The below reviews were originally posted on CbJams Roswell site.
Unfortunately the reviewer only did season 1.
Season One
#1 Pilot:
While waitressing at her parents restaurant - Crashdown Cafe - Liz gets caught
in the middle of a violent argument and is fatally shot. But then Max rushes to
her rescue. He puts his hand over her wound and heals her, then makes her
promise not to tell anyone. He & Michael escape, leaving Liz in wonder. Once
Sheriff Valenti arrives on the scene, he is almost immediately suspicious.
Later, Max admits to Liz that he, Isabel and Michael are all aliens, offspring
of the aliens who crashed back in 1947. Liz tells her best friend Maria, and the
two of them help the aliens shake off the suspicions of Valenti.
My
Impression: A very good beginning, though it can get a little "cheesy" (I don't
like that word, but it's all I can think of). I have to admit that I was looking
forward to watching this show a few weeks before it first aired, and I was not
disappointed. The first scene with the shooting was the best. It didn't hesitate
too much and the action went along rather smoothly. I also am glad that they're
being realistic by having Valenti on their tails right from the beginning,
instead of leaving him oblivious. This makes things more suspenseful, and not
ho-hum.
#2 The
Morning After:
Liz and Maria are still a little freaked about knowing three aliens. In Liz &
Max's geometry class, they get a new teacher whom Liz suspects to be a spy,
looking for aliens. Max doesn't believe it, but then sees the teacher talking to
Valenti. He and Liz decide to spy on her, and discover she is after Michael.
Meanwhile, Michael is attempting to break-in to Valenti's office to steal some
pictures that might reveal something about his alien heritage. Unfortunately the
FBI comes along and takes all of Valenti's files. But Michael is able to recover
a key that seems to bear some significance. Liz also discovers that the teacher
they thought was a spy was really a guidance councellor.
My
Impression: I loved the opening credits sequence. It was wonderfully edited and
filmed. The shots are great. Just the right length, too. My compliments to
whoever pieced that together. As for the episode, it wasn't too bad. The
pressure is still on the aliens, and I like that Valenti is not just giving up.
Though it seems like the aliens never get a break from the get-go, that just
makes it more "realistic". Not that aliens are real. I also think they're
playing the Liz-Max thing really well, also. The eraser-room scene was just
right - not too much, but not too little. And I'm glad a little emphasis was put
on Michael this episode. His character is starting to come through clearer.
#3
Monsters
Maria seems to be showing signs of bending under pressure, and the aliens are
afraid she will spill her guts to Sheriff Valenti at any moment. Isabel does not
improve the situation by almost scaring Maria out of her wits by entering her
dreams. And though Liz used to be absolutely sure Maria would keep their secret,
she is no longer all that confident. But eventually, Maria comes to realize that
the aliens aren't really a threat. In fact, it may be the other way around. As a
side-plot, the school's guidance councellor is making all the students take a
computerized tally that will tell them what they will most likely be when they
grow up. Isabel is destined to be a caregiver. The teacher also encourages Max
to take the first step away from shyness, so he does by initiating conversation
with Liz.
My
Impression: Actually, I thought this was a really good episode. Maria has been
unsure about the aliens from the beginning, and this episode gave way to new
possibilities for her and them. It also implies that she is possibly attracted
to Michael. And we also see a little more of Isabel's personality. The
conversation between Max and the guidance councellor was also interesting, as it
encouraged him to start conversation with Liz (even though his first attempt was
a disaster). It was rather cute he way he arranged to meet her in the hallway,
and how he "accidentally" pushed her books on the floor in the lab. I'm glad the
writers are taking it nice and slow with those two - and with everything else.
#4 Leaving
Normal
Right at the beginning, poor Max is beaten up by Kyle's dumb jock pals. He takes
it like a man though, and refuses to exact revenge, even when Michael tries to
convince him. But Michael decides to take matters into his own hands, as he
pulls grade-school pranks on the goons. Meanwhile, Liz's grandmother is
visiting, and has a stroke on the first night she is there. Liz becomes very
upset, since she and her grandma were close. She calls Max, much to Kyle's
dislike, and to Max's dismay since he is trying to avoid her. When Liz asks him
to heal her grandma, he refuses, claiming to not have the ability. But he does
conjure up an image of grandma so that Liz can say good-bye.
