I thought that this was a very different episode of Roswell, one that delved into the original 1947 crash that represented the "Genesis" for Max Evans and his fellow visitors to this planet, but the past also echoed the present, as an atmosphere of betrayal, cover ups, and a mass conspiracy fueled by the fear of the unknown threatened the very existence of the beings who came to live on this planet. I also thought this episode taught an important lesson about how one man’s courage could overcome an all enveloping desire to hide the truth for the sake of conformity, and it also illustrated the lengths that the governmental authorities would go to in their efforts to hide and destroy what they had discovered, even to the point of murder. I thought the situation in 1947 served as a microcosm of the situation that Max and his fellow aliens now face, as the world closes in on them, and they find that they don’t know who they can trust.

I also saw this episode as a true epiphany for Michael Guerren, as he learned the story of Captain Hal Carver, and how Captain Carver’s courage enabled him to come into being. I thought this revelation finally broke down Michael’s walls of isolation and distrust, thanks to the man who had saved him and others of his kind so many years ago.

I also thought this episode was interesting as it allowed the actors on Roswell to assume roles from the past that both reflected, but were also very different from, the normal roles that they portray, as each character played their part in this unfolding drama from the past. In many ways, each character from the past reflected a current character taken to the extreme.

The young Hal Carver definitely reflected the present day Michael, as they both had a jaunty nonconformist air about them, but deep down, underneath their cynical exterior, they cared about people, although neither one was willing to show it, but you always had the feeling that Hal, like Michael, would do the right thing, and Hal, and his story, obviously touched Michael as no one had ever done before.

Richard Doty, Hal’s best friend, was very much like Max in his desire to conform, and have a normal life, but as we saw in the episode, he ultimately sold out his best friend in the interest of "national security" and his desire for a "wife and a white picket fence."

Colonel James Cassidy represented an authority figure like his counterpart Sheriff Valenti, but he lacked Sheriff Valenti’s humanity, and was portrayed as controlling and harsh, and a typical career officer, determined to hide the truth at all costs, to the point of condoning murder and duplicity.

Captain Cavitt was very much like Alex, as far as intelligence went, but Alex’s kindness was replaced by Cavitt’s cunning and guile, as he used people to cover up the truth, and ultimately discredit Hal, and eliminate anyone who might reveal any information about the mysterious crash that ultimately determined the destiny of Michael and his fellow aliens.

Betty Osorio’s wisecracking reporter definitely reflected Maria’s wisecracking waitress, and the attraction between Betty and Hal reflected the attraction between Maria and Michael, and it was interesting to see Hal pick up on their attraction. I also liked how the past and present intersected at different points, as we saw Maria and Betty in virtually the same scene, which illustrated the similarities between their characters.

I felt that the character of Rosemary was the character of Isabel taken to the extreme, as Isabel and Rosemary seemingly hardened their hearts to any true human contact, although in Rosemary’s case, she became the stereotypical "good time girl," being only interested in sex, while Isabel closed off the possibility of getting close with Alex, or any human.

In many ways, Yvonne White echoed Liz’s sweetness and vulnerability, and it was unsettling to see her meet such a sad fate, as the cover up in the aftermath of the crash closed in to take her life, and the life of so many others.

As this episode unfolded, I was intrigued by how the past and present intermingled, and I was also struck by how the noose tightened increasingly on Hal Carver, who, like Michael, rebelled against the role he was being forced to play, and his courage, and his desire to "do the right thing" cost him his military career, and very nearly his life. It was very disconcerting how, one by one, all the participants and witnesses to the crash and its aftermath were "silenced," either by threats, or by blind conformity to "orders," or by death, as anyone who was perceived as a "security threat" was conveniently "disposed of." I thought this echoed the present day situation, as Michael and his fellow visitors, like Hal, didn’t know who they could trust, as an unknown but implacable enemy closed in on them.

One thing that I really enjoyed was seeing Michael’s attitude change throughout this episode, as he started out treating Captain Carver contemptuously, in typical Michael fashion, but then we saw his interest peak as Captain Carver’s story unfolded, and Michael realized that the pods the Captain Carver had assisted the alien beings in rescuing had served as the incubation pods for himself, Isabel, Max, and Tess, plus four other as yet unknown beings "somewhere out there." I was truly touched to see Michael register the full impact of this older man’s courage, and it was moving to see Michael reach out to him and embrace him, as well as reveal to Captain Carver that his act of compassion and courage had not been in vain. I was also very happy to see Michael later apologize to Liz for his earlier harsh actions, and to thank Maria. To me, this represented a breakthrough for Michael’s character, as he realized that he was not alone, and that he owed his very existence to some human beings who cared. I hope this trend continues, because Michael is a wonderful character, and it’s good that he finally is becoming more "human."

Overall, I enjoyed this episode, although it didn’t move me like a "normal" episode of Roswell, but it served its purpose of letting us, and Michael Guerren, understand the past as an uncertain future loomed on the horizon.

Jerry D.