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The first season of ABC Family’s The Nine Lives of Chloe King draws to a close with “Beautiful Day.” Chloe (Skyler Samuels) goes with Brian (Grey Damon) to reconnect with his long-lost grandmother, Olivia. While they are gone, Simone (Jolene Andersen) begins her plan to wipe out Chloe’s support system with the help of Jasmine’s (Alyssa Diaz) new boyfriend (Daniel Sharman). Chloe unknowingly returns to town as the plan is carried out, and she goes to meet her father. But he’s not there, and Chloe is killed by Simone. Jasmine’s boyfriend takes out Jasmine and her mother, Valentina (Alicia Coppola). Chloe awakes at Brian’s kiss, resulting in his apparent death.
Needless to say, there’s a lot of death going on in “Beautiful Day.” Brian is likely the most significant, and it’s hard not to wonder if it will stick. After all, Brian’s family is heavily connected into the organization that seeks to destroy Chloe. Many of Brian’s questions about his family remain unanswered, such as the circumstances surrounding his mother’s death, and how Olivia ends up with Chloe’s father’s book. While Brian’s father, Whitley (David S. Lee), or grandmother, Olivia, may be the outlet the series can use to explore those things, it would be more effective to keep Brian around. Maybe he’s not quite human and can survive a Mai kiss?
Also up in the air is Jasime. Valentina is probably dead because she is poisoned, and The Nine Lives of Chloe King‘s story has more of an impact if the heroic young people can defeat evil themselves, without a helpful parent leading them. As such, she seems both the most expendable, and the most likely to die. Jasmine could go either way. There shouldn’t be too much death in a single episode, and since Jasmine is stabbed, her injuries may not be fatal. If I were a betting man, I would wager she will likely return for season two. Likely, but not certain.
Chloe’s death means the least for the simple fact that she has nine lives. That is not to take away from the significance of losing two of those nine in a single span of ten episodes. It makes Chloe’s lifespan, and that of the series, seem fairly finite, despite her gifts. But she is far from done with her purpose, which has barely begun to be explored. There isn’t any real emotional impact to her being shot, and the bad guys only do it to find out for sure if she is who they think she is.
Perhaps the character facing the most upheaval in “Beautiful Day,” though, is Alek (Benjamin Stone). Not only does he overhear Chloe admit to her mother, Meredith (Amy Pietz), that Chloe’s heart belong to Brian, not him, but Alek also learns that Jasmine’s assassin boyfriend is his own brother. Alek’s heart is broken, and he is tied to dastardly deeds all in one day. His world is turned upside down and rocked drastically, as he faces the prospect of losing loves ones both physically and emotionally. Which means Alek will get some really interesting story in season two.
The Nine Lives of Chloe King is turning out to be quite the exciting series. With echoes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season one, though not quite at that level, it is must-see television. Hopefully, it will get a second season. It definitely deserves it.
