Mental Illness and the Non-Neuro-Typical in Urban Fantasy

Mental illnesses and non-neurotypical people are both very much misunderstood in society. Feared, reviled, pitied and shamed, there’s a lot of ignorance, a lot of misunderstanding, a lot of fear and a whole lot of damaging tropes that are assumed and encouraged. Collectively these present real barriers for the non-neurotypical to seek help and support they may need or want (or even be aware they exist) and create massive difficulties in interacting with neuro-typical people whose assumptions and worries can render it almost impossible.

Needless to say, media depiction has a huge effect on this - with repeated depictions adding to all of these problems as we see the same tropes crop up over and over

Almost ironically, the most common mental illness and non-neurotypical tropes we see in Urban Fantasy doesn’t even involve the mentally ill at all; instead it epitomises neuro-typical people’s fear of becoming mentally ill or, as it is repeatedly called over and over “going crazy.”

Indeed, it’s very rare for an Urban Fantasy series not to take a neuro-typical person, introduce them to the supernatural world and have them not think “oh my god, I’m losing my mind!” with additional levels of angst and fear. It is indicative of just how much we have demonised being mentally ill that, when the character is convinced that what they’re experiencing is real, they commonly feel profoundly relieved.

Because a world where there are immortal supernatural beings with immense power that literally feed on people to survive is much more reassuring than the idea you may have a mental illness in need of treatment? Hey a supernatural monster is currently hunting me, but thank gods I’m not crazy!

Looking at it logically, this is an appallingly ridiculous reaction - but in series where the supernatural hasn’t already been established and it has to be discovered then this doubt and relief is almost ubiquitous. It’s considered as much a staple as the dead parent.

This trope of mental illness being a terrible worse-than-death fate that may afflict neuro-typical people is really well ingrained in our culture and frequently arises in fiction.

In Witches of East End rather than have Maura live with the mental illness Wendy magically inflicted on her (and, perhaps, be treated for it), they choose to magically send her into a happy deluded coma instead. That’s an extreme example - but there’s innumerable examples of neuro-typical people suffering the terrible fate of being wrongly locked in an asylum (especially in programmes set in the past). The whole of American Horror Story: Asylum rests on the trope. Teen Wolf had Stiles wrongly confined in Eichen House, Penny Dreadful has Eva confined in an asylum. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland has Alice escaping from Bethlem - in fact, Bethlem could have its own subsection of its own!. Her Own Devices has Claire rescue someone from Bethlem, one of the main terrors of Xandra in the Immortal Empire Series is being shut in Bethlem. The whole concept of Bedlam is set on the horrors of an asylum now afflicting modern neuro-typical people - and it’s even named after the infamous asylum.

All of these feature a neuro-typical person being wrongfully detained in an asylum. And it’s not being locked up in an asylum that’s the problem - it’s that they’ve been locked up while being neuro-typical. It’s the wrongful accusation. This even applies when the conditions in the asylum are horrific and brutal - the horror isn’t horrific for its own sake, it’s horrific because these people are “innocent” of being mentally ill. In fact, mentally ill inmates of these institutions are often used as background wallpaper or to even add to the horror the neuro-typical protagonist must endure. The mentally ill are often freakish horrors that add to the protagonist’s misery and torment until they can escape the unjust abuse.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 22: Son of Man

Stephen is attacking Ultra to free his father and stop humanity dying, but not alone because Jedikiah has gone as well, according to John. Irene says the human body eventually rejects Tomorrow People powers (and yes, Jedikiah did steal Irene’s powers. He stole her genes. No it doesn’t make sense of course it doesn’t make sense this is The Tomorrow People) so Jedikiah clearly took hers not to fulfil his dreams but out of noble sacrifice or some crap.

It also seems that Jedikiah can kill with his powers – as he, at least, severely injures one guard – before having to pick up a gun when he runs out of juice. Of course now he’s human he can’t go near ther machine without dying so we have a dramatic angst moment when Roger urges Jedikiah to shoot him to stop the machine. Drama drama angst, sorry the ridiculous storylines have left me caring so little about these characters.

Stephen arrives, rather late, and runs through the trail of carnage Jedikiah left in his wake and, of course, arrives just in time to see Jedikiah shoot Roger and the machine power down. If you’d just been 3 minutes sooner Stephen.

While they’re all tragic and dramatic, the Founder arrives all evil like because the machine is still working – it’s already got its Roger stuff (don’t ask, it’s Tomorrow People). The Founder and his goons kind of just stand and watch while Roger gives his son an empowerment speech then they let him teleport away. The Founder also wants to be dramatic in killing Jedikiah and Roger too, so he gives them chance to teleport out as well. Perhaps he should quit on the dramatic pauses?

Roger teleports them to a flat somewhere where he dies in Jedikiah’s arms.

Stephen staggers back to the Tomorrow People HQ grieving, telling Cara how he can stop time but he was too late (oh dear gods, did this show just lamp shade its awful inability to keep the powers coherent over a character’s death?). Dramatic grieving Stephen grabs a gun and asks John to take him to the facility where John was experimented on until he learned how to kill – taking the info from John’s mind. Cara asks why he’s doing this and Stephen says “revenge”. Which should have been fairly obvious.

Cara runs through the machine with Tim and this super computer basically has the answer “humans should get far away.” Useful Tim, really useful. Cara wants John to run though he points out without a car, passport or the ability to teleport it’s not like he can. He’s having trouble adapting to humanity but they seem to drag their relationship up again with Cara promising to get to him as soon as she’s stopped the machine. Well at least she has decent priorities.

John goes to Jed’s flat for money and he and Jed have a “awww let’s pretend we have a father/son relationship and forget about all the torture and killing” moment.

Stephen goes to the lab where he finds the Founder is mass producing turn-paranormals-into-killers drug which is ominous but kind of lacking next to the whole apocalypse thing.

Russell with Ultra, is surprised to realise the Founder is evil and now wants him to kidnap Cara. Or he can’t be part of their new genocide future. They end up leading a Paranormal kill squad – Evil Natalie goes ahead to tell Cara she made a “mistake” by becoming evil, of course she’s evil and is just leading the kill squad right to Cara. They knock her down but Russell throws them all against the wall because murder is not part of the deal. Except Roger. And wiping out humanity. But murder bad!

Cara joins Stephen in his easily-found-bedroom Cara tells Stephen how special he is but he won’t save them all by giving up his humanity (um… since killing is something humans can do but paranormals can’t, wouldn’t he be claiming his humanity?). He doesn’t take the drug.