My
Impression: A very fast-paced episode. It starts out with things just the way
they were at the end of the last episode. Then suddenly things change after Max
is beaten - he thinks he needs to stay away from Liz, ie. not talk to her or
spend time with her. But as the end nears, he realizes it's impossible, and the
two of them end up in a close embrace. I think their relationship moved very
fast in this ep. It also seemed like an episode meant for a later date. The way
things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole plot wrapped up in just
one season.
#5 Missing
In this ep, Liz suddenly finds her journal to be missing and begins to worry,
since it contained information on Max and the others being aliens. At first she
& Maria suspect Alex, but then Max tells her it was Kyle who stole it. Liz and
Max sneak into Kyle's room, but do not find it. Meanwhile we discover that Ms.
Topolsky is really working for the FBI after all, and is after the journal
herself. We also find out that Michael has an artistic side, since he's been
drawing the vision of the silver dome he saw when he touched the key he stole
from the sheriff. Eventually Michael visits Liz at the Crashdown and tells her
he took the journal in order to make sure she was on their side. He was happy
with what he read. So all is well. At the end, Max is reading a book he got from
the UFO Center archives, and in it Isabel discovers a picture of the dome from
Michael's vision with a man standing in front of it.
My
Impression: Not a bad episode. I thought it very sneaky when it was established
Ms. Topolsky wasn't a guidance councelor after all. It also adds a little
suspense, since the others don't know about her. I also really enjoyed Michael's
conversation with Liz about the journal near the end. In this scene, Michael
finally accepts her as a friend - I thought it rather touching. And then the
discovery of the real dome from Michael's vision at the end left us in a bit of
a cliff-hangar.
#6 285
South
Michael sneaks into the UFO Center to get some data on the whereabouts of the
dome from his visions, but he is caught by the curator, and Max must bail him
out. Michael is determined to find the dome, which is in Texas, and find out
about their past. But Max and Isabel are reluctant. So Michael steals Maria's
car - with her in it - and they head down the highway. Eventually the others
find out and go after them, with Kyle, Sheriff Valenti, and Ms. Topolsky hot on
their heels. Partway there, Maria & Michael break down and must spend the night
together at a sleazy motel. There they learn a little more about one another.
Liz, Max, and Isabel find them, but so does Kyle, who insists upon taking Liz
home with him. That doesn't work out, and soon the five teens make their way to
the dome. They find a hidden room, but before they can explore they hear
footsteps. The episode ends with a "To Be Continued..."
My
Impression: I really liked this episode, especially for the scenes with Maria
and Michael, though it seemed a little soon to move their relationship ahead so
fast (did anyone see the previews for the next ep?). There was also a scene
between Liz and Isabel at a gas station I rather liked. And when Liz and Max
were alone in the jeep, and Liz was asking about their relationship, I was
getting scared they'd actually do something about it. I was relieved when
nothing happened, since the show would be more effective if they held off on
that relationship for a while longer. I am wondering why Liz isn't getting
frustrated with Max, though. I mean, he's sending her all these signals, and yet
totally brushes her off when she wants to get close. She must be very tolerant.
Can't wait until next week's episode - it looks good!
#7 River
Dog
Continued from the previous episode...Max and the others escape from Atherton's
basement with a few files, and a necklace Isabel found. Max, Michael and Isabel
plan on going through it at home later, without Liz and Maria, to Michael's
charinge. Ms. Topolsky is yelled at by her superior, then breaks into Max and
Isabel's home to steal back the files. Isabel manages to hang on to the
necklace, and discovers it was once seen on an Indian Reservation near Roswell.
Max decides they should all lay low, but Liz takes it upon herself to
investigate without his permission, and meets a man named River Dog at a Jewelry
shop in the desert. Meanwhile, Valenti smugly informs Topolsky her cover has
been blown, and threatens to inform her superiors. Max and Liz go to meet River
Dog, who takes them to a cave where the mysterious alien from 1959 left some
drawings on the wall. River Dog also says he knew the alien and Atherton, and
that the alien killed Atherton - he doesn't know why. He warns Liz not to place
her trust in Max just before they leave. And at the end, while they're waiting
anxiously for Liz and Max to return, Michael kisses Maria just to make her feel
better. Oh yeah.
My
Impression: I really liked this episode. Though Michael and Maria's relationship
seems to be moving at light speed, I find it rather cute. It also adds humor.
I'm enjoying the suspense of the hunt for the mysterious alien, and the fact
they don't know if he's a good guy or bad guy. It makes the aliens a little more
real, since not all of them are good guys. I kind of felt bad when the
files Max, Isabel and Michael had were stolen, since it could have given them
answers. But then again, we don't want them to find out too much too fast. All
in all, good ep.
