Neil Brazier | On 28, Mar 2014

Having just renewed From Dusk Till Dawn for a second season, Episode 3 of the Netflix Original series spices things up. Saturated in orange and blue hues, the Gecko brothers are making a little stop off at a motel while the Fuller family’s RV breaks down, giving them the opportunity to expose some home truths.

So far, the show has distinctly lacked vampires but this week gives us a little more of what we want. Through Gonzalez, we learn more about the mythology of these creatures that haunt Richie’s head and thanks to Carlos, we get to bear witness to their violent nature. The show juxtaposes the reveals well against the Fuller family’s struggle with their faith – which will have a major impact later on – and Katie learning about her father’s secret.

Zane Holtz continues to shine as Richie. He does a superb job of playing the wacko, dealing with his visions and being consumed by them in one of the better retellings of a scene from the movie. While the television series is taking on its own identity in places, though, some things remain the same: the interior location of the motel is a near perfect replica, right down to the cartoons on the TV.

Another fine performance is brewing in our lead vampire, Carlos. Wilmer Valderramo is growing each week, getting his teeth (literally) into something new and relishing it. We also get our first glimpse at other fanged beings as a new bunch are introduced. Are these vamps higher up the pecking order?

Naturally, every show has its ups and downs; not every episode can be a thriller. In just three episodes, From Dusk Till Dawn has already proven that there will be peaks and troughs. In term of the films chronology, we’re only twenty minutes in. The premise of stretching the runtime out over so many weeks has garnered mixed results, with some scenes working really well and others feeling like extraneous exposition. It is promising, though, that two out of three have been the former.

Will the performances of Holtz and Valderrama be able to carry the show if it doesn’t continue to have more good spots than bad?

 

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