Photo Credit: SyFy
Wow. Have you ever watched an episode of a TV show that was so full of action and little subplots that by the time you reach the end, you feel like you had been on a fast-moving train? Well, tonight’s episode of Alphas fit that bill perfectly.
For those who read my articles on Alphas from San Diego Comic-Con, you will know that the cast and producers hinted at some exciting storylines in store for this season, and tonight’s episode covered many of those. The main storyline is the introduction of this new Alpha named Kat (Erin Way) that everyone has been buzzing about. In search for an Alpha that had escaped from Building 17 in the season’s premiere episode, the team finds themselves in a fight club for Alphas only, with Bill (Malik Yoba) nearly getting the crap beat out of him. Enters Kat – this petite, disarming girl who claims she can teach Bill how to fight and how to win. And why?
“I’m doing this so that I can bet on you and cash in” – Kat
Well, at least she’s honest, right? Apparently one of Kat’s gifts is her ability to help people channel their power and use it only when they need it. What this ends up meaning for Bill is he can now use his Alpha ability but without the drain that he has felt in the past. But, that’s not Kat’s only ability. As was hinted at Comic-Con, she is also a “quick study” (which is a huge understatement) that allows her to master self-defense tactics after just watching a 5-minute instructional video and beat Bill at the fight club. Yes, Bill, she may be small, but she can kick your ass!
In the meantime, as Azita Ghanizada mentioned in our interview with the actress at Comic-Con, Rachel seems to have found a potential love interest. His name is John, and he’s been appointed as the team’s new tactical leader. The two didn’t quite get off on the right foot with Rachel proclaiming, “John, you stink! I feel like someone spilled a spice rack on me!”, referring to John’s strong cologne. But, John is sweet about the entire situation, buys several brands of soap, and then, asks Rachel which one would she want him to smell like. Now, that is a super-nice guy, and I’m thinking Rachel may have finally found a winner. I’m looking forward to seeing where this relationship goes.
While all of this is good, in my opinion the most important part of the entire episode is what we learn about Stanton Parish (John Pyper-Ferguson). I think most of us had assumed that Parish’s ability was the inability to age, and while that appears to be part of it, his ability is much more than that. With flashbacks to the Civil War, we see that he also has the ability to heal himself, even if he is mortally wounded. In these same flashbacks, we also see how Parish had changed once he realized his ability and how corrupt it made him. He ends up murdering Dr. Harrison, the physician who treated him and also his friend, for the sole reason of keeping his ability a secret. But, the frightening part is how extremely powerful, and extremely dangerous, this ability makes him. If no one can hurt you, why do what is right and moral? Why not just do what you want to do and to hell with the rest.
Parish ends the episode by saying to Dr. Rosen (David Strathairn), “Every change brings bloodshed”. While he said that they had the power to change that, something tells me that the quote was more of an omen of things to come. Dr. Rosen has always been optimistic and can hope for peace, but I have a feeling it’s not going to be that simple – especially with someone as powerful and as corrupt as Stanton Parish at the helm.
