Original Skin

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Lost Girl is a Canadian developed and produced television series which premiered in the 2010 season on the television channel Showcase.

For further on Bo, the succubus of the series, see her article in the SuccuWiki here. For the series itself, see that article here. For a general discussion of Succubi and their mythos in the series, see that article here.

Original Skin was the ninth episode of the second season of the series, and the twenty-second overall episode of the Canadian television series Lost Girl. It was first shown on the Showcase Television Channel in Canada on November 20th, 2011 at 9 PM Eastern time.

Production Data

• Series: Lost Girl
• Season: 2
• Episode Number: 9 (22nd Overall)
• Episode Title: Original Skin
• Directed by: Paul Fox
• Writing credits: Emily Andras
• Production Company: Prodigy Pictures
• Running Time: 60 Minutes (Including Commercials)
• Country of Origin: Canada
• Originally Aired on: November 20th, 2011 on the Showcase Television Channel in Canada
• Number of Canadian Viewers: 285,000

Cast

A promotional image of the Season Two cast of Lost Girl from the official website at lostgirlseries.com From left to right: Richard Howland as Trick, K.C. Collins as Detective Hale, Kristen Holden-Reid as Dyson, Anna Silk as Bo, Ksenia Solo as Kenzi, and Zoie Palmer as Lauren

Actor / Actress	Role
Anna Silk	Bo
Kristen Holden-Ried	Dyson
Ksenia Solo	Kenzi
Richard Howland	Trick
K.C. Collins	Detective Hale
Zoie Palmer	Lauren
Lina Roessler	Ciara
Michael Cram	Woods
Vincent Walsh	The Ash
Hayley Nault	Nain Rouge
AJ Jaywar	Raynard
Athena Karkanis	Nadia

Plot

Short Summary

Bo, Dyson, Kenzi, Hale, Trick, Ciara, and Lauren are all drawn to the Dal and a Dark Fae hunter traps all of them there explaining that he is hunting an escaped prisoner hiding there. It is soon revealed that thanks to that prisoner contaminating the beer, that all of them save Trick have drunk, he can move between bodies and he first takes over Bo's body. The Nain Rouge appears to Bo when she is forced into being stuck in Limbo as a result. Bo is told that the Fae will come to an end and her destiny which is to kill Trick. Bo does not believe her and forces her way back to the real world. Bo returns from Limbo, and as a result, all of the people in the Dal switch bodies. The prisoner escapes in Lauren's body and feeding on Lauren's deepest desires, attempts to kill the Ash. Dyson in Kenzi's body is the only one able to leave the Dal and manages to stop him. Trick eventually finds a solution and returns everyone back to their own bodies, the prisoner being taken away by the bounty hunter. Bo tells Trick at the end of the episode that the Nain Rouge told her something terrible was coming and that she was called Isabeau (where the last syllable is pronounced like "bo") by her. It is also revealed that the Ash may not in fact be who he seems to be.

Detailed Summary

The episode opens with Kenzi (Ksenia Solo) admiring a new pair of boots that she had placed on lay-away for three months until she could afford them. As she struts around Bo's home, Bo (Anna Silk) is engrossed in a book on life, love and relationships and barely listens to Kenzi as she talks about her boots. Kenzi eventually yanks the book from Bo's hands and chastises her for reading it. Kenzi then tells her that they are going out for the evening instead of staying in and being bored out of their minds. Bo refuses to go saying that she doesn't want to see Dyson (Kristen Holden-Ried) and Ciara (Lina Roessler) together. Kenzi however tells her that the Dal is their bar too and they have the right to be there as well. Then Kenzi suggests that Bo disguise herself as a "sexy biker chick" and the idea seems to appeal to Bo.

The pair then arrive at The Dal Riata and discover that it is almost completely empty of patrons, Kenzi commenting that "bingo night was a real hit", when she notices a sign at the door about it. Then Trick (Richard Howland), Dyson and Hale (K.C. Collins) came into view and Bo isn't that happy to see them there. The two men compliment the woman on their outfits and then go off to another part of the bar. Bo and Kenzi talk about leaving for a moment, but then Lauren (Zoie Palmer) arrives and Kenzi whispered to Bo for her to be strong while she gets them a pitcher of beer. Bo's comment is, "each." In the back room of the Dal, a man dressed in a hospital gown climbs over the kegs that hold the beer for the bar and then injects something into it using a syringe.

