Midnight, Texas Roundtable Episode 1×03 “Lemuel, Unchained”

In Midnight, Texas 1×03 “Lemuel, Unchained” we get a look into the past of our favorite vampire and how he came to be.

This episode of Midnight, Texas on NBC seemed to be jam packed with information, and a bit faster paced than the last two episodes. But, one thing is for sure, these show runners sure know how to hook you and keep you that way! You would have thought from both the title of the episode and the promos that this one was going to be all about Lemuel (Peter Mensah). He certainly was the center of things, but this show never fails to give everyone’s story its fair share of time. When a new pack of vampires comes strolling into town, it seems everyone is affected differently as they fight both to defend their town and each other.

RELATED | MIDNIGHT, TEXAS ROUNDTABLE EPISODE 1X02 “BAD MOON RISING”

This episode also had some serious relationship developments in between all the flashbacks and action. We got to delve a little deeper into the connection between Lem and Olivia (Arelle Kebbel) as they try to bridge the gap between human and vampire. Manfred (Francois Arnaud) and Creek (Sarah Ramos) take their relationship to a new level as they do whatever is necessary to protect each other. We also get to see a little shift in the relationship between Bobo (Dylan Bruce) and Fiji (Parisa Fitz-Henley). At least we thought so, until that friend zone hug at the end. Come on you two, just admit how you feel about each other! Speaking of ships, has anyone come up with the ship names for these couples? I need to know!

Before we delve further, Let’s meet our roundtable for the week!

• Alex (@highspeedmerge) – Sci-fi fan, FEELS parkour expert, and lover of all things TV
• Heidi (@StewartHeidi) – Mother, loyal shipper, and die hard romantic
• Kat (@IrishMoonDancer) – TV and movie-holic, obsessive writer and reader who works in media entertainment
• Laura (@HitGirlLiv_) – Loves to write and role play TV shows and has a love for reading and writing fanfiction
• Alicia (@Aliciaddenise) – Mother, young at heart nerd, UFC and TV loving full time parent and worker

[wp_ad_camp_2]

I understand that Creek is a strong and independent woman. But with everything going on in Midnight, Texas why didn’t she just let Manfred walk her home?

Alex (@highspeedmerge):

I honestly don’t know. I should say because she doesn’t want to move too fast or she’s trying not to rock the boat with her father. But she moved fast with Manfred, which I actually appreciate. It’s great to see a female character have agency over her actions so early into her character development on a new show. Though she could’ve just had Manfred step out of sight. Creek is the one we know the least about. She’s been around Midnight her whole life, knows about Midnighters, but still seems surprised by supernatural occurrences. And she chose to walk alone. Maybe she’s a necromancer or goblin and has been hiding it. These are a few creatures we haven’t seen yet.

Heidi (@StewartHeidi):

Creek is trying really hard to keep her father from finding out about her and Manfred. So much so that she’d rather walk alone than have him walk her. Manfred’s face when she said she needed to keep them a secret seemed disappointed, almost sad. I’m curious, her plan was to leave once her brother got old enough not to be stuck in the house with their overprotective father. So is she playing with Manfred, biding her time until she leaves? Also, she was in such a hurry to get home for supper but then stayed to chat in the church about the new visitors? What happened to supper?

Kat (@IrishMoonDancer):

Well my, my! Looks like the tables have turned as Manfred might be searching out a more permanent relationship while Creek has some family secrets and skeletons jangling in her closet. Secrets in Midnight, Texas can be whoppers and even though they just completed their first sheet dance, she’s still keeping him at arm’s length. She also has a big, burly, nasty papa stalking her every move, so it’s best to keep Manfred away from Daddy Dearest and his turf. Plus, until now, she knows the townsfolk. And if you can’t feel safe with Lem in full protector evening mode, where can you?

Laura (HitGirlLiv_):

I think she’s trying to prove she can handle walking home alone and didn’t need a man to. I also think Creek’s father should trust her and let her at least date Manfred officially.

Alicia (@Aliciaddenise):

I think Creek didn’t let Manfred walk her home because she’s keeping him at arms length so she won’t get hurt. Also, her dad is cray cray and she fears for him. I think her family has secrets we don’t know about yet.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

Lem tells Olivia that he has to give Zach the benefit of the doubt because he saved his life. So we see a memory of when Zach turned Lem into a vampire. Not that I’m not happy Lem is around, but did Zach really save his life? Or doom him to eternal damnation?

