What I’m Watching: Alphas (Season Finale)

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 13 “God’s Eye” (B+)

This show has been building towards Stanton’s massive plan for the world for the whole season, and it’s fitting that the finale should end on a similar note to the first season’s closer, an enormous game-changer that’s sure to transform the feel of this show going forward. Dr. Rosen was losing his mind for most of the episode, hallucinating Dani and plotting to kill Stanton upon seeing him. I’m continually fascinated by the relationship that Stanton seems to think he has with Dr. Rosen, preparing a safe room for him so that he can survive the blast and emerge as a leader in the brave new world. Dr. Rosen’s eventual decision not to kill Stanton made sense given his outlook on the world, though I’m not sure any of that matters anymore. It was good to see a prickly Kat standing up for herself to Cameron and to Rachel, and I’m really impressed with how she’s grown as a member of the team (she also ranks as one of my top ten new characters of the summer/fall season). Skylar fit right in too, antisocial as always but extremely efficient, and nothing would make me happier than to see Summer Glau join the show as a series regular next season. Having Gary as the last man standing while everyone else, including all that Alphas and Stanton, dropped, with “The Only Living Boy in New York” playing was a fantastic way to close out the second season, a year greatly improved on an already strong first season and a fabulous reason to anticipate the third eagerly.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Ryan Cartwright as Gary

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 12 “Need to Know” (B+)

Lines are being drawn, or, more crucially, crossed, as the season finale approaches and the showdown with Parrish with it. Dr. Rosen in particular is going off the rails, plotting secretly with Cameron to aggressively interrogate Scipio and get to Parrish before the rest of the team knows what’s going on. Betrayal will definitely continue to sting as the team is divided, with Rachel awkwardly caught in the middle and earning the contempt of John, who, for only the second time, actually gets something to do other than just flirt with Rachel. Kat is a regular field agent these days, springing into action and even doing some detective work to figure out that the firestarter’s abduction was an inside job. It’s great to see Skylar again, though her situation was far from ideal. Gary pinging her was creative, and it’s nice to know that she didn’t willingly go to work for Parrish and that she’s still officially one of the good guys. Expectedly, Parrish was not pleased to discover that Mitchell’s memories of him had been erased, and he won’t be happy to find that he’s missing once again. It looks like Parrish’s plan is about to come to fruition, and it’s going to be much more difficult for the group to stop than they thought. I would imagine that preparing for the new world in Dani’s name is what’s going to prove to be the ultimate undoing of Parrish and his allies, as neither Dr. Rosen nor Cameron is going to allow that to happen.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 11 “If Memory Serves” (B+)

Once again, this show proves its excellence in dealing with characters. Sean Astin was a great choice to play memory bank Mitchell, who, like Kat, wasn’t able to keep track of his own memories because so many other people had used him as a storage device for their memories. His narrations of Stanton’s memories and the caretaker’s were especially compelling, and he interacted superbly with both Kat and Cameron. Kat’s gleefulness on the mission was contrasted sharply by her murder of the caretaker, though it demonstrates just how useful she can be in the field, thinking creatively and possessing astonishing abilities in so many situations. Cameron has never been an especially patient person, and his deep state of mourning didn’t help matters. It’s good to see him recognize Kat’s talents, and I’d enjoy seeing them partner up again in the future. Gary’s non-reaction to his mother being in a car crash was extremely compelling, and Ryan Cartwright once again deserves commendation for a spectacularly engaged performance. It was nice to see Bill come by to comfort Gary and help him try to tap into the emotions he has the most trouble accessing. Nina’s run-in with the senator was intense, since she’s clearly been affected severely as a result of being pushed, and is firmly determined to stop others from experiencing the same fate, if her angry elevator meeting with Dr. Rosen is any indication. On a show with so many fantastic elements, it’s perhaps most affecting to see Dr. Rosen tap into Stanton’s mind and realize that he may in fact have a way to understand him and to defeat him.