Now Cara has called Stephen special, John goes back to Second-Choice Astrid and all 4 of them meet up. They have 2 hours before the machine explodes and time stops for all humans – and never starts again. Then Russell joins them – Stephen understandably jumps him given the whole father murdering thing and Russell actually has the gall to claim he didn’t know. Russell gives them the plan Roger had – though it required a dozen not 3 (Astrid and John object to being missed out of the plan). The plan involves attacking with someone sneaking in the back (that would be attacking agents who can kill but they can’t because HUMANITY!)

Cara and Russell fight the agents and do really well because the agents keep using guns which are really kind of useless when telekinesis takes out whole scads of people and stops bullets. They’d actually be much better off putting the guns down and just using telekinesis. John shows how you really use a gun – sniping (Astrid tells him there’s someone to shoot – wow, you didn’t even try to make her useful).

Inside Cara and Russell split up for REASONS. Cara gets to confront the Founder while Russell confronts Natalie where he says he simply has to draw the line at genocide (y’know, eventually. Rather belatedly). Natalie is still all “yay genocide!”

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 21: Kill Switch

Ok, only 2 more episodes left. How many more broken characterisations, plot holes, ridiculous storylines and mind numbingly enraging ideas can they fit in 2 episodes?

Don’t answer that

Quick recap of the explosion that killed Hillary (and that the Founder probably teleported away from), a brief flashback from Stephen of him and Hillary together to remind us he cares about her – and then Stephen staggering in the wreckage. He walks into the office – and the Founder survived. Of course he did. He’s just a little singed at the edges. Stephen teleports out.

While Jedikiah goes to the capital to convince his political backer to shut down Ultra because it’s all gone badly wrong. Unfortunately, having this man shut down Ultra means telling him about Ultra in the first place. “Hey I’ve been misappropriating a ton of funds to experiment on super powers now I need you to stop it before they annihilate the human race” is… actually really easy sell when you think about it. Jedikiah starts ranting and the political guy has security drag him from the building.

At Tomorrow People HQ, Stephen tells all – and Roger wants to run so he and Stephen can’t be used to power the super kill-humans weapon, but Marla has no wish to live on the run – they’re killing the Founder, damn it. John returns and Cara goes to him – John has been stripped of his powers. He has a message from the Founder – Cara has to convince him that they have a real truce or he’ll make all the Tomorrow People like John. And John says “your people” not “our people.”

Cara goes to Ultra (because this is the level of intelligence we get on this show) and the Founder offers his deal – Roger for a truce. And if they don’t accept the truce, he will kill them all which he can easily do now because Russell, Natalie and fellow fools have all had that tracer injected. It also has a kill switch, which the Founder demonstrates to random Red Shirt person who tagged along with them. He will kill one per hour until he gets Roger

Aaaargh, my head actually hurts having to try and process how ridiculous stupid this show is – aaaargh, let them all die, they’re all too damn foolish to live!

At HQ Natalie, the damn fool who lead to them all being fitted with chips in the first place, is angry and tries to convince Russell to help her betray Roger (who she regards as less trustworthy than the Founder. The man who fitted her with a kill switch. AAAAARH! Is she going to accept no responsibility for this bullshit at all?!)

Anyway, the plan is to grab Jodie’s body (dead Red Shirt) and bring him back to HQ so genius Irene can solve it. Possibly using Jedikiah except he’s been checked into a mental hospital. Marla goes and rescues him. John, Cara and Stephen go to take Jodie’s body and they leave John to hold the guard/cop at gunpoint while they leave rather than knocking him aside with telekinesis and teleporting out because REASONS. So then Cara has to rescue him by doing what she should have done in the first place because… AAAAAAAAARGH Tomorrow People doesn’t even TRY to make sense!

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 20: A Sort of Homecoming

Tension, tension, recap, recap while everyone gathers around Roger’s inert form and he finally wakes up just as Stephen and Marla are considering he may not wake up. But not only did he wake up but can pull of all the wires and sit up as well. Marla’s an awesome nurse. There’s a happy reunion followed by John’s “oops sorry I killed you” but that’s totally ok because he and Jedikiah manipulated him into it as part of their master plan. Jed has randomly left as well – for some reason (and some how, does he even know how to get in and out of the base without teleportation).

Roger instantly wants fitting on all of the Founder’s plans when Marla speaks up, reminding him that Luca exists (the show often forgets) and before diving into the mission maybe, just maybe, he could spare a couple of minutes for his family.

And Stephen decides to report all the good news to spy Hillary. The Founder is worried because Roger is so uber powerful and even Stephen (a synergist – someone with two paranormal parents) hasn’t matched him. He orders Hillary to bring him in.

Roger gets dressed and prepares to go home but Cara wants her people’s saviour to stay underground with them. But he refuses to give up his family again nor does he appreciate being lectured by someone young enough to be his daughter. Then she orders him to stay and won’t let him leave unless he fights her… seriously. And John steps up – he will fight Roger to keep him prisoner.

And is there any point? Can’t Roger just stop time and win? Anyway they fight and it’s clear John is carrying a lot of guilt, he’s fighting so Roger can hurt him because of the whole shooting thing (speaking of, this is probably really bad for Roger’s bullet wound). Roger wins the right to actually go see his family rather than be Cara’s prisoner. Which causes John to roar and ask “who are we?” uhhh… not his family? John and Cara complain about being abandoned

Because the man wants to see his family, his son, after years of not seeing them? Damn, that’s some epic neediness there.

Roger goes home and acknowledges to Marla that he can’t just step into the lives they’ve built after so long away. She asks him to just “be here”. And Luca arrives – that’s the Luca who has only just learned that super powers exist, that he may have them and that his mother likes to keep massive secrets for no discernible reason but no-one has a minute to explain all this. Probably understandably he runs upstairs.

Stephen tries to talk to him about everything and not going out that night and avoiding everything. Luca thinks this will be far too awkward (since he’s a near stranger to his dad) and the first night of reunion needs some kind of buffer – Astrid is on call! And then Hillary invites herself because that’s totally not awkward.

Awkward dinner derails when Luca finally cracks and finally wants to talk about everything. Roger responds with a speech about how much he loves his family and proposes a toast, lifting all the glasses with telekinesis – y’know just in case Luca wasn’t freaked out enough about the super power thing.

After some convoluted twists people split off into twosomes. Astrid lays an awesome verbal smack down on Hillary about how she better be on the level and how much Stephen needs to trust people at the moment. Outside with Stephen, Roger confirms he can’t stay with them because the Founder will find him – Hillary watches and so does an “extractor team”. But Hillary tells them to hold off (I’m guessing she’s conflicted).