Alex (@highspeedmerge):

Ah, the age old vampire question. Is it a gift or curse? In this instance, given the world they existed in, Zach was saving Lem. Not that I’ve given much thought as to what I’d do if I had the opportunity to become a vampire. (*narrator voice* she thinks about it often). But like with any supernatural being, your life can be what you make it. Lem can end himself, so if things got too hard and it started feeling like a burden rather than a gift, he does have an out. I loved seeing Lem get revenge on the slaveholders, so I consider it a gift.

Heidi (@StewartHeidi):

In Lem’s mind his choices were death at the hands of his ‘owners’, or life as a vampire. So Zach gave him a way out of the shitty life he had, gave him power over his own life and future, and strength to stand up to those who were holding him down. Zach could have just as easily drained him, but he didn’t. So I understand he owed his friend the benefit of the doubt.

Kat (@IrishMoonDancer):

That depends on how you see being a lusty succubus. Lem had been through hell and back and saw no way out.  He’d heard rumors and sought out absolution. Being a vampire fan most my life, I found it fascinating to see how the show depicted the turn. True Blood had Bill and Jessica waiting it out six feet under until she became a baby vamp. Twilight had Bella take an excruciatingly painful path for her transformation. This was a Vamp-in-the-fast-lane version. Bite. Fall. Wrist action. Feed. Holla. So was it salvation or hell? You’d have to ask Lem. But he appears comfortable in his dead, cold, albeit hot body. As for Zach? He’s just an a-hole egotistical, vamptator, so ‘saving’ him wasn’t on his agenda. He’d chomp anything.

Laura (@HitGirlLiv_):

Zach doomed him to eternal Damnation and I think Olivia was right to worry because Zach did turn out to be a bad person.

Alicia (@Aliciaddenise):

I think Lem was saved. He just got sick of killing innocent humans.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

Each week it seems we are getting the opportunity to see Manfred team up with each Midnighter separately. This week it was his and Olivia’s turn. She was more reluctant about it, but they both agreed something was off about Zach and his buddies. What did you think of the team up between Manfred and Olivia? Who do you want him to team up with next?

Alex (@highspeedmerge):

I tweeted about this because the common denominator isn’t Manfred for me, it’s the incredibly awesome women he pairs with. The situations he seeks them out for are precarious and potentially fatal and Creek, Fiji, and now Olivia have all gone along. It speaks to their character and I love seeing the different pairings. He and Olivia make a great team, I’m a sucker for witty banter, and I’d love to see them team up again. I hope Manfred solo partners with each character at some point because each time reveals a lot about him and the person’s he is paired with.

Heidi (@StewartHeidi):

I enjoyed the team up. Olivia is brutally honest and I love that. Manfred appreciates that about her. He knows where he stands with her. Olivia seems the type to be picky about who she lets into her life. I think it’s because she cares too much. It’ll be nice to see her finally accept Manfred. Manfred hasn’t seen Bobo’s fighting skills and I think they’d make a great team. They both have this instinctive urge to protect the women in their lives.

Kat (@IrishMoonDancer):

Manfred skipped the Midnight debutante ball and danced into Psychic-for-hire. Little Tart! But who could resist him? Not even Olivia, who has trust issues. Though it takes her a while to warm up to newbies, she sees Manfred has passed initial tests and is willing to give him a go. Plus Lem gave Manfred his blessing, and although she trusts Lem, she senses his judgement is cloudy when it comes to Zach & Co. Manfred is her best defense sniffing out untoward activity with the coven. I like the team up. Then again, anyone who teams up with Olivia when she’s in Look-At-Me-The-Wrong-Way-I’ll-kick-Your-ass mode fairs well. Since Manfred teamed up with Joe this episode, I wouldn’t mind seeing him with Rev or Madonna. Leaning toward Madonna since Kellee is a spectacular actress and I’m excited to see her back story!

Laura (@HitGirlLiv_):

I’d love to see him and Bobo work together because it’d be fun to show how they would work together.