Back from the opening credits, Bo is amazed that Lauren is there and Lauren tells Bo that she really looks good dressed as she is. Lauren tells her that she told the Ash that she had to come to the Dal on official business, but in fact she is there to ask Trick some questions, and interrupts Bo to tell her that as Bo tries to talk to her about the hiss they shared in the room where Nadia, Lauren's girlfriend, is being kept. Lauren then walks away from Bo to talk to Trick. Bo then looks at Kenzi who is holding two pitchers of beer and comments that she "needs to murder Kenzi."

Lauren sits down with Trick and hands him back a series of books telling him that none of them were of any help to her and Trick suggests that she check Wikipedia as well. Lauren misses the joke and tells him that she needs information on the darkest of the dark Shamans in order to figure out who cursed Nadia. Trick tells her that he is working on that, but it will take time. Trick warns her that witch doctors are dangerous and she should be careful, but Lauren says she has been careful for the past five years and now she wants to act. Lauren mentions that she hasn't been sleeping well and Trick notes that the fighting between the Light and Dark Fae has been cutting into his business, so he thought that a Bingo Night would be fun. Unfortunately it seems that it isn't the right kind of fun. Lauren makes a suggestion that Trick get a mechanical bull for the bar as he takes a sip of beer.

Meanwhile, Dyson and Hale are setting up for a game of pool as Bo comes over to the pair carrying two beers. She tries to make amends with Dyson by offering him a beer as Hale wanders off, and suggests that they start over again as really good friends before they both take a sip of the beer. Then Ciara (Lina Roessler) arrives to find them talking together and accuses Dyson of lying to her when he told her that he was going to have a night out with the boys. When Bo tries to leave, Ciara tells her that she and Dyson were having a fight less than an hour ago, and Dyson suggests that he and Ciara go somewhere else. Ciara wants to know what happened before Dyson and Bo, and Dyson says that nothing happened to Bo's surprise. Dyson tries to apologize to Bo, which makes things worse with Ciara who asks Bo what she did to Dyson to make him the way he is. Before Bo can answer that, a man appears and gets everyone's attention in the bar by saying, in a southern accent, that no one is leaving the bar.

He introduces himself as Woods (Michael Cram) and explains that he is a bounty hunter in search of an escaped Dark Fae prisoner named Raynard (AJ Jaywar) who was seen earlier in the episode injecting something into the beer kegs of the bar. Hale attempts to frighten Woods by showing him his badge and in response, Woods creates an orb of energy in his hand and throws it at Hale incapacitating him. Dyson grabs Woods by the throat, but Trick reminds all of them that the Dal is a place of sanctuary and the fight immediately ends. Woods tells the group that he has placed a barrier around the Dal and if anyone should try to pass through it, they will be risking their lives as a result. He then picks up a pitcher of beer and drinks some of it. Trick demands that Woods let them all go if all Woods is after is Raynard, but Woods explains that it is possible that Raynard might be inhabiting the body of any one in the bar. Kenzi looks at Bo in disbelief and moans about Bo convincing her to come out that evening.

Returning from commercial, Trick and Dyson attempt to get more information from Woods. He tells them that since Raynard had escaped from a maximum security Dark Fae prison his placing a barrier around the Dal was necessary. When Trick reminds him that the Dal is neutral territory and he had no right to put the barrier around it, Woods' answer is that in the case of an imminent threat to public safety some rules can be ignored. Dyson then notes that Raynard is an insane anarchist and murderer to which Trick notes that he was at the murder trial and is well aware of that fact. Woods explains that Raynard was under the care of a Gorgon psychiatrist and killed her, taking a syrine of her blood before escaping. As they talk, Dyson seems to sense something nearby and then discovers Raynard's body slumped in a chair next to the kegs that he had been contaminating earlier, the syringe still sticking out of it.