Rogers tracks down Jedikiah to offer forgiveness while Jed is all guilty for not bringing Roger back sooner, Jed admits that he liked being the powerful brother for once. Roger thanks him for looking after his family (Are. You. Serious?!) and Jed warns Roger about going underground because the Founder has already tapped Stephen for the machine. To check up on that they go to Jed’s flat (Roger taunting him all the time, as brother’s do) and use remote access to Ultra’s supercomputer A.I, A.L.I.C.E (an upgrade over TIM with extra flirting). They transfer the files and get out just before agents arrive.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 19: Modus Viviendi

Another episode of Tomorrow People, hang on to your hats and reach for your drinks and leave your intelligence by the door!

Jedikiah breaks into Ultra but can’t reach the super machine of doom because the Founder changed the locks. CURSE HIS CUNNING! Plan B, slamming one’s fist against bullet proof glass until it bleeds, is unsurprisingly ineffective.

The Founder turns this into a propaganda speech for his staff, all of whom seem to have forgotten that he was very much involved in Jedikiah’s “brutal regime”. I think a side-effect of being a Paranormal is to also be very very very naïve. Anyway, he wants the big bad Jedikiah found and brought to him for justice (police, courts? Nahhhh). Stephen warns John about this just in case the Jedikiah manhunt leads to Roger’s dead body. Anyway, Stephen wants to try the new nifty machine again but he can’t until he’s mastered how to stop time – (hey remember he can do that? Because it’s a skill he NEVER USES? Or even tries to use?). The place on the other side can only be occupied with Paranormals and it needs time stopping to get there – oh and the Founder totally dodges the question about whether you can come back or not. Which I think may be an issue.

This means training all of Stephen’s other powers. Which is apparently hard (especially using all 3 at once). There’s also more flirting with Hillary.

John drops in on Jedikiah who is a paranoid mess and keeps pointing his gun at John (honestly Jed, you shoot a paranormal or he uses teleportation and telekinesis to take the gun off you. These threats are silly). He refuses to leave and wants John to help him in his continual vigil over Roger’s body. Jed tries to bond with John, who isn’t buying, so instead, because he fears the Founder’s “weapon”, he tells John that if Ultra find them they need to destroy Roger rather than let him be used.

The Founder drops in on Stephen awkwardly preparing for Hillary’s visit (waaay too many candles) to say he wants a peace summit with the Tomorrow People – which also comes with a huge threat if they’re helping Jed. Stephen takes the offer to Cara who comments on the idea of a peace summit + threat as not being all that peaceful. But, hey, Stephen is all team Founder now for… I’m not even going to say REASONS because that shows this programme far too much respect. There are no reasons here, it just is for complete randomness.

They also discuss the machine, bringing Roger back and his bullet wound and Tim almost spills all the texts Hillary has been sending Stephen. Why is no-one creeped out by his monitoring their texts? Stephjen finally returns home for his date, briefly interrupted by Astrid calling and being quickly got rid of

So Astrid calls Cara because… she wants a friend? They both get together on how terribad that Stephen is sleeping with Hillary and how evil she is and untrustworthy and how they totally have to kidnap Hillary and read her mind.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 18: Smoke and Mirrors

The Founder has taken over Ultra and declares to everyone that they will no longer hunt Paranormals, that they were blessed beings who needed to be part of society and it was all the evil evil evil Jedikiah’s fault. In future new breakouts will be educated and told to behave and released!

I’m impressed – I thought Stephen “undercover” was the most ridiculous attempt at subterfuge on this show, now they’ve topped it! Seriously no-one can possibly believe the Founder here.

Meanwhile John is angsting over having killed Cassie which he rapidly gets over when he makes out with Cara when Stephen interrupts them. AND HE COMPLETELY BELIEVES THE FOUNDER HAS HAD A CHANGE OF HEART

Oh for gods’ sake! Someone get me a bottle of something at least 30 proof, because there’s no way I’m getting through this episode without it.

Anyway, we have a new breakout using his powers to do magic tricks in the street. Hillary takes this to the Founder with Stephen and the Founder is being creepily nice – wanting to be called by his first name and his door is always open – is anyone (except the not very bright Stephen) actually buying this? Stephen then has a little hissy fit at Hillary and now he chooses to be cynical about the Founder when it gives him the chance to get on Hillary’s case – but he was defending the guy to Cara and John. They have a bet on whether the Founder can be trusted or not

And Stephen is ambushed by Jedikiah for a meeting. Jedikiah wants help bringing down the Founder, Stephen point out that Jedikiah was the one with kill squads. He says the Founder plans to kill millions of humans and he needs Stephen’s hardly-ever-used time stopping ability. Stephen isn’t ready to jump to Jed’s team.

Hillary and Stephen go out for a drink and see Monty’s act (hey, anyone remember Stephen is supposed to be 18?) and track down the break out – though Cara (for once making sense) points out they are actually risking the life of a very harmless Paranormal just to test whether the Founder is telling the truth or not (or, more accurately, they’re risking the life of a paranormal to test whether the founder will reveal his evil now or later). Cara and John decide to intercept. So all four of them get to see Monty’s act and Cara insists that she and John sit with Stephen because… because… because forcing socially awkward scenes that could expose the Tomorrow People to an Ultra agent is funsies?

Hillary ambushes the magician after the show, slamming him into a wall (new caring Ultra still includes abductions) – and Cara does the same to her. Hillary and Cara fight. John and Stephen watch until Stephen points out they have to fight or Hillary will realise something’s up. In the end, Cara escapes with the magician.

While Jedikiah visits Stephen’s home - Marla is out, only little brother Luca is at home. Of course, in keeping with ridiculous family habits, no-one has told Luca about anything. And Jedikiah is carrying a gun – because he conspicuously checks it.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 17: End Game

Flashback time – to 30 years ago with a young Jedikiah who is apparently being bullied, and his brother Roger (Stephen’s father) trying to convince him not to play with their dad’s gun. They wrestle over it, which is a really bad idea, and Roger accidentally pulls the trigger – but then uses his powers to stop the bullet hitting Jed (do we need to poke the “no killing” thing and how this kicks in here?)

This is a flashback which is how Jedikiah is explaining how much he loved his brother and dedicated his life to him. Honest. And he’s just protecting him and keeping it allll a secret to protect them from the Founder. Apparently this is all better than what the Founder planned – a machine to amplify his powers

Yeah, I’m going to go with “amplified powers” as being better than “dead”. I’m just saying. But don’t worry, Jedikiah has a plan… seriously is Stephen really going to believe this? How much more proof do we need hat Jedikiah is evil!?

In Tomorrow People’s HQ, the new snarky Tim is still snarky, and Cara wakes from an odd dream/hearing someone telepathically, someone begging for help and a tormentor to stop. She sense a breakout – but it feels odd, like Stephen did.

