Season Two Episode Reviews

2X14    How the Other Half Lives  
Plot: The alien gems threaten exposure if not destroyed and go after Laurie as well.

Finally, the plots go somewhere!  Though it's still nothing spectacular at least the whole Laurie/Gandarium thing has been resolved, though it all came off very lackluster.  Very disappointing that the bad guys were some alien crystals and not any actual aliens.  That said, unlike the last few episodes there were some really enjoyable moments.  Michael and Maria living in luxury was an absolute laugh riot, one of the funniest things they've ever done.  Grant being revealed to be semi-possessed and scared about it was great, I really emphasized with the character.  Alex and Kyle being faced with death and examining their lives was really interesting and funny.  Nice to see Larek helping again.  Michael getting shot was pretty shocking.  The ending seemed TOO easy though, everything fell into place too easily.

2X13    Disturbing Behavior 
Plot: Michael investigates his past with Laurie and Maria; the gang investigates the alien gem.

Another episode where nothing really happens, though there's some interesting stuff.  The Michael past / Laurie thing is really dragging on especially with this rich uncle thing, though I'm sure it will go somewhere eventually.  Maria's Mom was sadely the most interesting thing about the episode, very funny.  The revelation that the Roswell crash has infected Earth with something was pretty shocking, though I must wonder where they're going with this, whether it will amount to anything.  Lots of little subplots going on, most of which drag.  Looks like Sorenson is being remote-controlled by an alien now, which is interesting.  Nice to see Larak/Brody again.  Why is Sean still there!

2X12    We Are Family 
Plot: The kidnapped girl leads Valenti into further trouble.

I'm starting to see a worrying regression to Season One style stories here; things are getting much too mundane and relationshippy again.  Valenti loosing his job was very cool, and a very natural result of previous actions; I'm surprised they had the guts to do this.  I particularly like how Valenti is part of the family now, and how Kyle sees Tess as part of his family.  The mystery of Laurie wasn't very interesting, though that last scene revealing Michael in 1935 was certainly one hell of a shocker!  My theory: the Royal Four's human forms were copied off pre-existing humans back then so it's just a coincidence.  I'm also curious as hell why there was an alien gem buried with her.  Alex returning was interesting (though I barely noticed he was gone!).  All this Liz-Sean stuff is extremely annoying.

2X11    To Serve and Protect 
Plot: Isabel has psychic flashes of a girl kidnapped and buried alive; Valenti is under investigation.

Nothing really happens, but it's interesting enough.  Isabel getting flashes of this girl is certainly an intriguing mystery, though it seems awfully mundane compared to the first half of the season (though I'm sure this girl is alien-related).  Isabel randomly hopping through people's dreams is a very disturbing action, but the dream sequences with Liz and Kyle were absolutely hilarious, particularly Buddha.  They were shot in an extremely interesting way.  This police investigator Dan is obviously alien-related, hell he probably set up the kidnapped girl to make Max and/or Isabel reveal their powers.  I like seeing Valenti face the consequences of his dubious actions and get in serious trouble over helping Max and Isabel.  This Sean character was highly annoying and I don't look forward to seeing anymore of that plot thread.  I don't know why they keep bringing this Grant person back unless there is something up with him or not... this series has basically become a guessing game: new characters come into town and we must guess how they know about the aliens.  Looks like once again the authorities are going to get alien evidence; I like that this is a serious problem but I fear it being too repetitive of past episodes.

2X10    A Roswell Christmas Carol 
Plot: As Christmas approaches Max is haunted by a ghost to use his healing gifts.

Manages to be moving without getting sappy.  Max using his power to save the lives of dying children was very touching, but I'm glad they firmly established this as something he can't just casually do else you have to wonder why he doesn't do it constantly.  I also greatly appreciate that his powers were gone for several days after that expenditure.  Brody having a dying kid was just stupid, what a grand lazy coincidence.  Isabel becoming a 'Christmas Nazi' was a hoot, it's nice to get her doing something different.  Michael getting a present for Maria was funny too.  But the great gem was the Tess-Valenti-Kyle interaction, that was just absolutely hilarious plus it had a lot of bonding between them.  This is the most human Valenti has ever appeared!  Also love that ending where Liz is talking about miracles and whatnot and Max reveals he's an atheist, I love that.

2X9    Max in the City  (part 2 of 2) 
Plot:  Max attends a summit of the Five Worlds; punk Michael and punk Isabel plot betrayal.