#8 Blood
Brother
Since their teacher is absent, Max and Liz skip class to go for a drive along
the old gravel highway. They are enjoying themselves until a horse wanders onto
the road, and Max swerves to avoid it. Moments later they are sitting in a
ditch, and Max is unconscious. They are rushed to the hospital, where the nurses
take samples of Max's blood. Michael and Isabel come to help. They must
substitute Max's blood for a human's blood, so they call on Alex to help them.
Alex agrees to help Liz, even though he has no idea why. So once they get his
blood, Michael switches it with Max's, and all is well. But they discover FBI
agents at the hospital, going through Max's room after he is discharged. So the
five teens do some spying of their own, and discover Ms. Topolsky's true
identity. Meanwhile, Alex is having a very hard time dealing with the secrets
Liz is keeping from him. He thinks she is covering for Max because he's a
druggie, and she lets him believe it. By the end of the episode, Alex is
completely alienated (no pun intended) from Liz, and tells her he can't be
friends with her anymore. Liz is hurt.
My
Impression: A suspenseful episode. It was very touching when Liz met Max's
mother for the first time, and he introduced them. I also enjoyed the
Michael-Maria moments; the two of them argue like an old married couple. I also
thought it was about time the five teens clued in on Ms. Topolsky's little
secret, although I did sort of feel a little sorry for her - her boss won't be
too happy. I also felt really bad for Alex. I wished Liz would have told him the
truth, because we all know he'd be a good ally. But then again, I knew it
wouldn't happen. But hopefully they'll reconcile in the near future. Sheriff
Valenti was strangely absent in this episode, as he's been a strong presence in
the earlier ones.
#9 Heat
Wave
This episode opens with Maria and Michael making out at the Crashdown, and Liz
sees them. It seems that everyone in Roswell is pairing off - Kyle & Vicki,
Valenti & Amy DeLuca, not to mention countless others. Liz is feeling a little
left out, and wonders why Maria and Michael can have their fun, and she and Max
can't. Max is starting to feel those urges as well. They almost kiss a
couple times, but are interrupted. Also, Alex seriously considers telling
Valenti everything he knows, so Isabel goes into his dreams, only to find out he
is dreaming of her. She wonders if they should tell him the truth. The gang then
goes to a party at an old soap factory, where Isabel talks to Alex, and Michael
rejects poor Maria. And before Max and Liz can "go for it", Valenti comes and
arrests Liz and Alex. Liz ends up telling Alex in jail about the aliens, and he
isn't sure whether to believe it or not. But they are friends again, and that's
what counts. At the end, Max visits Liz on her roof, and they finally kiss - a
lot.
My
Impression: All I have to say is "WHEW!". This episode fit its title perfectly.
It was all romance and drama and little action, as opposed to the earlier eps.
The scenes between Maria and Michael were pretty steamy, as we see a side of him
never before seen. I also enjoyed the "dream" scene with Isabel and Alex - I
loved the look on her face as she watched Alex and herself dancing. It's also
interesting how Valenti and Maria's mom have kind of hit it off. Their
relationship may add tension to the six teens later in the series, not to
mention how Maria will react to it. And I am really glad Liz finally told Alex
the truth - I was beginning to feel really sorry for them both. It seems right
that he's in on it, and I look forward to seeing him interact with the others.
And finally, the scene at the end between Max and Liz. It was very touching, and
very well done. It just seems so unbelievable to me that they actually kissed -
it still doesn't seem real, even though I've watched it twice. I look forward to
seeing how things go from here for all six of them.
#10 The
Balance
Michael finds a sketch Max drew of the cave drawings, and becomes upset that Max
hid it from him. He then goes out to the Mesaleca(sp?) Reservation to find River
Dog, and ends up participating in a spiritual cleansing ritual. He soon finds he
can't deal with it, however, and runs out. Meanwhile Isabel and Alex are talking
about the 'alien issue', and Liz and Max are out on an unofficial date. But
Maria interrupts when she, Isabel and Alex find Michael is sick. But Michael
soon tell them he is OK and leaves. Later, Alex almost gives away their secret,
then Michael collapses in the UFO Centre. They take him to Liz's. Liz and Max go
to find River Dog, while the others care for Michael. Isabel is very protective,
but eventually admits she knows how much Maria cares for him. When River Dog
shows up at the Reservation, they bring Michael to him, then perform a ritual of
some sort using energy crystals from Max, Isabel and Michae's home planet in
order to heal Michael. We also find out why Michael was separated from Max and
Isabel when they were kids - he ran away when they saw the headlights. In the
end, Michael is saved by all five of his friends. And Max decides that he and
Liz should take a breather.
