‘ALPHAS’ REVIEW: Season One, Episode Seven

Review of “Catch and Release” (01:07)

SPOILER ALERT!

Alphas, the new super-human series on Syfy, has found its stride and there seems to be no stopping the show. In episode seven of the inaugural season, we visit New Jersey and a young lady with a penchant for all things technological. Her special power is that she’s able to take random objects and turn them into weapons, contraptions and cool thingamigs. Her name is Skylar Adams (Summar Glau) and she earns the interest of the Alphas team led by Dr. Lee Rosen (David Strathairn).

When we first meet Skylar, she’s escaping her apartment and blowing up any evidence that’s left behind.

The Alphas at the beginning of the episode are all over the place. Rosen is sharing dinner with Kathy Sullivan (Valerie Cruz), of the Department of Defense (was that flirtation, good doctor?). Bill Harken (Malik Yoba) and his wife talk about the possibility of having children, though Bill is worried about passing on his super-abilities. Gary Bell’s mother, Sandra (Jane Moffat), refuses to let her son go into work out of fear that his job is becoming too dangerous. Instead, she tells Rosen that Gary (Ryan Cartwright) is sick.

Nina Theroux (Laura Mennell) is still reeling from her “close encounter” with Cameron Hicks (Warren Christie). But her attention is soon focused on the case at hand: Nina actually knows Skylar and also knows where to find her.

After she sells one of her devices at a Brooklyn street market, the Alphas nab Skylar and bring her in for questioning. Rosen wants to protect her, while the DOD and National Security Agency want Skylar and her technology. This seems to be a common theme: Rosen’s team thinks its doing one thing, while, in fact, they are playing right into the hands of the suits.

On the home front, Gary stands up to his mother and even screams at her to get out of his room. He wants his independence and no longer wants to be babied. After picking up some signals that his team may be in trouble, Gary leaves his house and joins the action.

Nina takes Skylar to her apartment to protect her, and the two decide to take a road trip to Maine. Skylar is in search of a mysterious man named Z and she also needs to destroy her greatest invention, a device nicknamed Bob that can track anyone in the world. Apparently, that’s why the NSA is so interested in her technologies.

In Waterville, Maine, the rest of the Alphas catch up with Nina and Skylar, and that’s where the truth about Z comes out. This mysterious man is no man at all; Z is the name of Skylar’s daughter, a second-generation Alpha.

Rather than turning her in, Rosen lets Skylar and Z escape. He also destroys “Bob,” so the NSA is left with its tail between its legs.

“Catch and Release” is another fine episode of Alphas. It has a nice theme: How do the Alphas deal with family issues? Gary has a run-in with his mother, while Bill questions the safety of having children. Skylar is not a runaway bandit; she’s a caring mother who needs to protect her daughter.

The episode also gives some nice background material for Nina’s character. However, I still think more details need to emerge. We have learned about her past with Skylar and her accidental killing of an ex-boyfriend, but other than that, Nina remains a mystery.

Rachel Pirzad (Azita Ghanizada) has also taken a backseat to the action in the last couple of episodes. With the men in the spotlight, it’ll be up the women to regain the focus in the second half of the first season.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Alphas

• Syfy, Mondays at 10 p.m.

• Created by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow

• Starring David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Warren Christie, Azita Ghanizada, Laura Mennell, Malik Yoba and Jane Moffat
  

• Rating:
  

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