'Even Cowgirls Get the Black and Blues' 

'iZombie' recap: 'Real Dead Housewife of Seattle'

'iZombie' sneak peek: Is Gilda aiming to take Major to bed?

Let’s talk about sex, baby; let’s talk about

. Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Also, let’s talk about relationships — but mostly sex, since “Even Cowgirls Get the Black and Blues” seems to be more about a group of horny teens than the evolved grownups who began to hit their stride last week. Ravi and Stephanie. Peyton and Blaine. Clive and the new FBI chick. And — Major and Liv! Did not see that one coming. The connections in this episode crackle with such energy that you’d think the whole lot of them were shotgunning Max Rager in between takes. This new philosophy is a marked change from the prevailing notion that we’re just, well, zombies that lumber around aimlessly, periodically bumping into each other, only to float in another direction. Living, it seems, is more about connecting with other people.

has done a great job developing the outsider narrative — how lonely it can be and how incredibly frustrating; how when you find kindred spirits, you want so badly to pick their brains (almost as badly as you crave everyone else’s brains); and how quickly folks of your ilk can repulse you when

don’t like yourself. But now that everyone close to her knows that Liv is a zombie, is she still an outsider? They all know her secret and accept it. With her family abandoning her, Liv has finally found a clan where she can be open and honest.

We get some real insight into Liv’s brain — yes, she maintains as she’s baring her soul to Major,

brain — when she tells her ex-fiancé how all she has done since turning into a zombie is trying to protect him. (Notice that dig about how

made her go to the party and she woke up snacking on someone’s skull.) But the helplessness of being turned into a zombie and Liv’s revelation that she kept it a secret to make life easier for Major were nothing compared to when Major iced her out and showed her the door..

Only Peyton responds with the appropriate empathy when she tells Liv she doesn’t know if she was more upset to find out Liv was a zombie or that Liv was hiding something from her.  “To be fair, you had just seen me stab someone in the head,” deflects Liv. But ultimately Peyton is the first of Liv’s inner circle to articulate how horrible and lonely the past year must have been for her. (Which would explain why her BFF is so quick to be all, So you’re a zombie and I have questions, but let’s veg out on the couch while I go full jealous sorority girl on your new roomie.)

The first few episodes of season 2 seem to be unfolding almost in real time. Liv references the cake that Peyton left her last night. Major wakes up in Gilda’s bed. (Yuck.) This pacing is important. We’re not glossing over anything chronological, but it’s also emblematic of the fact that we’re not glossing over anything period. Now is the time for everyone to come clean about who they are and how they feel.

Maya Angelou project sets up Kickstarter to finish documentary

Lena Dunham praises Jennifer Lawrence for wage gap essay

Rooney Mara was terrified to work with Cate Blanchett for \'Carol\'

\'Scream Queens\' star Keke Palmer releases moody new song

Carrie Brownstein performs joke song \'Somber Grrrl\' on \'Colbert\'

Stephen Colbert smokes a bacon-stuffed pipe to prove a point

20 Celebs Who Starred in Horror Movies Before They Made it Big

EW Fest Photos: Inside look at panels, screenings & more!