Definitely the best yet this season.  Things happen, major facts are revealed, plus there's some great city shooting.  I particularly loved the whole summit where we learn that Kivar is still in charge but loosing power from the other four planets fighting, that Max tried to introduce reform too quickly and created civil war, and that the Granlith is the holy grail of their people.  Wow!  I think its brilliant that Max was wrong and now he's naively making the still mistakes because he doesn't know.  The scene where the emissary confirms Max as the king was beautiful, especially with the music playing, the map, and the look on Max's face.  Fortunately there's a lot less of the Punk Royals this time around, the twist that they're working with Nicolas was cool, but I'm surprised their still alive at episode's end (hopefully they won't return!).  Nicolas is much less annoying this time, Brody was interesting as an emissary and former friend of Max.  Max and Tess had some very touching scenes together, for the first time I can really see them together (Ron Moore seems to be the one to make Tess the most developed and real).  Interesting that Liz might have alien powers too.  There was a great use of music over important scenes throughout the episode.  That ending with Tess leaves me suspicious about what really happened.  Nice to see Max and Isabel making up and being nice again.

2X8    Meet the Dupes  (part 1 of 2) 
Plot: The other Royal Four, New York punks, visit Roswell to bring Max back with them.

I'm not sure whether this one was good or not, but my initial impression of these NYC punk Royals was not good at all.  I'd have to say the entire concept is comically ridiculous and embarrassingly overdone; the only good thing about it is the parody of how white the normal characters are... which is kind of ironic for them to be knocking down their own characters.  I'm certainly interested about this interstellar peace summit but nothing happened for it here.  Brody hitting on Maria was uninteresting, and Liz wanting to be friends with Max again is just ridiculous.  I did enjoy the faux Max-Isabel confrontation very much, and was interested to see Max taking Tess with him to NYC.  I loved the final plot twist that Punk-Michael murdered Punk-Max, but overall I would have to call this a bad ep.

2X7    Wipe Out 
Plot: The Skins come to Roswell and abduct the entire town population to hunt the gang.

Great episode!  Very major story wise.  I'm delighted the show is willing to take logical risks; the Skins come to Roswell en masse!  Removing the town population was very cool and made for a very creepy paranoid atmosphere.  Lots of suspense and action!  Course we could have used some more action but oh well.  Nicolas was even worse a villain here than he was last episode, it's just comical how this little kid who argues with his 'mommy' is the big bad Skins leader.  I'm glad they killed Courtney and I was surprised she killed herself just to hide the Granilith.  What's up with Valenti getting all sappy with Kyle?  Was it just because of the disappearing thing or what?  I'm glad Isabel fessed up to Max and tried to fix the situation on her own but screwed up.  I think Tess accessing some new power to kill all the Skins was a tad anti-climactic though that confusing ending seems to suggest they might have survived.

2X6    The Harvest 
Plot: The gang investigates a gathering of the Skins; Courtney reveals a secret.

Interesting suspenseful ep that really moves the story line forward.  I liked that the gang traveled to a different local to investigate the Skins, and the prospect of being in a town populated by Skins was pretty freaky.  I was totally blown away by the revelation that Courtney is a Rebel Skin, this show never fails to surprise me every episode!  I can't wait to see what happens next in this story.  We learn a lot about the nature of the Skins, and Courtney apparently majorly screws over their lifelines.  Plus the Skins learn the identities of Max and Tess so they'll probably be headed for Roswell en masse soon.  Wow!  I was also interested to learn the Skins and the Royals lived on the same planet, I assume the Skins were just alien conquerors.  Interesting political dimension!  I was surprised that Isabel lied to the gang about what she learned about herself again.  This is the first ep of the season to really move and reveal a bunch of things.

2X5    The End of the World 
Plot: Max comes from the future to recruit Liz to end their relationship; Michael investigates Courtney.

The first time I watched this I hated it, but after a second less cynical viewing it really does shine as a romantic tragedy.  Sure the Future Max with his 80s biker look is a little silly, but Liz's dilemma of making Max not love her is very painful and touching.   Most especially when Max signs the mariachi band, Liz's speech to Max, and Max catching Liz and Kyle in bed.  Once again, stellar acting.  Liz and Kyle's brief conversation about being resurrected was extremely interesting- are they really going to put these two together again?  Liz's final dance with Future Max, inter cut with Tess comforting Max, was very sweet and sad.  In other episodes Liz annoys me, but here she shines- but I wonder what her function in the series will be if she isn't with Max...  The Michael subplot works well.  I like Maria openly confronting him and Alex decking him.  Michael discovering Courtney is a Skin was a shocking plot twist, can't wait to see what happens next.  Hopefully the series won't always be this relationshippy but the occasional one like this can be good.  The time travel angle was a bit cheesy as well unfortunately, though I'm glad to hear that Earth will eventually be invaded by alien forces.

2X4    Summer of '47 
Plot: Michael learns the story of the 1947 alien crash from a military officer.