Alicia (@Aliciaddenise):

I love Olivia! Loved how they teamed up, too. But I do wish it showed them working together a bit more. I’d like see him team up with Joe.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

This episode really seemed to bring up a lot of insecurities that Olivia has about her relationship with Lemuel. Do you think the appearance of other vampires will make them become a bit more openly official? Will Olivia start to let Lem into her heart a bit more now?

Alex (@highspeedmerge):

Anyone that sees them within five feet of each other knows they’re together. The way they were when Zach came to town was more Olivia being protective of rather than doubting her relationship. Well, maybe a little bit of that. Given the long history Lem had with the others, I can see how it might jar Olivia. Their scene at the end after everything they’d been through and after what Olivia did for Lem, will definitely bring them closer. They’re the power couple of Midnight, Texas and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do together as more danger comes to town.

Heidi (@StewartHeidi):

Olivia is a very closed off character in general, but I think she’s already let Lem in. It was nice to see her show it openly in the restaurant though! I doubt she’s much of a PDA person, but maybe the incident has reminded them that they are both exclusive.

Kat (@IrishMoonDancer):

Loved seeing Olivia show more emotions, including jealousy. I wouldn’t have used ‘insecure’ to describe Olivia but she was definitely marking her territory when she planted one on Lem after Zach’s old lady Pia (I mean OLD, but she holds up well) greeted Lem. Olivia doesn’t let many into her world. She’s selective and doesn’t share and Lem is more social. She understands Lem has a few hundred years on her and has history with them, but she’s alert enough for her Danger Will Robinson alarm to go off. They’re in Midnight. They’re already openly official. It’s a small town. People know what you’re doing before you do it. I’m sure neither cares if the outside world ships them. But after this trip down memory lane, and how Olivia had his back, it will strengthen what they already have.

Laura (@HitGirlLiv_):

Yes, I think that Olivia will finally let him into her heart a bit more and things will change for them.

Alicia (@Aliciaddenise):

I think with the vamps showing up they will get closer and she will be more loving and affectionate.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

We got the lovely gift of getting to see another awesome team up this week between Bobo and Fiji! He brought her some weapons so he could feel confident in her abilities to protect herself. Do you think Bobo and Fiji have feelings of more than friendship for each other? If so, will they ever admit it?

Alex (@highspeedmerge):

Fiji wants to climb Bobo like a Christmas tree and give him the gift of her love. Bobo, deep down, probably does have feelings for Fiji but has blinders on. He’d say he loved her if asked, but not realize when Fiji says it, it’s deeper for her. I’m all for push and pull between characters but with someone as awesome as Fiji, I also don’t want to see her reduced to pining after a guy that only considers her a friend. I’d also love to see men and women just being friends. TV Shows tend not to allow that. I’m fine if Fiji and Bobo end up being romantic, but I’m also fine if they stay friends. Then the show could bring someone incredible to sweep Fiji off her feet.

Heidi (@StewartHeidi):

How adorable are Bobo and Fiji together? It’s obvious she’s had a thing for him for a while but currently he only sees her as a friend. That line at the end was heartbreaking to watch! But when the light worked, and Fiji hugged him, he leaned in and closed his eyes. I think he’s lonelier than he realized. With Aubrey gone, hopefully he’ll be more open to accepting those feelings. That being said, it hasn’t been long since he found out about Aubrey, it’s going to take time before he’s ready for anything. Bobo is a fighter, this episode proved that. Even though he didn’t get out there and fight, he was dying to do just that.

Kat (@IrishMoonDancer):

It’s obvious Fiji pines over Bobo but she’s respectful of his feelings for Aubrey. But it didn’t stop her from feeling hurt when he pulled the Friend card. He cares for her but his emotions are too raw. This could be a slow burn in Midnight. Since Manfred and Creek didn’t waste any time, hopefully, #Boji or #FiBo (yes, I’ll ship if under duress) will be a nice, long, slow, sweet romance. Of course Mr. Snuggly could be the perfect vessel to speed it along down the road!

Laura (@HitGirlLiv_):

I think Fiji is ready to tell him, but Bobo won’t admit it to himself that he could love her as more than a friend. I want it to happen and for them to finally tell each other and be happy.

