Fear Itself: Episode 9 Something With Bite

TVtropes refers to Something with Bite as a “breather episode.” I fully agree. It has what is probably the happiest ending of any story I've seen that bore the label “horror.” It's basically the story of a man going through a mid-life crisis and overcoming it perfectly.

Dr. Wilbur Orwell (Wendell Pierce) is a bored veterinarian. He's indifferent to his appearance, forgets family events, and goes through his work day like a zombie. Then, a mysterious large animal with a name tag reading “Michael” is brought in, after being hit by a truck. Wilbur is unable to save the animal. However, before dying, it bites Wilbur (yeah, you know where this is going).

The animal's “owners,” Crane and Moonflower Dougdale (George Burza and Gillian Barber) show up distraught, asking Wilbur to release the body to them for burial. Wilbur says that he isn't supposed to release an animal so large, but eventually relents. Crane leaves his card so that Wilbur can find him again.

In the wake of the bite Wilbur suddenly undergoes a change. He loves his job, he sexually satisfies his wife (Paula Jai Parker), and he wins back over his son (Meshach Peters). The episode is wise to completely sidestep the stereotype of the scary, black man. Instead, Wilbur simply becomes charming and likable.

Throughout the episode, however, a series of killings, mixing signs of animal attacks and murders, take place in the background, eventually including one of Wilbur's employees (Colin A Campbell). As Wilbur becomes more aware of his werewolf transformations, he becomes terrified that he's now carrying on a murder spree started by Michael, so he seeks out the Dougdale's.

The Dougdale's, obviously Michael's parents, are werewolves as well, and reassure Wendell that werewolves do not do anything they wouldn't do as a human. When another of Wendell's employees, Mikayla (Kailin See), is attacked a detective (Fulvio Cecere) tells Wilbur that he believes the veterinarian is responsible. The detective apparently believes Wilbur is a serial killer trying to make his murders look like animal attacks.

Wilbur, however, is able to follow the scent to find the killings are being carried out by a completely normal human with a werewolf obsession (Christopher Redman). The killer was apparently under the impression that killing in the style of werewolves would cause them to come and turn him. Wilbur, instead, rips him apart in fury.

The episode ends with Wilbur's family having dinner with the Dougdale's. Wilbur slips into the kitchen to flirt with his wife, gives her a gentle bite, and laughs. I'm curious how old their son will be before they let him transform. Does werewolf culture specify a minimum age?

This is the only “horror” story I've ever seen that would be perfect for cheering yourself up. It's overall a very sweet story about a good man re-learning how to love life, and becoming closer to his family. Plus, the serial killer is promptly dealt with, and the only victims we actually get to know are a jerk and a survivor, so the killings aren't that big of a downer. I'd say check this one out.