Let the Right One In Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Broken Glass
Mark makes the first steps in allowing room in his life for genuine friendship on Let the Right One In Season 1 Episode 3, “Broken Glass.”
Despite the darker aspects, gore, and ravaged bodies, at the core, Let the Right One In is about family and relationships. It’s about the lengths we would go to protect our loved ones.
Mark is noticeably upset at the beginning of the episode after finding out Naomi’s a homicide detective. After all, he’s a murderer on the run and just killed her ex-husband, so befriending her isn’t the brightest idea.
However, by the end of the episode, we see a glimmer of hope that the two might grow closer throughout the season. I’ll touch on that later in the review.
Instinctively, Mark’s planning on fleeing again to protect himself and Eleanor, but he doesn’t factor in her feelings. On “Intercessors,” Eleanor demonstrates the beginnings of her defiance towards Mark by attending the talent show against his wishes. Now, she’s taking it a step further and standing her ground.
When urged to get into her suitcase, Eleanor grabs Mark by his arms and raises him in the air, letting it known that she’ll do as she pleases. This defiance isn’t something he’s used to and is bound to be the new normal.
Whether Eleanor’s mind has progressed past that of a 12-year-old or not, she’s tired of not having a life. Isaiah is the first kid she’s had the opportunity to interact with and is actually starting to enjoy life.
Isaiah and Eleanor’s bond forms quickly, but it won’t be easily broken, especially not by Mark.
As the episode progresses, we see the dynamic between Isaiah and Eleanor at its peak. Eleanor’s instincts are to act as the protector for Isaiah, and that’s what she does.
After the talent show, Isaiah gets a generous amount of praise from his peers, which angers the three bullies insistent on making his life hell. So, they decide to trick him, get him alone and beat him mercilessly in an attempt to figure out his trick with Eleanor.
At his apartment, Isaiah pushes Eleanor to reveal how she miraculously transported from one end of the auditorium to the other, but she doesn’t budge. Instead, she forces him to open up to her. He shows her the bruises, conveniently hidden by his clothing, covering his body.
In the end, the bully who can’t keep his hands to himself learns his lesson. Instead of listening to Eleanor when she advises him to stay away from Isaiah, he makes a wrong move and ends up with a broken finger.
In reality, the bully deserves more than a broken finger, but for now, it will suffice. Part of me hopes he’ll try to intimidate Isaiah in the future so we can see Eleanor’s response. However, another part of me hopes we’ve seen the last of him. The next time he messes with Isaiah, he might end up being Eleanor’s next meal.
Ian Foreman and Madison Taylor Baez play off each other exceptionally well and are bringing their A-game to these characters.
As we delve deeper into the past on Let the Right One In, it’s abundantly clear that Zeke and Mark are more than just estranged friends. We see their best shine through flashbacks, heart-warming moments, and a ride-or-die mentality.
It’s intriguing to watch Zeke break down and lower his values the more immersed in Mark’s plan he becomes. At the beginning of the episode, he exclaims how he’ll never kill for Eleanor. But by the end, Zeke is beside Mark, attempting to kidnap Eleanor’s next meal.
There’s a rich history not only between Mark and Zeke but with Eleanor and Zeke as well. I can’t wait to explore that dynamic between the three further. One of my hopes is that we’ll see Zeke, Mark, and Eleanor on the run with one another or all living peacefully together by the end of the season.
The budding friendship between Naomi and Mark is so wholesome and unexpected.
He shows her how to cook an easy meal and allows her to vent her frustrations after a long day while she unknowingly provides valuable information for his operation. And while it might be a resourceful moment for Mark and his goals, it’s also a genuine moment of human interaction for him.
Naomi and Mark’s brief interactions are a significant highlight of the episode, despite the fact their friendship could be going nowhere. It would be unreasonable to think Naomi will forgive Mark for killing Frank, even after learning the truth of vampirism.
A series rarely keeps momentum and hype without extravagant action scenes in each episode, but Let the Right One In is accomplishing that feat. The soul-bonding and connections formed on “Broken Glass” make it worthwhile and noteworthy.
I fear that the momentum may die out soon with three back-to-back-to-back great episodes.
Stray Thoughts:
- It’s not that I don’t find Claire and Peter’s situation interesting; I just feel like their timeline is moving at a slower pace. Their interactions almost feel like an entirely different story that does not correlate, even though we know it does.
- It is also a highlight to watch Claire pile all of Arthur’s photos outside and set them on fire alongside Peter.
- I love that we continue to see the human elements outshine the supernatural aspects at play.
- Eleanor’s DIY bathroom project is insanely creative and beautiful.
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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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.