Alicia (@Aliciaddenise):

I feel for Fiji! She totally loves him. I think he sees her as just a friend for now. But he will start seeing her in a different light in the near future. It started when she risked herself for him.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

Joe says he and Chuy may eventually have to leave Midnight, Texas. He also says the time is going to come when the other Midnighters are going to have to stay and fight or leave. Do you think Joe will really ever leave Midnight and abandon the other Midnighters? 

Alex (@highspeedmerge):

Absolutely not! I don’t know if some kind of supernatural force will make him leave. Something crazy like how Fiji made it so spirits couldn’t enter her house. Once the prophecy started happening, someone could prevent Joe from staying there. But barring that, if push came to shove, Joe would make whatever personal sacrifice necessary to save everyone. If the show is building to this final battle, I can’t see Joe not fighting there as well. We don’t know much about Chuy yet, but he seems like a solid guy who would stand for the town. If only to be there with Joe.

Heidi (@StewartHeidi):

It was interesting to find out Joe had never been to the church before. I think Joe is fighting an internal battle, his love for Chuy makes him want to cut and run to protect the life they have, but running won’t make it go away. If they leave, I’m guessing they’ll come back. Even a fallen angel will want to fight against the forces of evil.

Kat (@IrishMoonDancer):

His calling is from a higher power. An angel who’s mission we haven’t seen yet. He surmises a massive evil force has descended upon Midnight and when there’s a battle between good and evil, only one will prevail. In that fight, he and Chuy may have to leave even if his desires are to stay. When we learn more of his and Chuy’s story, we’ll understand why this might be an option for them.

Laura (@HitGirlLiv_):

I think Joe was just saying that. I don’t really think he would abandon his friends. They’re all like a family and he’d never do that to them.

Alicia (@Aliciaddenise):

I think he will want to run but in the end will stay and fight. For his town and his love. Because, duh, he is good. He is an Angel.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

We got a lot of insight into Lem’s character and his struggles with being a vampire. We also saw how he was made into an energy absorbing vampire. Has this changed how you think about Lem? If so, did it change for the better, or worse?

Alex (@highspeedmerge):

I liked Lem, but this insight made me like him even more. The revelation about Xylda and Lem was AWESOME. I thought it was a fascinating link between characters. Xylda allowed Lem an alternative to blood as his only source of life. As a slave he had no free choice and being a vampire that can only drink blood made him a slave again. While he’s still a vampire and is beholden to what that entails, allowing him the choice to feed off energy versus blood, was Xylda giving him agency again and I loved that. Also, it was the coolest thing to see how he can use the energy drain as a weapon and not just a way to get sustenance or as a way to be with Olivia.

Heidi (@StewartHeidi):

My opinion of Lem hasn’t changed. We’ve all seen enough vampire shows to know even the good ones have a dark past. He made a choice, and he protects the innocent now, that’s what matters. Everyone in Midnight seems to know what he is and that he’d never hurt them. It was really interesting to see Xylda as a young girl, she was so strong and brave. Even being walked into the middle of a blood bath with vamps feeding all around. You can see where Manfred gets his courage, walking out alone with an empty box and unprotected.

Kat (@IrishMoonDancer):

I loved seeing young Xylda saving Lem and the beginning of their story. Little by little, we’ll learn more, which excites me as I love Xylda’s character. Any senior lady who lets her freak flag fly is fine in my book! I loved Lem from the start and seeing how he derived his unique powers has strengthened my opinions! Plus I’ve been a huge fan of Peter for years, especially in his Spartacus days, so I’m thrilled to see his talents used in this delicious genre! The creative take on being an energy absorbing bloodsucker gives more life to a cliche in which Kudos are in order to the writers.

Laura (@HitGirlLiv_):

I liked Lem even before we found out and I love him even more now. So I say for the better because I am glad we got to learn more about him. I love learning the back stories of the characters.

Alicia (@Aliciaddenise):

I already liked Lem a lot, but after this I love him even more. He chose goodness (as much as a vamp can) over everything he knew. Xlylda was even more powerful then I knew. I loved finding more out about her.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

Final Verdict: “Lemuel, Unchained” gave us some much needed insight into a few beloved characters

Midnight, Texas returns next Monday, August 14th at 10/9c on NBC.