The second episode in the Van Helsing two-hour premiere starts with a flashback. The episode is actually made up of mostly flashbacks of Vanessa’s (Kelly Overton) past, how Doc (Rukiya Bernard) was turned, and gives us a glimpse into the world of vampire politics. Here is a recap of Van Helsing’s second exciting episode, “Seen You.”
2016 | The episode opens with a flashback to Vanessa’s past, just before “The Rising” began. She is at a doctors office getting blood drawn while her daughter, Dylan (Hannah Cheramy), waits in the waiting room. On the television a news broadcast plays, reporting information about seismic activity in Yellowstone. Once Vanessa and Dylan leave we see a vampire break into the lab and steal blood. In his car he drinks one, which we assume is Vanessa’s, causing him to become violently ill.
Next, we see Dmitri (Paul Johansson) and Rebecca (Laura Mennell) along with several other vampires awaiting the vampire who stole the blood. When he arrives they know immediately that he is now human, Rebecca calls it “reversion” and says it hasn’t been seen for a long time. While Dmitri is scaring the crap out of the human, Rebecca is sending another vampire off on a special task.
“Mommy, you can’t leave me.” | Vanessa and Dylan return home to see Vanessa’s neighbor/BFF’s boyfriend storming out of their apartment after what appears to have been a physical altercation with Susan (Hilary Jardine). Vanessa jumps to action and breaks the guys nose, telling him to never come back. Once inside their apartment, Vanessa shows Dylan the birthday cake she made for her. It is tiny and lopsided, but it is clear Dylan loves it. Dylan video chats with her father to finalize upcoming vacation plans, but he cancels the trip. Dylan is so upset she hides in a closet. Vanessa sets out looking for her, but suddenly hears a noise in the kitchen. When she goes to investigate we see the vampire Rebecca sent (guess we know what his special task was) standing in the kitchen, he attacks as soon as he sees Vanessa. They fight for a long time, but eventually the vampire succeeds in biting her throat. Dylan hears the struggle and comes to investigate, but what she sees is horrifying. The vampire is getting sick and Vanessa is lying next to him, bleeding everywhere. In the most heartbreaking scene of the two-hour premiere we watch Dylan scream at her mom, begging her not to die, as Vanessa does indeed die.
“It doesn’t exactly mean she’s dead, either.” | Or does she? According to Doc (before she was bit), her blood is still acting like it’s alive, and there are no longer any wounds on her body. Confused by her findings, she confides in her sister who urges her not to tell anyone else. Shortly after, Doc is approached by a military team, including Axel (Jonathan Scarfe), and is told they need to see Vanessa’s body. Doc happens to look out the windows and notices the world is going to Hell, “Yellowstone went off big time”. We hear lots of noise and realize vampires have broken into the hospital and are causing lots of death and destruction. Doc is told she must remain with Vanessa’s body and cannot leave, and that Axel and his team will stay with her. The rest of the episode takes place a few months later, after they have made the hospital their home.
Dmitri and Rebecca meet with a scientist to try to figure out why Vanessa’s blood turns vampires back into humans. Dmitri decides they need to find Vanessa, preferably alive.
“You made me promise if you ever got bit, Doc.” | In another emotional scene, we see how Doc was bit and turned into a vampire. Doc is helping Axel and several others with a plan to get to a base 40 miles away. Her part in this plan is to hold the door open for them, but things go terribly wrong when a hoard of vampires show up. Doc is unable to shut the door before she gets bit. Axel drags her down a hall and they get ready to cut her arm off, but it’s too late. The change has already begun. Axel first draws his gun and aims it at Doc, but she pleads for her life so he spares it. Instead he ties her down to a bed while she completes the change. The episode ends with Doc sitting up and trying to bite Axel.
Holy cow, what a good episode! What did you think of the second half of the premiere? It answered the majority of the questions episode one left you with, gave you the backstory on Vanessa and Dylan, and showed how Doc was changed. Leave your comments below to let us know how you like Syfy‘s new show, Van Helsing.
Van Helsing airs Fridays at 10pm on Syfy.
