"Village of the Darned" was an above average episode of My Babysitter's a Vampire to me!
It's the annual donut drive for Jane's youth troop and Ethan gets roped by his mother to babysit both Jane and two terrible twins. Meanwhile there is something weird going on involving the donuts from Jane's troop and the disappearance of adult figures in Whitechapel. The gang have stop an otherworldly troop leader from luring kids to its Eternal Playground or Jane and the other children will be lost forever. And Sarah and Erica deal with their hunger due to the adult figures leaving town, in which Erica may learn something she likes about one of the geeks.
The whole episode I was looking from Ethan and Sarah to Benny and Erica, repeatedly saying "Etharah", "Bennica", this episode was very heavy on the pairings, mostly Benny/Erica; which I am always glad for. With Erica having a sample of Benny's blood [and liking it], what could the future hold for those two, will Erica control herself around him, or will she sink her fangs into him? We'll have to see, I've noticed Sarah's held some restraint from biting Ethan since saving him in "Re-Vamped".
I still feel that we aren't learning enough of the background on the events/creatures/spells/etc. in these newer episodes; I did not understand the Val Mudrap thing at all. What is the history of the staff/key that Mudrap was using, how did she get the donuts to control everyone, what did she want with the kids, where did she come from, and Sarah says that Benny’s blood was gross, but Sarah has been drinking it when Ethan stole it from Benny (unknown to him) in “Fanged and Furious”. It’s just too many unanswered questions and inconsistencies in this episode.
But those have no effect on my opinion of this episode, which is a very good and entertaining episode; I don’t think these new episodes could work without Rory (Cameron Kennedy), he's just too funny ("vampire down, needs assistance"), but he was serious for like three seconds ("Why don't you try and make me?"), that is something I hope we see more of, as long as Rory's goes right back to being his cute and goofy self! Also, did anyone else notice that those kids painted his face? In the last episode ("Mirror/rorriM") Rory was an anonymous face painting prankster, could this be chalked up to karma?
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Matthew Knight – Ethan Morgan
Vanessa Morgan – Sarah
Atticus Mitchell – Benny Weir
Cameron Kennedy – Rory
Kate Todd – Erica
Also: Ella Jonas Farlinger – Jane Morgan
Laura DeCarteret – Samantha Morgan
Hrant Alianak – Principal Hicks
Guest stars:
Niamh Wilson – Val Mudrap
Gavin Lanteigne – Dirk Turner
Brendan Heard – Kirk Turner
Stephanie Belding – Mrs. Turner
Darryl Hinds – Vance Munce
Terrance Balazo – Brad
Written by: Laurie Elliot
Directed by: Kelly Harms
In the dead of night you can see a youth troop standing around in the middle of the woods, one little girl walks up to the troop leader, whose eyes black over and she says eerily to the girl that they’ve been waiting for her, it was Jane, her eyes blacking over as well.
Forty-eight hours earlier, Jane was chanting, which irritated Ethan, he told her to stop screaming, that he was trying to watching “So You Think You Can Scream?” a shrieking scream heard on the TV. Jane was about to put a donut in her mouth when Mrs. Morgan told her to put the donut down and stop away from the box. Jane said innocently that she was only getting one, or two. Ethan joked one or two dozen.
Ethan told her he stopped eating them when he was twelve, and his teeth still hurt when he look at them. Mrs. Morgan told Jane that she had to sell the donuts before she got her Business Mole badge, she emphasized sell, and not eat. A car horn blew, Mrs. Morgan told Jane that that was her ride. Mrs. Morgan putting on Jane’s sweater, Jane objecting to going to the mini mall with the “Tornado Twins” telling her mom they were crazy, Mrs. Morgan said they weren’t that bad. Ethan had a worried expression on his face.
You could hear noise outside the door before knocking; Mrs. Morgan noted they were knocking on the door that time. Mrs. Morgan open the door and two boys rushed in, spraying Mrs. Morgan with silly string. The youngest said that the target goof was eliminated. Ethan told them that she was his mom; the older boy mocked Ethan while the other taunted Ethan that he needed a babysitter, before the boys ran over the house.
Their mother, Mrs. Turner came into the house yelling for them to come back, she complimented on Mrs. Morgan’s stringed blouse, she had silly string all over her. Mrs. Turner then saw that her boys had a breakable object and told them to put it down; they broke it soon as she did. Mrs. Morgan noted it was Moleo season again, because of its sugar. Mrs. Turner said it was times two. Mrs. Morgan told her Ross got back on Sunday, it gave her three days to find a “father proof hiding spot” for the donuts.