What I'm Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 10 “Life After Death” (B+)

This episode’s title was appropriately somber to capture the mood of the team in the wake of Dani’s death. It’s hard to function properly since both Dr. Rosen and Cameron are too devastated to get anything done, and they’re both equally upset with each other while they’re mourning the loss of someone they both loved. I’m glad that Nina didn’t help Cameron forget Dani, since that wouldn’t have ended up being productive, and Cameron’s hatred of Stanton is going to be instrumental to the presumptive takedown of the enemy Alphas that’s coming up soon. The musical score for Dr. Rosen’s search of Dani’s apartment was terrific, and helped to enhance the feel of the episode. Gary getting handed a baby was a delightful plot point that allowed him to look up how to take care of it and end up being quite paternal. That may have had something to do with the baby’s alpha ability to inspire parenthood in its caretaker, but it was still fun to see him be so protective. Gary telling the baby “they never listen to me” was among the best moments. Bill and Nina were not prepared for the monster Alpha parents sent to retrieve the baby, but they managed to work together well to take down their assailants after they realized their true identities. Bill taking the baby home is an intriguing twist, thought it likely won’t interfere too much since we haven’t seen much of his home life in a while. I’m continually confused about the fact that both Rachel and John exist only to be in a relationship with each other rather than participate on the team, and must note that it’s more than a bit weird that Rachel, who is an adult, was so enthusiastic about having sex in her parents’ house knowing full well that her father was on his way home.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 9 “The Devil Will Drag You Under” (B+)

This episode didn’t waste any time, jumping right into the story and fast-forwarding to the point where Cameron was already operating on his own trying to get Dani back in whatever way he could. It was good to see Kandyse McClure, best known as Dee from “Battlestar Galactica,” staying true to her sci-fi roots as the mysterious Scipio, whose powers mirrored Dani’s but were far more harmful to those around her. Her fascination with Cameron and his ability to hide his plan, courtesy of Nina, from her, was truly interesting, and it’s always great to see a supposed villain who can’t quite decide which side she’s on. Dani’s grand gesture to call and distract Stanton while Gary worked to disarm the devastating effects of the explosion was a harbinger of doom, and it ended up being all the more melancholy since Gary did succeed in dampening the effects of the explosion but Dani died anyway. Stanton pulling the trigger knowing that she was inside and then telling his associate that their plan worked is bad news, because it assumes that a weakening of Dr. Rosen and his team is crucial to his plot. Nina telling Dani not to die made for an intense but ultimate unsuccessful moment. Dani was never quite central to the plot, but I suspect that, in death, her role will only increase, as both Dr. Rosen and Cameron are infinitely more motivated to take down Stanton now that he has taken away someone that they both loved.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 8 “Falling” (B+)

It’s a shame that this situation presented itself and Dr. Rosen had the one to piece together his daughter’s involvement with Stanton Parrish. Having Gary hack the research and asking Nina to get a passport weren’t ever going to lead to anything since Dr. Rosen is driving by doing the right thing more than anything else, but it’s too bad that it meant sending his daughter to Binghamton, something he might realize isn’t right after his own wrongful incarceration. Cameron is sure to be furious, especially after Dani used her ability to help Cameron and Tyler realize just how they felt about each other, bringing them much closer together and turning the visit into an extremely positive one. Gary’s excessive analysis was accurate for once, explaining that hearts can’t break but they can stop and leak, and sometimes they just give up after a while. Bill, Gary, and Kat were so far away from this, anyway, since they were busy trying to figure out this drug that caused seeming invincibility. Kat’s willingness to put herself in harm’s way is both admirable and dangerous, and I liked how she forced Gary to help her despite his repeated claims of allowable activities and decisions. It’s fun to see that younger agent relationship developing, and that teamwork should only increase now that Kat is being sent to field training. All of this obsession about Rachel and her Farsi-speaking boyfriend is fine, but it would be nice if either Rachel or especially John actually had something to do at some point in the episode.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 7 “Gods and Monsters” (B+)

