Van Helsing S03E03: “I Awake” Overview

Van Helsing S03E03: “I Awake” — The Elder brings Vanessa to the memory of the past. She wakes up confused and in a foreign land. She finds a girl training with a large dagger. Vanessa disarms her and pins her down. The girl tells her she is her new servant, Siobhan, and that she is Lily Van Helsing. The proud granddaughter of Abraham Van Helsing and third-generation vampire hunter. Vanessa realizes that in this dream, she is in Lily’s memory of the year 1896 in Hong Kong.

Vanessa goes out for tea with the Governor’s wife, Agnes Fauntleroy. Agnes tells her their meeting is upon the request of Master Tsui, a Chinese gentleman who has ominous and important things to share with her. Agnes also shares that her father was a faithful servant of Abraham Van Helsing, so she knew Lily’s secrets. She explains the alarming situation in the city. The vampires are using the fatalities of the Bubonic Plague to hide their killings. Agnes instructs Vanessa on how to find Master Tsui.

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Vanessa meets Lily’s husband, Edward. Edward thinks that vampires are merely Lily’s delusions and fantasies. He orders her to rest in her room because he cannot have her embarrass him with talk of vampires to his guest, Cyril Abernathy, the head of the East Asia Trading Company.

With Siobhan’s help, Vanessa sneaks out to meet Master Tsui. On her way, she encounters a dangerous kind of vampire. Master Tsui explains that the vampire is called a shadow walker. Shadow walkers are servants to a very dangerous ancient type of vampire, the B’ah. They move faster than a human eye can track, and they hide in the shadows. He adds that they were rarely seen inside the city. But now they are in Hong Kong. With the outbreak of Bubonic Plague outside the city, the shadow walkers come to the city for a clean supply of blood.

Master Tsui reveals to Vanessa he is also a vampire hunter, and that is why he wants to them meet. He is rather concerned as it appears she is not prepared. Master Tsui then trains Vanessa on how to fight and control her anger.

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After the taxing training, Vanessa comes home to the news of Cyril Abernathy’s death. It appears that he’s been murdered by vampires. But Edward thinks that such a thing is only his wife’s hysterical nonsense. Vanessa drugs him to sleep so she could investigate.

Vanessa’s investigation leads her to a warehouse filled with shipping crates. She also finds a dead man on the floor and a Shadow Walker burning documents. The Shadow Walker tells her that coming was a mistake. He then fights Vanessa. The shadow walker manages to put a cut on her neck. “You cannot kill what you cannot see,” the Shadow Walker says. Master Tsui arrives and gives Vanessa a piece of helpful advice. Vanessa stabs the Shadow Walker in the stomach, killing him. Vanessa starts to feel her wound. She remembers that she is Lily in this dream, so she does not have her healing abilities.

Siobhan sews up Vanessa’s wound. Siobhan notices that something about Lily is different. She says she’s a little envious of the adventure her employer is having. Vanessa assures her that one day, women will have power, a voice and that they will chart their own courses and make their own decisions. Edward walks in on them. He sees Vanessa’s wound and dagger. He gets furious, thinking that his wife is having a relapse of her psychosis. Edward blames himself for her injury. “I need you to recover, Lily,” he says.  Vanessa tries to explain she not who he thinks she is, but it only makes things worse. Edward locks Vanessa and Siobhan in the room.

Edward intercepts a message from Master Tsui and goes to put a stop to her wife’s delusions. He instructs the guard that his wife and servant are not allowed to leave the room under any circumstances. Thanks to Vanessa’s clever exit strategy, she and Siobhan manage to break out. Vanessa sees Master Tsui’s message and realizes Edward is in danger. Siobhan convinces Vanessa to allow her to come along. Vanessa agrees on the condition that she waits outside. Siobhan excitedly follows Vanessa.

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Master Tsui, Vanessa, and Siobhan arrive at the B’ah’s lair. Master Tsui explains that the vampires lure victims with drugs so they can feed in secrecy and darkness.

Edward is in bed with the B’ah. He is drugged but still manages to share his fear about his wife going mad. He also tells her Master Tsui’s name, and that his wife is a Van Helsing. The B’ah sees Master Tsui and Vanessa and reveals herself to them. She is thrilled to see two legacies of vampire killers. She narrates to Vanessa how Abraham almost took her head years ago. I’m here to finish what he didn’t, Vanessa answers. The B’ah says “I doubt that,” and throws a knife at Vanessa. Vanessa catches it with her hand, right before it hits her head.

Vanessa and Master Tsui are outnumbered and surrounded by the shadow walkers. “Impressive for a mortal,” the B’ah compliments Vanessa. She notices that Vanessa bleeds like a human but there is something different about her. Vanessa challenges her to come closer, but she says she will just wait for the poison to take effect. Master Tsui suggests they walk out of the place, considering the unfavorable circumstances. The B’ah grabs Edward and holds him hostage. “You run, he dies slowly, unless you die first,” she tells Vanessa. Vanessa cannot allow Edward to die. The B’ah realizes that they are in a memory created by another Elder. She asks why. “So I could learn how to destroy you.” Vanessa answers.

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Vanessa and Master Tsui put up a valiant yet losing fight against the shadow walkers. Vanessa manages to turn the tide with yet another clever solution. She cuts the rope of the curtain to let the sunlight in, and the shadow walkers burn. She also tricks the B’ah to come close enough so she could stab her with her dagger. “I am certain that we will meet again, but next time, not in dreams.” The B’ah says before she completely disappears. Master Tsui mentions to Vanessa about the dark sleep of vampires. Vanessa realizes the B’ah is trying to leave China to go somewhere safe. Master Tsui, right before he dies, tells Vanessa that only the blood of the B’ah can stop the poison. It’s a relief Vanessa has the blood in her dagger.

Edward apologizes to his wife for doubting her. He vows to help her as much as he can. Agnes arrives bearing news that the ship containing a dozen of unusual crates from East Asia Trading Company has sailed to San Francisco.

Vanessa wakes up from the dream and makes it back to the asylum. The Elder is rather disappointed that she’s back alive. Vanessa decides to go to San Francisco. But first, she releases the Elder from his obligation to the Van Helsings and gives him his totem. “The more Elders there are, the greater the chance I’ll be betrayed.” She says right before plunging the dagger into his heart.