TV Review: First Wave - 'Normal, Illinois'


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	First Wave - 'Normal, Illinois' By Chris Aylott Associate Editor posted: 05:10 pm ET 17 July 2000

First Wave – “Normal, Illinois”

Sex equals death for the teenagers of a small Illinois town. Can Cade Foster set them free?

(First aired in the U.S. on July 16, 2000)

Written by Peter Elkoff
Directed by Stein Myhrstad

Eddie Remembers High School

EDDIE: They were good-looking, top athletes, popular - the kind of kids that used to make me puke.

EDDIE: Something's not normal in Normal. I've been dying to say that.

NOSTRADAMUS SAYS

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First Wave - 'Normal, Illinois' (spoilers)

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Quatrain 66, Century 7

"Where the waters are contained

Nature's course is obstructed,

And youth imprisoned by devil's lightning

Whose use shall tame the rival's ardor."

GUEST STARS

Kett Turton -- Robbie Harlock
Daniella Evangelista -- Laura Bennett
Michael Hogan -- Mr. Bennett
Glen Morshower -- Olden
Lisa Marie Caruk -- Sondra

WHAT HAPPENED

A horde of teenagers is having a pool party in a well-to-do neighborhood. Carson McAuliffe and his girlfriend Sondra are ready to slip away upstairs for a while.

As they head for the house, they pass Robbie Harlock. Clearly a social outcast, he’s only person not in a swimsuit.

Carson demands to know what Robbie is doing at the party, and Robbie reminds Carson that he’s dating the hostess, Laura Bennett.

Laura appears at that moment, preventing an incident. Carson leaves after giving Robbie a dirty look.

Sondra and Carson go to Laura’s bedroom and make out. Sondra’s head begins to hurt, but Carson doesn’t want to stop.

Then he pulls away from her. His face has turned a mottled blue and his eyes light up with electric shocks.

Sondra screams. (spoilers)

ANALYSIS

"Normal, Illinois" makes some subtle advances in First Wave's continuity even though it doesn’t have any major revelations in itself.

For once, this show seems to be aware of previous events -- much less willing to build on them. Cade comes a little further out of the funk he’s been in for much of this season. Not only does he have a follower, but Robbie Harlock is sane and survives the episode.

Of course, Robbie is very similar to Nick Patterson, the troubled suburban teen of "Cul-de-Sac". But given that Cade’s only publicity comes from the Paranoid Times, it’s not that unreasonable for most of Cade’s followers are geeky young Net-surfers.

The Gua plan also builds nicely on the show’s continuity. The Gua’s overactive sex drive has been a constant Achilles heel for them, and fixing the problem in this manipulative way fits their style perfectly.

Somebody on the writing staff has been asking the next question about First Wave’s fundamental premises. Episodes like this add a surprising amount of depth to the show.

WHAT WE LEARN

Cade doesn’t watch The X-Files.

The Gua leaders are so concerned about their agents’ runaway sex drives that they’re developing devices to punish sexual excitement with death.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK

The Gua follow Eddie to his high school reunion in "All About Eddie".

What do you think? Send your comments to the editor.