Ep 3. Luna Rea

Alex's transformation into a full-fledged upir brings a sense of desperation upon those who seek to normalise pre-conceived notions of reality. The latest episode of Hemlock Grove, Luna Rea, delves deeper into the newfangled social dynamics between the creaturely Alex and his human counterparts.

Luna Rea picks up where the previous episode left off, with Peter and Roman at loggerheads over the best way to contain Alex's insatiable blood-lust. Roman is firmly on the side of keeping Alex quarantined until they can figure out a way to either cure him or restore his humanity. Peter, on the other hand, takes a more sympathetic approach, though not without his own motives.

The episode begins with Miranda confronting Roman about his non-existent feelings for her, before overhearing a distressing conversation between Peter and Sarah. Peter's desperation to help his friend complicates the matter even further, and after some meddling by Roman, Miranda finds herself caught up in the drama as she tries to help Peter come up with a plan to help Alex.

Meanwhile, Alex's transformation continues apace, much to the chagrin of the other creatures around him. The upir's newfound power is both intoxicating and terrifying, and it becomes increasingly difficult for him to suppress his bloodlust. His actions go further than merely disregarding moral and ethical constraints, it leads towards something even darker and more sinister.

As tensions between Alex and his former allies grow increasingly strained, Sarah invites Miranda to observe - and possibly intervene - in a pivotal confrontation between Alex and Roman. What follows is an intense and emotional showdown, as Roman confronts Alex about his deviant, animalistic behaviour. As the two of them face off, it becomes clear that each of them is fighting for something different - Alex to retain his newfound power, Roman to maintain social harmony.

The theme of powerlessness is taken further as Dr. Pryce finds himself struggling with his own limitations. With the future of Hemlock Grove at stake, he's forced to turn to an unlikely ally for help, and together they set out on a dangerous, and risky mission to try to end Alex's reign of terror before it's too late.

As more and more characters become enmeshed in the events surrounding Alex's transformation, there's a growing sense of tension and danger that permeates throughout the episode. The ultimate question is what will happen when Alex crosses the rubicon - when his need for blood boils over into unbridled violence. Will anyone be able to stop him before it's too late? Will he be stuck in his current form forever? And what will the consequences be for everyone else in Hemlock Grove? The show's writers have done an excellent job of crafting a narrative that's both suspenseful and emotionally powerful, with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers hooked.