I love the way this show handles even the simplest of plotlines. This episode’s main out-of-control Alpha, of course, was rather complex, and his ability to hypnotize those around him was rather intense. The sight of all the teenagers trying to barge into the room was worrisome, and Jason just being able to touch anyone and add them to his collective was definitely dangerous. The fact that Stanton willingly took advantage of that and Dr. Rosen asked him to add him to his collective in order to help him regain control showed the diverse but equally effective persuasive skills of these two polar opposites. Dr. Rosen so willingly working with Stanton was fascinating, though of course both were just as set on betraying the other in order to gain the upper hand. Stanton stabbing himself in the neck to escape his confinement demonstrated just how powerful he is, invulnerable to death. What happened when Dr. Rosen touched Stanton in Jason’s consciousness was terrific, and, unsurprisingly, what Dr. Rosen saw led him to figure out that Dani is in fact the mole, information he’ll likely treat delicately. It was great to see Gary spring into action and run after Jason, though it’s a shame that he ended up with a shiner as a result. Gary telling Kat that she’s not allowed to steal someone’s partner was entertaining, and I’d like to see the two young ones interact and become friends like Rachel and Nina have. The Senator’s mental state seems to be regressing, and let’s hope that Nina won’t be overcome with guilt before they figure out how to reverse it.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 6 “Alphaville” (B+)

This episode was very well done, but what I love most about it is the fact that Summer Glau has established for herself this geek status that makes her on call and available for this type of show on a recurring basis. Though she was somewhat more attuned to society in this hour, she was just as fascinating as in her last appearance as Skylar. Having her young daughter exhibit Alpha-level intelligence is part of what makes her great, and it was superb to see Zoe contribute her own mathematical observations when she was helping Cameron after he got injured. Skylar would be a powerful enemy for Dr. Rosen and his team if she joins forces with Stanton, and his subtle, friendly approach may just do the trick in terms of convincing her. It was terrific to see Gary initially upset about the lack of signals in the forest and then overwhelmed with excitement about the signals coming from the trees and the stars. It’s a good thing he didn’t stick around in Alphaville, but it was fun to see him adjusting (and offering to give Nina her office back). The amplification device sure has an effect on the Alphas, which can be quite detrimental. The fire starting was bad, but Rachel’s enhanced senses seem to have led her to a better place, as evidenced by her kiss with John, who continues to be the Most Understanding Guy in the World. Dr. Rosen’s conclusion that they have a traitor in their midst is likely to cause problems in the near future, and I can’t imagine he’ll react well when he finds out just who it is.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 5 “Gaslight” (B+)

It’s practically a requirement that shows dealing with the slightly supernatural have at least one haunted house episode. I’m pleased to report that this hour was extremely well-constructed, with each member of the team being weighed down by their own projections of dead people or imagined living people. The most compelling, by far, was a resurrected Anna, talking to Gary and making him genuinely happy as he analyzed her existence and concluded how he was seeing her. I’m intrigued to see what Gary will do to carry on her memory, and glad to see him occupying his mind with a good cause. It’s also good that Cameron used his hallucinations to go see his son, whereas Bill battling himself doesn’t seem to have set him straight as far as his frequent fight club attendance is concerned. As always, Dr. Rosen was cool and collected during the entire experience, preparing to wake Jason up while warning his team members that they’re going to be seeing things that aren’t real. He’s also found a productive job for Nina, having her use her ability for the purposes of ascertaining rather than planting information, sort of a reverse-inception-type trick, which appears to have an effect on her as the memory-procurer as well. It’s doing impressive things for Kat too, though the return of previously hidden memories may not prove to be the best thing depending on how they manifest themselves and how they may affect Kat’s ability to create new memories in the process.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 4 “When Push Comes to Shove” (A-)

This show would be good even if it didn’t care too much about embellishing its characters, but it does, and that’s what makes it excellent, especially in installments like this. I love that Nina’s abilities are so overwhelming and subtle at the same time that Dr. Rosen, Becky, and Tommy all didn’t realize that she had pushed them to feel how she wanted them to without them having any idea. Pushing Rachel to kiss her wasn’t very nice either, and I’m wondering what she’ll be like now that she’s realized the error of her ways. Cameron jumping to save her was awfully impressive and heroic, and it’s a good thing that the team cared about her enough to try to find her before someone else did. I enjoyed Gary’s reasoning for locking her up – so that he could use her office as his man-cave – and seeing him walking around in a towel at the office because his alarm didn’t go off. Kat’s full-time presence is slightly irksome at the moment but will probably become more productive soon as she starts listening to Dr. Rosen’s suggestion and tries to preserve her memories by listening to music. The budding romance between Rachel and John is decently interesting, particularly when she recoiled at the sight/smell of his scar, which he took rather poorly. I don’t imagine that Dr. Rosen will encourage any more office relationships, but it would do Rachel some good to have some companionship and something close to an adult relationship.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 3 “Alpha Dogs” (B+)

