“Varney and Ratko discover their plan is working – but who gets the credit? Also, Zamfir finally takes Belmont and Sypha underground.”

 Just a reminder: this is a mature series, so swearing, and brutal fights ahead. And dessicated corpses.

Hope the big fight didn't spoil you for this episode. This was a slow burn episode. The start with Varney and Ratko was surprisingly satisfying, but it also sets the tone of things. Varney had more ego than sense and seeing Ratko tear into him was delightful. It was always clear the two vampires didn't like each other. They were the opposites that can work well together, a politician and a soldier. This just played it up to the right level. It also establishes a new fact about these vampires which was something different: Holy Water does more than hurt them. Not exactly a normal trait for Vampires. There can be a few different kinds, but it does seem most of these in this world work along those rules, normally.

Sypha and Trevor FINALLY get Zamfir to “listen” and she “agrees” to take them to the court. We then, finally, get to see the Underground Court. Also the listlessness and hatred that was among the people. For Trevor, he finds another piece of the strange dagger he collected earlier this season. That and he got a new toy in the sword he found among the gold. Sypha rightly notes just how bad off these people were as well. But also, we get a reveal of the Royal Family. They were asleep. Sypha wanted to make things better for the people here, organizing them as well as those above. Before much more can happen, Ratko and his creatures break through a wall. Time for that hunt to begin.

And just to be sure we don't forget (even with the little hint last episode), we see the resettled refugees outside Dracula's Castle and the Belmont Hold. Here, we see Saint Germain working on “the plan.” He placed stones and makes marks throughout the castle. We see him consulting notes from Lindenfeld and using that cult's knowledge here. These events were beginning to reach their culmination as well. Only a few episodes left in the season anyways. After everything, at the end of the episode, we get a scene of things that was leading toward the next big battle. Saint Germain has given the go-ahead for the next phase of the resurrection plan.

We get to see Alucard being very tender, which remains a welcome sight that suits him well. It remains that the human side of him really was his best. When things started with an alert though, he set that aside for a bit. He worked quickly with Greta to start rallying the defenses and getting everything ready.

This was a good building episode. I was very happy with the start of the episode and watching those two vampires. That was a satisfying way for them to square off. The music when we first see the Castle and Hold, while Saint Germain was setting the stones, was perfectly eerie. In general, on point throughout. Then we get the light hearted number before nature simply takes over with Alucard. Not a single punch thrown or any real violence. If it wasn't for some corpse stitching, there wouldn't have been any blood either. Just seeing everything getting put into place was very worthwhile.

With everything set up, it really was just a question of how it will all start happening in the next episode. Once again, it's time to just dive right into the next one. Here's where I really ask why are you still reading... well, maybe for the tallies.

Final Tally:

Number of boobs: 1

Dick Measuring Contest: 1

Nearly Completed Daggers: 1

Suffering Towns: 2