Alphas Episode 1.05: Never Let Me Go
This week brings with it another character-centric episode that focuses on Rachel. Two episodes ago, when the team was inhibited by the Alpha that made people aggressive and violent, Rachel had it out with her mom and ended up moving in with Nina. She hasn’t spoken to her parents since. They see her ability as an illness and are convinced that she will never marry because no potential suitor would want to deal with her “illness”.
This week starts off with two teenagers who begin to get a little randy at the football stadium of their high school in Fenton, PA. Their interlude is interrupted however when the guidance counselor, Mr. Howard shows up looking like something akin to a zombie and dies right there on the spot.
Back in Alpha-ville, Rachel heads back to Nina’s apartment with her date in tow. After discussing how she can taste every ingredient in any dish, her date makes a move and kisses her. Things start to get heated just when Rachel’s senses begin to overload. She sends her date away because it’s too much for her to deal with. Poor Rachel….what a downer that must be.
At the office the next day, Nina tries to get her to talk about it but she refuses. Dr. Rosen tries as well, but no luck there either. The team gets a present however, compliments of the government. They are each issued their very own official badges that will help cut through the red tape at crime scenes. The badges came just in the nick of time since Agent Sullivan has called on the team to report to Fenton to investigate an unexplained death.
Rosen and Rachel arrive in Fenton and Rachel can immediately smell the fear coming off of the locals. After talking to the CDC and the local sheriff, they learn that the original report of three deaths may have actually been four. Two which had the same characteristics as Mr. Howard, and one that was the result of a car crash. It’s this death that Rosen wants to investigate. The victim was a teenage boy named Chris, so Rosen and Rachel pay a visit to the boy’s mother to ask for permission to exhume Chris’ body. She tells them how Chris was bullied in school and how he idolized the football players and just wanted to be one of them, but never was. She complained to the coach, the police and the school to no success. It’s after this conversation that Rosen begins to see a pattern.
Rosen and Rachel head back to the police station only to find that the sheriff is the next victim. Rosen calls in the rest of the team and once they arrive he brings them all up to speed. Suspicions are focused on the football coach, as well as one of the football players. The team heads to the high school, where after catching suspected student David Burton, he immediately begins to show signs of being infected. After rushing him to the hospital, Rosen realizes that the ailment is actually withdrawal. But from what?
Bill and Hicks are sent to investigate the car crash that killed Chris and their conclusion is surprising. It wasn’t an accident at all, it was actually suicide. With this new information along with what he’s learned from the hospital, Rosen is able to discern that Chris’ mother, Ms. Elkhart, is actually the cause of these deaths and she’s picking off those responsible for Chris’ suicide.
While Rosen is at the hospital, Rachel heads back to Ms. Elkhart’s house and the two talk about Rachel’s parents and the trouble she’s having with them. Rachel is drawn to the woman and soon breaks down. Ms. Elkhart uses her mojo and begins to comfort Rachel, who immediately feels better. Rosen knows that Ms. Elkhart uses her ability to make people feel good, thus getting them addicted to her, then BAM!….leaves them for dead. Literally. Her plan is to use Rachel to slow the Alpha team down so that she can target her final victim, the football coach.
Rosen, Hicks and Bill get to Rachel just in time, who survives by the grace of her ability along with a little help from an injection that Rosen gives her. The team is able track Ms. Elkhart and get to her just in the nick of time. Ms. Elkhart is hauled off to Binghamton and Rachel is left trying to piece together her broken relationship with her own parents.
I said it last week, but I really like these character-focused episodes. This one gives a little insight into Rachel and just how closed off she makes herself. Hopefully she’ll start to open up a little bit more. This episode, while a little heavy-handed with drama, did manage to find some comedic moments, mostly with Gary flinging his badge at inappropriate times. That kid has got some great timing. That along with a guest starring role from the Bionic Woman herself, Lindsay Wagner, this episode was a win. Well, you can’t really call it a guest starring role. It was more of an extended cameo really which bummed me out at bit. I was hoping for some throwback reference to the Bionic Woman but alas, I didn’t get it.
Next week looks like it may focus on Bill, which I’m looking forward to. Hopefully we’ll get some insight into what happened with his job at the FBI and why he’s so uptight.
Tags: Alphas, Alphas recap, SyFy
