Through all of this, fully formed characters emerge realistically conflicted by various issues both in front of them and lingering from their pasts. Flashbacks reveal back-stories for Alexandra, who is lost in a spiral of anger after the death of her son, and also for Prue's parents (Johnson and Erskine), whose yearning decision early in their marriage has come back to haunt them. The vocal cast is excellent across the board, providing humour and emotion that ripple across the characters' faces and inform their physicality.

Several powerful themes are at work here, most notably stressing the importance of dealing with grief rather than letting it fester. And there are also intensely moving sequences exploring the pain of being required to do something you'd really rather not do. These things carry a huge impact, especially as the story builds to its massive final act. And because artisans created all of these characters and settings, they have an unusual weight to them, making the horrors more wrenching and the joys that much more vivid.

themes, language, violence

11.Oct.26

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