5 things + 1 other thing: “murmurations” (666 park avenue 1x02)

666 Park Avenue
5 Cool Moments + 1 Other Moment
Episode 1x02, “Murmurations”

1. He Belongs to Him
   The opening sequence was fantastic - Patsy Cline’s “You Belong to Me” plays seductively as a smirking Gavin the Main Villain watches Henry the Leading Man walk in slo-mo through the lobby.  The timing of the lyrics was perfect, “you belong to me…” fading away just as Henry struts out the door.
   We’re not much closer at the end of this episode to discovering The Devil Gavin’s plans for Henry (though, surprisingly enough, his high level of Boy Scoutery is a good thing), but we do know one thing.  Henry is screwed.
2. Tippi Hedren
   The episode kind of ran the Birds homage into the ground by the time Drunk Exterminator got mauled, but that first little black shape, scuttling around, darting out of a hole in a dimly lit wall?  I really jumped.
   What do you guys think - are those birds the remnants of people Gavin has taken?  Since that’s the wall that took the Widower Guy last week, there must be a connection…
3. Tony
   This isn’t so much a moment as a collection of moments, aka every time Tony is onscreen.  He’s my current favorite by a mile - every thing out of his mouth is almost mean, but never so much that anyone could call him out for it.  Watching Jane try to handle him is hilarious.  Especially when she awkwardly starts a conversation with “Did you ever hear about a murder at the Drake?” and he answers, “You’re kinda creepy, aren’t you…”  Beautiful.
   I just want a spinoff show about Tony sassing everyone without their knowledge.
4. You Learn Something New Every Day
   So here, apparently, are some names for groups of birds (thank you Drunk Exterminator): Murmuration of starlings, gaggle of geese, kit of pigeons, murder of crows, and exultation of larks!
5. Memories
   Poor Danielle.  Life must be hard as Gavin’s ghostly lady-shaped attack dog. I mean, it seems like Gavin just keeps her spirit around to kill men he wants to get rid of, right?  Anyway, the “rotating 3D photo” effect they used for the moment when she remembers her past kills?  I would watch that all day.  There was a really awesome shot where everything  was static except one drop of blood falling from her knife… that’s the kind of subtle horror I’d really like to see more of on this show.

And one other thing:

1. ???
   Sorry, still confused.  If you get a chance, watch this episode again and look for two things:
   The text of Playwright Brian’s play.  We get a glimpse of it before he tries to close the curtains the first time, and it looks… odd.  I’m really hoping the story of Mariann and the gay restaurant (I don’t know, I got a glimpse) gets more screentime.  This needs explaining.
   One of Danielle’s flashback victims looked exactly like this… I think he was from the 70s?
   

(Welcome to 5 Things + 1 Other Thing, because the Tivli blogger likes listing things about TV.)
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