My
Impression: Not a bad ep. I felt kind of bad for Alex when Isabel yelled at him,
twice. Again, I enjoyed the scenes between Maria and Michael - they're quite a
pair. And Max and Liz's date was kind of nice. I was actually kind of surprised
when he asked her to dance, because I didn't think he liked dancing for some
reason. And I'm glad to finally know why Michael didn't end up with Isabel and
Max when they were kids. 'Little Michael' was cute. Michael's vision of the star
map at the end was kind of cool. I keep wondering what other secrets River Dog
has up his sleeve. I'm sure we'll see much more of him.
#11 The
Toy House
Max and his mom are hanging out at home, when suddenly a grease fire erupts and
Max must use his powers to save his mother's life. At first she doesn't realize
it, but then she starts to have her suspicions, especially when Sheriff Valenti
starts voicing his own opinion. Max thinks ignoring the issue will make it go
away, but Isabel wants to tell their mother the truth. Max and Michael are both
reluctant. Meanwhile Liz starts hanging out with Kyle more, especially after he
has his accident that sprained his ankle. Max sees this and is jealous, but
tells Liz it's OK with him if she and Kyle get back together. Then they argue a
bit. Michael and Maria also do their share of arguing. Michael revoices that he
can't get close to anyone. Maria tells him he doesn't think about anyone except
himself, Isabel and Max. After a while, though, they kind of make up. As for
Max's mother, Max admits to her there is something strange going on, but that
she needs to trust him and not ask anymore questions. She agrees. Isabel is
disappointed that he didn't tell her the all-out truth.
My
Impression: I wasn't quite sure what to think of this episode, to tell the
truth. I liked it, especially the arguments between Maria and Michael over the
napkin-holder. I also liked how Liz finally stood up to Max and told him off a
little (though not nearly enough, in my POV). I also liked how Max and Isabel's
mom got some more attention. I rather like her. And I wish that they could have
told her the truth, for Isabel's sake, but I'm also glad she doesn't know, so
there are less complications (there are enough as it is). I'm also glad Liz and
Kyle made up and are friends. It might make Max realize what he's missing.
Maybe.
#12 Into
the Woods (airs 01/26/00)
There is a sighting in Roswell that has everyone in a buzz. Liz, Maria, Max,
Isabel and Alex and Kyle all go on a school camping trip with their fathers in
the woods where the sighting was. Max and Isabel want to find out if it was
real, but so does Valenti, who keeps a close eye on them. River Dog comes to
Michael to tell him about the sighting, and Michael suspects that River Dog
might be the fourth alien. But he is proven wrong on their trip into the woods.
Max and Isabel meet them by the cave, while Liz and Maria head off the police.
Max, Isabel, Michael and River Dog find a symbol burned into the ground that
matches the symbol on the pendant Isabel found at Atherton's. They manage toi
hide it before Valenti shows up, but not before they realize that the fourth
alien is somewhere close-by.
My
Impression: Another good ep, I really enjoyed how the group's fathers got
involved in the story, finally. Alex's dad kind of disappointed me - he's not
what I expected, especially after reading the book series. And Max and Isabel's
dad is different from the one they showed at the beginning of the series. But
all that isn't really relevant anyway. I found it nice to see Valenti has a soft
spot, for his son and for his father, whom we finally get to meet. Now I'm
looking forward to seeing who this fourth alien is, and what his relationship is
to the others.
#13 The
Convention
There is a UFO convention taking place in Roswell, centering around the UFO
Centre, where Max works. Max dresses up as an alien (ironic, huh?) and must play
host to Jonathan Frakes. Max is having a hard time getting over Liz. Michael
gives him some advice (thinking of mud), but it doesn't seem to be working.
Also, Maria's mom has an exhibit at the Convention, an alien-wrestling contest.
But one of her wrestlers backs out, meaning bankruptcy if she doesn't find a
replacement. Along comes Michael (who said he didn't care) to save the day.
Meanwhile Isabel is trying to fend off Alex's advances, and tells him he is
suffocating her. An old acquaintance of Valenti Sr's comes to town, a man named
Hubble who is an alien-hunter. Valenti Jr. doesn't like him one bit, and we
realize later it's because Hubble is responsible for Valenti Sr.'s obsession
with aliens. Hubble talks to Larry (remember Larry and Jen from Episode #1?) and
discovers that Max is an alien. We also discover that the fourth alien, Nasedo,
killed Hubble's wife and unborn child, which is why he hates aliens so much. He
goes after Max, but Valenti shoots him before he can do any harm.
