Under the Dome, Season 3, Episode 3: Redux

So last week everyone escaped the Dome Matrix and two apparently imaginary people came out as well.

So all the soggy people emerge – to find that they’re still trapped behind the Dome. This doesn’t do a lot for morale. The rest of the world breathes a sigh of relief that these silly silly people are still locked up.

Barbie explains the wonderful beautiful world they had, a world where Julia and Big Jim were both dead. Oh it was magical. She tells him that Melanie killed Barbie’s dad (and Melanie’s dad).

Big Jim and James have a reunion where James reminds his dad of all his abuse (and mixes in the time he was locked in a bomb shelter to stop him kidnapping) and Big Jim hits him and says how weak and feeble he is. Alas, they’re not both randomly killed by a new Dome shenanigan, because the Dome loves to make me suffer.

Christine and Eva did, apparently, have a history before the Dome. In fact, they found the egg 3 weeks ago (when the Dome went up) and were transported to the Dometrix. They were anthropologists – and working for Acteon to find the egg. They also have some ominous purple rock. Eva’s also dealing with the trauma of thinking she was pregnant and now dealing with Barbie being here and with Julia.

To Hunter, Norrie and Joe with the weird revelation that Hunter now doesn’t need glasses and the budding love triangle. Oh we need a love triangle, really. Joe angsts about his relationship with Norrie since she feels different and moved on in the Dometrix.

Melanie, meanwhile, is in her tunnels and all sad about her dead butterflies. Christine visits to tell her how terribad she has been at her one job – leave everyone cocooned so the egg could “enthuse them with life force” which sounds a lot better than it probably is. It also intended to turn the whole town into a collective by means of drugged goo. They were chosen because they found the egg first – Melanie was first but she clumsily died while the egg tried to copy its whole agenda into her brain so, instead, Christine got it all. Nice, could they download that agenda for the rest of us? It would help convince us the writers aren’t winging it every week.

So plan B, Christine is going to the town meeting to judge the town while Melanie gets ready to murder Julia if necessary (it’s necessary!)

Wayward Pines, Season One, Episode Seven: Betrayal

Pilcher drives Ethan back home and reminds him not to tell anyone what he has seen or heard because the survival of humanity depends on it.  The next morning, a very upset Theresa questions what Ethan learned and Ethan explains that there is no Seattle and how they came to end up in Wayward Pines.  Theresa is convinced that something has happened to Ethan and he is adamant that he wasn't at the hospital. Ethan then tells Theresa that the year is 4028.

Later, Ethan, Ben and Theresa get into the car but Ethan tells his family that they should walk instead of starting the car when he notices something wrong.  Ethan pops the hood as soon as Ben and Theresa leave and examines the wires.  It seems that Ethan was right and the car was indeed messed with.  Someone placed a bomb in the car. 

Inside the police station, Ethan disassembles the bomb then takes out the secret files he has on the Wayward Pines residents. He pulls out the file on Franklin Dobbs, who was apparently an explosives engineer.  Ethan is interrupted by Pam, who questions if Franklin is involved with the subversives.  Ethan promises that when he finds out, she will be the first to know.  Pam says that she is just there to help and will even work with Ethan because she will do anything for Pilcher.  Pam adds that she can be a very good friend, so Ethan asks for access to the surveillance system to see what Franklin has been up to. 

Theresa walks Ben to school and he is not impressed to be escorted by his mother.  Theresa claims to just want to spend some time with her son.  Theresa asks Ben if he misses Seattle and he says that he never really thinks about it and reminds his mother that they are not supposed to think about the past.  On their way, they pass Pilcher.  Ben says he likes it in Wayward Pines and suggests that Theresa would like it as well if she gave it half a chance.  When they arrive at school, they are greeted by Megan and Amy.  Theresa moves to enter the school and is blocked by Megan, who informs her that school is for children and that Theresa's job is to feed her child and keep him safe. When the bell rings, Megan excuses herself.

On her way to work, Theresa stops at the empty plot.  As she walks across the ground, she hears a sound like metal striking.  Theresa then heads to the little shed on the property and grabs a metal pole before heading back to the spot where she heard the metal.  Theresa repeatedly strikes the spot and the metal sound in the ground clangs again.

