My thoughts on Four Aliens and a Baby

It would seem this is the perfect opportunity to show my contradictory personality. I'm a walking contradiction, folks, I admit it.

I was looking forward to this episode as much as I was dreading it. I knew without a doubt that things would never be the same after this. No more hiding behind "there's no alien baby" once they resolved it on screen. Not to mention that watching this episode brought us all one episode closer to THE END. And I never liked THE END. Sigh.

I wanted the baby to be a mindwarp. I don't think it comes as a surprise to anyone who's been keeping up with these little ramblings of mine (yeah, all two of you ;) ). But it's not my story. If I want a different story, I'll write a different story. In a way, I'm glad the writers followed their original plan and didn't let fans tell them what to write. I will applaud them once I'm over the fact that Junior Mint really was Max's baby. (I never liked calling the baby Spot. They used Junior Mint on the Funniest Screencaps Thread and I find it appropriately cute and insulting).

But let's start at the beginning, shall we? I should post my regular warning about the excessive drool over Jason. Because anyone who can make brushing his teeth sexy deserves excessive amounts of drool. But I admit, I'm already slightly biased when it comes to his sexiness ;)

I loved the scene between Michael and Max. Michael staring at that thing (whatever it was) waiting for *something* to happen was fun and I love how Max made fun of him. His expression kinda reminded me of when he said "no rock stands a chance against Michael Guerin". Max mentioned that whoever was in the ship probably died in the Crash. Yeah. Don't we all wish.

I know it was Tess who did the whole killing thing, but for one moment it did look like it could have been Junior Mint. Then he really would have been his mother's son, eh?

Coming back from first commercial break I was greeted by a sight so unusual it took my brain a few seconds to fully comprehend what was going on. Surely that couldn't be Max and Liz making out on Liz's bed! Was I reading fanfic? ;) And what was that sound? I realized that the gleeful and delighted giggles I was hearing were coming from me, and no doubt thousands of Dreamers around the world. This scene is now ahead of "I need more convincing" as my favourite Season 3 Dreamer scene. Happy Dreamer Sigh. Giggle. And one more sigh. Oh, let me bask in the glow of renewed Dreamer love, it's been WAY too long!!!!!

So Max and Liz were well on their way to add a little cement to their relationship and I was clapping and giggling on the couch. Then Max's cell phone rang and Liz fished it out of his pocket. We got a glimpse of the best expression ever on Max's face, too bad his arm was in the way!!! More giggles from me, more kisses from them and then... mom-interruptus. Can't these kids catch a break? We'll have to wait for the very last minute of the very last episode, won't we? Sigh.

"Ignore it, ok?" I think at this point he would have ignored a spaceship crashing on Liz's balcony. And I loved, loved, loved how distracted he was while he was on the phone with his mom. More giggle.

Using the old "We're studying... biology" excuse, huh? Giggle.

Apparently, I haven't stopped giggling yet. I think this scene will make me giggle for a long time.

Moving on... :)

So Jesse is sick of pretending. Well, I'm sick of Jesse being sick of pretending. Leave, for all I care.

I loved the Government official calling Tess a "thing". Very good description. As you may have guessed, in this case her absence didn't make my heart grow fonder.

Isabel didn't say the same thing in last week's episode as what they showed on the tape ;) I loved Max's reaction to the tape. I loved Isabel's even more. Breathe, girl. It'll be okay.

Max, meet your son. I guess it had to happen.

I would have bet money that Tess was going to name the baby Zan. One of the things I was most looking forward to in this episode was Max confronting Tess (and Liz, Michael and especially Kyle confronting Tess). I was rubbing my hands in anticipation of the first big confrontation and I was not disappointed. "Making you feel better is not one of my priorities". Go Max! The "baby will die in this atmosphere" was a mindwarp. I SOOOO called it last season!!!! I knew it, I knew it!!! (Please allow me a moment to pat myself on the back – I know it's not like I've discovered something really important, but it did make me very happy, so I think I'm allowed a short moment to gloat).

"You kill me, you kill Zan." Even then I knew she was *so* lying. Too convenient, as Liz said. But Tess knows Max too well. She was right; he would not take that chance. Must be hard to be the leader when your enemies know your greatest weaknesses so well. And besides, killing Tess now would deprive us of all the future great confrontations. And moreover, Max is not a killer.