It would be a stretch to say that things are going well for the individual members of their team, but it seems that they’re all finding ways to cope with it. Gary in particular is having a tough time adjusting back to normal life, screaming for ten seconds each morning to mourn Anna’s death, scaring his mother in the process. The notion of him living in the office doesn’t make complete sense, but it appears to be the best solution for all concerned at this point in time. Bill managed to work out some of his aggression at the Alpha fight club, though his new friend Kat played him pretty well, training him to take out rival Alphas with a single punch and then defeating him when she stepped into the ring. I enjoyed the bond between the two of them, and Rachel also managed to get close to another member of the team. Despite its awkward scent-related origins, that’s most likely to turn romantic, given John’s immediate adherence to Rachel’s wishes by purchasing a wide selection of soaps. Cameron, who has seemed rather disconnected recently, managed to confess his secret relationship to Dr. Rosen, receiving apparent approval through his semi-serious response. The doctor was much more preoccupied with looking into Stanton’s history, discovering his Civil War injury and subsequent act of murder. Fortunately, enemies don’t have to look far for each other on this show, and Stanton, however villainous he may be, is certainly willing to sit down for a friendly conversation, which says something about his character.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 2 “The Quick and the Dead” (B+)

Things definitely haven’t gotten completely back to normal, and this team is having some serious trouble functioning properly. I’m so pleased to see Gary back, first very angry that someone stole his pudding and then talking to everyone about Cameron’s relationship with Dani. His initial logic that Cameron wouldn’t kill him because that would be premeditated murder was improved upon by his later conclusion that he’d kill Cameron first because he gets up at 7:42. On a less comic note, Dr. Rosen and Bill arguing about who should be in charge and about Dr. Rosen’s ego was quite troublesome since they’re definitely the unifying members of the team. While Gary and Rachel are back on track, Nina is continuing to spiral out of control. Hanging up a stolen piece of art in her office was just the beginning, and finding out about Gary’s relationship with Dani sent her over the edge. Using her abilities on Dr. Rosen was the final straw, and though she’s likely made the desired impression upon him, he’s probably not going to give up since she’s bound to end up on the wrong side of things eventually. Eli proved to be a compelling misguided villain, and, as usual, the pursuit scene was the coolest since Bill amped up to charge after him. Dani using her powers to make Eli younger again was a perfect solution, and it’s a shame that he got shot anyway since these particular Alphas could really use a win one of these days.

What I’m Watching: Alphas (Season Premiere)

Alphas: Season 2, Episode 1 “Wake Up Call” (B+)

Things aren’t going well at the start of the second season premiere of this terrific Syfy hit from last summer. Dr. Rosen in a psych ward, Rachel unable to leave her room, Nina using her abilities for evil, and Gary being incarcerated at Binghamton all pointed to a rather miserable future, but this opening hour managed to change all that and present a whole new problem. It was evident with the simply robbery pulled off by the trio of Alphas that the team has a whole new brand of enemy, and now that a horde of Binghamton inmates have escaped and are working together, they’re going to have their hands full. Dani’s involvement with Stanton may also pose a problem, but it’s the cool, determined leadership of Stanton that’s going to do the most damage since he’s calculating and specific in what he wants to achieve, if that coordinated train explosion and derailment is any indication of what’s to come this season. This premiere emphasized what’s best about this show, which is that all the characters, especially the guests, get to have intriguing powers and psyches, and the faked torture scene on the video cameras was probably the coolest instance of that in this episode. Cameron making the shot was pretty great as well, and it’s nice to see Dr. Rosen back in his mentorship role. Coaching Gary back to normal was an endearing scene, and I enjoyed seeing his disturbed reaction to everyone wanting to give him a hug.