Ethan is sitting in a restaurant with Frank, claiming that he wants to get to know the shopkeepers on Main st.  When Frank points out that he never had such a meeting with Pope, Ethan is quick to remind Frank that they don't talk about the past in Wayward Pines.  Ethan brings up gophers and claims that they are destroying his lawn, adding that when he looked in Frank's file, he learned that Frank worked in explosive demolition.  Frank is quick to claim that he cannot help Ethan and excuses himself.  Ethan follows Frank outside.

In biology class, Megan explains that that their textbooks will remain in class.  Megan instructs the kids that procreation is beautiful and that this is the kids most important job.  Megan calls Ben and Amy to the front and then explains that the male and female bodies are designed to fit together like hand in glove.  This causes the class to giggle.  Megan tells the kids that Wayward Pines needs a new generation and instructs the kids that they will one day have the chance to parent the first generation of 100% originals.  Megan asks the kids to look around the room and suggests to the kids that chances are, their mate is sitting right there in the room.  Megan informs the class that it's part of her job to make sure the kids find mates, before excusing Ben and Amy.  

Pam is back at the hospital and she follows the sound of a whistle until she gets to Pilcher.  Pam informs Pilcher that in the course of her fertility consults this morning, she learned of two new pregnancies.  Pam is excited about having two new members of the first generation but David is distracted. David however is more concerned that Wayward Pines is on a path to destruction.  Pam tries to calm her brother by saying that Ethan will find the troublemakers and get them through this difficulty, claiming to trust Ethan because David does.

Ethan follows Frank and finds him sitting with Kate's husband Harold.  Frank quickly excuses himself and warns Harold to be careful.  Ethan takes a seat and asks Harold to come with him so they can discuss the bomb in his truck.  Harold is quick to deny knowing what Ethan is talking about but Ethan is determined to take Harold in.  The two men head outside and Harold makes a run for it, only to be quickly caught.  

Back at the station, Ethan tells Harold that Franklin made the bomb and that Harold or someone who works for Harold planted it in his truck. Harold is quick to say that he doesn't know anything about the bomb in Ethan's truck.  Ethan however points out that this doesn't mean that Harold doesn't know about the other bombs.  Ethan says that Harold wants to take down the fence and Harold questions if Ethan wants to go anywhere.  Ethan asks for names and Harold says that he acted alone, thus admitting that he planted the bomb in the truck and was lying about it when he denied it.  Ethan writes a note on a piece of paper and asks Harold to give it to Kate, excusing Harold for now. Harold is shocked and repeats that he confessed but Ethan sends him on his way.

Olympus, Season 1, Episode 13: Truth

The only thing worse than recapping Olympus is realising that it wasn’t on hiatus last week so I now have to endure two episodes. The best thing is this is the season finale so soon I will never have to tolerate this nonsense again.

For some reason Hero is strangling Daedalus, it seems he stole the ring naughty man. The ring can bring the world down, or so he claims. They fight over the apocalypse ring before Hero strangles Daedalus, apparently to death

Why? It’s Olympus – there is no why. Also this hasn’t happened yet because now we have a flashback to the end of last episode and the gates opening and Chronos appearing. Chronos is a liar – he calls them wise. Such lies he tells. Anyway he’s the door man, showing them the bridge to Tartarus they can cross for their heart’s desire

It’s now Oracle’s turn to lead them – and the kiss opened the door because it is “true” because they still love each other. Of course he still loves Ariadne and wants her to lead him to her. Ouch. Lots of bitterness.

And then they’re back to hating each other. I’m emotionally consistent, I hate them all all the time.

Looking into a strange mirror all of them suddenly realise they don’t know how old they are – the test may be to find their own truth. Instead they look at the ring which is very very dramatic when unveiled in the timestop world – making a menacing noise and glowing as the world shakes. Medea is against using the huge death weapon

Hero solves the riddle and they go into a different world – where Medea warns them if they look down the Forbidden world may burn out their eyes. So they walk through a chasm maze blind with their eyes closed, relying on Oracle to guide them with woo-woo. That woo-woo also splits them up

Daedalus ends up in a desert world with his own clone wearing a business suit. No really, a modern business suit who points him towards the truth he’s looking for – which horrifies him – because it’s a plane. An actual airplane. His clone shows him what mankind will go on to create.