At Ultra they’re also sensing a weird, faint breakout and the Founder drops in (Jedikiah calls him “Bathory” which is apparently a name he hasn’t used in a long time). The Founder has finally rebuilt a machine that Roger destroyed and he wants to test it on Stephen (the amplifier I assume), Jedikiah waffles and the Founder doesn’t care about family – he experiments on his own synergist daughter (someone with 2 paranormal parents) and reveals that Stephen is one too, which is news to Jedikiah. Hah, of course it was, because she’s bizarrely kept it hidden from everyone to such a degree I’m sure the writers just decided to change the planned plot randomly. Cassie is unsuitable for the machine for REASONS and the Founder wishes they had Roger around while trying to read Jedikiah’s mind; Jedikiah happily stabs himself in the hand to block any reaction or thoughts.

When he’s gone, Stephen enters and they discuss Jedikiah’s secret plan – he wants to kill the Founder. Which means getting John to do it – part of Jedikiah’s long running master plan. Stephen goes to John with this who is very wisely questioning the whole “hey let’s trust Jedikiah and kill someone at his say so!” With the addition of John not wanting to be a murderer and, hey, being a killer goes against everything the Tomorrow People are on a biological level, he says no. Stephen pouts away.

Stephen returns to Jedikiah to report that John won’t be his killbot so they have to get to the Founder another way which is hard because early breakouts are super paranoid. They hit on using his daughter (Jedikiah tells Stephen she was subject to the experiments he would have been but of course Jedikiah’s not going to provide any actual details). Of course getting her out of the citadel could be done at Jedikiah’s orders – but said orders would also expose him so they really need to succeed and need John to do so

Flashback to the younger Jed and Roger experimenting with Roger’s powers and bickering like true brothers. And it’s Jedikiah who suggests they partner with the Founder and his greater resources.

Present and Stephen rescues Cassie – though she warns him that he’s “next on his list”.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 15: The Enemy of my Enemy

Ultra raided by an angry Paranormal who causes a bit of chaos before being tased and dropped. It’s Julian. Well that was productive.

And John is still staying at Steven’s and being a surprisingly good cook; in between praising his food and mocking the idea of a man cooking for another man (y’know jokes like that are always going to be shaky, but are only worse on a show that hasn’t decided to acknowledge GBLT people exist) Steven wants John and Cara back together, working together etc etc.

Which leads to Charlotte talking to both John and Cara telepathically with a whole lot of wanting John back. Cara comes up with the bizarre non-sequiter “you can’t bring someone in unless they’re ready.” Um… I don’t think John is “not ready” to join a group he appeared to have founded

It doesn’t have to make sense because it’s a clumsy lead in for a flashback to 3 years ago when Cara and John first met on the subway and he stopped her stealing his watch and confronted her about her powers and telling her about The Tomorrow People.

Meanwhile, Steven visits Astrid (she has been allowed out of the plot box!) who doesn’t really believe all his assurances that all is safe and quickly gets rid of him.

And at Ultra it seems Julian has effectively turned himself in so he can offer a deal to Jedikiah to get Cara. There all the plot lines have been set up onwards to some plot please.

Cara and Russell are planning a supply run (and telling Charlotte she can’t come) when Steven passes on the news about Julian being captured – but not the deal. Back to Julian who sells why he will do a much better job of finding the Tomorrow People (and he calls Cara a “shifty little minx” which I can’t even begin to grasp – did we teleport back to the 1920s?), he’s sure he can do it because he taught Cara everything she knows, apparently. Jedikiah responds by having a chip injected up his nose. It’s a bomb – he brings in Cara et al on time or it blows up.

One of these days people are going to realise that making deals with Jedikiah is a bad idea and that the bad guy is, y’know, a bad guy.

Astrid calls Steven on Skype – and gets a shirtless John instead, but she has issues to talk out and he’s willing to listen – and come over so she can talk to him since she’s having problems going out after her experiences. (John teleports over for her convenience and a reminder that she’s silly because the bad guys can get her anywhere! No, not really but that’s only because Tomorrow People doesn’t think these things through) She talks through her fears – and fears of being around Steven – and John plans to be reassuring, comforting and help…

…and lead into another flashback with a nervous Cara – who said no to John’s kind offer of joining him since she’d already been burned with Julian

In the present Steven learns that Julian is being used for nefarious purposes. Julian finds Cara, Russell and the resupply team and his Ultra agents restrain everyone but Cara. Steven teleports in to free Russell and the others, while Cara is ambushed, beaten and throttled by Julian until Steven throws a can at his head. Cara escapes along with Russell and co and Steven pretends to have been called in for backup as an Ultra agent (thankfully, Ultra keeps no log of such requests because REASONS, but then, it’s not like Steven’s cover-agent status isn’t known to everyone).

John helps Astrid confront her fears by jumping out of a moving train and teleporting them both. This may be why John did not take up a career as a therapist. Of course this leads to “john talk to Cara” because that’s the not-subtle theme of the episode

Speaking of, Cara and Russell come home to find that Charlotte is missing, looking for John. She’s decided to go wandering saying John’s name aloud rather than telepathically contacting him for REASONS! And her presence is detected by Julian who decides to check it out – after tranqing Steven to be extra sure the double agent doesn’t screw things up. Falling unconscious, Steven sends a warning to John just as Charlotte is cuffed and captured.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 14: Brother's Keeper

In the aftermath of the drive by at the sandwich shop, Marla (quite possibly the worst parent in the world) leaps into action – teleporting him and hitting her secret stash of cash after having Stephen drop Astrid and her dad off at the bus stop. She tells him to pack while he would rather talk because HUGE BIG REVELATION of the secret she has been keeping for NO DAMN REASON. She’s busy but the best she can manage is “it’s the only way I knew how to help.” She tries to get him to run saying, as his mother, she protects him but Stephen is hella pissed at the severely awful job she’s done so far.

When Jedikiah and some gun toting minions burst in – apparently to help (he, like everyone else in the world, doesn’t know about Marla). He wants some time alone with Stephen which she allows after she and Stephen have a brief, telepathic conversation.

Alone, Jedikiah assures Stephen it was the Founder who ordered the hit on Astrid and Jedikiah is totally the good one. Now enough of these silly making deals with the Founder, come back to Jed and all will be forgiven. Stephen’s not buying that because of the whole Jedikiah ordering his dad’s death – but Jedikiah wants him to know the truth and offers him access to his mind.

