iZombie
Season 2 Episode 1: “Grumpy Old Liv”
Directed by Michael Fields
Written by Rob Thomas
Created by Rob Thomas, Diane Ruggiero-Wright
Starring Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Robert Buckley, David Anders, Steven Weber
The CW
Air Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2015, 9:00pm

iZombie returned for season 2 tonight! Our plucky dead medical examiner, Liv Moore (Rose McIver) got scratched by a zombie (Blaine – David Anders) at a zombie-making boat party (courtesy of Max Rager and Utopia). She had to hide her secret from her family, her ex-fiance, Major (Robert Buckley and oh… zombie-ism is the reason), and the world. All except Ravi (Rahul Kohli), who desperately tries to figure out a cure. Her brain cravings come with a cursed side effect… Liv has visions and takes on the personality of the brains she ate. So far, in season 1, she’s been an artist, a thrill-seeker, a mom, and an alcoholic, to name a few. She uses those visions for good, and hooks up with Detective Clive Babineaux (Malcolm Goodwin), to help him solve cases. Other problems arise like: Blaine running a brain deli, Major driving himself crazy, and Liv losing her roommate.

Spoilers, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers below.

iZombie 2.1 “Grumpy Old Liv” review: One word? Amazing!

Enjoyed the heck out of the season 2 premiere. Liv’s mom and brother want nothing to do with her for refusing the blood transfusion. Now… we understand why she said no, but I wonder why she didn’t claim hepatitis or HIV or something.

So the cure comes with zombie detection pheromones. The hairs on the back of Blaine’s neck raise up when Liv walks in the room. Major is the same way, well, not with Liv, but with others.

The case of the day is a murder of a “grumpy old” man, so Liv turns into Archie Bunker. Hey – those are Clive’s words, not mine. Seems Liv’s life is mirroring the cantankerous old coot. She really feels as if it is better to go it alone. The case gets solved in the usual police procedural plus visions way, with Liv busting out the personality to Clive’s eternal astonishment.

Speaking of Clive… he does NOT believe what went down at the Blaine’s shop. He’s not a stupid guy when it comes to crime, just zombies.

As usual, Blaine is my star. He is now the owner of a funeral home, and still human. His newfangled power allows him to drum up business. Liv motivates him to find more impure Utopia, as the cure may not be permanent.

Complete twist at the end. There I was, enjoying iZombie for Rose McIver’s adorableness and David Anders charm, but that’s all it was – an enjoyable episode of iZombie. When all of a sudden, Steven Weber is on the screen and reveals the shocking arc of the season.

I can’t give away the whole thing, now can I?

iZombie returned strong, and I’m so glad. Sometimes reviewing lots of shows starts to feel less enjoyable and more like regular work, but shows like this make me glad I sometimes have to watch them twice (in a one right after the other manner). If you aren’t watching yet, you are surely depriving yourself of some lighthearted zombie fare.

Check out the episode if you haven’t already, and see you for iZombie, next Tuesday at 9pm ET on The CW.

The CW’s synopsis:

iZombie
Grumpy Old Liv (Ep# 201)
ADAM ROSE (“VERONICA MARS”) GUEST STARS — Liv (Rose McIver) consumes the brains of a cantankerous old man to help gain insight into his death. After receiving an anonymous call on the tipster hotline, Liv and Detective Babineax (Malcolm Goodwin) stop by the residence of Byron Thistlewaite (guest star Adam Rose), to question the mysterious caller. Meanwhile, Ravi (Rahul Kohli) suspects that Major (Robert Buckley) might be experiencing a side effect of the cure, and Liv pays Blaine (David Anders) a surprise visit. Michael Fields directed the episode written by Rob Thomas (#201). Original airdate 10/6/2015.

Video

iZombie | Inside iZombie: Grumpy Old Liv | The CW

Executive Producers Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright preview Tuesday’s iZombie season premiere at 9/8c!