My
Opinion: I really liked this episode. The part at the beginning with Max in the
alien costume was funny. As were the interactions between Alex&Isabel and
Maria&Michael. Poor Alex - I loved the scene where Liz, Maria, Amy Deluca and
Jen were going on about men & commitment. And when Michael helped out Maria's
mom, it was really very sweet. The scenes where Max sees Liz in slow motion (and
later, Michael seeing Maria) were rather strange. I'm not sure what that's
supposed to mean. Do human guys experience this? As for Hubble, he was a real
bad guy, but I felt sorry for him at the end after learning Nasedo killed his
wife and baby. I'm beginning to wonder what the deal is with the fourth alien.
#14 Blind
Date
This was a classic episode, almost entirely about Max and Liz. Maria enters Liz
in a dream date contest for Valentine's Day, and she wins!! Much to Liz's
dismay, she is thrust into the starlight and set up with a cute college guy for
a date. Both Max and Kyle watch in jealousy, actually banding together as the
"ex-boyfriends". In the middle of Liz's date, she and the guy manage to escape
the media. Then Max and Kyle go on a drunken spree, invading Liz's room. Liz and
her date catch them, and Max kidnaps her. Meanwhile Michael and Isabel search
for Nasedo, ending up at the library, and Maria does the singing for Alex's
band. Isabel and Michael seem to have no luck, and Maria turns out to be a very
good singer. As for Max and Liz, he tell her he wants to run away with her, and
expresses his feelings to her. She is moved by his display of emotion. When they
end up at the concert with Kyle, the "date" and the media, Liz is asked to
choose which guy she really wants. Before she can, Max kisses her deeply, and
she sees visions of herself. But right after the kiss, Max suddenly sobers up
and runs off. Liz is heartbroken.
My
Opinion: Another great episode. I loved the scenes with Max and Kyle - they seem
to be making friends! I also loved their conversations about Liz - when Kyle
asked how they would share her, etc. And my favorite scene of all was the
"fantasy" scene where Max kidnaps Liz and uses his abilities to turn a
streetlamp into a disco ball and light up parking meters with fireworks. It was
a really magical scene, especially when you add the dialogue. And it only makes
the ending worse when Max tells Liz he doesn't remember anything he said to her.
Poor Liz. If that doesn't finally make her fed-up with him, I don't know what
will!! I also feel kinda sorry for Michael, too. He wants a real father so
badly.
#15
Independence Day
Michael comes to school with a shiner, courtesy his foster father, Hank, and Max
& Isabel get upset. They want to help Michael, but Michael won't let anyone help
him. He stays at the Evans' for a while, but that soon turns aour, and Michael
leaves. He goes back to his home, where Hank is waiting for them. They get into
an argument, just as Max and Isabel arrive. When Hank bothers Isabel, Michael
goes off and uses his powers on Hank. The three escape. Michael is upset, but
still will not accept any aid. He runs off, ending up at Maria's. Maria, who has
sworn never to let Michael close to her again, lets him stay the night in her
room. Unfortunately, Maria's mother (who is romantically involved with Sheriff
Valenti) comes into her room the next morning and flips out. Michael runs off,
and Maria gets a lecture. Later, the police come after Michael in school, after
Hank is reported missing. Valenti thinks Michael may have done something to his
foster father, but Maria persuades her mother to tell Valenti that Michael was
with them all night. Michael is off the hook, but he plans to leave Roswell. Max
& Isabel try to disuade him. Michael goes so far as to hitch a ride out of town
before he turns back. He asks Mr. Evans for help, and is shortly emancipated. In
the very final scene, we see Nasedo in Hank's form, burying Michael's dead
foster father.
My
Opinion: I liked this episode. I gave some due attention to Michael, and showed
just how sensitive he was. The scene between Maria and Michael in her room was
touching, as we see Michael actually cry - something you wouldn't expect from
such a tough-guy. Also, Amy & Valenti's relationship seems to be plodding along
fairly quickly, much to the dismay of her daughter. Max & Liz didn't get a lot
of attention in this episode, but that is just as well. They've had more than
their share of spotlight already. My only disappointment was Alex's absence from
the entire episode.
