Family Ties

by Kate Ancel copyright February 20, 2000

"The three of us belong together. There's a reason we're together. We're family."

In 'Independence Day' writer Toni Graphia gave us a heart-tugging look at Michael's personal hell. There have been hints along the way that his home life was less than ideal, but this was the first time the degree of both physical and mental abuse was detailed. It's no wonder that Michael has made it his personal crusade to find Nacedo.

This episode dealt a lot with family dynamics. In addition to learning more about Michael's situation, the mother-daughter role reversal that comprises Maria and Amy's relationship was examined, as well.

Random Thoughts:

This episode helped me understand what drives Michael a lot more. It's clearer now that his isolation and his defensiveness are in large part results of the mental and physical abuse he's been suffering for years. It explains why he pushes people away and his sense of worthlessness, in addition to his intense need to find Nacedo.

It's interesting that after all this time Michael is still such a stranger to Philip and Diane Evans. Michael works awfully hard to keep himself separated from inclusion in that family unit, however much he may envy it from afar. And while the Evans elders appear willing to include Michael in the family, they are not willing to lay aside the rules of the family for him. It was made fairly clear that if he wanted to be accepted by them, it would be on their terms. And it's understandable that this would be a threatening concept for a boy raised by someone like Hank. It's hard to grasp that rules can mean love when rules have always meant punishment in the past.

I thought the helplessness and frustration Isabel and Max were going through was well presented. It's horrible to watch someone you love going through trauma and not only be powerless to help, but also in danger of losing him. I liked how they both tried to make him see that the only way out of the situation was to take control of it and that running away from it and the people who love him was not going to make it better.

It was obvious how hurt Isabel and Max were that after all this time and all they've been through together, Michael still considers Nacedo his only family.

I did have to wonder if emancipation would really have been granted to a minor with Michael's record and lack of any visible means to support himself.

The shapeshifter turning into Hank was a surprising twist. I had convinced myself it was the guy who picked Michael up hitchhiking.

I liked the effect of the light streaming through the tree while Nacedo buried Hank.

Did anyone else notice that the weather was a little schizophrenic? One minute, rain would be running down windows and windshields and the next sunlight would be streaming through the windows and the ground was dry as a bone.

• I didn't like that Max immediately broke his promise to Michael about not telling anyone. Isabel needed to be told and I know that Max told her because he was worried, but it wasn't a promise he should have made in the first place.
• Was Amy really using the old tried and true "We have to step back" approach to romance? I was just waiting for her to tell Jim she needed to regain her balance.
• And we have yet another apology between Max and Liz. It was getting to be an old plot device about 6 episodes ago.
• I was surprised to see Michael open the package from Max in front of a stranger. I realize he is the least paranoid of the three about stuff like that, but it was very careless of him to take the crystals out of the bag so the truck driver could see them.
• Set inconsistency of the week: Since when did they install that wavy glass in Liz's bedroom window and what happened to the other one? It was a double window in previous episodes.
• I didn't feel like there was any resolution between Michael and Maria. She was there for him (again!) and (again!) he didn't express any gratitude or even let her know he was leaving town. I wanted to see something between them at the Sheriff's office. I would have much preferred to see that than the scene between Jim and Amy that we got instead. I know that "Thank you" is not really a big part of Michael's repertoire, but I wanted some acknowledgment from him that he appreciated her actions…both at the Sheriff's office and the night before.
• The scene where Max healed the bruised eye bothered me a bit. I wasn't sure why he would hesitate to heal it in the first place. And once he did heal it, why didn't he have to make a connection with Michael to do so and why was it so easy? In the past, Max has had to concentrate very to heal and it's taken a lot out of him. If it was effortless because Michael is another alien, that wasn't made clear. And why couldn't Michael heal it himself when just a couple of weeks ago, he was able to heal River Dog's broken ankle?