Where we see that Jedikiah and Roger clearly had a close relationship. But they still have a difference of opinion – Jedikiah, with a very very very very sketchy view of evolution, believes that paranormals have evolved to replace his species (normal humans) so humans simply have to kill them – and to do that he has to ally with the Founder for REASONS. Roger would rather everyone not kill each other and he opposes the Founder – which worries Jedikiah because the Founder will force him to go after Roger and his family. This is your ally to preserve your species?

Back to reality and he tells Stephen he tried to warn Roger. That’s his excuse. And he doesn’t think they can run and avoid the Founder so they should all stay, Stephen keep working for Ultra and they can all rely on Jedikiah to keep them safe. Stephen… agrees.

Oh for the love of sense – someone get me a drink, there’s no way I’m getting through this episode sober.

Away from the sucking void where intelligence should be, we have some plot – a man called Alexis appears to be in police protection when a paranormal knocks out two of his guards then starts garrotting him.

Alas, the void drags us back – Stephen drops in on The Tomorrow People HQ and isn’t amused to see, in a time when he’s facing death threats and drive by shootings, Cara’s kicked John out for Refusing to Respect Her Authoritay! Stephen goes out and finds a rather drunk John to take home to crash – much to Marla’s surprise (I would say inviting people home without informing parents is an arsehole move, but after what Marla’s pulled, Stephen has the Everest of moral high grounds to perch upon).

Which is basically what he tells her – she lost the right to make decisions when she spent a year drugging him. She protests that she protects them and he hits back that’s what he’s been doing for months. She agrees to one night before they leave but she doesn’t buy the idea that his dad is going to save them all (does she even know he’s dead?)

Next day it’s back to work with Jedikiah and investigating Alexi’s murder (well, trying to find the Paranormal anyway), they’re watched by a pouty Cara who goes back to base to tell Russell about a paranormal who can apparently kill which is supposedly impossible (barring a few exceptions who she Does Not Want To Talk About).

Stephen goes home to check with John about paranormals who can kill (since John is one of them) and John  takes a second to try and get Stephen to forgive his mother. Um… no. Really. John is confident that all of his fellow classmates are dead, but that doesn’t mean Jedikiah hasn’t started up the program again without telling anyone.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 13: Things Fall Apart

A very powerful paranormal robs a bank – when the police arrives she teleports their cars away – and teleports the billets out of their guns, before sending everyone flying with telekinesis and engraving “hi dad” on the wall.

Teleportation just became 900% cooler.

And Stephen wakes up – apparently a dream (he’s getting precognition now? Why bother, he doesn’t use the special woo-woo he already has)

He jumps out of bed – but is grabbed by his mum on the way out – she’s worried about Astrid’s disappearance and isn’t a big fan of the “she’ll be home soon, trust me” response.

At Tomorrow People HQ, John rather pathetically fails to clean himself which he should be able to do but it gives Cara an excuse to sponge him down – which she’s quite quite happy to do. Which leads to talking and kissing

Stephen barges his way into Jedikiah’s office, outrages that Ultra would send a kill squad after Astrid (are we going to have the “Ultra is evil” reminder again?). After Jedikiah confirms that, yes, they’re evil and yes, they will kill Astrid, Stephen quits.

…he’s really having a problem with the whole “Ultra are evil” thing isn’t he?

Astrid, meanwhile, is getting antsy and angry that she can’t call her father who is worried sick; she appeals to Cara the only one who can let her contact the outside world but for both her safety and her dad’s safety, Cara refuses. After Astrid storms off, Stephen arrives to report him quitting Ultra (so can you get my family to safety… no? Ok then still not convinced on the whole Ultra=evil then) and that he dream possessed a new paranormal break out. Which may mean he has a super-Cara-like connection to her (and extra emphasis on the femaleness)

Yes, the love triangle is back on.

At ultra the Jedikiah worries about the new breakout while the Founder questions why Stephen was even allowed to quit – that whole evil organisation thing. On to the Founder tracking Stephen down and Stephen deciding to avoid him by going down a deserted alleyway – because he forgot about teleportation, I guess? Anyway he has a deal for Stephen: bring in Cassandra (the new breakout) and Astrid will be totally fine. Apparently Cassandra is the Founder’s daughter (hence the “hi dad” graffiti)

Someone remind Stephen he’s dealing with an evil organisation.

At Tomorrow People HQ everyone looks at the footage and is suitably impressed by Cassandra’s power and John drops in that she’s probably a Synergist – a paranormal who had 2 paranormal parents and, as such, is mega powerful. John makes a token “hey this is a really bad idea” but now it’s lampshaded they can all get on with it.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 12: Sitting Ducks

Astrid attends an interview to a music school and the three interviewers shoot her

Well that was a surprise – so let’s move 48 hours earlier.

Have I mentioned before how much I loathe it when shows do this? I have? Well let me mention it again! CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER PLEASE! There is no reason to give away part of what is going to happen in the episode at the beginning of said episode. It’s annoying

So the real start of the episode is at Ultra with Hillary and Stephen sparring and Hillary laying down the reality – Stephen can take the training casually because the competition is rigged so he can win. The whole work as a team thing is a dream. She also asks evil Jedikiah what happens if a paranormal exposes their power to a human (do I even have to say what happens to them and the human?) because, of course, she’s seen Stephen use his powers around Astrid because Stephen forgot about the whole undercover thing since the story required him to (what, it’s one of the least shaky things about this shows storyline consistency).

Stephen goes home all paranoid but Astrid assures him she told no-one about his powers (um, you used them in public Stephen, remember?) and he has another surprise – his mother, Marla’s, new boyfriend Peter (he who is probably evil) is taking them all camping. Camping? Ugh, this man is definitely evil. Marla didn’t tell Stephen because she didn’t think he’d want to go – but Stephen wants to go to play watchdog for Marla and Luca.

Stephen runs to Tomorrow People HQ to ask for help- - he needs someone to watch Astrid while he is being paranoid about Peter – Cara et al do think that Stephen may be overreacting a little about Peter (which I find… bemusing. How likely is it that Marla would, coincidentally, date a Paranormal? Unless they think Stephen is wrong) especially since if he is paranormal, Peter can’t kill and if he does cause trouble, Stephen can summon help. Tim’s ability to check people’s browsing history concerns Russell though.

After Cara also dismisses his concern over Astrid (wow, way to help your undercover agent actually stay undercover; how could you let his petty concerns take away Tomorrow people from their busy agenda of… skulking and hiding), John agrees to keep an eye on her since he has seen what Ultra does to humans who know the big secret

Does that sound like flashback bait to you? Why yes it is! 14 years ago, young John showed his powers to a kind comic book seller. Now we’re going to have half a dozen flashbacks or more before this Tony’s inevitable death to show us the Object Lesson.