#16 Sexual
Healing
After she has daydreams about an intimate encounter with Max, Liz's wish for
closeness with her alien-guy comes true, as Max visits the Crashdown and they
start making out, very hot and heavy. This proceeds throughout the entire
episode, much like between Michael & Maria in Heat Wave. But while
they're making out, Liz starts getting these visions about a space ship crashing
to earth - Max, Michael and Isabel's ship. She tells Max, who in turns tells
Michael and Isabel, who both encourage him to continue his relationship with
Liz. He needs little encouragement, as Max and Liz can't seem to keep their
hands off each other. They are caught in the eraser room, and their parents are
brought in. Liz's mom lectures her, but Liz is defensive. Michael gets his own
apartment, and lets Liz and Max use it to do more "research". he and Maria also
do a little experimenting of their own, and Maria lies to him, telling him she
saw visions like Liz. But when he finds out, Michael is upset. But she tells him
she just wanted to be close to him, and eventually he lightens up, and it
actually sweet to her. Isabel and Alex do a little field work of their own, when
she goes to his house and actually lets him kiss her. He doesn't object,
of course. Meanwhile, Liz and Max are getting very close. They sneak out
one night to look for something buried near the crash sight. They are about to
consummate their relationship when Liz hears beeping, and they discover a
glowing object buried in the ground with the alien symbol on it. They sleep out
the night in the desert, and are awakened by a man who incidentally looks just
like Nasedo. He just tells them to go home, though, and they do - with both sets
of parents waiting for them.
My
Opinion: Whoa. I mean, whoa. This is the steamiest episode yet - it far outdoes
Heat Wave. Twice we think Max and Liz are actually going to do it,
but of course, they are foiled both times. Which is just as well, since it's way
too soon, not to mention for the wrong reasons. It also seemed to come out of
nowhere. I didn't expect them to just go at it right away. And I'm wondering how
long this relationshop will last, now that they found the orb and the visions
have stopped (at least, I think they have). I'm wondering what the significance
of the orb was, and what Nasedo had to do with it, after he made that appearance
at the end of the show. I also wonder if Nasedo had something to do with Liz's
visions. I think the little kissing scene between Isabel and Alex was cute - I
knew Isabel liked him more than she let on. Maybe she's finally starting to
lighten up about the whole alien-human relationship thing. And I thought the
last scene between Michael and Maria, where he put his arm around her, was very,
very sweet.
#17 Crazy
Sorry, I missed this one.
#18 Tess,
Lies and Videotape
Max starts to have weird feelings whenever he's around Tess, to the point he
fantasizes about sexual interactions with her. He thinks there's something going
on with her - that she's making him feel this way, but when he tries to explain
to Michael, he receives little sympathy. Michael does check out Tess's place,
and discovers military men there. When Isabel goes to visit, Tess explains her
father works for the military. Isabel thinks she's being straight with her -
until Tess freaks out when Isabel picks up a box in her home labelled "photos".
Even so, Isabel does not want to believe that her new friend is the enemy. But
Max does. He goes to Liz one night, prefessing his love, and then makes out with
Tess right outside the Crashdown, with poor Liz looking on in disbelief. Max
tries to explain to her his suspicions of Tess, but Liz knows what she saw and
is reluctant to forgive him so easily. So she goes to Tess's house, intending to
plant a mini surveillance camera they found in Michael's apartment. She plants
the camera in a sculpture, but then accidentally breaks it. She also discovers
what's in the box labelled "photos" - tons of pictures, all of Max. Tess and her
father invite Liz to stay for dinner, and do not let Liz refuse. She calls Max,
pretending he's her mother, and he and the others go to bail her out. Liz
manages to replant the camera before Max rescues her. Later, as they're watching
the video feed, they watch as Tess dumps the broken sculpture on the table and
uses alien powers to fix it.
My
Opinion: Hmm, not as bad as I thought it might be. It is very obvious that Tess
is not a good guy, and equally obvious she's obsessed with Max in some way. When
watching the commercials for this episode, I was starting to worry about Max and
Liz's relationship. But after seeing it, I know there's nothing to worry about.
Even if Tess does get Max somehow (which I don't think will happen), in the end
I'm sure Max and Liz will be together. And if anyone reading this is worried
about Max/Liz/Tess, my advice is, don't. Simple as that. It's not worth it to
worry anyway, because we all know what's going to happen at the end of the
series. Getting back to this episode, I was a little intrigued by the Valenti
plot-twist, where he claims to be on Max's side now, and when he gives back the
orb. Very interesting. I'm still not sure whether he's genuine or just trying to
trick the aliens. I could go on and on about more details of the show, but I'm
trying to stick with my quota. Looking forward to the next one though - it looks
like we might learn more about the aliens' past.