A great period piece episode but not much else.  While it was very novel to see our characters in different 1947 personas, nothing really happened except for the end.  I was expecting a lot more direct dealing with the crash and the aliens, but most of the episode was basically about Michael/Carver trying to get laid.  That said, the ending where Carver runs into Nasedo and his companion was very cool, and the revelation there are 4 other Hybrids out there totally blew me away.  I really liked the interaction between Michael and Carver, and it looks like Michael will be deeply affected by this episode particularly with Maria.  Seeing Isabel as a brunette was very strange.

2X3    Surprise 
Plot: Isabel recieves visions of Tess in danger during her surprize birthday party.

Slightly better than the last two episodes thanks to the shocking and emotional ending.  It's very cool to get an Isabel episode especially since it's basically about one frantic night.  The surprise birthday party was absolutely hilarious (particularly Alex's striptease!) but it was just plain creepy having Whittaker there.  I really liked Max settling into his leader role and Maria chewing out Courtney when she puts the move on Michael.  Also liked Max and Valenti teaming up and Valenti almost getting caught breaking the law- this is going to be a serious problem for him if he's gonna help the gang!  The plot twist of Whittaker being the Skin was surprising- even though I suspected she was a Skin everything in the episode led us to believe it would be Courtney, very clever twist.  That final act was spectacular.  We get some more info on the Skins and their purpose.  We learn the shocking truth (or is it true?) that Isabel betrayed her people to the Skins- WOW!  This is just amazing, I wonder if it was a lie or Isabel is fated to betray her family- suddenly her character has a purpose!  I also love her final monologue to her absent mother in the Pod Chamber, it was just stellar acting, plus the final revelation of the Granilith (whatever that is) being there.  Wow!

2X2    Ask Not 
Plot: A new owner buys the UFO Museum; the gang tracks Nasedo's killer.

Slightly better than part one, it lacks any action but has some interesting interim scenes.  I loved the teaser where the gang dancing at the Crashdown is intercut with Max desperately running through the city.  I'm pissed they killed Nasedo but in the long run it makes sense to ratchet up the tension, though I will miss the character terribly.  The big mislead with the new owner Brody was extremely disappointing, though I'm not curious if they'll start an alien abduction angle.  Cool to see the guy from GO though.  I really liked the symbolic stuff with JFK and the missile crisis, and it was great to see DS9's Martok of course.  The Tess-Kyle subplot was an absolute hoot, they play off each other really well.  Sure they practically reinvented these two but it works much better now.  Kyle the sardonic Buddhist, Tess lacking all human inhibitions.  Nice to see that Whittaker was evil after all, though the scene where she gets Liz to admit she hates Tess was funny.  I knew that this Courtney was going to be the Skin from the start!  Hah!  This show needs to pick up on the action like it did at the end of last year.

2X1    Skin and Bones
Plot:  The gang, Valenti, and Nasedo work to cover-up Pierce's murder when his bones are found.

While it suffers in being an exposition heavy introductory episode, it does manage to tell a decent story with promise of great stuff in the future.  The opening Max exposition was extremely annoying- just put in a clip show for god's sake!  It was great that they dealt realistically with the consequences of murdering Pierce, and I also appreciated the FBI Special Unit not disappearing but rather slowly be eroded away by Nasedo, and not too successfully I might add.  This Senator Whittaker was a little silly though, the idea that a Senator would be so personally involved in an investigation; I'm quite positive she's a Skin (it even seemed like she saw through Tess' illusion).  Great to see Valenti try to cover for the kids but get screwed over by his over-active deputy (who also screams Skin to me and seemed to be in cahoots with Whittaker).  Obviously Whittaker hired Liz to find out more about Max and company.  It was great to see a lot more Nasedo, acting his old cruel but funny self rather than in "Destiny", I particularly loved him "diddling" Whittaker all summer.  The final 'action' ending seemed pretty silly to me, I'm no expert but I think Max would have been exposed to some very dangerous radiation in that accelerator.  I also despised the fact that they took thirty seconds to explain what carbon dating is- how stupid do they think we are?!  The final twist of the Skins killing Nasedo was great (too bad every commercial showed it), very dramatic, but I assume they can just resurrect Nasedo again?  Can't wait to find out more about the Skins!  Anyway on to the characters; many of them got the shaft screen wise, particularly Tess and Maria.  I'm glad that Tess is a regular though, and I liked seeing Michael honing his powers for combat.  I'm very concerned that the only times Isabel was used was to seduce/distract men, hopefully this is just a fluke.  Still don't get why Liz is avoiding Max or why Michael is avoiding Maria (who got really long hair over the break by the way).  This new Crashdown waitress Courtney who seems to like Michael- she screamed Skin too.  Hell, anytime a new character appears they're either alien or FBI!  It's been said that Ron Moore will be taking this show in a new direction, but it's not very obvious from this episode, which I'm hoping is a transition between the old and the new and not the new.