TVSquad

(S01E07) SpikeTV ran the first Wesley Snipes Blade movie tonight, leading into this episode. Not sure that's such a good idea, especially as it ends with a spectacular fight scene between Snipes and Stephen Dorff (playing Deacon Frost). Poor, indifferently executed fight scenes are an ongoing fan criticism of the show. The effect was sort of like seeing Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, right before an episode of Alice would be -- the Linda Lavin sitcom just isn't gonna hold up that well.

Fortunately, this time we have a good episode, maybe the best since the pilot. Unfortunately, that's partly because much of it is set in the past, with a different set of actors. Maybe Eric: The Young Blade Chronicles would make a good spin-off.

This week, everybody's back from Berlin. A hunt for a cop killer triggers a series of flashbacks that help fill in the gaps of Blade's childhood for us. (In a nod to the show's Marvel comics origins, we find that Blade was a fan of "Earth's mightiest heroes," The Avengers, as a kid.)

Krista is almost healed up, although her facial scar from last week seems to have changed position slightly. Considering how quickly Chase returned to relatively-human form after being burnt literally to cinders episode before last, Krista's scar should be gone by now anyway, and her hand should have grown completely, not partially back. That's explained. Krista's not drinking enough blood. Krista also learns that vampires can see in the ultraviolet spectrum and that being turned into a vampire can cure diseases. This sends her back to her dying Mom's beside, with a tough choice to make, which later requires Krista peeling down to a tank top and crawling along the ceiling.

Marcus it seems, is just like the fans: gimme Krista, Krista, Krista, all the time. However, his rival vampire, the pureblood, not smitten like Marcus, becomes interested in Krista and whether she's up to something sneaky and unvampire-like. This leads to a helluva showdown and cliffhanger.

The legendary Richard Roundtree guest stars! Well, briefly, anyway. There's a guy who knows how to do this stuff. I suppose he will have a key role week, and I hope he has more to do beyond that, because Kirk Jones' acting seemed to rise to the occasion in his scene with Roundtree.

Next week's preview promises full-backal nudity.