Oracle sees giant Gaia who apologises for how much Oracle sacrificed and decides to show her truth “in all its iridescent glory” – except the truth is that all there is is “dust and death” she can only find meaning and truth in the land of the living – don’t expect to find Heaven in the next world, make your own heaven.

Medea her two little kids who declare themselves to be imaginary – the truth which leads them to disappear

Olympus, Season 1, Episode 12: Door to Olympus

Medea finally remembers she’s a witch of some power – and calls to Circe which is naughty bad wrong (judging by the fiery special effects which are still awfully cheap). After much dramatic speeches she offers everything in the service of Circe’s “deliverance” in exchange for being shown the door to Olympus – even if it kills her. She is willing to die so others may live – Circe reminds him that she can’t bring back the dead but Medea is confident Hero will do the rest and willingly gives up her life and soul.

And lo, the last character I cared about may die. The only character

But she lives with Circe inside her – though that gives them a time limit to act before Circe fully takes over. Daedalus disapproves of not using science since then Medea has sacrificed herself but his science led them to Pandora’s tomb so he shouldn’t throw stones. Circe drops in with a terrible croaky throat to say how useless and silly they all are and totally doomed to fail.

Hero tries to convince Oracle he’s not completely evil. He’s not convincing and Oracle is monumentally pissed and decides she wants to know Hero’s real name so calls on Gaia’s woo-woo. He warns her about the whole turning to stone thing but she wants to see the proof of this. She then decides to hit him in the head with a rock

I approve. Daedalus does not and his intervention ends up with Hero pinning Oracle and calling him totally her friend and ally and how his killing people is just a “mistake”. Oracle is not buying it and would love to just try and kill Hero to make it go away, but hero doesn’t think the Lexicon will disappear so easily and he pokes holes in her whole theory of benevolent gods giving the Lexicon generously while also cursing them with it – because it makes no sense.

Daedalus and Hero both think Zeus needs them to solve the Lexicon as it’s the only explanation for why it exists (albeit not why Tempus guards it)

In the end the choice is join them willingly or Hero will just drag Oracle behind him. The move on into a wooden hut that Circe/Medea has warded because the Fates are now pissed at them for reasons. Which comes from fates snipping their threads, sirens singing and Hero being molested by roots. Lots of screaming until Circe pulls out more woo-woo and they end up in a completely white place (easiest possibly CGI!) with a flickering Hermes making a random guest appearance to say that Oracle knows nothing and no-one cares about her sacrifice or service.

Wayward Pines, Season One, Episode Six: Choices

The town of Wayward Pines lies in ruins with small fires scattered about.  A very disturbed Pilcher walks down the street taking in the destruction. 

The helicopter Ethan got into in the last episode lands at the mountain observatory.  Ethan is very much in a state of shock as Pilcher leads him inside, explaining about how they store things.  Pilcher is convinced that soon Wayward Pines will be self sufficient and that is what they are working on now.  Ethan walks by a room where two women sit to take out going calls from  Wayward Pines residents who are trying to connect with the outside world, in the false belief that they are still in 2014.  Pilcher explains that he has over 200 volunteers, adding that these people gave up everything and that nothing would be possible without them.  Pilcher is called away by Christina.

Back in the town, Ben tells with his mother that he has been thinking about the population of the earth and how it has always made him feel small.  Theresa comforts him by saying that this is normal, so Bed adds that today, he wondered if what they do actually means something. When questioned as to what put these thoughts in his head, Ben lies and says science class.

Kate is at her store when Ted enters to deliver a package.  They make eye contact for awhile and then Ted  reminds Kate about a package she wanted picked up that's in the back.  This is code for them to move to the backroom, where there are no microphones or cameras.  They head into the back where Harold already is.  Kate is concerned that they're all in the back because it looks suspicious.  Ted however is concerned because they are missing Peter's package.  Ted has already searched his home but cannot search the realty office because Theresa has already taken Peter's job and Bill is always there.

