Ep 8. Man or Beast?

Set in modern-day New York, Beauty and the Beast (2012) is a supernatural crime drama based on the classic fairy tale. Catherine Chandler (Kristin Kreuk), a homicide detective, is haunted by her mother's unsolved murder when she was a teenager. One day, she encounters Vincent Keller (Jay Ryan), a former soldier who was experimented upon with a drug called Muirfield that turned him into a beast with superhuman strength and senses. Catherine and Vincent form an unlikely bond as they try to solve crimes and uncover the truth about Muirfield.

In season 2 episode 8, titled "Man or Beast?", Catherine finds herself in a difficult position when she has to choose between her loyalty to Vincent and her duty as a cop. Vincent's friend JT (Austin Basis) has been kidnapped by the mysterious Gabe Lowen (Sendhil Ramamurthy), who turns out to be an undercover FBI agent investigating Muirfield. Gabe wants to use JT to track down Vincent and arrest him for his past crimes. Catherine tries to negotiate with Gabe to let JT go, but Gabe demands that Vincent turn himself in to the FBI.

At the same time, Catherine and Gabe are forced to work together on a case when a wealthy businessman is found dead in his hotel room. The murder weapon is a rare type of poison that can only be found in Muirfield's archives. Catherine and Gabe suspect that the killer is a beast, but they have no evidence to prove it. Vincent agrees to help Catherine and Gabe find the killer, hoping to prove his innocence and clear his name.

As Catherine and Vincent investigate the murder, they discover that the victim was involved in Muirfield's experiments and had been using the poison to silence his former colleagues. They also find evidence that Gabe's investigation is not as straightforward as it seems. Gabe reveals that he is being blackmailed by someone who knows about his past and is using JT as leverage. Gabe is torn between his loyalty to the FBI and his compassion for JT, who he sees as a victim of Muirfield like Vincent.

The tension between Catherine, Vincent, and Gabe reaches a breaking point when Vincent is ambushed by the FBI and surrounded by agents with their guns drawn. Catherine has to make a split-second decision whether to help Vincent escape or let him be arrested. Meanwhile, Gabe discovers the identity of his blackmailer and confronts him, leading to a shocking revelation that could change everything.

"Man or Beast?" is a tense and emotionally charged episode that explores the themes of loyalty, trust, and identity. Catherine is torn between her love for Vincent and her duty as a police officer, while Vincent struggles to reconcile his beastly side with his desire to lead a normal life. Gabe's character is also developed further, as he grapples with the consequences of his actions and his relationship with JT. The murder mystery serves as a backdrop to the character drama, adding to the suspense and intrigue of the episode.