Acting on a tip from a teenage boy, Cade goes to investigate a happy, friendly neighbourhood where a sexy young woman is managing to seduce all the men and get them to kill their wives.
This could be one of the Gwa's most insidious plans yet. Apparently, instead of using weapons of mass destruction, all they need are attractive women to seduce people. Well, if you've got to go, at least go with a smile on your face.
This is actually a well thought-out and realized episode, in which an outwardly happy neighbourhood turns out to be harbouring something altogether more unsavoury. Even the cheery postman seems to have another agenda, and this enables Cul-de-Sac to give the viewer a sense of unease, bringing the alien threat a little closer to home.
Glossing over the fact that a teenage boy uncovers an alien plot mainly because he's been staring at a gorgeous blonde taking her clothes off, this is a neat idea. The concept of a pheromone perfume that makes people do whatever you tell them is effective, and Cade's discovery of what one man is willing to do is particularly gruesome.
There's also some mileage in young Nick Patterson, apparently the first convert to Cade's cause. Now if only he could get together all the people he's met who know what he's up against to form some kind of anti-alien group, and eventually they could be a strong force. He's a very natural kid acting-wise, and although some of the technical jargon he's given sounds a little unlikely, he's still likeable. In Brandy Ledford, the producers have also found a stunning woman who also exudes an air of unpleasantness which contributes well to the general feel of the story.
Finally, there's a nice scene at the end when Mrs Gimmel gives her side of events... and she's absolutely right.
****
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