The Invisible Man
"Impetus"

Airdate: July 14, 2000

Reluctant Federal Agent Darien Fawkes decides to use his gift of invisibility to spy on his keeper. What he discovers is that she has a name (Claire), a dog, and a secret past all her own. His clumsy attempts at helping, however, set off a chain of events that could get an innocent woman killed.

Claire, The Keeper

Obviously the people over at The Invisible Man were as worried about Darien's mental health as I was, considering that this week's installment was much less... er.... dark. For a few episodes now, Fawkes has had to rely upon The Keeper to keep him in counteragent -- and therefore sane -- without even knowing her real name. This sort of blind trust was definitely against his better judgment -- and suspicious nature -- and considering his talent, it was only a matter of time before he did something to rectify the situation. And since this is The Invisible Man, Darien's actions invariably lead to trouble.

The decision to have Fawkes follow his keeper not only fits logically into the story, but in real life human nature as well. Darien had been set up as a character who often times was unable to resist satisfying certain urges and didn't mind living a bit on the edge to do so. It would seem only natural that he'd use his gift to spy on people, especially those who hold his life in their hands.

Humanizing by revealing small bits of her home life and past has made Claire more interesting not less. The cipher aspect of her character seemed a bit lazy on the part of the writers and producers of the show. By giving her at least some concrete motivations they have solidified the character without changing her personality one iota.

The past constructed for Claire is a good one. By making her both sympathetic as well as decidedly human, they have not only increased the potential for dramatic conflict but also realistically lengthened whatever time it will take to heal Fawkes. Claire is a gifted scientist, but now we know that she is capable of making mistakes. But it doesn't stop there. The details of the deal she made when she took over Darien's care paints her as both compassionate and responsible as well. In episodes like "Tiresias", she seemed too cold and dispassionate to be trustworthy, but by the end of "Impetus" it is clear that she has formed an attachment to Darien and is genuinely concerned about him.

As the title implies, this episode dealt with the driving forces behind the actions of the people who inhabit Darien's universe. Although focusing on the more altruistic motives of The Keeper it also explored the darker side of human nature. But of course, as this is a television show, it ended by allowing Fawkes to understand the subtle rewards that come from doing good. His cynical nature may not always believe it, but hey, isn't that where good dramatic conflict comes from?

-- Linda M. Najera

The Invisible Man airs at 8pm EST, Fridays on The Sci Fi Channel.

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