Bo, Kenzi and Hale are nearby talking, Kenzi sipping at her beer as Woods, Trick and Dyson arrive to tell everyone in the bar that if they have drunk the beer they have also ingested the Gorgon blood. Ciara is also seen with a partially drunk beer in her hand. The only person that has not drunk any of the beer is Trick who make a bartender's joke that he "wouldn't have drunk that swill." It is also likely that Raynard also had drunk the beer and so he could be in anyone's body in the bar. Bo seems to be unimpressed and notes that since she hasn't chosen a side that she can leave and attempts to do so, but is stopped. Lauren also tells them that she has only two hours before she must return to the Ash (Vincent Walsh). When Woods is asked what happens when Raynard takes over someone's body, the answer is a waving of fingers into the air. We then focus on Bo as her expression changes into an odd smile.

Bo awakes in what looks to be the Dal, but it is oddly lit and seems to be somehow out of focus. A figure passes close by and when Bo confronts them, she discovers that it is the Nain Rouge (Hayley Nault) who first appeared in the first episode of season two, Something Wicked This Fae Comes and has appeared in the background of several other episodes since that time. She then welcomes Bo to Hamistagan, otherwise known as Limbo. Back in the real world, the others are arguing among themselves about various petty things, Ciara pointedly directing her questions at Dyson. Woods tells them all that Raynard is an excellent mimic, but can't fool them for too long without making a mistake. As this continues, Raynard in Bo's body watches and says nothing.

Bo confronts the Nain Rouge and demands to know what she wants from her. Bo is told that she is drawn to witness great events in time and note them, but she also explains that humans call her the Harbinger of Doom. Bo is told that she is significant, that the extinction of the Far is drawing closer. The Nain Rouge then says "Unless you Isabo fulfil your destiny." ((This name is unclear and has also been suggested to be Ysabeau by other sources.)) Bo refuses to accept any kind of destiny in the same way that she refuses to choose sides with the Fae. As a result, Nain Rouge takes hold of Bo's hand and shows her a vision of her future in which she seemingly kills Trick, his last words to her being "What have you done?" Bo awakens on the floor in panic and the Nain Rouge tells her calmly that she has now seen her fate.

Back at the Dal, Woods is asking questions of Kenzi and Hale trying to see if one of them is in fact Raynard, but they are both somewhat evasive, Hale noting that he doesn't want Woods to know about their relationship to which Kenzi asks in confusion what relationship he is talking about. Elsewhere in the bar, Trick and Dyson are talking about Woods. Trick tells Dyson that Woods is a Boraro, a Fae hunter that can create energy barriers, but other than that neither of them know anything about him. Hale admits that he and Kenzi are friends and Woods gives up on questioning them. Elsewhere, Ciara is sitting next to Bo (who is Reynard), and listens to her comment in a slightly insane way about the situation they are all in at the moment and that the only way out is to take Woods out. Ciara asks what Bo's hurry is to get out of there and she becomes worried at Bo's insane look in her eyes as she continues to talk. Kenzi overhears the conversation and when Bo tells her that she loves her boots, Kenzi declares that Reynard is hiding in Bo. Before anyone can act, Kenzi is grabbed from behind by Reynard in Bo's body and is held hostage. Dyson tells Reynard that he will kill him if he hurts Kenzi and is told that if he kills Bo's body she will never return, and that if he does kill Kenzi that it would break Bo's heart.

In Limbo, Bo refuses to believe anything that the Nain Rouge has shown her. Bo tells her that she wants out of Limbo and is told that she has been pushed out of her body and that to return she must follow the light. The problem is that there are several sources of light around them and the Nain Rouge will not tell her the right way out. Bo then tells her that they are not finished and then plays a game of "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" to pick a way out of Limbo. The Nain Rouge comments that others call her childish, and after Bo leaves also comments that "this is going to get messy."