What I’m Watching: Alphas (Season Premiere)

Alphas: Season 1, Episode 11 “Original Sin” (B+)

The end of last week’s episode had nothing to do with this week’s installment, but that didn’t make it any less superb or thrilling. The return of Dr. Rosen’s daughter, who has the ability to evoke great sadness in people, made for an interesting character analysis of Rosen, someone who always seems to have everyone’s best interests in mind but who clearly didn’t have the same skills with his own flesh and blood. Gary going to meet Anna made for a great scene, and it’s sad that she didn’t manage to survive the raid later on, which prompted such extreme anger and sadness from the often unemotional Gary. The revelation that Red Flag’s leader, Stanton Parrish, has been alive for centuries, is absolutely enticing, and it was even better that he came almost right away to visit Rosen and tell him exactly what it was that he had in mind for the future of Alphas. I’m eager to see more of John-Pyper Ferguson’s Parrish next season, as well as to learn about Danielle’s connection to him. This episode drew two “Star Wars” parallels for me, from Dr. Rosen’s “It’s a trap!” realization to the attempted takedown of all of the Alphas in one fell swoop, which is sort of like fighting an army of Jedis. What made this episode awesome, however, was the episode-ending speech by Dr. Rosen revealing the existence of Alphas, broadcast to the entire world thanks to the team. I can’t wait to see where next season takes us.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Ryan Cartwright as Gary

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 1, Episode 10 “The Unusual Suspects” (B+)

This somewhat conventional episode proved to be much more interesting than it could have been on other shows, as we got to see each of the team members unable to use their abilities as they tried to determine which one of them might be a traitor. Binghamton definitely does not seem like a friendly place, and it’s good that they’ve managed to escape and won’t have to worry about going back there anytime soon. Nathan being prepared to deflect the powers of those he was interrogating was interesting, as were the diverse reactions of each of his suspects. The team discussing whether putting people in a room actually works was very intriguing, and I like how they engineered an escape plan. Once they were in hiding, I knew something was up after Dr. Rosen started telling Cameron he knew he couldn’t trust him, but I thought that he was simply trying to get them to start fighting to achieve some realization, and therefore I didn’t see him being a shape-shifting impostor coming. The escape action scene was great, but this episode’s best moment was the fight between Bill and Cameron, where they both went head to head with their abilities as Nina and Rachel got upset and Gary started seriously freaking out. Gary’s continued correspondence with Anna and Rachel’s potential relationship with potential new team member Eric are both good threads to leave open for next season, and now we have a mysteriously collapsed Bill to take us into next week’s season finale.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 1, Episode 9 “Blind Spot” (B)

It’s practically a requirement for a show like this to have an episode where the villain is an unseen assailant whose abilities allow them to hide in the shadows. It’s certainly a good and working premise, but I do wish this episode had been just a little bit livelier, especially considering the talented guest stars utilized. We had two decently major science fiction and fantasy staples present this week, with Brent Spiner of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fame and Rebecca Mader from “Lost.” Both possessed intriguing powers, and it was equally interesting to see the way they both articulated their loyalties and sense of what place Alphas should have in society. Spiner’s role in particular was quite dark, and I didn’t even recognize him initially. Rachel proving kidnapped prove almost inconsequential, but there’s still something to the fear of a member of the team being missing. Gary’s obliviousness to the seriousness of the situation, flashing his badge and not getting out of harm’s way. Bill without his powers is still a strong leader, and I like that he returned so quickly, especially when it comes to his ability to annoy Gary. Nina and Cameron’s forbidden love is a somewhat interesting part of the show, and I’m mainly taken in by the team dynamic, particularly under the supervision of the forward-thinking and consistently intelligent Dr. Rosen. Seeing how they handle a situation like this is both impressive and enthralling, and I’m very happy that the show was renewed last week for a second season.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 1, Episode 8 “A Short Time in Paradise” (B+)

A show like this is practically required to have a cult episode, and if it lives a long and healthy life, will likely have several more during its run. That fiery start in 1980 was certainly chilling enough, as the entire community seemed more than ready to go up in flames as the one boy escaped. Garrett Dillahunt made for a good villain as Jonas, whose angelic presence created some rather blissful effects on the team and his many other followers. It’s interesting to see how different Alphas are affected by other Alphas. We knew already that Nina can push Bill, and it makes sense that Nina would be susceptible to Jonas since he can push an entire group of people at once. Bill not being able to amp up made sense, and it’s always fascinating to see the logic used by people when they’re being mind-controlled, like Cameron’s defense of Jonas not calling himself an Alpha. To learn that Jonas can’t feel his own gift and is permanently trapped in the darkness was intriguing, and I like that Dr. Rosen was able to tell him that he didn’t want to be pushed. Dr. Rosen finding the gun and having to shoot it to save everyone was a nice way of involving him, and I’m sure this won’t be the last we’ll hear of that. I enjoyed Rachel bringing Gary as her date, and even if the stuff with her father’s health was a bit hokey, hearing Gary make a surprisingly sound and inspirational speech about always saying what’s on your mind was definitely worth it.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 1, Episode 7 “Catch and Release” (B+)

