The Others
"Till Then"

Airdate: April 29, 2000

Two government types appear on Elmer's doorstep and ask for his help in locating a downed pilot. While he is more than willing to lend a hand, a failure many years ago has come back to haunt him and he cannot focus on the present until he clears up his past. It is only with Marian's help that Elmer can be sure that everyone makes it home safely.

Moving away from the fright-fest that was "The Ones That Lie In Wait", The Others returns to more familiar ground with "Till Then". The responsibility that lies with their gifts comes into play again as Elmer and Marian use their abilities to save one life and two souls.

Although I missed the others -- some more than others -- the focus on Elmer and Marian in this episode was effective on more than one level. Elmer's Big Bang-like lecture about the unity of matter extending to even the supernatural is obviously meant to help the viewing audience understand the hows and whys of The Others' gifts. Additionally, the age and experience differences between the wise elder and the eager novice works as a parallel (something for which writers/producers Glen Morgan and James Wong are famous) for the disparate time frames in which the rescue missions take place.

Marian's journey and first planned solo mission is quite straightforward. Following Elmer's directives, she is successful in finding not only the missing pilot, but also accessing who exactly should know this information. Besides the probability of being called upon by the shadowy government pair for another task of this sort, the only real hint of foreshadowing comes in the form of Colonel Montgomery's (the superb Tucker Smallwood) warning to Marian that she must never contact Lt. Maxwell, the man she helped save. In a perfect world NBC would renew The Others and in the second season Lt. Maxwell (May I suggest Rodney Rowland or Morgan Weisser for the role?) would arrive on Elmer's doorstep during a regularly scheduled meeting of The Others seeking his savior.

Elmer's path is much more difficult. And more interesting. The tale of his friend Andrew Church fits perfectly with the Mills Brothers song referenced in the title. The lyrics suggest an unwanted parting between lovers who foresee many hardships placed in their way before a reunion can be made. The singer croons a plea to his beloved to faithfully wait for him until they can be together again. Although Andrew did not want to wait, he was forced by his death and his devotion to await the passing of his fiancée Amy. His stubbornness, however, forced him to take up his vigil in the wrong place, which led to Elmer's quandary.

Although more low-key than its predecessor, "Till Then" was an enjoyable episode of The Others, showcasing the two most disparate elements that make up The Others. Of particular note was the music used in this episode. Both The Mills Brothers' "Till Then" and The Four Vagabonds' "Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer" successfully evoked both the time period visited and the emotions of the characters.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go hunt down some Mills Brothers' and Four Vagabonds' CDs. Sometimes being a Morgan and Wong fan can really put a dent in your wallet.

The Others airs at 9pm EST, Saturdays on NBC.

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