Not gonna lie, I wasn’t super psyched when I found out this week’s iZombie would see Liv eating zombie stripper brains. Not that I don’t trust iZombie to turn what could be a problematic situation in terms of shaming women into something special, but you never know, right?

While I don’t know if I can say my fears were fully qualmed after watching “Pour Some Sugar, Zombie” (okay, super clever name/reference), I do have to say that there was a lot to love about the episode, both in terms of story and characters and especially in terms of PEYTON.

BRAINSSSY:

YES, GUYS! SHE’S BACKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

Speaking of Peyton, I really like that after Liv eats the brains of the Victim of the Week (Cassidy), the show eschews the route of having her give a pervy guy a lap dance to trigger memories. Instead, after a brief tease of the aforementioned scenario (more on that in NOT-SO BRAINSSSY), she gives Peyton a goofy dance and then bonds with an actual stripper in the bathroom after a short-lived tiff (more on that in NOT-SO BRAINSSY as well).

In general, this is a very girl time episode, which is a way nice change of pace for a show that’s mostly Liv and a bunch of dudes (dead and living). Peyton and Liv get to work together a bunch and yeah, they get on each other’s nerves a bit, but that’s real friendship, right?

Am I wrong? Or does Gilda/Rita kinda look like Liv when she’s zombied up? I nearly thought that Liv at the start of the episode! Like in-transition Liv? No? Just me?

Nice to see Dale interacting with someone other than Clive! And getting down to business re: Blaine. I can’t be the only one who thinks she’s a tad underused these days.

Like where they are going with Blaine’s storyline and the cure! David Anders is getting to stretch his chops even more as Blaine struggles to remember his life and we’re getting new twists on the way to understanding the cure. (The cure = memory loss?)

It’s great to see Liv and Drake’s mom bonding again. Too bad it has to be about Drake possibly being dead. At least it leads to Liv finding out he’s been working undercover all along, which could lead to more time with Keith Mars Detective Lou Benedetto. (Heads up: Enrico Colantoni is in photos from an upcoming episode!)

“This way, pizza boy. Mama wants some pepperoni.” Emily wants some pepperoni too, now that you mention it, Liv.

Speaking of friendship, major Minor callback! (I miss you, little, adorable guy.) But at the price of a major Major/Ravi rift and probably a lot worse?! (#MinorPlot #MajorDrama)

NOT-SO BRAINSSSY:

They give us two seconds of Gilda/Rita in Z mode before taking her away? Sigh.

“White and tight!” Eww. Just eww.

“Pasty ass ho!” “I will kick you right back to the trailer park where you used to make out with your uncle.” Okay, this is the kind of thing I was worried about. You know, women judging other women superficially. Sure, Liv is on a different brain when she says this, but the other woman certainly is not. And neither are any of Cassidy’s other coworkers when they throw sassy, girl-hating shade.

iZombie airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. Canadians can catch it on Shomi.

(images via The CW)

Emily Gagne (@emilygagne) is one of the founding members of Cinefilles, a site for wannabe female film and TV critics, as well as an admitted heroine (note the extra e!) addict. She may not have super strength, or be able to make a stake on command, but she can slay you with her rhetorical devices, endless knowledge of Final Girls, and passion for geek girl scoop.

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