Let the Right One In Season 1 Episode 7 Review: More Than You’ll Ever Know
Let the Right One In Season 1 Episode 7, “More Than You’ll Ever Know,” takes viewers on a ride as Eleanor’s vampire origin story is revealed.
After six weeks’ worth of deliberating and questioning Elizabeth’s death, we’re finally getting to see the cause, and it’s even more heartbreaking than imagined.
Ten years before Mark and Eleanor moved in next door to Isaiah and Naomi, they lived happily as a family alongside Elizabeth and Zeke.
They were a typical working family, with Eleanor surrounded by loved ones and continuous support in her corner.
Off the bat, we can recognize that Eleanor is a chef in the making pre-vampirism. She has the natural born skills that Mark possesses; the nose of a bloodhound that can sniff out any ingredient used in a dish. It’s a fun, light-hearted bonding moment that showcases the relationship she and Mark had beforehand.
Zeke is often around, assuming the position of uncle and best friend. Nonetheless, it’s noticeable that there are underlying tensions between the three due to Zeke’s attraction for Elizabeth, but besides that, they’re a happy and functional family.
As we see on “Stargazers,” Eleanor’s love for outer space and constellations grew at a young age. So, at night it’s tradition for her to be outside searching the galaxy for whatever new star she’s on the hunt for.
Based on inference, it’s safe to assume Eleanor is typically never left alone, even in their own backyard. But, we soon learn that one fateful night Elizabeth leaves Eleanor alone for a mere two minutes while interchanging with Mark.
That small window of time provides ample opportunity for the vampire stalking her amongst the shadows to pounce on his prey, Eleanor.
Unlike a lot of other series in the vampire genre, Eleanor’s transition is almost instantaneous. Overnight, the symptoms that come with vampirism subdue Eleanor. She can’t be in the sun and can no longer taste or hold down regular food.
They also learn the hard way that Eleanor must be invited into other homes, including her own. When entering a home uninvited, she loses control of her body, blood pouring out of her orifices until she either leaves the residence or is invited inside.
The most shocking factor in the equation is Zeke, the common denominator for their initial survival. Not only is he the one who saves Elizabeth from being bitten, but he also is the one who brings her new dietary need to light.
Zeke’s the one that helps them navigate the situation of dealing with a newborn vampire, despite most of his knowledge coming from films. He steps up and takes charge at the moment, and without him, Eleanor might’ve died early on after her transition.
The writers dedicating an entire episode to Elizabeth and her death is incredibly clever. Not only does it provide the audience with answers to lingering questions, but it also fleshes out the relationship between Mark and Zeke.
At the same time, it also gives the audience a sense of understanding. All season long, there’s been a mystery surrounding how Mark and Zeke fell out of touch, and now we know.
As the episode progresses, Mark and Elizabeth do everything they can to ensure Eleanor’s survival. That includes donating as much of their blood as possible, including Zeke’s. But they aren’t able to produce enough to keep her hunger at bay, forcing Mark to kill for her survival.
But before he makes his initial move, he seeks guidance from Zeke, who then brings it to Elizabeth’s attention, hoping she’d side with him. Unfortunately, he misunderstands the situation and how far Elizabeth will go for Eleanor.
Being part of a family but not being blood-related can end up putting someone in an awkward position, which is what happens with Zeke. Even with the bond between Elizabeth and Mark, Eleanor trumps him in every way.
So, while Zeke may be coming from a place of love when suggesting they give up on Eleanor instead of resorting to killing for her, ultimately, it’s not perceived that way. However, it doesn’t change the fact that the way he and Mark part ways is unsettling and a tad bit annoying.
If it weren’t for Zeke, Elizabeth would’ve never walked out of the hospital, and Eleanor would have never lived. It’s his attentiveness from the beginning that ensures Eleanor’s survival.
The ending of “More Than You’ll Ever Know” will go down as one of the saddest throughout the series.
After Mark mistakenly causes himself to waste the blood after his first kill, Elizabeth consoles him and reassures him everything is okay. She then spends her last living moments cuddling with Eleanor before sacrificing herself.
Elizabeth’s sacrifice is heart-warming, but it’s a grueling decision that forever changes Mark and Eleanor.
“More Than You’ll Ever Know” is a splendid episode that does a fantastic job explaining Eleanor’s origin story. It also works phenomenally well in depicting how Zeke and Mark ended up on bad terms.
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.