A Lesson in Senses. Retrospective: Dracula – “Servant to Two Masters”

Season 1, Episode 7

Air Date: Friday, January 3, 2014, 10/9c on NBC.

Rating: ★★★★★

“I’m well aware of my needs; I’ve been cursed with them for four centuries.” — Alexander

After three weeks off, Dracula is back—biting, drawing blood, and making you pant for more sweet torture. “Servant to Two Masters” is wicked and enthralling—as if you’d expect anything less. Alexander Grayson (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) continues to test the boundaries of the improved daylight serum Professor Van Helsing (Thomas Kretschmann) is continuously perfecting; however, it’s Alexander’s abstinence…from feeding…that will prove to be more challenging.

Deception Revealed

Jonathan Harker (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) realizes it was Alexander who set him up in the General Shaw (unseen) scandal. Alexander isn’t one to suffer a fool’s wounded pride. I am delighted that Alexander points out Harker sought to find evidence to destroy Shaw. It’s devious and one of the reasons Dracula is a hit. Clever writing and brilliant acting make Dracula an absolute must-see. Meyers, as usual, shows us why he’s the lead. His unmistakable swagger with every step he takes, and the conviction behind his delivery of every single syllable, make it impossible to tear your eyes from the screen.

The Five Senses

I’m not into blood, but the way Alexander sucks the drop off Lady Jayne’s finger is…hot

All’s fair in love and war…that is until you meet Lady Jayne Wetherby (Victoria Smurfit). Smurfit’s performance in “Servant to Two Masters” leaves your pulse racing and your loins quivering. The conversation about her husband’s so-called illicit affair with his nursemaid is really a cover for her own predicament. Alexander’s response to her query proves useful to her plans, “I’d go after the object of his affection. By wounding her, you wound him.” Will Lady Jayne go after sweet Mina (Jessica De Gouw)? In her own way, she will but Lady Jayne would never soil her hands directly. Enter poor, lovelorn Lucy Westenra (Katie McGrath). Freshly torn by Mina’s rejection of Lucy’s advances, Lady Jayne comes up with a deliciously cunning plan to injure Mina’s heart. I don’t think it will work though because Jonathan isn’t really…measuring up, so to speak.

Lady Jayne explains her idea to Lucy with a seductive vigor that tantalizes. “I will teach you how to haunt Jonathan’s dreams. You see, a woman’s power isn’t in her beauty or her smile; it’s in her mind. The best application of yours will be in capturing Jonathan’s five senses. Touch; your fingertips. Cross his arm, his chest, his cheek. Scent; memories of summer, reminding him of the warm sun across his naked skin. Sound; your laugh. Light and gentle like a crystal bell. Sight; a look that lingers and promises so much more. Finally…taste (Lady Jayne seductively kisses Lucy). Wield these blades wisely, my dear, and Jonathan will be an easy kill.”

(Fans self) Let’s take a moment, shall we?

Privacy

A fine day for a walk in the park…even for a vampire.

The private dance between Mina and Alexander is so scintillating and they don’t even kiss. The way he holds her, brushing his cheek against hers and positioning his mouth just above her pulsating jugular vein makes my heart pound. His hands begin to tremble as he fights the urge to take a bite and she thinks it’s because he’s nervous. Oh Mina, if you only knew how desperately he wants you…in more ways than one.

Harker gets an impromptu invite to a private meeting from Mr. Browning (Ben Miles) to join the Order of the Dragon. Browning is grasping at straws. His deceptive plans to sabotage Alexander’s demonstration of his new energy technology makes him look pathetic. His wanting Harker to join the Order is another sign of weakness. I’m not fond of Harker and if he joins the Order, I will lose completely whatever tolerance I have for him. He says he wants to see the world progress but he only wants progress for men, not women. Harker is a sexist idiot who doesn’t realize the woman he loves is falling for another man. Serves him right if Lucy’s advances work and he loses Mina.

Renfield’s (Nonso Anozie) privacy is violated when a hotel maid takes something from him without him ever realizing it. Lord Davenport (Robert Bathurst) is a sly one and I’m concerned about what he’ll do with the information he has concerning whom Alexander loves most. Will he harm Mina or simply expose the reason for Alexander’s infatuation?

Overall

Now that Lord Davenport has Alexander’s beloved painting of his Ilona, what will he do with it?

“Servant to Two Masters” is a fantastic way for Dracula to return after a short winter break. There’s mystery, intrigue, lust, passion, deception, and blood. What really sends things over the top is what Alexander says to Van Helsing as the episode closes, “…you’re more of a monster than I am and someday, I will kill you for it.” That’s not an ominous threat, is it? The game of cat and mouse seems to be ever changing. Alexander is currently the cat but as the Order infiltrates the local police, it appears he’ll become the mouse yet again. But I know he’ll pull something out of his hat. I just hope he’ll go back to regular feeding; all this nonsense about “I will live as a man or not at all,” reeks of self-destruction.

Tune in to Dracula, Fridays at 10/9c, only on NBC.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.