July 9, 2016: The Dark Matter “Kill Them All” After Blog Entry!

“Episode 15: Kill Them All”.

Last night’s episode answered a few questions, one of the chiefest being “Which dog picture matched up with episode 2”. Well, now you have your answer.

A few behind-the-scenes tidbits on the episode…

The part of Alicia Reynaud (the corporate wheeler-dealer who, off the top of the episode, takes an unusual interest in our FIVE, aka Das, aka Emily Kolburn) is played by Lost Girl alumna Inga Cadranel – and there’s a great story about her casting.  When we started auditions for the role, we received a link to the first round talent, a few self-tapes (from those who weren’t able to come in), and, as always, a couple of “offer only” demos off the top.  The latter is pretty much what you’d guess – more seasoned actors submitting for the role who feel they’re at a place in their respective careers where they’ll only consider certain roles if they’re offered sans the need to audition.  Before this particular part, I can’t ever remember casting someone off a demo, always preferring instead to go with someone who has taken the time to learn the lines and give it a go.  In this case, however, the individuals who came in for this role weren’t quite right and so we took the rare step of watching the demos.  One actress’s demo reel wasn’t all that impressive EXCEPT for a terrific performance in one scene.  “She’s great!”I said.  “Really?”asked Vanessa.  “No, not her,”I said, dismissing the woman who’s demo we were watching.  “Her!” indicating the woman she happened to be acting opposite of…Inga Cadranel who got the part off of SOMEBODY ELSE’S demo reel!

P.S. Note her bearded right-hand man, Hughes.  Why do I mention the fact that he’s bearded.  Oh, I don’t know…

When it came time for the fans to choose the title for this episode, they were given three choices – all lines of dialogue from the script.  There was “Hello, Pumpkin.”, which Alicia Reynaud uses to refer to FIVE at the end of our tease, “Your Extra Pillows And A Hug Goodbye,” which was Nyx’s line when she’s trying to pitch our crew on why they should allow her to throw in with them, and the eventual winner “Kill Them All” which, as it turns out, is one of the most surprising lines of dialogue in the episode given who utters the phrase.

This episode was directed by cast and crew (and producer) favorite Bruce McDonald who directed season one’s Episode 7 guest-starring Ruby Rose as Wendy the android.  Bruce’s low-key, easygoing nature always translates to a fun, relatively stress-free onset experience.

Bruce takes over Warden Treihan’s office to study his shot list over lunch.

Bruce in action.

Directing the pivotal FIVE/SIX scene.

Setting up the FOUR-gets-clocked shot.

Framing the Android.

Eavesdropping on the conspiring inmates.

Taking out the trash.

Also making an appearance in this episode is one of my favorite recurring characters (and recurring actresses), Commander Truffault played by Torri Higginson.  And, as usual, Torri tears it up.  She and Anthony were having so much fun in the visitation scene that, if you’d watched the director’s cut, you’d probably be shipping them.  Don’t know if THREEfault will ever be a thing, but there’s no denying the terrific onscreen chemistry between the two.

What’s all the more amazing is that the Truffault character was originally written to appear in three episodes in season 1 – introduced in Episode 2 as an unlikely ally, returning to engage the crew in an op in Episode 10, and then dying on Iriden-3 after accepting delivery of the white hole bomb in Episode 11.  Unfortunately – or, should I say FORTUNATELY for all involved – Torri had a scheduling conflict for that final episode.  After being wowed by her performance in that first episode, I suggested to Torri that we NOT make it work and, instead, look ahead to potentially revisiting the character in season 2.  Which we do – here in this episode and…a couple of more times before season’s end

A reminder that you have one more day to post your questions for The Raza’s newest crew member, Nyx Haper – Melanie Liburd!

Tagged: #DarkMatter, Dark Matter