Episodes - How the Other Half Lives

by Joan

HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES

(Episode 14/Season 2)

Musings By

Joan Pickering

Main Plot: Possessed by the gandarium, Grant kidnaps Isabel, kills Carmen and shoots Michael, in an effort to get to Laurie. In the meantime, the gandarium entrap Alex and Kyle in an underground cave.

Question - Is there another hive somewhere or did they just spend an entire episode to tell us what the gandarium is, only for it to be useless information, now that it's all gone? Let's assume it's not useless information and exam what we've learned.

1. It's a genetically engineered life form (which means it is not native to their planet (Antar?).
2. It's designed to bridge the differences between the human and alien (Antarian) DNA & RNA re-sequencing, during 3rd stage amino acid synthesis. (Does this mean the Royal Four have gandarium in their system? Is this why the gandarium rejected Max' hand? But then why would the mutated version be lethal to THEM as well? And if there was a connection between them, why did the gandarium want Grant to kill Isabel?)
3. It is programmed to infect human cells (and exercise mind control?).
4. It's a waterborne parasitic virus.
5. It needs oxygen to survive.
6. It is hive-like.
7. Only the Queen can infect a host.
8. The Queen can infect a host (Grant) without mutating, and then control the host's actions.
9. The Queen needs a host with a specific (1 in 50 million) defective gene (Laurie), in order to mutate into a universal virus and spread, exponentially, upon contact.
10. It seems to have shapeshifting abilities
a. green blob
b. blue/green crystal
c. flying jelly fish

I wondered why the gandarium never did anything to Alex and Kyle except entrap them. Were they holding them prisoner for the Queen's return? If the Queen is the only one that can infect others, what is the purpose of the rest of the hive?

I'm assuming that, since all the other gandarium died, the sample that Max had, did also.

Michael: I enjoyed seeing how Laurie brings out Michael's softer side; like when he touched her hand before they were thrown out, as reassurance that he was still there for her and how he tried to bolster her self confidence. Now if someone could just do that for him! Then again, maybe Laurie made a start by reminding him that he is Charles Dupree's legacy to the world.

I don't understand why Michael didn't ask Laurie if she had a picture of her grandmother. You would think he would want to know for sure if there were any more "family resemblance's". Speaking of pictures, I thought the scene of Michael placing the picture of Laurie on a shelf in his apartment was sooo sweet, but it made me wonder if he has any of Maria.

OK, I like that they are making an attempt at continuity with the first season, but Michael taking credit for Maria's ideas was funnier the first time around.

Michael's powers are continuing to grow, so I was surprised that he didn't at least attempt to heal himself, rather than waiting for Max to do it.

If Charles Dupree had a defective chromosome, and his DNA was used to create Michael, does Michael have the defective chromosome?

Maria: Loved that Maria was the one to figure out how to outwit Bobby and Meredith. Loved even more that she finally complimented Michael! Although I hope it will happen again without his having to perform a heroic act.

She and Michael definitely took to "the good life" quickly and easily. =)

Laurie: So what caused Laurie's erratic behavior? Her defective gene, her fright, or the gandarium?

Michael wanted Laurie to stay with him so he could protect her and have his new found family close to him. Of course, it wouldn't make sense for her to leave the mansion and move into his one room apartment and, storywise, they can't have Michael moving to Arizona, so they used the, she needs a respite from aliens, excuse. But I'm sure they'll be bringing her back in the future.

Maria: I was glad to see Kyle and Alex bonding and working together. I was also a little disappointed, however. These characters generally provide a great deal of comic relief in this show, so the two of them together was an opportunity for a hilarious scene - or should I say a missed opportunity!

I was a little surprised that Kyle wanted to go into the underground cave, considering how leary he is of all things extra-terrestrial. Why didn't they push against the crystal that blocked the exit. How did they now they couldn't move it if they didn't try?

I'm betting Kyle and Alex were as disappointed as I was that Tess and Liz didn't hug them with relief at their escape. Instead, Tess and Liz hugged each other! What was up with that!?

Observation: Alex/Colin looked even cuter than normal in this episode. =)

Larek: Larek seemed to know an awful lot about the gandarium, except how to kill it (or was that piece of information deliberately left out by him?). It suggests (and it's something I've suspected all along) that the Antarians were experimenting with creating hybrids long before they used the method to re-create the Royal Four.

Grant/Isabel: We now know that Grant was infected/possessed by the gandarium when he first met Isabel in Skin and Bones. I wonder if it was the gandarium that caused her attraction to him? Grant proved himself to be a good person, so I was glad that Isabel sensed this and stayed with him at the end.

If Grant was shot, in To Serve and Protect, where did he go for medical treatment and why wasn't it reported?

Interesting that Isabel felt it wouldn't be dangerous for her to hitch a ride with a stranger, even though she realized she couldn't protect herself from Grant.

Jim/Duff: I was really surprised that Duff trusted Jim without full disclosure from him. What did Jim mean by "walk away"? They have to report the deaths of Carmen and Grant somehow! Will there be an investigation? Will they find Michael's blood? Now that she's "in the know" (since Michael used his powers in front of her), I think she will support them, but I was surprised that Jim just assumed she would.

I think that Duff and Jim should be commended for finding the bomb shelter based on Michael's "They're back there" instructions!

Bobby/Meredith: I wonder how Bobby and Meredith reacted to two violent deaths in their home!?

Somehow I think Meredith's plan to keep Michael and Maria busy eating, so they wouldn't be going through her personal stuff, would have worked better if she hadn't TOLD them the plan!

Bone to pick: Is it too much to ask that they keep the names of their characters straight? Last episode Laurie's aunt was named Mary (distinctly said by Laurie and confirmed in the closed captioning), this episode it's Meredith (distinctly said by Laurie and confirmed in the closed captioning).

General:

What we learned about the Royal Four:

1. Their powers do not work against the gandarium crystals. (I wonder if we will learn why in the future?)
2. Choloriform does work on them.

Did anyone else notice that in the promo for this episode Michael tells Laurie "You're safe here now." and Laurie replies "I'm not safe here." but when it aired Michael says "I just wanted to make sure you're OK. We're gonna help you." and she replies "My aunt and uncle need me to be crazy." I suppose we could say, that was deceptive advertising, but I'd rather think of it as an opportunity to see cut scenes!

Favorite Lines:

Kyle: So I guess what I have a problem with is that suddenly I'm a member of this club I never wanted to join. And as it turns out, this club has a striking resemblance to a chain gang.

Kyle: What do you suppose alien crystals are going for on E-bay?

Laurie: You are Grandpa's legacy.

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