Ethan asked his mother was she thinking of putting them in the wall. Mrs. Turner told Mrs. Morgan that they put theirs in a bunker out back, which her kids don’t even know about it, Mrs. Morgan asked could she take theirs too; she explained that if she kept them in the house, Ross would smell them, that he had a nose for Moleos. The other mother said she would, but as a crash was heard in the kitchen, she told Mrs. Morgan to hurry before her boys find their matches.
Ethan grabbed the boxes and handed them to the mothers, Mrs. Morgan asking the other were they still on for the “waltzing wives of Whitechapel” tomorrow. Mrs. Turner initially said yes, but then said no, remembering that their babysitter had a little “breakdown”, again. She then noted that Ethan was old enough to babysit, both he and Mrs. Morgan objecting, but she insisted that Ethan do it, she’ll drop the boys off when she picks Ethan’s mom up tomorrow.
Mrs. Turner then yelled for her boys, yelling “sugar bomb”, throwing a box of donuts outside, the boys running out after it, yelling. Jane cleared her throat, walking out behind them. She said to Mrs. Morgan and Ethan that they were lifesavers. Ethan noted that she would let him babysit her kids, Mrs. Morgan thought he deserved a second shot, she then said she was going to call Sarah for backup.
Ethan was loading a Nerf gun while Mrs. Morgan thanked Sarah for coming, she told Sarah it’d be fun, and if she smelled smoke, to call her, the doorbell then rang. Sarah asked Ethan that she had to babysit him, while he babysat two nine year olds; Sarah asked how bad could they be. Ethan told her to imagine a giant piranha that walked on land, he told her to give it rabies and a brother, Ethan said he’d rather babysit the piranhas.
Mrs. Turner came in with her two boys, who were quiet, she said they were up to something, she pulled Mrs. Morgan out before they could do something. Sarah and Ethan looked at the boys, Ethan getting his Nerf gun ready. Sarah said tauntingly, that the kids drawing was scary, asking where should they hide. Ethan said he was keeping his Nerf gun set to ready, he and Sarah eyeing the two boys.
The eerie troop leader was at someone’s home selling donuts, the man said it looked like a mole made a hole in the donut, he said it was only one thing to do before taking a bite, and said in a monotone that it was time to go; grabbing his jacket and walking away, the troop leader watching him.
Sarah noted that the boys were sitting quietly, they were drawing. Ethan said they were probably drawing up a plan to destroy them, devising some kind of sinister trap that at any second would get them, Ethan whispered wait for it. Then Benny jumped in yelling his name, causing Sarah to hit him in the stomach, Rory jumped up from behind the counter yelling, causing Ethan to shoot him with the Nerf gun. Rory asked him was it because he barfed in their chimney, Ethan said it wasn’t but realized what Rory had just said.
Rory said he was there to help them battle the "tornado twins," Benny asked were they there, he didn’t see anyone bleeding. Ethan told them to see for themselves, and introduced Rory and Benny to the twins, who said hello to them in unison, which Benny said was never good. Rory said that it was a tornado of weird. The twins continued drawing just as Erica knocked on the back door, causing the four to jump.
Erica opened the door asking were they going or not, that she was starving. Ethan asked where they were going, Sarah explained it was a new safety rule by the Council, that vampires had to hunt in pairs. Erica called Sarah a “vegetarian vampire”, saying she had to watch her pick up her blood salad from a delivery truck. Sarah told Erica it beat watching her choose her meal, she said mockingly that Erica was choosy, “he’s so stringy, he’s too old, I hate her outfit” Erica said that people with bad taste, taste bad. Erica told her “more stalk, less talk.”
Ethan objected to Sarah leaving, Ethan told her that she was his backup, and she couldn't leave him alone with them. Erica asked was he afraid that they were going to color outside the lines, Benny smirking at her comment. Sarah told Ethan she wouldn’t be long, and that Jane could help, Jane saluted and agreed.
Sarah walked off and Ethan asked what they should do next, check their crayons for sharp edges. Benny told Ethan to relax, that they didn’t know what they’re up against, that in their eyes, they were the grownups, Rory agreed amazed before yelling for them to go play video games, he and Benny running off. The boys sat there, continuing to color, a red door.
