Courtesy of Showcase / Syfy
Liber8 continues to expose the hypocrisy of big business, but I’m too busy fixating on the Alec (Erik Knudsen) vs Alec storyline to care.
Let’s bitch it out…It was only a matter of time before the battle between the two Alecs escalated to the point of violence (Side Note: part of me still wishes that we could have seen how things would have played out if we had of gotten to see two of Rachel Nichols’ Kiera).
As befits a show as narratively twisty as Continuum, there’s an element of ironic pathos when Alec goes head to head with himself. If only our Alec had been able to get-away with Emily (Magda Apanowicz), then both Alecs would have been able to survive. But because new Alec – aka the smarmy, corporate one – can’t let go of his former love, he makes it impossible for our Alec to escape, driving him to increasingly violent measures. The fact that Kiera chooses this moment to pick a side makes things even more complicated; she’s not just potentially sentencing her friend to death, she’s betraying her friend for a version of himself in the hope of recreating the future she came from. It’s extremely perturbing that Kiera doesn’t find her choice problematic, especially in light of this week’s flashforward to 2066 that reveals a future where thousands of people die from a neurotoxin called 16 and caused Kiera so much pain that she nearly killed herself. Yeah…that definitely sounds worth preserving.
Of course that’s what makes Continuum so great. Kiera may actually be one of the most flawed protagonists on TV and it’s incredibly refreshing to see her make as many bad judgement calls as good ones (even when you want to smack some sense into her, like cases such as this). Kiera is so fixated on returning to her own time and recreating her timeline that she never even considers that the future she comes from isn’t worth preserving. Liber8 is a terrorist group because they’re achieving change in anarchistic ways, but at least they recognize that the future is ten kinds of messed up and they would rather roll the dice and change something rather than let the same terrible events play out again. Kiera and the Freelancers, on the other hand, are determined to protect a status quo that has been repeatedly proven to be terrible for everyone; you get the impression that because it’s a knowable entity, it is somehow less frightening and therefore better.
Ever since this season began, I’ve been waiting for Kiera to open her eyes and critically examine the Freelancers. Sure she’s been suspicious of Curtis (Terry Chen) long before her CMR was repaired and he was revealed as her killer, but you would think Kiera would question a woman like Catherine (Rachael Crawford) a little more when she suggests Kiera kill the Alec we’ve known for three (television) years. Yes, Alec fucked up by betraying Kiera and jumping to this timeline, but Kiera has come to realize he did it because he was following his heart (before we gag too much over that misguided decision, let’s remember that Alec is still a dumb teenager). It’s also funny that Kiera doesn’t vocalize her realization that Alec didn’t betray her so much as pursue love until after she delivers him to the Freelancers. Of course, by this time he’s already been locked up in one of their specimen glass jars and there’s every likelihood they’ll study and kill him. Well done, Kiera. In the immortal words of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: you choose…poorly.
Other Observations:
- The other plot finds Liber8 sticking it to Sonmantos, the shady organization that they stole the safety deposit box from in 3×03 ‘Minute To Win It’. Unlike other procedural shows, I don’t mind the Liber8 plots of the week, especially when they’re like this one and made to tie in with the other storyline. The “corporate espionage” theme running in Liber8’s public spectacle is echoed in the stand-off between Alecs. Still Travis (Roger Cross) and Sonya’s (Lexa Doig) exploits can’t help but pale in comparison to episode MVP Erik Knudsen.
- Both Emily and our Alec infer that new Alec refuses to let them go because he remains infatuated with Emily. If Emily had been more of a focal point during the initial Alec confrontation in 3×04 ‘A Minute Changes Everything’ that episode would have been much more agreeable.
- Side Note: can I just say that it’s surprisingly enjoyable watching slimy corporate Alec get his ass kicked a few times (obviously I’m partial to our Alec because his character is nicer and has remained much more consistent than this new version of the character).
- Carlos (Victor Webster) isn’t on edge quite as much this episode (perhaps because he nearly saw Kiera die during the 16 attack?). With that said, he’s still not using good judgement. What did he think would happen when he publicly confronts Sonmantos mouthpiece Richardson in front of reporters? All things considered, Carlos should probably be glad that prickly Dillon (Brian Markinson) only gave him desk duty.
- I really liked how upset and defensive Betty (Jennifer Spence) gets when Carlos questions her loyalties. Not only is she under intense scrutiny, she doesn’t have access to half the gadgets and gizmos that Alec has. We all know that Carlos is being totally ridiculous in this scene, but it’s kinda cool when she shoves it back in face. Too bad that moment is undercut by Kiera immediately after, though. Sometimes it feels like Kiera forgets how to be human.
Best Lines:
- Emily (when Alec decides to work with Kellog to ensure their future): “You make a handshake deal with Matthew Kellog, you better make sure you have all your fingers afterwards.”
- Kiera (after Betty goes on a rant about her work ethic): “And Betty…you might want to lose the attitude.” Meow
- Carlos (when Kiera confirms both Alecs are helping): “Double team. Fantastic.”
- New Alec (when our Alec pulls a gun on him): “No. We’re not that kind of people.”
What are your thoughts on the Alec vs Alec confrontation? Were you rooting for our Alec or new Alec? Are you sad that Kiera chose smarmy new Alec? Should she be more suspicious of the Freelancers? And why did Curtis kill her doppelganger? Sound off below.
Continuum airs Fridays at 10pm EST on Syfy