Back at the Dal, Woods and Bo are fighting each other. Woods eventually gets the upper hand and draws a knife to kill Bo's body, but then a mass of black smoke leaves Bo and enters Woods. It is then apparent that Bo is in Wood's body and he is in hers. In the next moment, more black shapes of smoke pass between all of the others that had drunk the beer earlier. It becomes apparent that they have all switched bodies and Trick makes the comment that he'll get the name tags.

Returning from commercial, Trick moves around the room putting "Hi! My name is..." name tags on each person as they reveal who they are. Bo is now Woods, Woods is Bo, Hale is Ciara, Kenzi is Dyson, Dyson is Kenzi, Ciara is Hale. However, Lauren declares that she is Dyson and suspicion falls back on Kenzi's body as being the one to have Reynard in it. The group then tries to question the two under suspicion by asking them questions, but that does not get very far. Hale then comments, in Ciara's body, that he wants to kiss Dyson's body and Trick comments that he must be feeling Ciara's most powerful emotion. Bo asks where Lauren would be and the answer seems to be in Limbo. When she mentions that the Nain Rouge was there, Trick is surprised and takes Bo aside to talk to her about it. Bo admits that she has seen her before and Trick is upset that she didn't mention it before. When he asks what she was told, Bo has a flashback to the vision she was given in Limbo, but doesn't explain it to Trick, only saying that it is complicated. Trick for the moment gives up and tells her that they will talk about it later.

At that moment Woods attacks Lauren's body and is then pulled away, but they realize that Bo's body needs to feed and when Woods hears this, he uses Bo's body to feed on Ciara's body until it falls to the floor. Bo tries to talk to Ciara in the aftermath and attempts to reassure her. Ciara tells her to look after Dyson when this is over, but Bo tries to explain that what they had is long gone. Ciara tells Bo that she had found a picture of her and Dyson together and it was clear that they were happy. Bo admits that they were that once. Bo then tells her that when she is back in her own body she can return the Chi that had been taken from her and revive her. Trick then enters and tells them that In all of the confusion, Lauren escapes thus making clear that Reynard was hiding inside of her body all of this time. bo and Trick then confront Woods about where Reynard could have gone and the answer is that being that he wants destruction and anarchy that would be his goal. Bo then puts it all together and explains that Lauren's deepest dark desire is to be rid of the Ash and therefore, Reynard is going to kill the Ash.

Back from commercial again, Dyson is trying to use a cell phone to get the message out, but it does not work. Bo tells Trick that she tried to drop the barrier, but instead set fire to one of Trick's rugs which doesn't go over well with him. Woods explains that his power is a specialized skill and Bo will not be able to drop the barrier. They then try to figure out how it was that Reynard got past the barrier and they discover that it only effects Fae, not humans. That means the only person left in the Dal that could possibly save the Ash would be Dyson who is in Kenzi's body.

Kenzi in the meanwhile is drinking like a fish and is amazed that she isn’t getting drunk as Dyson walks into the room. Ciara confronts Dyson and he tells her that he has to stop Reynard and no one else can do it. They share a kiss together, Kenzi commenting that it does not look right to her, Bo watching in silence before they part, Dyson giving the promise that Trick will figure out the way to return them all to normal. As Dyson walks to the exit, Kenzi rushes up and is overprotective of her body. Dyson promises to look after “every inch of your helpless human body.” As he leaves, Kenzi comments that the boots look good on her body.

At the Ash’s compound, Reynard in Lauren’s body, is gloating and thrilling over all of the drugs and deadly things that are in the lab around her. He talks about Lauren’s situation to himself and that what she really wants is to be free of the Ash once and for all. He then makes a phone call to request an audience with the Ash, then drops the phone and fills a syringe with a black liquid giggling and laughing has he does so.

Back at the Dal, Kenzi and Bo are talking and Kenzi talks about the willpower that Bo must have to control her hunger since Woods couldn’t manage to. Bo then asks Kenzi what it is like to be in Dyson’s body and she tells Bo very little about what she is feeling save that she feels like she has a strong foot fetish, but Bo tells her that it’s her own. In Trick’s lair, Woods removes a hairpin from Bo’s hair, picks the lock of the chains that are binding him and then waits to ambush Trick when he returns to check on him.