Meanwhile the more adults that ate the donuts from the troop leader, they left Whitechapel, Sarah and Erica were sitting on a bench waiting for a delivery truck. Sarah upset because she prepaid for delivery but the guy had yet to show up. Erica then asked what was the point of having fangs if her friend stopped her from biting people. Sarah told her that a guy was driving, Erica told her it was called “meals on wheels”, and he had his window open. Sarah told her he also had a mullet, and she thought Erica was a “food snob”.
Erica told her it was not like they were at a buffet, mentioning that there was hardly anyone on the streets. Sarah then looked around, noting that there was no one on the streets, and they heard some weird chanting. The boys were playing video games, Ethan telling Benny to kill the queen and destroy the hive, Benny said it was more fun shooting Rory, Rory said “not for Rory.” Ethan asked should they be checking on the kids, Benny yelled while playing the video game, that if the “Creep Brothers” were okay for them to say nothing, they said nothing, Benny saying they were fine.
Downstairs Jane was watching a news report, the reporter saying the streets of Whitechapel were snarled, people leaving town, he then began to talk about Moleo’s, taking a bite of a donut, shortly before saying goodbye in a monotone. Jane asked the two boys if they wanted a donut, they raised up from their drawings, Jane told them her mom hid them, but she saved one, the boys smirked at Jane.
The boys were still playing videos games upstairs until Benny told Rory to go get snacks, Rory rushed off to get two bags of chips and rushed back, his face had marker on it, Rory said to them stunned that “those boy’s ain’t right.” The boys went downstairs to see it covered with drawings of a red door, Rory pointed out the one he thought painted his face, then pointing at the other, asking which one was the evil one.
Ethan proceeded to ask one of the boys what was going on, he put a hand on one of their shoulders, triggering a vision; Ethan saw the Moleo donuts, the youth troop, and their evil leader. The boys said in unison that Val Mudrap was coming, Rory asked what they said, Ethan told them they had a problem; Benny said meekly that his mom was home. Mrs. Morgan was shocked at what her living room looked like.
At school the next day, Benny told Ethan his mom was so busy yelling that she didn’t even notice Sarah gone or Jane acting weird. Ethan told him what was weird, was his vision, that it had snack food in it. Benny told him he had visions of food all the time; pizza, milkshakes, pizza-flavored milkshakes. Ethan told Benny every time he looked up “Val Mudrap”, his computer froze on the picture of a red door.
Just then students began walking out of the school, excitedly. Ethan asked why was everyone leaving, Principal Hicks walked up to them explaining that classes were canceled because all the teaching staff had left. Hicks told them the staff just got up and left, and they didn’t even thank him for the donuts he bought them for the staff meeting, he was glad that they left him one, taking a bite. Principal Hicks’s eyes blacked over before he dropped the donut and his coffee cup, before just walking off.
Benny eyed Hicks, Ethan asked him did he see that and did he know what that meant. Benny replied that he did, sort of, not; he told Ethan to tell him what it meant. Ethan told him it must have been the donuts making the adults leave town and turning the kids into “dron-eo’s”, Ethan pondered what it does to teenagers. Benny frantically said he didn’t want to know, tossing boxes of the donuts out of his shoulder bag.
Ethan asked Benny why he bought so many, Benny told him it was a moment of weakness, noticing Erica and Sarah were coming, Benny said speaking of weak, there came the “hot mess express”. Erica hissed at him, Sarah told them Erica’s was so hungry she couldn't control her fangs; Sarah said she was so hungry she couldn’t control Erica. Some other students walked by and saw Erica holding her mouth; she called them geeks and asked them what they were gawking at.
Rory came up asking if they wanted any of his lunch, saying it was fresh; the brown bag he was holding was squeaking and moving. Erica smacked the bag out of Rory’s hands, causing the bag to take off on it’s own, Rory chasing after it calling it “Mr. Lunchy”. Sarah told Ethan and Benny they didn’t want rats, they wanted real food and that the town was running on empty. Benny suggested that they fly to the next town and get some “take out”.
Erica told them the Vampire Council told them hunting outside Whitechapel could cause a turf war. Ethan asked her couldn’t they take a small nibble from a student, adding not him. Erica told him teenagers are full of junk food and hormones, she asking the boys did they know what they could do to skin, before walking off. Sarah said that Erica was a picky eater and her blood delivery guy vanished, she told them that whatever was happening, they should “unhappen” it.
Ethan told Benny they needed to go home and come up with a plan, Benny told him to wait, that no adults around is something he dreamed of his entire life, that they could do anything they wanted, Ethan smiled, but Benny was jumping around excitedly.