Hillary tattles on Stephen to Jedikiah, not only telling him about Astrid but showing him buried CCTV footage that showed Astrid at the scene of one of their missions. Later she pushes Jedikiah about it, demanding to know what’s happening and if Astrid will be killed – and Jedikiah gets irritated at her presumption – and for being happy at a human being killed, after all Jedikiah’s Ultra exists (or pretends to exist) to protect  humanity from Paranormals and serve them, having a Paranormal be gleeful about the death of a human does not amuse Jedikiah.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 11: Rumble

Opening flashback – to 6 years ago. A young Cara, on the streets, uses her telekinesis to steal and apple – and then has to run from Ultra before being rescued by 2 other paranormals – Julian and Nellie.

To the present and Stephen talks about his mother’s new boyfriend with Astrid (after Luca passes on the info – and yes, Astrid has been allowed out of the plot box). Particularly how he is capable of blocking Stephen’s telepathy meaning he’s a paranormal – and powerful.

At Tomorrow People HQ, Cara is having another leadership crisis because she fears everyone’s not listening to her (y’know, Cara as leader will get real old real fast if she spends it all whimpering) when the newly rescued Charlotte starts broadcasting telepathic horrible noise in her nightmare. John apparently did the same thing during his breakout. John helpfully comforts her through it while Cara looks on at a loss, not being imprisoned by Ultra, she can’t imagine what Charlotte has gone through.

In Ultra we get our weekly reminder that Ultra is evil as Stephen and other young paranormal candidates (yes there’s more) watch one of their fellows be de-powered. Jedikiah reminds them that he hates them all and would happily destroy any of them. I would say the reminder is unnecessary but Stephen does seem to regularly forget. To not be destroyed they need to impress – which means finding the breakout Julian Masters (yes the Julian from the beginning) who apparently recruits young paranormals to his criminal gang.

Cut to Julian stealing from someone – and then beating them until the mojo that stops Paranormals killing kicks in (which he calls “sweet music”).

Stephen passes this all on to Cara, Russell and John. Stephen considers bring Julian in as a way to solidify himself with Ultra but Cara nixes the whole thing since she knows Julian. Stephen is not impressed by Cara’s unwillingness to do anything even with the inside knowledge they have and tries to appeal to John – John makes it clear it’s Cara’s decision but adds that it’d be better for everyone if Julian weren’t an issue.

Flashback to young Cara, Nellie being kind while Julian is determined that Cara be useful – and with lots of rhetoric about superior species, being tough and finding the “killer” inside, much to Nellie’s disapproval.

To the present and they meet with Julian (who accuses Cara of copying Nellie’s style). Julian rants and raves like a proper villain – mocking them for hiding, again pushing the “we’re superior” line with an added extra of being at war with humanity. He insults Cara as a “weak jelly spined ineffectual skank” and his whole army teleports in.

Hey, I’d let him get on with fighting Ultra. He may actually achieve something or at least get out of their hair. Cara has the same plan – well, no, she just wants to avoid him and hope – but she does set a tale on him (Russell – because he convinced her not to go herself).

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 10: The Citadel

Stephen meets his dad in limbo and gets some ominous, vague warnings about the Founder – he’s dangerous to everyone! For Reasons! Stephen wants his dad to come back without making the logical leap that he probably needs a body to come back to (the one with a bullet hole in it) and his dad tells him to find Simon Plane.

Is this going to be a thing? Go to limbo, find his dad and get a random name to find? Because we already did this with Thanatos.

Stephen wakes up, he’s alive (I’m sure we’re all so relieved to hear this) and fills everyone in on his brain’s oxygen-deprived hallucinations. I mean, visions in limbo. To confirm that Stephen wasn’t hallucinating, Cara checks his memory… to see if he can remember his hallucinations? Actually it seems he can’t. Except he can remember, but Cara can’t read the memory of hallucinations because they might not be real, despite his memory and…

…I’m not even going to try and make sense of this ridiculousness. She can’t read his hallucination memories for REASONS.

Cara thinks that means they can’t be real, but John who is suddenly all Team Stephen possibly due to guilt/need for redemption or simply because if daddy isn’t dead then he hasn’t epicly screwed them and been lying for a several years, wants to give the benefit of the doubt. Besides it’s not like they have anything better to do.

Tim, their convenient super-computers, notes Simon Plame was one of the first breakouts who hasn’t been heard of since Stephen’s father disappeared (anything you want to confess there, John?) and Stephen leaves in a huff when Cara suggests that maybe his dad is dead.

I think Stephen hangs around rooms waiting for someone to say something he doesn’t like so he can leave in a dramatic huff. If they didn’t he’d be incapable of leaving.

Stephen goes home to find his mother has a new boyfriend (place bets now – who thinks the new boyfriend is a) the Founder or b) some other nefarious evil person?) and, of course, Stephen’s kind of pouty because their dad could come back and mum must keep everything on ice until then. Even little brother Luca recognises that bullshit for what it is.

At the HQ Cara and John squabble over giving Stephen false hope; she accurately skewering that he’s using Stephen’s hope as some form of forgiveness (or at least ducking blame). John decides to go to the next absolution step – tell everyone the truth. Cara thinks that’s a pretty huge disaster to the Tomorrow People.

To an Ultra facility where captured paranormals are held in cells and experimented upon – and one inmate has cut off his own hand to stop them using the power dampening cuffs on him – and to give his severed hand to his fellow to use as a fake hand for his cuffs – so when he’s released he isn’t cuffed. Nice trick if you’re really desperate – Errol teleports and is free (at least, that’s what the sad, floating girl calls him)

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 9: Death's Door

So last week, after a moment of monumental foolishness that doesn’t come close to being realistic, John was captured. This week John is being tortured by the Founder who also makes the point that he is way way way more powerful than John. And way smarter. But then, there are species of algae smarter than John. Stephen rushes to stop the founder hurting John too badly but everyone keeps up the fiction that Stephen totally isn’t a double agent, honest. And John and the Founder reveal that John killed Stephen’s father

Stephen leaves and Cara contacts Stephen psychically (yes, in Ultra, the place where they couldn’t read Jedikiah’s mind last week because… reasons) and Stephen quickly covers up “John killed daddy” and warns Cara that the Founder will kill John soon.

Cara’s plan is to kidnap Morgan and use her to force Jedikiah to exchange prisoners. They track her down to a holiday property where she’s laying low. Morgan and Cara have a nice teleport/run/battle thing (including a moment where Morgan throws a tree at Cara which, if it hit, would totally have killed her) before Russell finally puts the cuffs on her – cuffs which switch off her powers.

