The Bastard King – The show begins with Shanika “Neeks” (Shantae Barnes-Cowan) getting settled in at Kitty’s. Kitty Sinclair (Ngaire Pigram) informs Shanika, she has to go back to work. A bloodsucker, Alma (Lizzy Falkland) attacks Shanika from behind as she sets on the sofa. Kitty hears a noise but ignores it until she sees Shanika hanging out a window. She continues to fight with Alna until Kitty comes to help. Alma attacks Kitty, giving Shanika enough time to grab an ice pick. She stabs Alma in the back and asks Kitty if she is okay. Kitty stares in shock.

Tyson (Rob Collins) breaks a glass on his forehead lKoutrae) orders Tyson to knock it off. He continues goofing around until Aunty Marie (Tessa Rose) calls his name as she enters the bar. Spud tells him he is banned. They arrive at Jalingbiri’s semi-truck. He tells Aunty Marie about Eleona “Ellie” (Yael Stone) attacking him. He packs up his gear and gives her a weapon to fend off the vampires. She says he looks suicidal.

Shanika gives Kitty who is in shock a drink and tells her about the vampires. Tyson breaks in the door and yells, “Bat-signal.” Kitty packs her stuff in the back of her vehicle. She pleads with Shanika to come with her, but she refuses. Tyson tells Shanika that he opened his heart to her. She says because you were drunk.

Aunty Marie pulls Jalingbiri’s truck into the community. She runs the kids off as they come gawking.

The Vampire King (Callan Mulvey) stares at the skull wall. Lucas (Sam Dugmore) approaches from behind but quickly turns away. He meets with Eleona who is tired of being under the Vampire King’s control. Alma was supposed to bring Shanika to Lucas. Eleona visits Kitty’s house in search of Alma and Shanika.  She discovers a puddle of blood on the floor.

Tyson returns to the car with a bag of food. He screams vampire when Eleona opens the car door. She tries to cut a deal with Shanika. She wants to trade the bleeder who may be Shanika’s mother for help in killing the Vampire King.

Eleona is in the bloodsucker tunnel. She visits the area, where the bleeders are chained to a wall. She gives a bleeder named Ellie blood. A female bloodsucker teases Eleona about wanting to be human. Eleona asks to see the Vampire King. Lucas offers to take her.  The Vampire King sits with his back to the door. Eleona says she wants him to stop stalking her because she left. He refuses her offer of a truce and asks if she fears him. He slings her across the room when she says “Josiah.” He orders Lucas to take Eleona to the pit. She pleads with him and offers to tell him where the blood hunters are staying.

Aunty Marie asks where Shanika and Tyson are going. They are heading to the east side. He tells Shanika to take some supplies to the car. She asks what is going on. He tells her about Shanika’s mum, Rona (Natasha Wanganeen) being a vampire bleeder. The Vampire King is angry because they tried to help Rona escape. The bloodsuckers are now attacking above ground. Aunty Marie suggests waiting until the community is safe to go back underground. He tosses her his keys before leaving.

Kitty passes two kids from the community standing by the road. She turns around to pick them up.

Shanika asks Tyson if he is on board with them returning to the bloodsucker tunnel. Aunty Marie watches them pull out of the community. They arrive at the bar to meet Eleona who asks if they agree to help her kill the Vampire King in exchange for Rona. Shanika is thrilled with a handmade boomerang from Tyson. Eleona asks if all their weaponry is necessary. Tyson refuses to go underground and be the main course for some psycho. Eleona says they are asleep and denies being like them. They enter the bloodsucker tunnel through a hidden door behind the bar.

Kitty drops the boy and girl off at the community.

Eleona tells Shanika and Tyson to be quiet, the bloodsuckers are asleep, not deaf. Tyson warns Shanika about the possibility of being double-crossed by Eleona. She kills a male bloodsucker before they continue further into the tunnel. They arrive at the bleeder room. Rona is missing. She threatens to wake the other bloodsuckers if he tries to harm her. The bloodsuckers are gone She sent them on a search for them. Eleona points in the direction where Rona is being kept. Tyson is wary of Eleona, saying they need to get out of the tunnel, or they will die. Shanika disagrees because they did it first.

Aunty Marie is washing dishes when she hears dogs barking. She sees one of the girls outside standing by a campfire. She yells at her to go inside, but no response. Bloodsuckers approach as she tries to encourage the girl to go inside. One of the community members is killed. The vampire gang leader, Horde (Nic Darrigo) kicks down a door to be met by Smokey (Greg Tait) Aunty Marie who stabs him in the back. The community members are escorted to Jalingbiri’s semi-truck, with the bloodsuckers in tow. The Vampire King kills Froggy (Thibul Nettle). Lucas informs the Vampire King that the blood hunters are not there. The Vampire King knows Eleona lied about Shanika and Tyson’s location.

When they find Rona, Tyson suggests they go. Eleona reminds them of their promise to help kill the Vampire King. She hits Tyson in the back and knocks him down. Shanika and Tyson are chained to keep them from running away. Eleona is at the skull wall when she is alerted of the Vampire King’s return. Tyson warns Eleona that it will not end well for her and asks for him and Shanika to be freed. He describes her working at the bar as “pretending.” She was trying to make a life for herself. Now, it is too late. Tyson continues trying to convince her to let Shanika and Rona go. She walks away.

Kitty arrives at the community to find it a mess. She opens the back of Jalingbiri’s truck to free the people. Aunty Marie tells her, they were attacked by bloodsuckers. Kitty saw them too. Smokey is distraught when he finds Froggy’s body.

Tyson tries to break the chain. Shanika tells Rona to free them. The Vampire King returns to find Eleona waiting for him. She tells him where Shanika and Tyson are being held. She escorts him to his chamber. Tyson and Shanika continue trying to break their chains when Rona taps a chair with her fingers. Shanika encourages her to help them get free. The Vampire King enters the chamber, where they are chained up. Tyson orders the Vampire King to leave Shanika alone. He tells him about him and Eleona making out.

 

The Vampire King hands Eleona a knife and orders her to remove Tyson’s tongue. She promises to not run and points the knife at Tyson’s face but tosses it on the ground. Eleona is escorted to the pit and chained up. She tells the other bloodsuckers the Vampire King will throw them in the pit in a few days. She beats on the wall as the episode comes to an end.

 

Firebite Review

The show is gradually wrapping up as the blood hunters find enough courage to go back underground. There is not enough going on to support an 8-episode show. If you are not careful, you will find yourself falling asleep at the halfway point.

On a good note, Yael Stone and Rob Collins carry the show. Both give impeccable performances in everything they do.

Some of the scenes are unrealistic. The scene, where the community members cram into the back of a semi-truck to escape the bloodsucker fate is just one example. This reminds me of the illegals trying to cross the American border from Mexico. Many end up losing their lives from heat stroke, being crushed and suffocated.

The show deserves a 5.5. Get more Firebite recaps here. If you like what the ReelMockery team does, click here to support our work.