At the realty office, an angry Henrietta informs Bill that she is quitting now that she has been passed over for Peter's job in favor of Theresa.  Bill asks Henrietta where she is going to go and if she has another job out of state. Instead of answering, Henrietta grabs her things and leaves with a stunned Theresa fast on her heels.  Theresa catches up with Henrietta and makes it clear that she didn't want the job and is still trying to get back home to Seattle.When Theresa brings up that her latest client said he saw things, Henrietta interrupts to warn Theresa about Peter's death.  It seems that Peter was looking where he shouldn't have and believed that plot 33 was a way out.  Theresa asks about what plot 33 is and Henrietta tells Theresa not to be stupid.

Pam is sewing up the wound on Ethan's arm and she is actually being conciliatory.  Pam assures Ethan that there is a reason behind everything that he has seen. Pam acknowledges that while it's commendable that Ethan has been trying to save his family, Wayward Pines is bigger than him or any one person. Through the intercom, Pam is paged and we learn that she's actually David's sister.  Pam leaves to answer her page.  Ethan hears a loud screech and leaves the examination room.  He follows the sound until he finds an Abbie in a cage.  Ethan pulls his gun before he can shoot, Pilcher enters with armed guards, snarking that the Abbie doesn't like Ethan.  Some sort of drug is used in the cell to knock out the Abbie out.  David explains that the Abbie's are a mutation of humans - a result of humanity changing the environment.  David says that he tried to warn the planet but no one would listen.

In a flashback, David and Pam are leaving an empty theater after a lecture.  It seems that the audience didn't take David's presentation seriously, so Pam comforts him saying that they have all the time in the world. David however is not convinced that time is not the answer and that even with the support of the world, it would probably be too late to reverse the changes. Pam tells David that he is not alone and he snarks about how he is going to save the world with a former drug addict.  After this day, David wrote a book and started researching cryonics. 

Theresa is back in the realty office and she picks up Peter's box but is distracted when she finds a book. Theresa starts flipping through it, so Bill intervenes reminding Theresa that he wanted her to look at houses for the new lawyer.  Theresa asks for a few more minutes, so Bill gets up and slams his hand into the book, informing Theresa that she is to do this right now. Theresa then asks about plot 33 - which is a big undeveloped empty lot.  Bill is adamant that he doesn't want Theresa looking at surveyor maps, and to forget plot 33.  Bill closes the book and takes it back to his desk.  Kate enters and asks to have a word with Theresa.

David explains that cryonic testing was highly illegal and Ethan points out that they ( the Secret Service) took notice.  David adds that others took notice as well but not because of the money.  David then leads Ethan deeper into the mountain where he sees a woman being revived by Pam. The woman's name is Sarah Barlow and she is from Missouri. 

Kate is sitting with Theresa at a coffee shop.  Kate suggests that since Wayward Pines is so small that they cannot spend the rest of their lives hiding from each other.  For her part however, Theresa is adamant that she is leaving.

Ted heads to the Realtor's office to deliver a package.  He places an empty box over top of Peter's box and then claims that the package wasn't addressed to Theresa Burke but another Theresa.  Bill seems slightly suspicious but doesn't say anything as Ted leaves.

Still in the coffee shop, Kate watches through the window as Ted returns to her store with the package.  Kate reveals to Theresa that the reason they are having coffee together is because she wants to change things.  Kate admits that she is in Wayward Pines as a result of some bad choices she made but now that she is in Wayward Pines, all she can do is make new choices.  Kate makes it clear that she is done pretending that everything is okay and wants to make things better, adding that now they all need to be friends.

Ethan makes his way through the observation area where a tech is looking at images of Wayward Pines, to the area where the people are in stasis.  Ethan pauses before the container of a young woman and argues that none of the people in stasis chose to be here.  Pilcher admits to abducting people, calling it a burden to save humanity.  Ethan points out that the girl didn't need saving but Pilcher argues that down the line, someone in her family would need saving. 

