is just truly enjoyable to watch.
Other notes:
- Speaking of emotional moments, outside of the facility, Lila and Lacey realize they’re in danger once the journalist who started helping them is killed.
- I appreciate seeing how the people working at the facility are coping — and not coping. Their work should be affecting them on that level.
- The episode ends with Jonas covered in blood following Carter’s transformation. The eerie question that comes from this circles back to the episode’s title: “Whose blood is that?”
- I’m continuing to resist reading more of the book. If you read my first review of The Passage, you know I’ve read the beginning of it, but that I’ve stopped in favor of making sure I can see the show as a separate text. It’s difficult not to pick the book back up at this point, though, so I’m not certain how long that will last.
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.