Ethan was pushing Benny down the street in a shopping cart while he was eating a pizza, Ethan asked him was this the moment that he was waiting for. Benny explained to him that the pizza was topped with another pizza, Benny said with no “manager” to stop them, they just made it for him, Benny saying that he could really taste the gumballs in the middle.
Ethan saw a van go by and ask was it his mom, Ethan then running after it, yelling for his mother. Benny tried to get out of the cart with his pizza, he caught up with Ethan saying he dropped it. Ethan looked up to see the youth troop coming, Ethan said it looked like they found the leader. Benny told him to let him handle it, he called the kids, “possessed and possibly rabid miniature citizens of Whitechapel”, telling them he was their new king, snapping his finger and magical sparks flying. Benny surprised because it never worked before.
Ethan told him he thinks they should run, Benny told him they were just little kids, and asked them in a mocking voice who wanted to make the king a sandwich, their eyes blacked over. Ethan grabbed Benny saying they’d rather make the king into a sandwich; the kids then running in behind the boys. The kids caught up to Ethan and Benny and managed to get them to the ground and attack them. Ethan said they couldn’t hit kids, Benny agreed, but he really wanted to.
Ethan called to Sarah for help, Benny objected because he didn’t want anyone witnessing their “kinder-beat down”. Erica had out her cell phone and told them to wave to the camera; that they were going to be internet stars. Ethan told Sarah it was serious, Sarah told him she enjoyed seeing him get his butt kicked by ankle bitters, the kids then biting his ankles. Sarah then moved in to help, Erica followed reluctantly.
Walking home, Benny said he thought there was a tooth in his shoe, Ethan noted disgusted that one kid had braces, putting a retainer off of his wrist, earning a look from Erica, Ethan told her they were stronger than they looked. Benny said he could go for a Moleo, checking his bag to see if he had some left. Erica snapped at him not to talk about eating, hissing at Benny shortly before falling to the ground.
Sarah jacked up Benny and asked for if his grandmother had any blood substitute left, not caring that it tasted like shoes. Benny said his grandmother was long gone, she had a pack a day habit when it’s Moleo season. Benny told Sarah that last time he touched her stuff she put a shurken head in his lunch, Benny complained that the guy wouldn't shut up, Sarah hissed at him. Benny said but he was [shutting up], he then said meekly for them to go. Ethan objected, because the “alpha brat” was hoarding every kid in town and Jane was at home alone.
Sarah told him they couldn’t fight anyone weak as they were, she told him to get Jane while they got food. Ethan took off and Benny helped Erica off of the ground, asking was she good. She told him irritated he could let go. Meanwhile Val Mudrap caused a vortex in the ground. Ethan went home and found Jane staring, she chanted in monotone, “doors in the floor, moles by the score, Val Mudrap forever more.”, her eyes then blacking over. Ethan said that wasn’t okay.
Jane said in monotone that she must go, Val Mudrap was summoning her. Ethan told her to snap out of it, a vision triggering for Ethan when he touched her shoulder. He saw the staff held by Val Mudrap, the troop members themselves, and a door in the ground opening, showing a vortex. Chanting could also be heard “Moles in the ground, moles all around, watch our numbers grow”. Ethan told Jane that she had to stay put, Ethan’s phone rang, it was Benny who said his grandmother might have left something useful, and the girls were staring at him like he was a burrito.
Ethan told him he had to stay because Jane had the “donut fever”, Ethan told him to find anything he could about the moles and “Val Mudrap”. Jane came around the corner holding a frying pan. Rory then jumped into the room yelling “Benny!” Benny told Rory that only Benny could “Benny!” Rory snapped “says you” looking to see donuts strolled all over the table, commenting that grandma had left “mid snack attack.” Benny noted that she left a book, Rory read the title, “Sacred Order of the Mole” by Val Mudrap. Rory said some of the moles in the book looked delicious. Benny told him to skim through it, to figure out what the moles are up to.
Sarah found a potion on the shelf and Sarah told Benny it was red and asked could he use one of his spells to turn it into blood. Benny was about to tell them that’s not how it worked but they hissed at him. Benny nervously “let’s give her a try” performing the spell on the potion. After Benny finished Sarah quickly drank some of it, Erica then drinking the rest, the girls growing tails. Benny made an “uh oh” sound and they asked what, he said “nothing”.
Rory found something that read where the parents departed and the children played for eternity, a newspaper clipping was also in the next page, Sarah noticed it was the girl who beat up Benny, Benny saying he had a stomach full of pizza. Sarah recognized the name Val Mudrap, Benny told her it was an anagram of Muld Varp, Rory goofily saying it had the same letters too, earning looks from everyone. Benny told them Ethan needed to see it.