Flashback time and this time Pilcher is signing books at a symposium.  This is where Pilcher meets Megan for the first time.  Megan introduces herself as a hypnotherapsit and argues that the people who don't believe in David need to be left behind because they have made their choice. It's clear right off the bat that Megan is a true believer. Megan takes Pilcher's hand and asserts that he has to find a way.

On his way out that night, Pilcher finds Pope and suggests that they go for a ride.  Pope agrees only after he learns that Pilcher is his boss. Pope gives a very general accounting of his life but its Pilcher who fills in the blanks.  It turns out that Pope did well as a child in school until his mother passed away.  Pope went to jail for B&E and Heroin possession.  Pilcher says that he tried to clean up his life and even applied for the police academy two years in a row.  Pope then asks for two weeks more but Pilcher informs him that he is not going to be fired because he needs people like Pope - people who feel they haven't been given a fair chance. Pilcher dangles the opportunity for a second chance and brings up a scientist he knows who needs convincing regarding his project.  Later, we watch as Pope knocks the scientist unconscious and is clearly disturbed by what he did. The scientist is the first one to be put in stasis.

Sleeping with the Fishes (Fred the Mermaid #1) by MaryJanice Davidson

Dr. Fredrika Bimms knows that she's a mermaid and that her dad isn't her biological father.  When her parents decide to drop the news, that the man she calls dad isn't biologically related to her, Fred is more bothered by catching her parents in the middle of sex, than she is by their revelation.  Feeling scared for life, Fred wonders how she will get past seeing what no child ever wants to see.  Little does Fred know that she'll quickly get over the trauma when the handsome Prince Artur of the Black Sea appears, demanding her help as his royal subject to discover the source that is polluting the ocean.  Fast on Artur's heels, is the hot marine biologist Thomas, who has also noticed a problem with the water and the fact that Fred's hair is green and not blue. For the first time, Fred finds that she has the attention of two gorgeous men and doesn't know remotely how to handle it.

Sleeping with the Fishes is mindless fluff and never pretends to be anything else.  It can easily be read in one afternoon on the patio with a piña colada for company.  That said, even with few expectations, Sleeping with the Fishes is outright puerile and at times irritating.  There's really no plot to speak of.  For the majority of the book, Fred just stomps around angry and confused by the attentions of Thomas and Artur.  We learn about her penchant for striking out physically when irritated or feeling threatened.  At 5'11, Fred is incredibly strong thanks to being a human/mermaid hybrid.  She's stunningly beautiful, though naturally doesn't even acknowledge it.  Other than her grumpy disposition, she has no real characterisation to speak of.  It's impossible to like or dislike Fred because I know hardly anything about her.  

In between Fred's grumping, we get the search for the person who's polluting the water.  This really could have gone somewhere and given Sleeping with the Fishes a real plot; however, Davidson really didn't invest in it at all.  The connection made between Fred and the polluter is tenuous at best and his reasons for polluting are absolutely ridiculous.  If that were not enough, Fred quickly puts two and two together to ascertain the antagonist's identity and the case is wrapped up with everyone headed their own directions.  I didn't expect the great American novel but what the hell?  The ending is so abrupt that it left me asking, "is this all?"

I assume that because the story is so light in terms of plot, Davidson tried to interject humour. Unfortunately, none of the humour is particularly amusing.  Fred is a mermaid, who has an allergy to seafood and gets seasick in a boat.  Yes, it's awkward but it is not enough to make me giggle Where Davidson really failed however is having Fred's Bff Jonas be confused as a gay for the sake of shits and giggles.  People naturally think that Jonas is gay because he likes shopping, can pick a good pair of shoes, takes care of his skin, cares about how he looks etc., and ets., I assume you get the picture.  It's all based on a stereotype of what a gay man is supposedly like. Jonas's sexuality is the brief stumbling block between him and the woman he has had a crush on for six years.

General Gary Stu: Righteously Commanding His Lessers

The aliens are attacking, the zombies are hording, the vampires are flocking and all seems lost - the shattered remnants of humanity fall to despair, who could possibly save them? Fear not humanity - General Gary Stu is here to save the day and lead them to victory!

