Beauty and the Beast Review: Gabe Gets a Cue!
Carissa Pavlica
at
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Finally.
We can breathe. The noose is no longer around viewers' necks, constricting our collective breath of enjoyment. Ding dong the Gabe is dead - and Beauty and the Beast Season 2 Episode 22 delivered a nice, beautiful package to end the season.
Do I wish that Gabe wasn't the obstacle that forced Cat to take a long, hard look at what she and Vincent have together and their amazing accomplishments? Yes. Could I have done with out Gabe ever uttering the words "will Catherine take me back" again? Yes.
Despite that pesky impediment, we were treated some fabulous scenes, some of the best of Beauty and the Beast Season 2, and everything is open and welcoming for Beauty and the Beast Season 3. Let's take a look!
It was completely understandable why Cat decided to look to her ancestor's journal for help solving the Gabe situation. It was history repeating itself. What Cat finally realized was what she had to change to ensure she didn't become a victim of the same circumstances as Rebecca Reynolds.
One of my favorite moments was Cat visiting her dad in prison. Bob was, rightfully, still concerned about Cat but for the first time he seemed open to the power of love. That's all he could surmise, given all of the facts. The reason both Vincent and Alistair were different than every other beast he had encountered -- beasts that didn't know how to press stop before losing their humanity -- was due to the love of two very strong women.
There was something special in Bob being the one who went against the grain and pointed Cat in the right direction. He planted enough doubt in her mind for her to question Rebecca's choices and together, she and Vincent conquered Gabe. Given everything that happened in the finale, I daresay there is hope for Cat and Bob to reconcile, perhaps for him to beat the charges against him and join in the greater fight. For once, I wouldn't mind that.
Another favorite was Tess realizing that she does have with JT what Cat has with Vincent. Bringing it up at an inopportune time, much as JT did with Tess before, showed how much it was weighing on her mind. As soon as she aired her worries, however, I knew JT was in for a fight.
Knowing how much JT means to the audience (and to me, let's be honest) it was difficult seeing him strung up. I had worries that he was going to be our next beast in order to save him. That he's infused with nano-plasma could mean anything. The performance Nina Lisandrello gave at JT's loft was perfect. The strong, sarcastic woman was reduced to quaking sobs at the thought of what might happen to JT.
Then and later in the hospital room, she brought me to tears. I felt them well up and was shocked at how much those two mean to me. Tess is envious of what Cat and Vincent share, but it is her and JT that have the solid, normal relationship and the two couples together will learn from one another how to last.
When Cat was reading Rebecca's journal, I was really hoping that we would learn later Rebecca only wrote in her journal that Alistair died to throw off the other beast, connecting back to sexy Vincent wielding a spatula, talking about thoughts versus facts. That's what I did when I was young. I lied in my journal to throw my mom off the scent. Alas, that was not to be. Alistair was really burned at the stake.
There were so many great Beauty and the Beast quotes from the episode. I would incorporate them here but most are quite long and deserve to be read outside this review.
Cat's plan to trap Gabe worked perfectly. The notion that she might be in the room with Gabe and Vincent while he was at his worst caused Gabe a split second of concern, during which time Cat snapped on the collar to tame the beast. What she didn't count on, however, was the beast Gabe had become before genetically transforming himself again.
When Gabe killed the witness, he crossed a moral line from which he could never return. The man who professed to love his Catherine had no problem backhanding her, tossing her across the room and then heading toward her with a broken wine bottle. That's when Gabe finally got the cue. He may have missed the clues, but when the cue was in front of him he got the point.
Never have I been more pleased to have been wrong about the agents that held Vincent captive. Yes, I can admit my earlier assessment was completely off the mark, but I did have the right idea about our faithful foursome working with other authorities to achieve higher goals in the future.
It would have been nice for Agent Knox, who had so much faith in Vincent and Cat, to have been able to make the transition with them, but we'll have to take what we can get. The new agents seem kind and it was a kick when they remarked that Vincent should have taken Gabe out a few days earlier when he had the chance.
They had his back and there's no reason to assume they won't continue to cover his ass when he and Cat go out on missions to find new evils lurking in the dark. With this move, they're opening up a whole new mythological portal for us to play in. If science can create beasts, imagine what else is out there. Personally, I can't wait.
If the series had ended here, the writers did a fine job of righting the course. I can't imagine how it could have ended any better. Going forward we'll get action, mystery and a lot of love.
Cat: It's really strange isn't it, just sitting here, not dodging manhunts or the media or other beasts.
Vincent: Gabe.
Cat: I honestly think he tried to do the right thing, to make amends, he just couldn't.
Vincent: Well, I don't think any beast can, at least none that we've come up against. You know sooner or later, we all cross the line somehow.
Cat: You didn't and neither did Alistair.
Vincent: True, but that's because we both had someone who loved us very much. I'm serious, how else would you explain it? You know Catherine, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here right now. I'd just be like all the others.
Cat: What do I get out of it?
Vincent: One kick-ass boyfriend slash bodyguard. (both laugh) And you know, a destined love.
Cat: Oh that. I'll take it.
Thank you for riding with me this season through the highs and lows. We've made it through to the other side and all relationships are stronger for it -- including ours! Don't forget that you can always watch Beauty and the Beast online via TV Fanatic, and stick with us as we'll bring you any news we get as soon as it appears.
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Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
