If you fell hard in love with the bumpy roller coaster ride web series Carmilla in season one like I did, than you are in for an even rockier downward spiral in season two! Carmilla quickly captured the hearts of Creampuffs (show fans) in season one with its fast paced drama, aching romance teases, and bonds of friendships that played out searingly every Tuesgay and Thursgay (the nickname for the days the series released new episodes). You lived for Laura's (Elise Bauman) struggles, quirky adorkable facial expressions, and the looks she gave broody sexy vampire Carmilla (Natasha Negovanlis). Every episode brought you a new reason to worship and adore the show, including all of the incredible series side characters LaFontaine (Kaitlyn Alexander), Perry (Annie Briggs), and Danny (Sharon Belle). All of the side melodramas were just as intense and engulfing as the main one which was saving Silas University students from the evil Dean's attempts to pacify the Anglerfish God, Lophiiformes. Now with season two currently airing weekly, the stakes (pun intended) are being raised higher and higher.
In season two we find out that when the Dean was thwarted by Carmilla and crew they created a power vacuum, and in doing so literally all hell has broken loose. There are harpies, a rain of spiders, and even a crater holding on to the now stuck Lophiiformes. Add in Carmilla's killer vampire sister Matska (Sophia Walker) who is intent on reminding Carmilla of their jolly days literally painting the town blood red; and you have quality sisterly bonding. Matska (also known as Mattie) has taken a spot as Chancellor and is trying to skew all media at the university through the Silas News Network which is currently being run by Laura, because as Matska puts it, it has human bias. Matska is also selling off parts of the university including the library and I am quite surprised that she hasn't tried to corner the market on Anglerfish sticks. Matska is back and she has some seriously wicked ways she is unleashing on Silas. Bodies are piling up and Perry is having majorly cryptic dreams and some seriously disturbing messages are showing up in blood on her abs. Oh yeah and Laura and Carmilla are living in the Dean's old apartment! Throw that into the mix and you have a recipe for a hellishly evil sinfully good season that will keep you sucked in.
What continues to make Carmilla such a captivating and exceptional series to watch and covet is that no matter how many thrilling times that you view the jam packed and phenomenally acted yet amazingly short agonizing episodes, you will always find something new that you never noticed. We see with our eyes only two thirds of what is happening because we are too busy piecing the plot together or focusing on words spoken. Whether you are locked in to the insatiably angst laden dialogue (which is sometimes seemingly Shakespearean), or the massive levels of acting talents that have raised the bar this year, or the characters themselves, there is something happening or being said you missed the previous times because there is just so much transpiring all at once. Meanwhile, the background acting, facial expressions, and even slight glances can have the most meaning and significance that you miss it all because there is just so much occurring in these masterpieces. The writers and creators also provide viewers with copious amounts of these bread crumbs within episodes that end up foreshadowing various plot points. Whether it's a painting on the wall, book on a shelf, or a comment you think is just in passing, it all ends up being connected. Also, the show has even added new characters, POC (persons of color) characters at that, who are just as significantly important as the originals and fit seamlessly into the already developed storylines. The show is interactive with fans for Tuesgay and Thursgay episode releases, along with the dynamic cast. Also having a non binary character in LaFontaine is a giant step in representation for gender identity in itself. The series goes above and beyond to show a spectrum for LGBTQIA, make sure that appropriate pronouns are used, and to give both a voice and identity to those who never really quite knew where they fell. Underneath it all the exceptional pop-cultured laced and venomous dialogue and humor is still the heart of the show, which is the love story between Carmilla and Laura. You'll be entangled in the layers of depth and the camaraderie this show provides in one fell swoop.
The transmedia the show includes is also on a whole higher level too. There are characters on social media sites Twitter and Tumblr to interact with fans and provide ongoing commentary about what transpires during the previously aired episodes. The social media accounts also provide extra insights into the personalities of Carmilla and Laura both within the context of the show and outside of it. It's a tremendously engaging way of allowing fans to feel like they are a character or part of the show themselves. The cast does Periscope Q&A's and even the creators, producers, and writers take time to interact as much as they can and answer questions through various forms of social media. It's as if fans are immersed in the series, which is unprecedented. Carmilla is a standout series for the impact it has been having across the board with representation, character arc and development, and levels of acting and writing talents that only continue to escalate.
We are just about to hit the halfway mark with season two and the angst is beginning to twist and stir. If you are anything like me this is when the thick and height of suspense starts rearing its head and that's when you know the shit is about to hit the fan and you absolutely relish these thorny plot twists. Carmilla is captivating and riddled with clever, quick writing. It's a series with characters, heart, and humor to die for.