As the girls walked out Rory was about to compliment on their tales, Benny stopped him saying they had beautiful eyes. The girls shrug it and continue on, Benny telling Rory he’d race him.
Ethan was waking up on the floor at home, the frying pan Jane had was next to him. Benny rushed to Ethan asking what happened and where was Jane. Ethan said he turned his back for one second then she was gone and he had a killer headache. Rory commented that she grilled his cheese. Benny showed him the newspaper article, Benny told him that she liked to take little kids on field trips to the underworld. Rory said excitedly that he found the clue and it was fun.
Ethan read where it said “Mini mole house collapses, one nine year old witness said the building got sucked into a door in the floor.” Ethan asked where it was, he saw it in his vision. Benny told him it was in the old part of town, Ethan said they needed to go there fast. Erica asked Ethan how could they have so much meat in their freezer and none of it be human. Ethan called their tails “cool”, the girls freaking out that they had tails. Ethan ran off saying Jane had a good head start. Erica walked off with a squeal. Rory looked at the girls with a blank expression; Benny yelled at him “tails” before taking off after Ethan.
All five were watching what was going down, Ethan noticed that Mudrap had Jane. Benny handed both Sarah and Erica vials, telling them to drink them, it might give them a boost. Erica told him she should kick his butt for turning them into freaks, Benny retorted that before their wickedly awesome upgrades they were totally normal. Erica smacked him in the face with her tail, Benny commenting it felt like sandpaper.
Val Mudrap held up her staff and said “all hail Mulvarp”, her eyes blacked over before she turned the staff upside down, taking a cover off of it. Saying now they will open the door to eternal freedom. Ethan deduced that Mulvarp was the guardian of the door, keeper of the key. Ethan said they had to get the key away from her and she couldn’t open that door. Ethan asked the girls how they felt, Sarah told him better, but she didn’t think she could fight. Ethan told her to get the kids out of there, that he was going after Jane.
Val Mudrap was opening the door to the eternal playground, and she said to them “single file to eternal freedom”, she turned around to see only Jane standing there. Ethan approached telling her to get away from his sister; she asked where all her little ones were, Ethan told her they were in better hands. Erica and Sarah were holding the children back, Erica yelling at them to relax, calling them “Moleo maniacs” Sarah told her not to yell at them, Erica asked her why wouldn’t they just nap.
Benny was about to perform a spell when she used her staff to shoot down Benny, Benny fell to the ground saying that it stinged, that they were on their own. Rory jumped up yelling “Benny!”, who told him to knock it off. She told him that he was ruining her fun and to stop it. Rory asked her to make him, she repeatedly shot at Rory with the staff. Rory yelling it was painful, he and her fighting to take the staff.
Ethan went to get Jane to keep her from walking into the door, both Rory and the girl fell, the staff in no one’s possession. Ethan told Rory to grab Jane and he jumped to keep the staff from Mulvarp, they fighting over it too. Jane was saying Mulvarp was coming, Rory told Ethan he couldn’t hold her. Ethan let the staff go, Mudrap falling into the door in the ground she screaming “no fair”.
Ethan shut the door and it faded away, Ethan asked how she liked them donuts. Jane ran up and hugged Ethan and said she doesn’t know what happened, but she was glad they saved her. Ethan said she was safe and everything was back to normal, then adding “ish”. Benny on the ground asked could someone finally help him, Benny said he think he needed someone with vast knowledge of medical aid. Rory groaned “vampire down, needs assistance”.
The next day at school, Benny told Ethan that his grandma had no idea how she got to a singles resort in the Dominican, Ethan told him his mother ended up at “Fun-Funland”, and that Jane was furious she went without her. Benny, Ethan, and Rory ran into Sarah and Erica in the halls, Benny telling them they looked better. Erica said that thanks to his grandma getting rid of their tales, Benny escaped an epic butt kicking.
Sarah asked what was in the energy potion; that it actually worked. Benny said it was a little of this and that, and a lot of his blood. The boys then walked off. Erica was shocked that she drank Benny’s blood, Sarah commented that it was so gross. Erica told Sarah that she liked it, that it was the best and she couldn’t stop thinking about it. Sarah told her it wasn’t her fault, that everything tastes good when you’re hungry, before walking off. Erica in thought about it before walking off behind Sarah with a sigh. The episode jumps to black.
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