#19 Four
Square
Max and the others start following Tess, thinking she is Nasedo, the evil
shape-shifter. But Tess quickly catches on to them and acts innocent. Meanwhile
both Isabel and Michael have strange dreams. They dream about themselves being
together, kissing. Both are fairly disturbed by these dreams. Isabel decides to
pursue a real relationship with Alex, and drags him into the janitor's closet at
school to make-out. Michael tells Maria he wants to go steady, and she doesn't
complain. But then Isabel dreams about having Michael's child, and she believes
she is already somehow pregnant. As for Tess, she displays more and more her
knowledge about their alien heritage, pulling an alien book out of the wall of
the library. She goes to Max's room while he is asleep, then drags him out into
the desert to the original crash site. There he learns the truth about her -
that she is not Nasedo, and that she was in the crash just like them, and was
also in an incubation pod, only hers didn't "hatch" until young Max, Isabel and
Michael had already left.
My
Opinion: Yikes. This show is getting very heavy very fast. I was shocked at the
implication of Isabel's pregnancy. I never imagined the writers would go that
far. On the other hand, their alien heritage coming into play has been long
awaited. I just didn't expect it to be like this. It's also kind of obvious that
Isabel&Michael, and Max&Tess are supposed to be paired up. I'm curious to know
how that will progress. As for Tess, I wasn't sure about her at first. I
wondered if she was a bad guy, but now that I'm pretty sure she's not, I don't
actually dislike her. Though she seems to be coming on pretty strongly to Max
(not to mention her interactions with Isabel and Michael) it is quite possible
she is being driven by her alien instincts. So my opinion of her, though at the
moment fairly positive, is still not set solid.
#20 Max to
the Max
Max, Isabel and Michael see the cave where they were hatched out of their pods.
Isabel is a little overwhelmed. Tess tries to convince Michael to trust her,
giving him the alien book she took from the library. When the three friends
leave, Nasedo/Mr. Harding shows his face, and it turns out he's been taking care
of Tess over the years. It also seems it's his job to protect the aliens, even
if it means killing. Meanwhile Isabel admits to Max that she thinks she's
pregnant with Michael's child. Maria finds out and is upset, but Michael is less
than comforting. Max goes to talk to Tess, and she reveals that the four of them
were not conceived but manufactured, and that they were meant to pair up -
Max&Tess, Michael&Isabel - in order to procreate. She also reveals that Isabel
is not pregnant, and that the dreams they've been having were meant to
awaken them. Isabel is relieved to hear this. While all this is going on,
though, Nasedo transforms into Max and kidnaps Liz, leaving a trail for an FBI
alien hunter, Agent Pierce, to follow. Nasedo wants to kill Pierce, who has been
after the aliens. They end up at a fair, with Pierce, Sheriff Valenti, and the
four aliens hot on their heels. Nasedo/Max and Liz enter one of those warped
mirror places, and Valenti, Max and Pierce (who happens to have been posing as a
deputy) follow. Max and Liz seem to escape while the other Max, presumably
Nasedo, is caught, but then it turns out it was the real Max that Pierce
caught. Liz is upset, and Nasedo says he has to rescue Max. The last scene shows
Max alone in a "white" room.
My
Opinion: Definitely building suspense here. I'm relieved Isabel isn't really
pregnant. That would have been hard to explain to her folks. I'm not surprised
Mr. Harding turned out to be Nasedo - I'm sure most of us were suspicious of
that. It only mildly surprised me that he's there to protect the aliens. And the
idea that the four aliens are test-tube babies is certainly an interesting
twist. Although it does solve the questions of how they're related and if they
have parents. I was actually quite surprised when Nasedo, as Max, actually
made-out with Liz, since he is supposed to be so emotionless. Then again, he is
a good actor. I'm even more curious now to know who (or what) he really is, not
to mention how Tess is ultimately going to turn out in the scheme of things.
#21 The
White Room
Max is taken to a secret FBI base where he is questioned and tortured by Agent
Pierce. They conduct experiments, verifying that Max isn't human. But Max won't
answer any of Pierce's questions - not that he could if he wanted to, since he
knows less about himself than the FBI. Pierce himself verifies that they caught
two aliens back in 1947 after the crash, and that one of them (Nasedo) escaped.
