Max is drawn to Tess, even as the others question who she is and why she has come to Roswell. Michael finds a miniature camera in his apartment.
(original air date: April 17, 2000)
| The Sardonic Miss De Luca |
Maria: What if the Czechoslovakians can't resist temptation?
Maria (to Michael): No secrets. So either give it to me straight, or you're notgiving it to me at all. |
Isabel: OK, Ed, so what is it that you do that takes you to all these places?
Ed: Well if I tell you, I'll have to kill you. (laughs)Tess: He always says that. He thinks he's so funny. |
Liz: Everything I see with my eyes tells me he's cheating on me, but everything I feel with my heart tells me he's not. |
Teleplay by Richard Whitley and Toni Graphia
Story by Richard Whitley
Directed by Paul Shapiro
GUEST STARS
Jim Ortlieb -- Ed Harding
Michael Chieffo -- Mr. Seligman
Kevin Cooney -- Dr. Malcolm Margoland
Emilie De Ravin -- Tess Harding
WHO WAS THAT?
The TV reporter at the hospital fire identifies herself as "Thania St John", also the name of the show's co-executive producer and frequent writer. The appearance is uncredited.
WHAT HAPPENED
It's a normal night at the Crashdown Café --
Max and Liz are making eyes at each other while Isabel looks on, disgusted. Sheriff Valenti interrupts them, gets coffee and leaves without incident.
The others wonder what he suspects. Tess interrupts and wants to know what they're talking about.
Max stares at her and has a vision to the two of them standing in the desert. He also sees someone in a pod.
He excuses himself to join Liz in the back room. They kiss, and he flashes again.
He sees himself holding Tess' hand, and Tess seems to replace Liz in the kiss. (more
spoilers)
ANALYSIS
Trust is often a question of perception. The expression goes, "I can't believe my own eyes," and it's an apt one for this episode.
Sheriff Valenti doesn't understand how the fake Dr. Margoland
duped him, especially when Topolsky's blood might be on his hands because of it
Max cannot trust his own eyes anymore. We watch his in-class passion with Tess and do not even see signs of a flash; Max cannot separate these fantasies from reality, except that he knows that he loves Liz.
Liz cannot believe that Max kisses Tess, while Isabel now learns that there is more to her new friend than meets the eye.
Watching the watchers
Everyone's watching things this week. Both
Kyle and Michael are watching basketball on TV. Valenti initially learns of Topolsky's death by watching a TV report.
We see an unnamed -- and still unknown -- individual watching Michael drink milk straight out of the carton. While nothing in that act of drinking is sinister, it underscores the fact that this silent observer has probably seen plenty already.
As Liz bungles her investigation, we watch along with her friends as Mr. Harding appears from behind. The tension mounts, and the spectators remind us that we can do nothing to help.
For a moment, we and the characters are both trapped on one side of the screen, allowed only to see what unfolds, not get involved.
A radical change
This episode marks an important turning point for Sheriff Valenti. He now has evidence that Topolsky
may have been right.
Perhaps the Sheriff needs to trust Max Evans. But will Max accept that trust?
Max confronted the Sheriff in "
Convention" -- perhaps the point where Valenti was most suspicious. But as Valenti changes, we have to wonder if Max will change in response.
We can also ask if Valenti really is changing and if the issue might be a blind.
We saw Valenti taking pictures outside the Harding house. What, exactly, was he taking pictures of? How did he know to be there? Whom does he serve?
Four episodes of Roswell's first (perhaps
only) season remain, and the questions continue to mount.
WHAT WE LEARN
According to Tess' school file, she was born in Omaha on May 7, 1983. The school she came from was in Chicago, her parents are Ed and Sheila Harding, and her father's job is listed as "consultant." Her address is 455 Crestview. Of course, how much of this is true is highly debatable.
Agent Topolsky is believed dead in a hospital fire in Bethesda, MD.
Valenti knows that the man he met last week was not Dr. Margoland, and has given the orb back to Max.
Mr. Harding claims that he works for the US Army converting abandoned bases to storage facilities.
Tess is able to reconstruct the Buddha statue using powers of her own.
DANGLING PLOT THREADS
Is Topolsky really dead? Who set the fire?
Who placed the camera in Michael's apartment? Topolsky?
Who is watching the feed from that camera? Are they able to watch after it leaves the apartment?
Why is Valenti staking out Tess' house? Is he merely following the others there?
Who, and what, is Tess?
Is she connected to Nacedo? He had enough influence to convincingly impersonate Dr. Margoland - could he somehow be involved with the U.S. military?
Could Nacedo possibly be Tess?
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK WHEN
"The puzzle comes together as she reveals the hidden pieces." Max confronts Tess as Michael and Isabel confront their own impulses in "Four Square."
What do you think? Send your comments to the
critic or editor.
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