by Verushka Byrow
This was the fourth episode filmed, and it shows. It does, however, provide an interesting, if tragic case for our intrepid duo to solve. Added bonus? Some insight into Valerie Stahl.
This was the fourth episode filmed, and it shows. It does, however, provide an interesting, if tragic case for our intrepid duo to solve. Added bonus? Some insight into Valerie Stahl.
The episode begins with two girls – science and art students; one is wandering through a forest and the other playing/conducting music in an empty hall. Both are looking around them in wonder, at the things they see – the notes of the music in the air, and the equations of pretty much every living organism in the forest. Very quickly though, both collapse and die.
In short order, it becomes apparent that the girls have been taking designer drugs to enhance their already enhanced minds – they’re Chromes. Genetically enhanced to be extremely intelligent, which opens up a whole set of questions the show would never, ever think of asking. What it does do however, is let us know something – finally – about Stahl.
She’s a Chrome, and there are some hints that what brought her to the police could be a good story. After all, why would a genetically enhanced individual want to be a cop, right? Ok, maybe there’s more to Stahl than the show might actually be showing, but I want to be hopeful, up until the last moment Fox cancels it. Oh, you know it’s coming. Firefly anyone?
Along with this story, we FINALLY get more about Kennex, Insyndicate, his former girlfriend, Anna and his lost memories – seems like a bit much to jam into one episode, but the show manages it effectively. What sucked MIGHTILY is the fact that this information is way overdue. We should have seen this at the beginning of the season or at least the middle. The beginning of the show’s run set up that Kennex is trying to regain the memories of the ambush that sent him into a coma (and eventually brought Dorian itno his life), by visting a Recollectionist.
In short order, it becomes apparent that the girls have been taking designer drugs to enhance their already enhanced minds – they’re Chromes. Genetically enhanced to be extremely intelligent, which opens up a whole set of questions the show would never, ever think of asking. What it does do however, is let us know something – finally – about Stahl.
She’s a Chrome, and there are some hints that what brought her to the police could be a good story. After all, why would a genetically enhanced individual want to be a cop, right? Ok, maybe there’s more to Stahl than the show might actually be showing, but I want to be hopeful, up until the last moment Fox cancels it. Oh, you know it’s coming. Firefly anyone?
Along with this story, we FINALLY get more about Kennex, Insyndicate, his former girlfriend, Anna and his lost memories – seems like a bit much to jam into one episode, but the show manages it effectively. What sucked MIGHTILY is the fact that this information is way overdue. We should have seen this at the beginning of the season or at least the middle. The beginning of the show’s run set up that Kennex is trying to regain the memories of the ambush that sent him into a coma (and eventually brought Dorian itno his life), by visting a Recollectionist.
The Recollectionist has been putting Kennex in a memory machine for 5 days straight in an effort to jog his memory, and it’s been working – though granted he’s only been remembering Anna’s face in the ambush and not much else, and we already knew she was part of it.
A side effect is that the consequences of his visit are sort of taking over his life and his reality – like driving into oncoming traffic, and being beset by memories at random times. All this means he’s taking pills to help him cope and Dorian finds out, is pissed … and that’s about the extent of Dorian in this episode.
Maldanado is playing Big Sister, and watching John on the security cameras, which is how she figures out he’s messing with his memories. She warns him he’s going to have to go to Internal Affairs if this continues – which he eventually does, because like every disobedient good guy, he goes back to the Recollectionist, and recalls a Russian doll Anna gave him. He seems to be convinced there’s something fishy about it, and when forensics checks it out, his theory is confirmed – it’s a listening device.
A side effect is that the consequences of his visit are sort of taking over his life and his reality – like driving into oncoming traffic, and being beset by memories at random times. All this means he’s taking pills to help him cope and Dorian finds out, is pissed … and that’s about the extent of Dorian in this episode.
Maldanado is playing Big Sister, and watching John on the security cameras, which is how she figures out he’s messing with his memories. She warns him he’s going to have to go to Internal Affairs if this continues – which he eventually does, because like every disobedient good guy, he goes back to the Recollectionist, and recalls a Russian doll Anna gave him. He seems to be convinced there’s something fishy about it, and when forensics checks it out, his theory is confirmed – it’s a listening device.
Which might conceivably be why this episode got shifted to episode 10. Too much happens between episodes one to nine, without any explanation for how Insyndicate is getting its information. Then again, not much happens in John’s apartment where the doll was found, so…
Amusingly, we learn from an Internal Affairs guy that John is a romantic at heart, that he wanted to be in love so much that he ignored protocol and didn’t check Anna out when they got together, didn’t question anything about how fast things were going between them.
So, back to the case – designer drugs, as in specifically designed for people on a genetic level. Three girls have died, and following a lead takes them to a machine, a lovelorn drug maker and a homicidal mother that pushed her daughter too hard and when she committed suicide, took revenge on her daughter’s friends by killing them. The case itself and Stahl’s revelation as a Chrome brings up so many interesting questions, but the show isn’t yet interested in tackling them – disappointing.
Amusingly, we learn from an Internal Affairs guy that John is a romantic at heart, that he wanted to be in love so much that he ignored protocol and didn’t check Anna out when they got together, didn’t question anything about how fast things were going between them.
So, back to the case – designer drugs, as in specifically designed for people on a genetic level. Three girls have died, and following a lead takes them to a machine, a lovelorn drug maker and a homicidal mother that pushed her daughter too hard and when she committed suicide, took revenge on her daughter’s friends by killing them. The case itself and Stahl’s revelation as a Chrome brings up so many interesting questions, but the show isn’t yet interested in tackling them – disappointing.
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