"Heat Wave"
Air Date: December 1, 1999

Yeah, yeah, baby! It wasn't a dream. Michael and Maria totally went for some overheated liplock action that made this episode. The only problem was that both disappeared 40 minutes into the hour and all the energy that had been pumped into the show left with them.

Okay, sure they broke up and are headed for angst city, but that's what teen soaps do. They break up their couples, shuffle them around a bit, and tease you with hints that your favorites just might get back together. But I'm willing to go with the flow. At least that way something somewhat interesting happens every week, right?

Yes, I'll admit that I was thrilled to see everyone pairing off and that includes Maria's mom and Sheriff Valenti. On second thought, not everyone exchanging heated glances and then some made me happy. Liz and Max are still the most tedious couple on the show. Every single time it's just the two of them, the show drags and drags and drags until I want to pull my hair out. Even the supposed-to-be-boring Alex, with his overly dramatic, Titanic-romantic sensibilities, mooning over Isabel was a treat compared to the lead couple's long, overdrawn, meaningful glances. Ugh.

So the big plot development this week is that Alex now sort-of-kind-of knows. That is, Liz told him, but he doesn't quite believe it. Other, less earth-shattering developments included of course the aforementioned split between the hormone twins, Michael and Maria, because he doesn't "get this intense". However, true to soap form, when she leaves looking as if she's on the verge of tears, the expression on his face leaves no doubt as to the fact that he still really, really loves her. *sob* (Kidding! I'm kidding!) Oh, and the tedious couple kissed a few times. There was none of the M&M heat though. Now that was sad.

Oh, and what was up with all the girls' outfits and hair at the party? I swear someone in wardrobe and makeup has been watching their Boogie Nights DVD with a little too much attention to detail.

There were no previews for next week so I guess I'll just have to wait and see how deep into the traditional soap vat they're willing to go. I say dive in, baby. Dive right on in!

-- Linda M. Najera

Roswell airs at 9pm EST, Wednesdays on The WB.

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