Fade to Black, or a Rer"Femme Fatale" is a decent outing, although the idea of a "created" character who wants to become real was used before in "Double Exposure." There's enough of a spin here that "Femme" is different from "Exposure".
It helps that the cast is relatively elderly, as opposed to the young 'uns that the show typically features. The episode wouldn't work without older characters, since Desmond is obsessed with a character he created in a film from 1959. But you take what you can get.
Essentially "Femme Fatale" is a better version of "Double Exposure". And that was a pretty good episode. Even the ending, where the film "duplicate" dies, is a copy. But it's a better copy, even if it makes less here. Shouldn't "Glenda", know what will make her real and what doesn't? Because she's part of the curse?
The ending works because it makes "Glenda" out to be a victim, too. Lili gets a happy ending of sorts, while Glenda and Desmond get their just desserts. Jeffrey Bernini wrote, and sadly this was his only script for the series. That's a pity, because he grabs the concept here and runs with it. There are lots of little bits, like Glenda going into a theater to watch "herself" perform and realize she has a fan following 40 years later. And Johnny playing the strong-jawed romantic lead to get Glenda to come back with her, when earlier he disdained such "tearjerkers".
I also like Glenda and Lily both turning against Desmond at the end. As Glenda rather cleverly notes, at least Lily gave her life. Desmond has done nothing but keep Glenda trapped in the print. Kudos to Kate Reid, who plays the rare part on the show of someone caught up in the weirdness. She hasn't had much agency throughout the episode, and I wish they had developed the character more than her last-minute disgust with Desmond and her desire to throw off the shackles of old age and play one last death scene on the big screen.
There are a few flaws. Nothing comes of the two scenes of Desmond poisoning Lili's tea. Nothing is ever made of it: what the poison is, or why Desmond is using it when he is willing to kill Lili outright to get Glenda, with the pillow. Why does he use a presumably slow poison, but then switch to immediate murder?
Also Erin gets introduces as Johnny's girlfriend and then disappears once her narrative purpose is done (i.e., introducing Johnny to Desmond and 50s film noir). Giving him a life outside the store by using Erin would have been nice, since unlike the other regulars he's not bound to antique-collecting out of duty.
Overall, Bernini does a superior version of "Double Exposure". He makes it personal by involving Micki in the film, and there are several cute scenes there. Like Micki trying to break the script or at least alter the characters' actions, but failing. We get to see Jack as a fanboy, and Johnny displays touches of personality with his boredom at the theater. Because of course Jack is a 50's movie fan boy and Johnny is a jerk to his date.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
It helps that the cast is relatively elderly, as opposed to the young 'uns that the show typically features. The episode wouldn't work without older characters, since Desmond is obsessed with a character he created in a film from 1959. But you take what you can get.
Essentially "Femme Fatale" is a better version of "Double Exposure". And that was a pretty good episode. Even the ending, where the film "duplicate" dies, is a copy. But it's a better copy, even if it makes less here. Shouldn't "Glenda", know what will make her real and what doesn't? Because she's part of the curse?
The ending works because it makes "Glenda" out to be a victim, too. Lili gets a happy ending of sorts, while Glenda and Desmond get their just desserts. Jeffrey Bernini wrote, and sadly this was his only script for the series. That's a pity, because he grabs the concept here and runs with it. There are lots of little bits, like Glenda going into a theater to watch "herself" perform and realize she has a fan following 40 years later. And Johnny playing the strong-jawed romantic lead to get Glenda to come back with her, when earlier he disdained such "tearjerkers".
I also like Glenda and Lily both turning against Desmond at the end. As Glenda rather cleverly notes, at least Lily gave her life. Desmond has done nothing but keep Glenda trapped in the print. Kudos to Kate Reid, who plays the rare part on the show of someone caught up in the weirdness. She hasn't had much agency throughout the episode, and I wish they had developed the character more than her last-minute disgust with Desmond and her desire to throw off the shackles of old age and play one last death scene on the big screen.
There are a few flaws. Nothing comes of the two scenes of Desmond poisoning Lili's tea. Nothing is ever made of it: what the poison is, or why Desmond is using it when he is willing to kill Lili outright to get Glenda, with the pillow. Why does he use a presumably slow poison, but then switch to immediate murder?
Also Erin gets introduces as Johnny's girlfriend and then disappears once her narrative purpose is done (i.e., introducing Johnny to Desmond and 50s film noir). Giving him a life outside the store by using Erin would have been nice, since unlike the other regulars he's not bound to antique-collecting out of duty.
Overall, Bernini does a superior version of "Double Exposure". He makes it personal by involving Micki in the film, and there are several cute scenes there. Like Micki trying to break the script or at least alter the characters' actions, but failing. We get to see Jack as a fanboy, and Johnny displays touches of personality with his boredom at the theater. Because of course Jack is a 50's movie fan boy and Johnny is a jerk to his date.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?