With Morgan imprisoned, Cara delivers her ultimatum to Jedikiah.

At Ultra Stephen gets some alone time with John to ask about the whole killing his dad thing. John is repentant and wishes he could change it but Stephen questions the whole bemusing idea that John was setting Stephen’s dad up to be some kind of saviour ready to swoop in and save them all. Still, Stephen isn’t going to tell Cara John’s a liar because John gets to do that (never mind the small cult he’s built) and he’s even going to let the whole trying-to-kill-his-dad thing because Thanatos is real, which means his hallucination is real which means his dad is alive.

Ok, not the strongest chain of logic but it’s positively solid from a Tomorrow People point of view.

Stephen asks his mother about his father – wow, hey Stephen’s mother, it’s been a while! He asks about the Thanatos project but she wants to keep his father out of their lives.

At Ultra it’s Jedikiah’s turn to have alone time with John. Does Ultra have no protocol for dealing with prisoners at all? Anyway he wants to say goodbye to his “son”. John doesn’t react well to that. Jedikiah then has a meeting with his nephew to question why Cara still has powers when Stephen supposedly stripped them (why would you ever doubt Stephen? It’s not like he hasn’t given you weekly proof of his status as a double agent… oh wait). He’s guessed the whole stopping time thing. But it’s all totally ok because Stephen did it for love – and he can understand that because his loved one is also in trouble! Awwww, they’re so alike in motive (except the whole genocide thing). Of course, Jedikiah can’t rescue John…. but Stephen can

And when Stephen takes John his dinner, John leaps up, they both take out the guards and John takes Stephen “captive” (when Jedikiah was making his whole goodbye scene he slipped John a key). Using a gun, brief evidence that he can very much kill and shooting out a couple of D-Chips, John makes his escape.

John having escaped, Jedikiah and Stephen go see Russell and Cara and they pass over Morgan – but Jedikiah wants them to take Morgan and keep her safe. Of course it’s a huge risk since she could be used to track their safe location, but Stephen speaks for her and Jedikiah throws in threats and appeals to their very point of existence – looking after their own.

Back at the HQ, Stephen and John practice teleporting and freezing time at the same time to try and actually reach limbo (wait, can Stephen freeze time on demand now? And if he can… why doesn’t he?) though it’s not going well, and Cara knows that John is keeping something from her and is bemused that the Founder could be against them when he’s one of them (have you not come across agents before, Cara?) In a bemusing moment, John wants to confess all to Cara while Stephen thinks that it would be a distraction and since his dad isn’t really dead then why bother?

Time for Stephen to question his mother again (something of a clumsy segue), with added mind reading. She give sin and gives him the huge box of her dad’s research but warns him against putting his dad on a pedestal and being disappointed. She also realises Stephen has a secret – can someone explain to me again why he’s keeping this secret from her.

Jedikiah gets a grilling from the Founder and reveals that, yes, he has a secret – Morgan. It’s an affair of the heart and the Founder tells him not to get too upset “you’re only human”. Ooooh nice little stab there. Though he does expect Jedikiah to take care of it

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 8: Thanatos

We start with a flashback to 7 years ago with John being experimented on in Ultra – and Jedikiah being worried about using John for the murder project and John all gung ho to be the best he can be for Jedikiah and Ultra. It’s all very fraught and desperate – and then Jedikiah wakes up.

Oh, is this the humanising episode? I don’t think it’s needed, Stephen forgets that Jedikiah is evil every other week. Jedikiah wakes up next to Morgan and they reminisce on how they met and how Morgan read his mind but was totally intrigued by him being a sadistic murderer.

At the Tomorrow People HQ, John is unsurprisingly unimpressed by Stephen’s big “Thanatos” revelation from a hallucination while drowning. Stephen did research Thanatos at Ultra and found it was a big redacted super-secret file so clearly important – they need to dig in Jedikiah’s head to find out. Which means Cara going to Jedikiah’s home since Ultra offices are shielded – except the gazillion times when they weren’t, including the time Cara actually sat on a bench outside Ultra and read the mind of a guard for a keycode – adherence to canon is such a silly concept (John disagrees and pouts but since everyone else is going along with it he just makes his objections known and goes along).

Cara and Russell hit Jedikiah’s very secure building, using Tim (there convenient and poorly explained super computer that they happen to have) to cut all the power. (Also involves Stephen pretending to be someone else to call and reassure the guard and even the computer mocking his attempt at a regional accent).

Russell’s cat burglary skills helps him and Cara break in (teleportation apparently not being an option for… reasons?). They find Jedikiah laid on the bed (ok I get the whole not killing thing – but since a guy almost drown Stephen last week, I think you could tie him up and then set fire to the place and it technically not count). Cara touches Jedikiah’s head and burrows into his mind – gaining info on Jedikiah and John (seriously Cara – boundaries woman! You’re here to look up a super sekrit project, not do your invasive I-need-to-know-everything on John). Russell, playing his part of inept comic relief, knocks something over for… reasons – and wakes up Jedikia. Cara teleports out, Russell can’t because the alarm has been tripped which also turns off powers, apparently. Why he doesn’t have this power null on his home all the time is a great mystery.

Of course, Russell may be inept and he may be comic relief, but he can fight (everyone on this show knows martial arts.  Just run with it, it’s the least unbelievable thing about the show) and after a scuffle with Jedikiah over the gun, he knocks him out with an ornament. He manages to turn off the alarm and teleport to HQ – with Jedikiah who grabs him at the last second.

And this is a bad thing? Start hitting him with things! One blow may get lucky and accidentally kill him!

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 7: Limbo

There’s apparently a “lunatic” on the loose. So much so that a man is escorting people from a building to the subway or their cars. But one woman doesn’t want to wait for him to come back – to be fair, she can actually see her car. Seriously, she could throw a rock and hit it, so being escorted, say, 50 feet does seem a little silly (or he could escort her first).

Anyway, of course she is accosted on the way – by a man who disappears from one place and appears in another. She tries to pepper spray him and he reflects it back – and teleports away with her.

Stephen wakes up in a hotel room and reaches out telepathically for Cara. Who is in the bathroom and having a massive case of the regrets.

And at HQ, John and Russell are back from their road trip and John has even bought her a present. Feel that guilt churn! She also claims she was in a hotel for “me” time – right before Irene and Tim arrive with news of a breakout to cut the awkward: the man who sexually assaults women. Cara is shocked that one of them can become a rapist and has a bit of a rethink of the whole “homo superior” thing. John points out that their powers make them more powerful, not more moral but Cara seems to have been really invested in the whole idea of them being better people, especially with her history.