We have spoken before about Mary Sues (those protagonists who are exceptional among women, living in nearly all male worlds, mistaking characterisation for stabbing things repeatedly and generally giving us friction burns from the amount of eye rolling) who often embody impossibly perfect protagonist - but most of the General Gary Stus we’ve found tend to be male (not that there aren’t notable male examples) especially since they’re very common in dystopians - and the dystopian future is nearly always lead by cis, straight, white men but also because, as we’ve said before, there’s some bullshit that only the most privilege of people get away with.

The General Gary Stu is a leader, usually in a violent, militaristic and desperate setting (these are usually dystopians but not always). In some cases he will reluctantly step into the roles, in others he will boldly step into leadership but either way, leadership will simply and easily settle on him, simply because there will be no other reasonable choice or competition.

This could be because, all too often, the General Gary Stu will be ridiculously perfect. He will be so good, so skilled, so knowledgeable and so damn badass (nearly always so damn badass) as to completely eclipse any normal human or even a decent handful of super heroes. The most extreme example I’ve seen is Deacon Chalk (that name!) who is so over the top badass that even Batman would gasp at his awesomeness. But Owen from Monster Hunter Nation, Lee from The Remaining series and Gordon from The End are all certainly challenging for that post.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good badass. I’ll admit (albeit with some embarrassment) that I kind of love that moment when the hero or heroine’s eyes narrow and you know a thoroughly righteous slaughter is about to follow. Shallow, I know, but I love it and a book where I can rely on the protagonist to lay down some epic beatings will please some dark part of my soul (I always look forward to that moment in The Dresden Files or Elemental Assassin Series and, yes, even in some of the Anita Blake Series).

But General Gary Stu is more than just badass, in classic Stu/Sue style he is ridiculously perfect and lacking in real flaws. Gordon from The End is so utterly perfect that he was faintly nauseating and Owen was virtually supernatural (to the point of being an outright Chosen One) in his skill. More than lack of flaws is a general lack of character beyond being such an excellently awesome person - oh we have some angst thrown in for extra manpain (often involving dead family, especially wives) but other than that they’re lacking in any real humanising elements - they’re just utterly perfect, always-right leaders

Hungry for You (Argeneau #14) by Lynsay Sands

Alexandra Willan is an up and coming chef who simply doesn't have time for romance.  Alex is busy trying to open up a second location for restaurant, worried about being afford the mistakes that keep cropping up while building and dreaming about earning a Michelin Star.  When Sam calls to tell Alex about a man she simply needs to meet, Sam most certainly doesn't have time for her sisters match making now that her head chef has just quit.  When Sam mentions that Cale is a chef, Alex decides that he might just be who she needs to meet.  Cale is a 2,000 year old immortal who has lost interest in most things and therefore has agreed to meet Alex to humour his aunt Marguerite.  When he quickly realises that he cannot read Alex, suddenly he realises that agreeing to pretend to be a chef might not have been such a good idea, particularly given that its been centuries since he's eaten.  

If you're reading this review I am going to assume that you've read this series.  At this point, the Argeneau series has gotten repetitive at best.  What first attracted me to this series was Sands injection of humour into the stories.  Unfortunately, that strain of humour that keeps these books interesting simply wasn't in this novel.  Hungry for You is formulaic and absolutely forgettable.  Cale is absolutely indistinguishable from any other love interest in this genre.  Let the man titteh begin. Another problem with Cale is that I didn't really feel his age.  Sure, he didn't watch television, occasionally messed up modern slang and couldn't use a microwave but none of that gave me a sense that I was reading about a 2,000 year old immortal.  

In terms of Alex, I really like that she's a modern, independent successful woman.  She comments briefly about the sexism in the culinary industry and I really wish that Sands had gotten into this more deeply.  Instead, Sands made Alex's strength come largely from the people that she has lost: grandfather and parents.  Far too often just killing off and isolating the female protagonist is how authors had depth and I think this tactic did Alex a disservice.  Yes, her sister Sam was in the background but Sam's main role really became about pairing off Alex more than working to support her.