iZombie Review: Dead Lift (Season 5 Episode 2)
With Liv killing the fitness game on this newest brain it seems only fitting that this would turn out to be one of iZombie’s strongest episodes as well.
Shedding any extra weight that held this show back on the premiere, iZombie Season 5 Episode 2, “Dead Lift,” comes out swinging with a new sense of purpose and energy.
If every day in New Seattle could be this captivating we may never want to leave!
Liv’s fitness guru brain isn’t as prominent in this newest installment as we may have been expecting. Regardless, what we do see of the calorie counting, never skips leg day, gym junkie persona is truly a gift.
“Dead Lift” treats us to a passive-aggressive Liv who scolds Ravi for eating calorie filled fake blood and who does her very intense workout sessions in the background of Clive’s investigation.
This exaggerated but simple brain persona is very nostalgic to concepts executed in earlier seasons and finds the perfect balance between the humour of the brain and Liv’s own quirky personality. Too many times last season we were subjected to a Liv overcome by brains until her own qualities were hardly recognizable.
Half the fun of these personas is seeing what Liv’s take on them will be and fitness guru is a strong example of the simple yet effective humour this aspect of the show can still bring to the table despite telling a larger scale story.
A surprise game of Dungeons and Dragons? This episode has been too kind to us!
With such a serious political tone overshadowing iZombie now, slipping in those loveable lighthearted moments between Liv and the Brain Gang is no longer so easy to do.
Thankfully “Dead Lift” restores hope in a final season with plenty of fanfare as this episode reveals Clive’s passion for the board game Dungeons and Dragons has only grown since the epic Season 3 game.
Even better, Clive’s D&D squad consists of all your favourite precinct characters including Ravi, Vampire Steve (who is now ironically a zombie), and sketch artist Jimmy.
Not only is this game used as a clever call back to earlier seasons and loveable side characters, but seeing Clive’s newest hobby leaves us with a huge smile on our face.
This D&D game provides some solid comedic material while playing to the quirkier sides of the detective, and doesn’t hesitate to throw in some zombie culture appropriation jokes for some added wit.
This scene is a reminder of how well iZombie excels when it embraces the better moments of it’s past.
iZombie — “Dead Lift” — Image Number: ZMB502b_0253b.jpg — Pictured: Robert Buckley as Major — Photo Credit: Michael Courtney/The CW — é 2019 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
This episode also gives us back our loveable empathetic Major — here’s to hoping he will stay this time!
It’s no secret this New Seattle storyline has taken the greatest toll on Major’s character. Forced into a more robotic and cold antagonist role last season under the authority of Chase Graves, our favourite of Liv’s ex-boyfriends made some questionable decisions that made supporting him just as questionable.
Thankfully, Major’s new role as Commander has managed to bring out the softer and kinder traits of his that we first fell in love with. Seeing Major in a more complex role with real emotional depth is one thing to be grateful for. The other is that brilliant mirror scene.
After the show’s surprising choice to kill off young soldier prodigy Jordan, Major finds the walls he built around himself crumbling as he breaks down in front of a locker room mirror. The choking sobs that escape past Major’s lips are devastatingly real to hear and are a brutal reminder that Robert Buckley has damn good acting range.
Here’s to hoping iZombie lets us see more of it in this final season because now that we have witnessed this side of Major resurface I can’t go back to Robot Major, I just can’t.
“Dead Lift,” doesn’t stop there. The episode does a wonderful job of fueling the core relationships of this show while giving this political zombie Seattle storyline some actual depth.
In somewhat of a shocking move, iZombie give us a cute moment between Liv and Major as she checks in on her ex-fiance to make sure he is doing okay.
The move to have these two back on good speaking terms feels like a welcoming olive branch to devoted fans that says “hey these two will always be close friends but they could still be more too”.
Liv and Major’s relationship, romantic or not, has always been one of the strongest aspects of this series. So, it is relieving to see iZombie make a point of focusing on them in the show’s final days.
While fake news has become something of an exasperated term on the news lately, it is neat to see iZombie incorporate these present-day political issues into the show without feeling forced.
The hoax video detailing a vicious murder committed by a zombie is a rather clever way of fleshing out the metaphor these zombies play in the real-life discrimination that plagues society right now.
While it is frustrating to see people blatantly ignore any news that doesn’t confirm their hatred for zombies, the similarities iZombie continues to draw between our world and New Seattle is chilling.
This newly political undertone may not be one I entirely love, but “Dead Lift” manages to make the entire ordeal bearable for once. However, given all the fun this episode is having I wish we didn’t have to put up with all this Fillmore Graves and Renegade business in the first place.
“Dead Lift” is proof iZombie is capable of getting itself in shape before this season finishes out.
With Salsa Dancer on the brain next week, let’s hope the good times keep on coming and this messy New Seattle plot stays in its respective lane.
Other Thoughts About “Dead Lift”:
- Major’s sobs did not have to come at us like that. I feel personally attacked!
- If this zombie racist Dolly runs for council I am so done with this political storyline.
- Does Liv have all these brain-specific clothes already in her wardrobe? Or do these brains wear off like a week later and Liv’s wondering what to do with the treadmill and 100 pairs of yoga pants she just bought?
- Is it too much to ask for more adorable Peyton and Ravi moments? Those two are just too cute together.
What did you think of this episode of iZombie? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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iZombie airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Alicia Gilstorf
Alicia is a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Critic and a Critics Choice Association member. She credits her passion for TV to workplace sitcoms, paranormal dramedies, and coming-of-age stories. In her free time, Alicia loves to curl up with a good book and lose herself in a cozy game. Keep a lookout for her coverage of Ghosts. You can also find her work on Eulalie Magazine and Cool Girl Critiques. Follow Alicia on social media: @aliciagilstorf