                                                                                                                                                                     

They decide to go after the guy because they’re better than Ultra and may get him before another woman is attacked – but they need Ultra’s intel so John suggests Cara contact Stephen. AWKWARDNESS!

At Ultra, we have a new character giving Stephen grief for killing his partners – repeatedly. He says “you’re too young, too green and your partners end up dead” no lies detective – except he missed the part where Stephen is so obviously a double agent that it’s amazing everyone doesn’t burst out laughing at the idea it’s even a secret. Jedikiah interrupts to tell them about the rapist and shockingly is more upset about exposure than women being raped. Stephen is shocked and appalled that his evil uncle is evil despite endless proof of said man’s evil and has a little tantrum. He also adds more angst for killing agents (in the evil organisation that you are supposed to be actively sabotaging, remember Stephen) and Jedikiah gives him time off and reminds him that quitting gets him killed (since Stephen seems to have forgotten the whole evil thing yet again).

John drops in to learn Stephen is being given time off for stress – and Stephen adds that it’s extra stressful keeping his secret identity! I KNOW! He actually believes his being a double agent is still somehow secret?!

At school, Stephen is keeping up his angst marathon about how he breaks everything and Astrid advises him to have a little fun with his powers (and try not to listen to classmates thinking they have crabs). This involves playing basketball and stealing a scene from Teen Wolf (the original movie) where he uses his special powers to make his team win despite being apparently underclassed (the ones supposed to be good athletes appear to be Black men while the lesser athletes are either women or unfit white men – there’s some lazy coding there). Downside is, the coach pushes him to join the team since several of his normal players are out.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 6: Sorry for Your Loss

Flashback! 7 years ago, Russell is playing the piano in a recital – excellently. And then he continues playing it without using his hands and seems rather surprised by this. He covers well though. Despite the judges accepting him, his father unleashes some harsh criticism in Korean. He also calls Russell Ryung, but Russell prefers Russell – much to his father’s disapproval and goes into a full blown “do you know what I’ve done for you!” rant that parents do so well. He also doesn’t want to hear about Russell’s telekinesis difficulties – which only become more concerning when Russell kicks things in anger – and sends them flying

Present day Russell is helping Stephen earn some money by hustling pool. Then in comes Piper, playing wonderfully ignorant of all things pool – and promptly wipes the floor with him. Of course (the minute she didn’t know what a queue was was a clue there). She also seems to be using telekinesis which Russell and Stephen think to each other. When she plays ignorant about hearing their thoughts, he throws a ball at her – which she stops with telekinesis. See, that could have been terribly embarrassing if he were wrong. She runs, they chase, she hits them with a queue and disappears.

Back to HQ and John and Cara put on their judgey faces since last time they went out and about people were shot which really ruins a party, but scolding is delayed by Tim passing on the news that Russell’s father has just died of a heart attack.

Russell wants some alone time, just claiming he and his dad weren’t close despite being obviously upset. She and Stephen recap some events from last week and that Irene is apparently fine. Cara is still giving John the silent treatment – not for keeping it a secret that he can kill (which clearly disturbs him and he considers himself warped) but for not letting her into his head because he could have more secrets she’s not allowed to play around with. Russell interrupts and wants to go to his dad’s funeral; Cara starts to lay down the law in which case Russell says he won’t return – but he’s going. John insists on going with him (she’s pissed that he’s “running out” on the conversation about how all his brain meats belong to her).

At Ultra, Darcy shows Stephen a picture of Astrid and reminds him that secret missions for deadly conspiracies are not really something you should invite your friends to – and how she’ll look the other way now but Jedikiah will kill Astrid if he finds out. It is, after all, how Jedikiah deals with pretty much everything. And he realises that Ultra knows about Piper (not much – just that she’s a teenaged Black woman).

Stephen rushes to HQ to tell Cara – who says it’s a bad time, they have to hide. Stephen says it’s like John never left and that Cara is “minding the store” for her boyfriend. Seriously? She saw several of her people shot – excuse her if she’s not eager to risk everything, again, for a complete stranger.

The Tomorrow People, Season 1, Episode 5: All Tomorrow's Parties

Stephen is giving his keeper, Darcy a headache, by charging in without backup, again (of course, it’s her who will be killed if he screws up). He manages to grab the paranormal he’s chasing but holds back on hitting them when he sees it’s a woman (why do they grab these people? Can’t they just teleport out of your hands?). She has no such compunction and merrily starts throttling him.

Turns out it’s just a training exercise. Seriously, you break the rules and ignore your superior in a TRAINING exercise?! What nonsense is this? Why would you break the rules in a performance review? There follows a lecture on how daft it is not to wait for backup and another lecture on being squeamish about hitting a target if the target is female: Jedikiah lays on thick how dangerous and evil rogue paranormals are even if female. Stephen mopes off and Jedikiah gets a call from an older man who is not impressed by his recent operations (and choosing to send in an untrained trainee rather than an actual agent) and wants Stephen brought in at the behest of some mysterious big boss

Stephen goes to see his friend Astrid after a week of tense silence between them after he lied about not having super powers for reasons this show has still failed to make clear. Things are still tense between them but she agrees to think about going to homecoming with him (and he doesn’t deny that he lied).

At HQ, Stephen tells Cara a “chick” caused his black eye which Cara then decides is pretty much deserved. She has info on a new Paranormal who was captured by Ultra called Mark – she wants Stephen to witness him having his powers stripped (though not rescue the man since Mark was in the habit of freeing maximum security prisoners). And new character – Irene! A 17 year old super genius and their genetics expert. After much scientific babble, it’s clear she thinks she can create an antidote to Jedikiah’s “cure”

Outside there’s a bit of a drama. New recruit Kurt is being read the riot act by John for going to see his mother – potentially exposing them. Stephen speaks up because he’s the protagonist and has to stick his oar in and the group asks why Stephen’s the super special case who gets to live with his family? (Protagonist power!) John thanks Stephen for his oh-so-useful intervention and points out Stephen is undercover (seriously, there are janitors at Ultra who know Stephen is a double agent by now) and that his father will lead them to the Promised Land – the Refuge. Uh-huh, people are duly sceptical about the idea that the Refuge even exists but John adds they can leave if they want – just don’t come back.

Cara catches up with John and asking him if he really had to let loose both barrels on a teenager who was missing his mother. She reminds him of the times when they used to go out and have fun – and how everyone’s getting frustrated being cooped up – and yes it’s a risk but why go to all this effort to survive if you’re not letting yourself live? John blames the discontent on Stephen because everyone was fine before that (uh, Cara just pointed out that, until recently, you didn’t all hide… so correlation =/= causation John).