So Khivar betrayed her? He he he. I don't feel sorry for her, not one bit. I won't go as far as saying "Go Khivar", but I don't feel bad. Did she really come back to Earth to save her son? Would that imply that she has a soul, contrary to what Kyle said? They're saying that Tess is not all evil, aren't they? Pffft. I'll have to think about that some more.

"You did care about me. That wasn't a mindwarp." Crap. Put a knife through my heart, why don't you. She's lying, right? She's lying to hurt Max and my little dreamer heart, right? Hell, she lied about everything else, she could be lying about this too!

But to demonstrate my contradictory nature, I'm also just as willing to believe her as I am willing to call her a liar. So it was not a mindwarp. Sigh. But it was most definitely a manipulation of Max's feelings. He never really cared about her.She admitted as much to Liz at the end.

Hey, I'm a Dreamer to the core. Can't help it.

I loved Jim's reaction when he saw Tess's picture. It was understated because the army guy was there, but you could totally see the hurt in his eyes, and then he tried to cover it with one of his patented "Jim Valenti is a terrible liar" denial. My heart went out to him.

Speaking of Jim, I think William Sadler did a wonderful job directing this episode. I'm looking forward to more from Director Bill.

Kyle, as usual, had most of the best lines. "My brain is exploding". *lol* And Jesse telling him it was a bad time and that he'd call him back. God, what an idiot. New to the alien crises, are ya?

Isabel's fear that her parents might turn them in was totally justified. I thought Philip's 180-degree change was a bit quick.

Diane seemed to have a harder time dealing with it than he did. But there's only so much they can do in 44 minutes. I guess I'm on speaking terms with Philip Evans again.

I loved Michael's reaction when he saw Tess. GO MICHAEL!! "Whatever she told you, she's lying". You know, Michael, you're really not that bad when you're not trying to be king.

"Hey, don't start," Max said to Tess. Great. Now he has 3 kids to take care of. ;)

And now, for my ultimate favourite line in this episode, and quite possibly EVER: "Get up, bitch". You GO Liz!!!! I swear (and I won't admit it to too many people) I actually got up and did a little dance of joy in my living room during the commercial break. And then Michael said "welcome back" in typical Michael fashion. *lol*

I so wanted Liz to kick Tess's ass. But the promise that Tess would pay for what she did was enough for me at that point. Besides, she had yet to see Kyle.

And I wasn't disappointed there, either. "Oh, you have a side?" Go Kyle!! I could hug you right now. It's hard to put how much Tess hurt people on a scale, but Kyle has got to be right near the top. I'm glad he didn't buy her "but I'm a victim too" crap. Oh, what the heck. Hugs for Kyle.

I liked when he told her she was the only alien who had no soul. He's kinda telling her "I even like Max more than I like you" and that's saying a lot *lol*

Is it really safe to discuss your daughter's alien heritage when the Air Force is going through your house looking for said alien? I'm just asking.

And Jesse. Geez. "She's still Isabel, she's still the woman I fell in love with." Since when? Or did we finally get through to you? About time you realize that. I think Jesse is someone I won't miss after next week.

Uh-oh. The army has the Isabel tape. Damn.

Typical Michael behaviour of the good kind: To Tess: "You're not the one calling the shots here", quietly to Max: "but she's right Maxwell, we have to get out of here." *lol* How much did I love that? You go, Michael, show Tess who's fearless leader!!! *lol*

Okay, Tess mindwarped Alex for, like, 4 months and we're supposed to believe she can't hold a 3-minute mind-warp on a couple of Army guys? I don't care that the baby was crying, I think she *wanted* them to get caught.

As much as I hate the idea that Max is Zan's dad, that scene with them in the bedroom was just too cute for words. Sigh.

Oh, surprise, Tess lied about being linked to Zan. I love how Jason delivered the "at all?" line, such anger, but restrained in true Max fashion. Go Jason!!

I should be more specific what I wish for. My wish was "please let there be no alien baby". There is no alien baby. Zan is 100% human. Oh well. Next time, I'll rephrase it: "Please let the whole mess with Tess be a mindwarp". That should cover everything. ;)

Zan really was in danger of being killed on Antar. How was he sending Max the visions if he has no alien side at all?

