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| by Joan |
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HEART OF MINE (Episode 16/Season 2) Musings By Joan Pickering
Main Plot: Subplot: The advent of the Junior/Senior Prom gives the kids a chance to behave like normal teenagers.
I am numb from disappointment. The WB touted this as the relationship episode we had all been clamoring for, but obviously they do not have a clue as to what it is we are asking for! I recently said, in a discussion with fellow Roswellians, that it should be mandatory for the writers to watch all the season 1 episodes, so they would know what these characters mean to each other, and us. I think that should apply to TPTB at the WB as well. Although maybe it wouldn’t make any difference because Jason Katims himself wrote this episode, and if he doesn’t know these characters (I’m beginning to suspect he does not see the characters the same way as the fans do) then we’re lost. I was trying to relate the title "Heart of Mine" to what took place in the episode but I couldn’t find any "heart" in it. They chose to pair up the characters with the least amount of chemistry and break apart those who’s chemistry lights up the screen. No wonder this episode had no magic, no spark, no anything but disappointment. Was it that I was anticipating too much after such a long break, or was it, at least partly, that the actors had no enthusiasm for what they were doing? Maybe because it kills them to have their characters do and say these things, or, maybe they just don’t care anymore. And if they don’t care, how can I? I finally realized the title was somewhat appropriate because this heart of MINE is breaking. The only tears that stung my eyes, were for the sorrow I felt that my love for this show is dying. There are still a few burning embers, the light hasn’t gone out completely, I’m sure the passion can be resurrected, but not if the episodes continue on this path. Liz: When they opened with Liz’s journal entry, my heart soar; I was sooo glad they brought it back! I use to think I knew these characters, that I could figure out why they did the things they did, could predict how they might react to certain situations, but Liz is not behaving the way I anticipated at all. I’m having trouble understanding her. It’s all contradictions. She was strong enough to tell Max that he should be with Tess, to fulfill his destiny, but not strong enough to watch it happen. This is understandable but it’s unfair of her to tell Max how much pain she is in because of seeing him with Tess, at the same time she is telling him they have to admit that it’s over between them. He’s in pain too and knowing that his actions are hurting Liz, hurts him even more. She’s asking him to say he doesn’t love her anymore, thinking that will set her free, but even if he did say it (it would never happen but even if it did) she would still love him so she would never be free. I suspect what she really wants is for him to keep telling her that no matter how much she pushes him away he will never stop loving her, and wanting her, and trying to convince her that there is no other woman for him but her (or is that just what I want!). I thought he was going to say it but instead he believed her spoken words instead of the feelings behind them. And I don’t get that. I thought that the connections they made in season 1, helped them see into each others souls, to know deep down how they felt about each other. Words cannot subdue that knowledge. I thought Liz’ "enthusiasm" when Max told her he was remembering his [other] home planet, rang false, which surprised me because I thought she would be much happier for him and more interested than she appeared. Granted, she doesn’t really want him to remember his past life with Tess, but, as a scientist, you would think she would want to hear every last detail. Pairing Liz with Sean is beyond belief! There is zero chemistry and zero reasoning for her to go to him for solace. And how could she tell Maria that she "could meet another guy" when she knows, and admitted so to Future Max, that no one can replace Max in her heart, they would always be second best. And there’s no way she could believe that Max "could meet another girl" and want to be with her. The ONLY reason he is not with her is that she forced him away so that he would fulfill his destiny to be with Tess. His meeting someone else, and wanting to be with her, is so far out there, that Liz must be losing it to even mention the possibility. It didn’t seem appropriate to me that Liz was dancing with Maria like she was having a wonderful time, right after telling Max how much emotional pain she was in. Liz must be an orphan now. I gave up awhile ago lamenting the absence of the parents but, come on, their daughter’s prom night and they are not there to take a picture!? Max: I was glad that they finally touched upon the memory retrieval process that Tess mentioned many episodes ago in the season opener. However, if Tess is the only one helping Max "retrieve" these "memories", can we really trust that they are real? Did he really love her in their past life, as opposed to it being a political marriage? Are those feelings resurfacing and are they conflicting with his feelings for Liz? Or is Tess manipulating his feelings, like she did once before? There is no passion, no chemistry when they kiss; I don’t feel any love. I loved Max’ smile when Liz told him she had bought her Prom dress well in advance. I was disappointed that they didn’t show us any of what Max was remembering about his [other] home planet. It would have been nice if they at least gave us a flash of the three moons. Michael: Michael agreed to see other people much too quickly; who else would he see? The minute they showed him with Juanita, the first thought that came to me was that she’s giving him dancing lessons so he can surprise Maria, but then I thought "Nah - too cliché, they are much more imaginative than that. (Overestimating them, once again.) However, it was very sweet of him to do that. I just loved his reaction/response when Maria called herself stupid for not trusting him. Does Michael really want to know what the "chicks’ look like on his [other] home planet? He must realize they won’t look human! Actually, I’m surprised he hasn’t asked Tess to help him "remember". He’s the one who most wants to know about his alien life. Kyle: I couldn’t believe it when they had Kyle say he thought of Tess as a sister. I kept screaming No, No, No!!! Not only is it unbelievable, based on the looks he’s given her in the past, but once again, they are taking a pairing that works magic, on so many levels, and destroying it. The only thing I had to look forward to this season was the sexually charged bickering between Kyle and Tess, and now I won’t even have that! They are just sucking all the romance out of this show!! Alex: Alex/Colin looked exceptionally cute in this episode, and he was so right about not falling into that trap again, not wanting to become Isabel’s doormat. I really like this more self assured Alex. He and Isabel are very sweet together and make very good friends, but I don’t think there’s enough sexual chemistry between these two characters for anything more than friendship. Isabel: I thought it was rather selfish of Isabel to coerce Alex into asking her to the Prom, after he just finished telling her how hard it would be for him, and then exacerbating the situation by kissing him, but I wasn’t surprised. It was something Isabel might do because she can be self involved at times. So Isabel is now a senior and the rest are juniors, even though they were in the same classes in season 1. Or did she immerse herself in her schoolwork so much this year, in between fighting evil aliens, that she finished a year ahead of everyone else? Why wouldn’t Max and Michael do the same? Is there a reason they have accelerated her education? Will she be going off to college (so she can do movies)? She told Alex that "no one" else knew she had graduated, does that include Max, Diane and Phillip? Sean: They won’t tell us what Sean did to be sent to juvie but, if he has to stay 1,000 feet away from schools, that screams selling drugs to kids. Will that become a factor later on? Will Liz be implicated (guilt by association) and will Max have to come to her rescue? General: What we’ve learned: The aliens kiss, they swim, they have parties (in addition to weddings) and their water is thicker than ours. I wonder if that’s just the water they swim in or if it includes their drinking water? Favorite Lines: Michael: Transient, fleeting, impermanent. I know what ephemeral means Maxwell. It’s my life. Back to Episode Page |
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