Dyson arrives at the Ash’s compound to find the guards unconscious on the floor and the Ash being held by Reynard, a syringe at the Ash’s neck. The Ash comments, “Little girl you are tardy.” The answer he gets in return is, “Actually I’m Dyson.”

Returning from commercial again, Dyson talks to Reynard and is told that he wants freedom, even at the cost of a war between the Light and the Dark Fae. He also says that he can sense something big is coming and he’s just hurrying along the process of destroying the Fae. Dyson tries to get closer, commenting that Kenzi seems to be a little near-sighted, but Reynard commands him to stop where he is. Dyson then asks about the renovations in the Ash’s chamber and the Ash comments that there was some modernization but some of the old parts still remain. After admiring the floor for a moment, Dyson taps a glowing part of the floor twice and then bolts of energy erupt from the wall behind the Ash and strike Lauren’s body, dropping Reynard to the floor unconscious.

Back at the Dal, everyone is quietly waiting to see if Dyson managed to stop Reynard. Bo teases Kenzi about possibly having to share Dyson’s body with him and Kenzi’s concern is how they share the bathroom. Woods then appears and tells Bo that he has locked Trick in his lair below. He intends to burn the Dal to the ground in order to hide what happened in the Dal and that Reynard escaped the Dark Fae. Bo and Kenzi attempt to stand up to him, but slowly lose the fight until Trick appears and tosses some dust into the face of Reynard rendering him unconscious. He then tells Bo that she might have a headache in the morning and as well tells them all that he has the answer to return them to their rightful bodies as Dyson arrives with Reynard in custody.

Trick draws a circle on the floor of the Dal and then chants a short spell. As soon as he completes it, the black smoky shadows appear again and move from person to person, returning each to their rightful place. When Bo is herself once more, she breathe Chi back into Ciara’s body and revives her as well. Ciara thanks Bo for saving her and then Woods takes Reynard away after inviting those that would be interested to attend Reynard’s execution.

The final scenes begin with Hale helping Lauren to walk. Bo asks what Limbo was like and her answer is that it was weird and her Aunt Edna gave Lauren her cheesecake recipe. When Lauren asks Hale where he was, his answer is that he doesn’t know but he feels well rested for the first time in a long time. Hale then leaves with Lauren to return her home.

Dyson then tells Bo that he is going to take Ciara home as well. Dyson thanks her, but Ciara embraces Bo and tells her quietly, Dyson takes this time to talk to Kenzi and tell her that, “You are weak, pathetic and you need glasses.” When Kenzi tells him that was mean, he continues and tells her that, “You very well may be the strongest person that I have ever met.” They hug for a moment and then Kenzi tells him that, “You felt very empty and missing something.” Dyson’s only answer is to touch a finger over Kenzi’s lips and then walk away to Ciara’s side, the two of them then leaving the Dal. Bo comments to Kenzi that seeing Dyson and Ciara together should make her jealous. Kenzi tells her that it shouldn’t.

Bo and Trick sharing a bottle of whisky together. Bo asks about what will happen to Woods and Trick tells her that he told Woods that as long as he stayed out of the Dal, Trick wouldn’t tell the Dark Fae about what he did. Trick also threatened to transform him into a dung beetle, but admits to Bo that he can’t but Woods doesn’t know that. Trick then tells Bo that she will eventually have to tell him what the Nain Rouge told her. Bo tells him that she was warned that something big was coming and it will be a bad thing. Trick admits that the Nain Rouge normally appears before a major disaster. As Trick pours more whisky, Bo also tells him that she was called Isabeau, which makes Trick pause for a moment with a look of surprise. They do not talk about what that means and just say that, in a general sense, that they will have to be aware and that everything will be fine.

The final scene of the episode is back at the Ash’s compound where he berates his security for what happened and demands they increase security as a result. After they leave, the Ash moves behind his desk, removes a key from around his neck, and carefully opens a lock box containing various items. After removing some, he opens a section in the bottom of it to reveal what appears to be his own severed head, the skin grey and lifeless. The last words of the episode are, “Give me strength.”

