What I’m Watching: Flash Forward

Flash Forward: Season 1, Episode 6 “Scary Monsters and Super Creeps” (B)

A show like this really doesn’t need a Halloween episode, especially if it really only functions as an opportunity for Dylan to escape from the hospital and for Mark to embarrass himself again by chasing after people wearing masks. While Aaron’s Obi-Wan Kenobi costume looks normal on him, Mark dressing up just seems unnecessary, especially with the teeth. It’s just too light for the tone of the show, especially the other two major plotlines in this episode. Demetri and Gough’s search feels straight out of an episode of “CSI,” and in this case, it’s a good thing because it amps up the tempo of the show. The addition of Dominic Monaghan to the cast is fantastic because he’s really creepy. Putting a face behind the mystery of the flash forwards is great, and Monaghan brings a quietly threatening demeanor to the character. His end-of-episode meeting with Lloyd is good in that it connects him to the rest of the cast, but having him on his own on the train for most of it is effective at establishing him as a wild card. The most worthwhile moment of this episode is the inevitable meeting of Mark and Lloyd, and the look on Mark’s face when he realizes what’s going on is one of absolute fury. The characters are still allowing their lives to be ruled by what they saw in their flash forwards, but it’s compelling to see how it plays out. Dylan is certainly a bit of an odd kid, but his journey to the Benford household produced a pretty stunning scene.