• The grief relief was a funny bit. Both when Maria was giving it to Liz to help her keep perspective and then again later, when she herself chugs the entire bottle when Michael shows up outside her window.
• I'm really liking the character of Amy DeLuca. She is so quirky and funny, but at the same time it's very obvious how much she loves Maria. And her relationship with Valenti adds such a human dimension to his character.
• The whole role reversal between Amy and Maria is both funny and a little sad. It's apparent that Maria seems so self reliant because she's had to be. In spite of the fact that her mother loves her, Amy has a lot of growing up to do herself and I would guess that Maria ends up playing the mom role more often than not. I was glad to see Amy take such a firm stand on the issue of Michael sleeping over, as well as coming through for Maria and talking to Valenti on Michael's behalf.
• It made me laugh to hear Liz trying to convince Maria, as well as herself I suspect, that she has a handle on the whole Max situation. Her powers of resistance when Max is actually in the room remain to be seen.
• Loved the scene on Liz's balcony where Max opened up to Liz. It's a definite sign of progress that he is sharing his problems with her and trusting her with his feelings about the whole situation.
• I was very glad it was Max who went to Michael and told him how much he means to them. Isabel has told him in the past how she feels and that she is there for him. I don't think Max has ever verbalized his feelings before. Michael needed to hear from Max that Max thinks of him as family.
• I really liked that Maria was the one that Michael turned to in his hour of need. It showed that in spite of his words, he knew that she was the one who would be able to give him what he desperately needed…understanding without questions or solutions. He needed someone to just hold him and let him cry without judgment and without attempting to tell him what he should be doing.
• Michael's understated return was well done and completely in character. It was completely believable that Michael would just show up and offer breakfast as a peace offering. And I loved the 'sir' he used when he finally worked up the courage to ask Mr. Evans for help.
• Brenden Fehr played Michael's shame and anger superbly. He was outstanding in this episode. My heart cracked when I saw his bottom lip quivering while Maria was toweling his head and completely broke as he emotionally melted down in her arms. This scene was the most heart-wrenching of the series to date and incredibly well acted, directed and written. Michael's wordless cry for help was wrenching.

• Isabel: "Something's wrong with Michael. He's acting weird."
• Max: "Weirder than usual?"

• Maria: "It's grief relief. It's this herbal remedy that shocks the body back into reality when the mind has gone into overload. Veterinarians use it to calm wild animals.

• Maria: "This is your brain on Max."

• Valenti: "If you make it, I'll eat it."
• Amy: "Just remember Jim, in this date we have a three strikes law now."

• Amy: "Ah…my favorite little wrestler."
• Amy: "I need to ask you for some space. I can't feel like you're judging me all the time."

• Isabel: "You just need to speak up and tell him the truth."
• Michael: "And what? Be the poster boy for domestic abuse? It's not going to happen."
• Max: "He's not easy, Isabel. He never has been. You can't just push him like that.
• Isabel: "He was acting like a child."
• Max: "Maybe. And maybe you need to stop treating him like one. You can't make up for in one night what he's never had in a lifetime."

• Amy: "Maria, there are like three single guys in all of Roswell. And two of them live in the Desert Inn Retirement community."

• Maria: "He's a cop. And you're a hippie."
• Amy: "Well, opposites attract."

• Amy: "I hope you're not talking from experience."
• Maria: "Just yours."

• Michael: "I don't belong there. I don't belong here. I don't belong anywhere."

• Amy: "My baby is having sex."

• Amy: "What exactly were you thinking letting him stay here, young lady? And besides, why is it OK for you and not for me?"

• Liz: "Just last night I said it really clearly…NO! Of course, Max wasn't there, but when he is, I'll be ready for him."

• Maria: "You know the boy I slept-but-didn't-sleep-with?"
• Amy: "Unfortunately, the shock has indelibly imprinted his face on my brain."

• Isabel: "I think it's time you either put up or shut up, Michael."
• Michael: "Very poetic, Isabel."