For the record, I was totally with Maria, Michael and Isabel in giving the Air Force the alien they were looking for. Max didn't want her to end up in the white room. Usually when people say "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy", it's a figure of speech. He literally means it, doesn't he? Max, you have a good soul. You may even be too good for your own good. But that's why I love ya.

I was pretty sure Kyle would vote yes, with his talk of a plan B and all. But I guess he thought that sending someone to their death was bad karma. :)

"I never met Tess, I never met Alex, I shouldn't get to vote. Maybe I shouldn't even be in this room. Heck, I think I shouldn't be in this episode at all. I should have run away a long time ago when I started suspecting that my wife was an alien. I'm moving to Miami-Dade next season anyway, so I *really* shouldn't get to vote." What? That's not what Jesse said?

Obviously, the deciding vote had to be Liz's. It's a writer's trick older than paper itself. I was pretty sure she'd side with Max. Not because she follows Max blindly, but because, like she said, she's not a killer and I think she had confidence that Max would find a way to make Tess pay eventually.

It surprised Tess though, which is a clear indication that she really doesn't know Liz at all. "I need a favour". Gosh, the sheer NERVE of this woman!!!!

I was hoping that Tess would admit to Liz that she had mindwarped Max into sleeping with her. Yeah. Slightly delusional dreamer, me.

I guess she apologized, in a way, when she said that Max loved Liz, and that every time they kissed, she saw Max's flashes of Liz. I guess in Tess's mind it was supposed to make Liz feel better, but instead of focusing on the "he was thinking about you" part, I only heard "every time we made out". But that's just me. Anyway, it was an indication that Tess knew Max never really cared about her, no matter what she told him earlier. It's my delusion, and I'm sticking to it.

Are we supposed to feel sorry for Tess that she turned herself in and blew up the military base so she wouldn't be held in the white room? Are we supposed to have some new respect for her because she did a noble thing, saved her son and possibly the others by turning herself in? It's not working with me. Sorry. I don't feel sorry for her. Not one tiny little bit. Three of her closest "friends" wanted her dead (that's, like, half of her social circle!), the entire US Air Force is looking for her, and if she ever goes back to her planet, Khivar will have her killed. "Look at me, I'm doing the noble thing." More like killing yourself before anyone else has a chance to.

And may I say the only reason I believe that she really is dead is because the show is cancelled. We haven't seen a body. "Roswell: The movie. The Return of Tess". Groan.

"Your son is safe here," Mr. Evans said. Yep. You still have a lot to learn, Phil. Welcome to the alien abyss.

I wanted the baby to disappear. Like "he never existed" disappear. But now that he's there, I feel so bad that Max has to give him up. How's that for a contradiction? I don't want the baby to be Max's, but I don't want Max to have to give him up if it's hurting him so much.

Parents will do anything for their children. They want to give them what they most wanted but never could have. In Max's case, it's to live a normal human life. He's willing to not know his son, and have his son not know him, and even that great sacrifice is only a small price to pay for knowing that his son will never have to hide like he did. But it's breaking his heart. And mine. I'm gonna cry if I don't watch it.

I love when Max said "Didn't I tell you, aliens don't need sleep." Giggle. It reminded me of "I prefer the term not-of-this-earth". Max would have such a wicked sense of humour if he let himself. (And I totally want Jason Behr's next role to be one that includes that expression a lot - like, all the time :) )

He gave his son "a memory". Sigh. "Roswell: the next generation. Zan follows a memory of his father".

It was so sad when Liz hugged him at the end. Oh what the hell, I'm bawling my eyes out.

"I'll always be here," Liz said. It was understood from the start, but I don't think she ever said it out loud. And I think Max needed to hear it.

They gave Zan a little spaceship rattle. Cute.

Next week's promo. I didn't really see it. The words "Roswell's final episode" hit me really, really hard. I don't think anyone should be anywhere near my apartment next week. I'm going to be such a mess.

Anyway. I'm going to be MIA for a few days. I'm going to the Roswell Philly party. Kinda saying goodbye to my show with a bang.

That's it for now,

Valerie