The Donovan House Strikes Back
SURREALESTATE – Season 1 Episode 9 – SPOILERS
Aunt Ruby (Darlene Cook)
Rita Weiss (Alison Brooks), who is normally Luke Roman’s nemesis, asks the Roman Agency for help with a half-dozen metaphysically challenged properties. Luke (Tim Rozon) and his associates solve Rita’s six problems in short order, and in the process make an interesting discovery. The level of paranormal activity in the six houses varies inversely with the distance from the Donovan house.
Rita Weiss being unusually helpful by hiring the Roman Agency to assist with six of her listings
In the process of moving out of her spirit-infested property Megan (Tennille Read) tells off the ghost of Luke’s mom (which she cannot actually see) and then runs into Augie (Maurice Dean Wint) who is on his way into the place for continued investigations. He and Megan have a conversation in which she admits that she once was afraid of Augie, who then tells her how happy he is that she and Luke are together. Megan says it isn’t easy being with Luke, and Augie responds with the best line of the episode in this exchange with Megan:
AUGIE: “Why is it that the sweetest rewards only sing to us on the other side of hardship?”
MEGAN: “That’s beautiful. Is it Shakespeare?”
AUGIE: “No, just a thought I had this morning while feeding my cat”
We learn that Augie has four daughters, all of whom are married. We have yet to meet Augie’s cat, or any of his family.
Meanwhile, Susan’s old friend Priya (Supinder Wraich) is getting married, but as the wedding day approaches the bride has become more and more accident prone. Susan (Sarah Levy) uses her telekinetic abilities to unlace a corset that is tightening itself around Priya, and also to stop a knife thrown at the bride-to-be by an invisible force. (Whatever force is behind the curse, it seems Susan is stronger.)
Susan (Sarah Levy) and Priya (Supinder Wraich) (photo taken with Augie’s camera)
The curse causing all this mischief is generations old and can only be stopped by having the couple marry in an impromptu manner — sort of like Jamie and Paul did on MAD ABOUT YOU (Season 3 Episode 15), but with supernatural opposition. Father Phil (Adam Korson), though he is no longer a priest, can (we find out) still perform civil ceremonies. Since Priya is a childhood friend of Susan’s, one might reasonably hope to see her again on the show should it be renewed for a second season. Another character in this episode that might become recurring is the unnamed skeptical elevator repair person, played by Willow Kean.
What force exactly transmits the curse? Did the spirit of the person who created the curse actually show up and throw a knife at Priya? Or did the cursed person (in this case Priya’s fiancé) do the knife-throwing telekinetically (without being aware of it, of course).
Willow Kean, the elevator repair person
The Donovan house seems to be the center of all things paranormal in Luke’s town, and we get a clue to why that is when Augie texts Luke from the basement of that place, in which he is trapped. “We got it wrong,” he says. “A way out, not a way in. The house knows me. Megan is gone.” He finishes with the words: “I’m afraid.” On that note, Luke heads for the Donovan house but when he reaches the porch he is thrown quite some distance backward into the front yard, and quickly loses consciousness. Susan and Phil arrive and call an ambulance.
Last week’s title was associated with a song by The Who (see previous post). This episode is obviously connected to White Wedding by Billy Idol. It seems probable, then, that next week’s episode might also have a musical association, possibly The House Always Wins, by The Clientele.
next episode The House Always Wins