Episode 22: GATHERING STORM

Crow Rating: 4 Crows

Written By: Gregg Fienberg

Directed By: Brenton Spencer

Originally aired on WGN: 5/16/99

Music in this episode from: Joy drop.

Story Line
The leader of the Lazarus Group plans to subvert the Crow into his henchman and destroy Eric Draven. Shelly briefly becomes human to save him but is unable to prevent Draven and the evil Crow from a battle to the death.

Frederick Balsam (Mavor Moore), the ailing leader of the mysterious Lazarus Group has successfully transferred his soul into the body of his former personal trainer James Horton (Michael Weatherly). Now young, virile and still pure evil, he has destroyed the body jump technology and is systematically eliminating anyone who knows about it. Part of his master plan is to turn the Crow into his one-man private army and destroy Draven. Meanwhile, Det. Albrecht is assigned to find out who vandalised Draven's grave, covering it in blood. In the cemetery he is approached by an extremely nervous Judge Morrison (Jerry Wasserman). A former member of the Lazarus Group, he did all their judicial dirty work. He now demands police protection in exchange for information about the secret society. Draven's grave is disturbed a second time as the Crow emerges. Balsam/Horton has split him and Draven apart to become two beings. One is malevolent and vengeful, the other good. The Crow kills Funboy (Ty Olsson) in jail, then kidnaps Morrison, severely beating Albrecht in the process. In the Land of the Dead, Shelly again meets Casey Thompson (Jared Zabel). He offers her the chance to save Eric; however, there is a catch. She can reincarnate briefly, but then will no longer be able to resist moving on to the Light. When the jealous Crow kidnaps her, Draven rushes to the rescue. He is no longer invincible and she can only watch as they battle to the death.

Personal Thoughts
Again this episode, like the earlier one that dealt with the Lazarus group, has a lot more sci-fi elements to it. We are left wondering what will become of Draven and Shelly. A perfect way to end a season and to prime viewers to watch for a second one.