Pierce has one of the alien orbs, and he wants the other one. He threatens Liz's
life in order to get Max to tell him where it is. Meanwhile the others plan to
rescue Max. Liz wants to enlist Valenti's help, but Michael refuses. Isabel
dreamwalks in order to find out where Max is being held, and then Michael,
Isabel and Tess go to rescue him. After they infiltrate the base, they run into
Nasedo, who has a plan to get in. He needs Michael to pose as an agent to get
them through security, and kills the agent whose handprint Michael assumes. They
manage to get in. Tess reveals her powers of making people see things that
aren't really happening (like she did with Max in previous episodes). She uses
this to occupy Pierce, who wants Max to tell him how the orbs work. They manage
to get Max out, but Nasedo stays behind. He is shot and captured. Pierce goes
after Max and the others and shoots at them, but Valenti comes along and helps
them escape. Liz had gone to him and asked for his help, ignoring Michael's
warning.
My
Opinion: Some things were answered in this episode, such as why Nasedo was
scared of Pierce, and the issue of the two aliens reportedly captured at the
crash site. After Nasedo tells Michael that he and the others were 'engineered'
to be human, I'm curious to know if they aren't at least partly human. I'm also
convinced that Tess is obsessed with Max, after finding out she was the one
giving him those daydreams. Now we just have to see how the young group deals
with this situation, since the FBI now knows who they all are.
#22 Season
Finale
After saving Max, they flee into the desert - Valenti tells them to meet up at
an abandoned mine. Michael, Isabel, Maria, Alex and Tess drive in the jeep to
the mine, but Max & Liz split up from them and are chased & shot at. They leave
the car and run off, eventually jumping off a bridge. They end up in a scrapyard,
where they talk about Tess & Max being destined for one another. Max convinces
her otherwise. They say "I love you" to each other, then start making out. The
others meet Valenti at the mine, then he and Michael leave to go look for Max
and Liz. In the morning, Liz & Max wake up to find agents after them and run.
Michael uses his powers - in front of Valenti - to stop the FBI agents. They
return to the mine, where Valenti realizes that Max, Michael and Isabel are all
aliens. Max tells him that they don't know why they're here & that they mean no
harm, but Valenti is still in shock. But then he discovers that Pierce sent a
man to Kyle, so they all come up with a plan. Using Tess's powers, they make two
of Pierce's men go to some abandoned gas station. Kyle starts to get suspicious
after Max comes and takes out the agent in his house. Kyle thinks Max kidnapped
his dad, so he grabs his father's gun and follows Max. Meanwhile Valenti tricks
Pierce into a trap at the UFO Center. Max interrogates Pierce, and they discover
where Nasedo is. When they leave Pierce for a moment, Kyle comes and frees him,
giving him his dad's gun. When Max & the others return, there is a shootout.
Valenti's gun jams, so Michael uses his powers and accidentally kills Pierce. He
is very upset at it. They then discover that Kyle has been shot, so Max heals
him. Then Isabel & Alex and Michael & Maria say goodbye - Michael tells Maria he
loves her. The others go rescue Nasedo, and take him to the cave where they use
the healing stones to revive him. He then assumes Pierce's identity to keep the
FBI away from the aliens. After that, the four aliens activate the orbs. It
turns out to be a message from Max & Isabel's mother. She tells them that Max is
the leader of their race, and that Tess is his wife; Michael was Max's second in
command, and also Isabel's fiance. The four were killed in a war on their
planet, but were cloned and mixed with human genetic material in order to live
again and someday return to free their people. Max tries to deny it, but Liz
says she can't stand in between him & his destiny. They kiss once before she
leaves. The Roswell theme music plays as they watch her go. Then there's some
kind of beacon that's sent out over the earth, apparently calling out to other
aliens, assumably Max's people.
The End.
My
Opinion: Wow, there's a lot of revelation in this episode. The truth about the
aliens' destinies seems so remarkable. Poor Max & Liz!! Though it seems like
their relationship is doomed, I've decided to remain optimistic. I haven't grown
fond of Nasedo in the least, and I'm still suspicious of him. And even though
Tess is seen as the enemy when it comes to Liz & Max's relationship, I can't
really blame her - it's not as if she set the whole thing up. In fact, I kind of
feel sorry for her, a little. As for Max being the leader of the alien race,
that seems a little out-there. I have my doubts whether it's realistic that Max
& the others, after being reincarnated with a fraction of their original power,
are expected to somehow come back and free their people. I'm also a little
surprised there seem to be so many aliens on earth. If they were all there, then
why weren't they helping Nasedo protect the others? There are about a hundred
more questions I could ask, but I think I'll wait until next season rolls
around, since I won't be getting any answers 'till then anyway.
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