Questions in this Episode

• Do Gorgons in the Lost Girl universe have the power to turn others to stone?
• What is Hamistagan in the Lost Girl universe exactly?
• So is Bo's name Bo? Is it Isabeau? Or is it something else all together? What is the significance of this name?
• The vision that Bo receives is of her seemingly killing Trick. Is this a true vision or part of what will happen only? What aren't we shown?
• How much hidden protection is there for the Ash in his chamber?
• Is the Ash who he claims to be?
• Why does the Ash appear to have a severed head of himself hidden away?
• Trick tossed some sort of powder at Woods when he was in Bo's body. What was it?
• What does Trick really know about Bo? He reacted in surprise when Bo said the name Isabo to him.
• What is the fate of the Fae?
• What is causing Light and Dark Fae to attack each other?

Answers in this Episode

• Kenzi has either a shoe or foot fetish.
• Kenzi appears to be slightly near-sighted.
• The myth of the Gorgons is very well known. The most well known story is about Perseus and Medusa. You can find out more about this myth and this creature of legend here. In the Lost Girl universe, it is unclear if they have the power to turn others to stone, but they do have the power, through their blood and injecting it into others, to enter the bodies of other people and experience all of their thoughts and feelings. The Gorgon in this episode was a psychiatrist.
• The myth of Hamistagan tells of a neutral place or state for the departed souls of those whose good deeds and bad deeds were equal in life. Here these souls await Judgment Day. You can find out more about this story here.
• The vision that Bo receives from the Nain Rouge is of her destiny which is of her seemingly killing Trick.
• A Boraro is a south American legend of a supernatural being from the forests of Tukano. Their name means ‘The White Ones’. They have the shape of a man but tall, pale and with hairy chests. They have drooping elongated ears and long male genitalia. Their feet point backwards and they have no knees. They are cannibalistic and hunt humans with stones. Boraro in the Lost Girl universe have the power to create force barriers and are known as hunters.
• According to the Nain Rouge, Bo's real name is Isabeau.

Episodes

For a more detailed list see: List of Lost Girl episodes, or click on the individual episode titles for more in depth articles.

Season One Episodes

Episode 1: It's a Fae, Fae, Fae, Fae World
Episode 2: Where There's a Will, There's a Fae
Episode 3: Oh Kappa, My Kappa
Episode 4: Faetal Attraction
Episode 5: Dead Lucky
Episode 6: Food for Thought
Episode 7: ArachnoFaebia
Episode 8: Vexed
Episode 9: Fae Day
Episode 10: The Mourning After
Episode 11: Faetal Justice
Episode 12: (Dis)Members Only
Episode 13: Blood Lines

Season Two Episodes

Episode 1: Something Wicked This Fae Comes
Episode 2: I Fought the Fae (And the Fae Won)
Episode 3: Scream a Little Dream
Episode 4: Mirror, Mirror
Episode 5: BrotherFae of the Wolves
Episode 6: It's Better to Burn Out Than Fae Away
Episode 7: Fae Gone Wild
Episode 8: Death Didn't Become Him
Episode 9: Original Skin
Episode 10: Raging Fae
Episode 11: Can't See the Fae-Rest
Episode 12: Masks
Episode 13: Barometz. Trick. Pressure.
Episode 14: Midnight Lamp
Episode 15: Table for Fae
Episode 16: School's Out
Episode 17: The Girl Who Fae'd With Fire
Episode 18: Fae-nted Love
Episode 19: Truth and Consequences
Episode 20: Lachlan's Gambit
Episode 21: Into the Dark
Episode 22: Flesh and Blood

Episode Review on Succubus.Net

Tera, the owner of this website, posted a review of this episode on her Blog, A Succubi's Tale on Friday, November 25th, 2011. You can find that review here. She gave it 2.9 pitchforks out of 5.

External Links

• The Official site of the series Lost Girl
• Official Season Two website at Showcase.ca
• Original Skin at the IMDb