Could this show ask for a better guest star than Summer Glau? I don’t think so. I’m happy to report that, after the horrific disappointment that was “The Cape,” Glau is perfectly at home here as a predictably brilliant but socially incompatible nerd who also happens to have some superpowers that allow her to create the coolest and most useful inventions ever. Throwing out those bugs at the guys pursuing her was only the firs of her superb moves, and there’s no beating that makeshift stun device that she built in under ten minutes using materials that just happened to be around the office. The fact that Nina was her friend made her presence quite interesting, though having a three-year-old daughter with the ability to do complex equations definitely qualifies as making her memorable enough. I love how everyone gets into the van that Dr. Rosen is driving, and seeing how each member of the team tracks people and helps out with the missions never seems to get old. My favorite part of the episode was Gary’s $812.90 cab ride that didn’t involve streets starting with certain letters or numbers. It’s a shame that Gary’s mother doesn’t support his work, but good for Gary for standing up for himself and sticking to his secret agent work. I’m most impressed with Dr. Rosen for acquiring Skylar’s Cerebro device and then triumphantly and highly symbolically smashing it so that he can prove that he actually does care about the well-being and free living of the Alphas.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 1, Episode 6 “Bill and Gary’s Excellent Adventure” (B+)

This episode provides a considerable amount of back story information for a few of the characters whose personal lives we haven’t been exposed to, namely Bill and Nina. It also involves a whole lot of Gary being featured in hilarious situations, which is definitely one of the best, if not the best, reasons to watch this show. Gary not wanting to run after he just ate and flashing his badge resulted in him getting arrested for the first of two times in one day, and I enjoyed seeing him be referred to as Agent Bell, data analyst or just computer genius. Bill motivating Gary to find the phone by promising him that he’d let him drive was fun, and I liked that parting shot of Bill teaching him to drive right before Gary floors it as the screen fades to black. Cameron bonding with Nina over their secrets was a rare treat, though Rachel put a quick end to that when she walked in on them. The revelation that Nina accidentally pushed her ex-boyfriend to kill himself was interesting, and I’m glad that Cameron helped encouraged her to stop pushing the cop and find out what he was investigating. It’s good that Bill decided not to go back to the FBI even after he got an offer from the girl’s father to help him out, since this team functions so well because of all its members. This episode’s coolest moments were definitely Bill bursting through the wall and Cameron doing parkour to avoid Sarah’s bullets.

What I’m Watching: Alphas

Alphas: Season 1, Episode 5 “Never Let Me Go” (B+)

Being equipped with new badges means an extra layer of entertainment for the Alphas as they embark on their latest case, mostly when it comes to Gary, though Dr. Rosen holding the badge upside down was rather funny as well. I liked Gary flashing his badge at the restaurant and telling the waitress that they ask the questions, and it’s nice to have a comic relief character who isn’t totally ridiculous and fits into the scheme of the show quite nicely. It’s easy to forget that Gary is a kid, so seeing him almost get into a fight with some bullies at school is a nice treat, especially after seeing the way that Cameron deals with them. The slow, spooky search for the sheriff in the police station was this episode’s highlight, and I also found the visualization of the mother’s power to influence others with her bliss very effective. Her ability to kill them by taking away her love was extremely interesting, and made spectacular sense. Dr. Rosen proves once again that he’s an astute thinker by telling Rachel that the mother’s love is not real and showing her with comfort in order to counteract the effects of the mother’s influence. Too often, main characters on shows like this inexplicably defy the odds over and over again by not being affected by the powers of others, and I’m so impressed that this show managed to provide sound logic and reasoning for how the Alphas are able to prevail each time.