Cade, Eddie, Joshua and Jordan are locked in an asylum. However, it's all a creation of Mabus while he prepares to launch the second wave. Can the allies escape and stop it in time?

The final episode of First Wave and, amazingly, it does actually conclude. Should Chris Brancato have received the go-ahead for a fourth year he would presumably have launched the second wave, but he's kind enough not to force us viewers into waiting for the conclusion we'll never get. But is it a worthy finale? Well, yes, to a point.

The whole asylum plotline, while quite strong, seems like a way of filling time while the main plot moves along very slowly which is a shame, but Cade's efforts to break his colleagues of their conditioning are certainly exciting as you work with him in trying to shake them out of it. Of course, it all begs the question why Mabus doesn't bother to kill all of the people who could stop him; there's a reason given, but it's not very convincing.

The effects are great, especially the pan up to show the entire second wave ready for download, and the final battle has its surprises, particularly when Cade shoots his comrades in order to take Mabus on directly knowing he can bring them back using the hammer. Presumably this is the special power Cade can call on as explained two episodes ago, otherwise it seems a decidedly odd thing to do.

With each of the main cast having a strong presence, it's a great finale for all-in warfare, four against the Gua forces, and the ending is suitably conclusive. It does a little convey the impression that some of the story elements would have been continued into season four and some are wrapped up suddenly (the fate of Cade and Jordan's baby, for one), but it's still a satisfying conclusion and finishes on an upbeat note of the battle for our planet being over... or is it?

****

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