Let the Right One In Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Intercessors

Let the Right One In Season 1 Episode 2, “Intercessors,” is a perfect follow-up to an exquisite premiere.

Let the Right One In is a refreshing series that knows its intentions and how to reach its end goal while navigating a complex world comfortably. “Intercessors” picks up where the premiere leaves off, with Claire and Arthur in shambles over Peter and Mark drowning in his guilt.

After ten years of killing for Eleanor to ensure she stays alive and safe, it would be wise to assume that with each kill, it would get easier, but that’s not the case. Mark’s humanity is still intact and a guiding force in his life, leaving him to relive that gruesome moment.

It’s nice to know that throughout the hardships Mark and Eleanor have endured over the past decade, he hasn’t allowed them to shape him into someone else.

A lot is happening in this episode. Mark is continuing his search for the drug king peddling vampire pills to the streets, Claire is coming to terms with Peter’s conditions, and Naomi is growing more suspicious of Mark and Eleanor’s situation with each passing day. Plus, Eleanor puts her foot down and goes against her father’s orders.

Eleanor was bitten and turned at the age of 12, so in reality, she’s a 22-year-old living in a 12-year-old body. Meaning Eleanor should have a bit more freedom than what’s provided, and this episode does well to highlight that fact.

We see it at play when Isaiah invites Eleanor to the talent show to watch him perform. Living an everyday life and keeping up appearances to outsiders means allowing Eleanor to act like a child, which is a foreign idea to Mark. It’s understandable, given the context of their situation, but it’s a character flaw that slightly feels like poor writing for the character.

I know that technically Eleanor being stuck inside a 12 year-olds body for the rest of her life means her mental state and maturity may never evolve or develop further. Nonetheless, a certain level of control should have been instilled over the years.

Instead of babying Eleanor for a decade, Mark should have been training her and preparing her to be self-sufficient.

Anywho, Eleanor attends the talent show, despite Mark’s command for her to stay home, and it leads to a touching moment. Isaiah is tormented mid-performance by a pack of bullies, mocking and hoping he’ll fail. So, Eleanor forcibly volunteers for Isaiah’s show, using her inhuman speed to make it look like he’d made her teleport across the room.

It’s a brief scene, but it’s enough to bring a smile to my face. Eleanor and Isaiah are both outsiders who need that vital social interaction with other kids of the same age. It’s exciting to think about how their friendship will develop throughout the series.

One additional aspect that “Intercessors” highlights briefly is the rules regarding vampirism in this universe. The vampire genre has various regulations and interpretations that interchange depending on the series, but Let the Right One In follows traditional vampire lore.

The vampires burn in the sun, are insanely quick and robust, and can’t enter someone’s house without being invited in.

The desperation and exhaustion from Mark throughout the episode is a touching characteristic that allows the audience to feel a deeper connection with the character. While he may be too overprotective and strict with Eleanor, it’s easy to sympathize with him.

Searching for another creature like Eleanor for a decade is depleting, and he’s so close to giving up. The pills he discovered are like an adrenaline rush because they’re a sign that he could finally be on the right track. Finding a cure for Eleanor is his lifelong mission, and this is one step closer to fulfilling that.

After following the lead he got from Frank, he finds a potential headquarters after observing the man texting his burner phone.

In pursuit of discovering the man’s identity, Mark finds a potential drug headquarters where the pills could be manufactured. He doesn’t get much time to scope, though, because he’s caught quite quickly outside the gate and questioned about his intentions.

It’ll be interesting to see where the story progresses from this point because Mark inadvertently gets Zeke mixed up in the middle of everything by using his vehicle. Using your best friend’s vehicle while stalking drug dealers is probably not the brightest idea. It’s a lesson that Mark will end up learning the hard way.

As “Intercessors” comes to an end, we’re given a heartwarming moment that involves Eleanor and Isaiah bonding. Mark is also given a small window of happiness. His joy doesn’t last long, though, because after snooping, he quickly realizes that he’s killed Naomi’s ex and she’s a homicide detective.

This revelation to Mark changes the dynamics at play because instead of laying low, his next steps will be to run and never look back. A decision that Eleanor will not allow him to make at the jump of a hat. It’ll be interesting to see how Eleanor reacts to his upcoming decisions and how he’ll go about staying under Naomi’s radar.

Let the Right One In is doing a phenomenal job peeling back these complex characters’ layers and developing storylines.

Stray Thoughts:

• Naomi’s backstory is a bit bland, but with her mention of her past life as a singer, we get more sense of who she is. I look forward to slowly getting more and more backstories from Naomi each week. The most pressing question is why she changed from singer to homicide detective.
• The tension between Michael and Claire is so thick you could cut it with a knife. It makes me wonder if there’s a further backstory between the two. I look forward to seeing how their relationship develops.
• Claire’s inability to put up with Arthur’s attitude is one of my favorite things. Her rebuke of his yelling match with her at the end is one of my favorite moments.

What did you think of this episode of Let the Right One In? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Let the Right One In airs Sundays at 10/9c on Showtime.

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