(S02E15) The few people who commented last week seemed to think that episode was pretty disappointing. Man, I hate to think what you thought this week.
It's not that this episode was a stinker, mind you. We did have some advancement with Kyle's and Jessie's powers, which of course could lead to some pretty cool future episodes. But tonight I felt like I was watching more of an after-school special, which is weird unless you're attending night school.
Ah, the obligatory career fair episode. Doesn't every high school themed show have to have one? It clearly sets us up for what we might see beyond the high school years of the characters, though as we saw in this episode (and heck, from the episode title), Kyle's future is wide open. Any clues to what he could do with the rest of his life (should he live a normal one, that is) is anyone's guess.
As for Kyle learning to levitate, did anyone else get a sorta get a John From Cincinnati vibe? Well, from the first episode at least -- I didn't watch any further than that. I have to say that it actually makes some sense with the whole polarity-reversal thing and water. Will he eventually be able to act upon the water in the atmosphere to ... well, you know? Could make for some cool things to come.
Once again I'm shocked at Madacorp. How Steven just walked on in to grab his box of stuff, then left with a smile. Jeebus, this woman faked an affair with him and then helped have him locked up in a room in the company, not to mention seeing Foss drugged and strapped to a table. And it looks like Madacorp's not going anywhere, at least not this season.
As I was thinking this episode was a bit of a snoozer, there was something I couldn't quite put my finger on that made it decent. Then it hit me: no Amanda. What can I say, I don't care for her character. She's too cutesy while not being cute. Does that make any sense? No, and that's why I'm glad she was out of the picture this week.
We're definitely going to see a lot more about the Latnock (is that what it was called?) group, that much is clear. What confuses me is how Ballantine's father's ring supposedly showed his safe house, when Kyle actually saw Baylin's safe house. What the hell?
I usually don't like to get into what was shown in the next episode's previews, but it looks like Amanda will be coming back, though things won't be very peachy for Kyle. Until then...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-24-2008 @ 8:55AM
seppuku said...
anyone can help me with the songs on this episode?
if so pls...
[The Futures So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades]
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1-22-2008 @ 2:08AM
David said...
I'll take more Amanda and less Jessie please. At least this Jessie. It feels like the writers didn't know what to do with her, so they're trying to go out of their way to make her the "anti-Kyle" without having her be outright bad. It's getting boring however. Also, what are they planning on doing to keep the show interesting now that the XX/XY plot has ended its course? Based on this week and the preview of next week, it looks like the answer is "not much." I hope it's just a lull though - this is one of my favorite shows, and I'd hate to see it hit a sophomore slump now. Here's an idea: what if Jessie is sneaking out late at night to be some sort of vigilante super hero? Cheesy and anti-Kyle, but at least it's interesting. Let's hope she's not just winding us up for another silly Life Lesson(tm).
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1-22-2008 @ 10:13AM
Oreo said...
I agree with David we need less Jessie and more Amanda. I think the show is only in a slump right now because they closed off the main storyline last episode.
And Mark you want the show to end after only 20ish episodes? I thought the way the family was told was rushed in the last episode, but they could still do so much with this show, and just need to reach there. Right now it seems that the rest of the season will be just blah and then most likely lead up to a game changing season finale.
1-22-2008 @ 8:56AM
David said...
I've been muttering all through season 2 (and now 2.5) that this show needs to get back to its roots: Nicole and Kyle. Nicole has been marginalized and the show suffers as a result, in my opinion. She was the strong influence on both Kyle and the plot. Now she gets a token "mother lecture" once an episode and that's all we see.
I laughed when I read Keith's first paragraph because while I was watching the show I mentally noted how I would be commenting on how awful this episode was. After school special, indeed!
Less Jessie, more Kyle and the Tragers (and Andy!), and stuff Madacorp in the trash and take the trash out, please!
(Oh, and Keith, you're a cool dude, but bring back Isabelle please *grin*)
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1-22-2008 @ 10:01AM
Mark Adams said...
The show "jumped the shark" when Kyle told the family his history. Granted, that was necessary, as all the other plots had played out, but once the show lost its gimmick, it needed to end. Love the cast, loved the show, but now it's just sappy and not the same show.
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1-22-2008 @ 1:10PM
Keith McDuffee said...
I don't think "jump the shark" is the right term for them revealing his history. In fact, fewer shows do that these days, and it would be jumping the shark if he *still* kept them in the dark. That's MHO.
1-22-2008 @ 10:00AM
Dot said...
Let Jessica have a complete breakdown or whatever and delete her from the show. The show does not need her character. It was more interesting with Kyle as the only one with special powers. Its really getting a little dull.
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1-22-2008 @ 2:11PM
andyasensio said...
I think you're missing something hugely important that is introduced in this episode that's going to be a major, major development. Regardless of any specific career that Kyle is interested in at the fair here, his destiny is much greater: Adam Baylin and Tom Foss have been telling him as long as they've known him that it's Kyle's destiny to change the world. That's been taken as for granted for so long that it was a really smart decision by the writers to throw in a new idea here: if Kyle can't figure out how to change this one person, Jessi, then how can he possibly change the world?
Kyle has never really dealt with failure before. He's faced a lot of other problems, to be sure, but any time he has put his mind to figuring something out, he has eventually succeeded. To Kyle, Jessi could represent a real break from that - he's trying and trying to change her, but so far failing to succeed. Kyle's relationship to Jessi is a proxy for Kyle's entire future. No matter what Kyle can do physically, he'll never change the world unless he is able to connect with people and change individuals. So there's bound to be an emotional struggle where Kyle is for the first time totally failing to do so, and it could cause him to question himself. He's never really faced failure before, so it's a really new ordeal.
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1-22-2008 @ 4:08PM
CarolinaBlue said...
andyasensio, i am in total agreement with you. i like the whole jessi/kyle relationship, its interesting to see her really putting him to the test. i think his inability to change her is going to add a great dynamic to the show. i think they can take the jessi/kyle storyline in a lot of different directions and i think it'll be interesting to see what other twists they add..
i am still loving this show and am really looking forward to the rest of this season. i think that this season could be a lot different than the previous ones but in a good way..
1-23-2008 @ 7:50PM
Kacie said...
I think they should have someone write the article that actually WATCHS the show.Ladnock? Please. Anyone who has glimpsed the show knows the Latnok is one of the essential and most mysterious groups right now.
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1-23-2008 @ 1:46AM
khamel said...
i was going to go into a long rant about how crazy the water polarity thing is but i just remembered the last episode ended with a mind meld that blacked out the entire city so crazier things have happened on this show.
im obviously going to keep watching but this show is getting a little boring. like most shows (not procedurals) it had a good initial idea and then after about 20 episodes they run out of things tangential to that idea and then start making it up as they go. i dont mind jessie but the acting is pretty terrible sometimes. the show needs more of the three kids and less of the ancillary characters. josh's girlfriend is good in small doses just like most of the non-main characters. i want more kyle solving puzzles and less heartfelt scenes with amanda (i saw the previews too, i know its going to be all heartfelt amanda next week).
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1-23-2008 @ 5:42AM
Mike said...
I still love kyle...and i don't care if there are some down weeks...not everyweek needs to wow us.
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