‘Firebite’ Recap: ‘Vampire Mythology Bullshit’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Firebite’.
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There are certain rules that filmmakers and television creatives are expected to follow when crafting their movie or show, in order to provide the audience with the best viewing experience possible. For instance, one particular rule that screenwriters are expected to follow… is to keep the story moving on the page. Which means there should never be a sea of direction on paper, there should always be dialogue and action abound so that the audience isn’t mired in silence on the screen, and this is a solid rule for certain. Since it really does help to engage and engross the audience, to the point where they are certainly satisfied when the story has come to its close.
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But while those rules tend to preside over most productions out there, from time to time, the right story and the right moment, will allow for those rules to be broken. Simply because they will in fact, get in the way of telling a particular tale and it just so happens, that next episode of Firebite on AMC+, breaks the cardinal screenwriting rule that we just discussed to tell the right story. A feat that ‘Vampire Mythology Bullshit’ accomplishes, by putting Shanika and Tyson in quite the compromising situation. For when we catch up with them here, they are both in the vampire tunnels and unsure of what comes next… outside of keeping silent that is.

For they both understand that making noise will cause them great problems. Which leads to… a ton of silence in this tale. Wherein Tyson and Shanika are forced to sneak about the Vampire’s lair in the hopes of finding Shanika’s mom and this was… a brilliant and bold choice storytelling wise. Since it immerses the viewer and forces them to focus on every single moment as it unfolds and to listen closely. Plus, it ups the ante horror wise since we simply don’t know what is lurking around the corner and that made for one intense rule breaking. The kind that managed to engage and terrify since a few vampires did indeed run into our heroes while they sauntered through those creepy and eerie mines.

But while it was quite awesome to be treated to a unique story in this manner, the search for Shanika’s mom also yielded some fascinating observations about the vampires. Such as how they sleep and live and how close they are to their food supply, and it also brought forth some serious action and more intense moments. Since they eventually found dear old mom and had to fight their way out of the caves to save her. A decision that evoked images of our worst nightmares and echoed George Romero’s brilliant zombie movies, courtesy of the vampires moving and lumbering about in the shadows and sadly, this is an epic tale that ends on a sour note.

Because despite their best efforts to save a badly wounded and broken mom, she didn’t make it out of the caves with Tyson and Shanika and our heroes… were also quite broken by this experience, both physically and emotionally. Since they went through hell to survive this failed rescue mission and it would seem the bleak nature of this ending, won’t end here. Since the Vampire King is furious and knows Shanika’s name and that will undoubtedly motivate him to seek revenge upon the last two people that stand in his way. But while we wait to see that unfold, we can revel in one brilliant tale. One that really did break all the rules and wow us in every way imaginable and these storytelling decisions more or less helped to cement this series, as the most refreshing and original vampire story, out there right now.  

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