Roswell
"Wipeout"

Airdate: November 13, 2000

Due to a fortunate happenstance in which an out-of-town errand and a fishing trip coincide, the alien/human appreciation society (minus Alex) find themselves the last remaining residents of Roswell, New Mexico. Just when things are freaky enough, a busload of Skins pulls up and...

Lost: Teenager. Male. Last seen mooning over tall, unattainable blond.

Well, you can guess what happens next.

True to form, Roswell weaves a story that is full of both potential and plot holes.

The isolation of the show's heroes (again, minus poor Alex), while effectively creepy seemed rather superfluous. The Skins know the identity of at least three of the Royal Four, while the same foursome could not possibly remember what every Skin in Copper Summit looked like so the idea of seperating all of the "which of these things is not like the others" in order to hunt them down is rather a lot of effort that could have been put to better use, say in a deep moisturizing bath for the whole Skin crew.

As I predicted in my last review, Courtney's addition to the good guy alien team was destined to be short-lived. In order to make her situation more dire, and, I suppose, to bring out a protective instinct in Michael (the high-maintenace-chick magnet), despite there being no real indication that changing husks was imperative, she goes through the transformation -- in a tub of really nasty looking water -- only to find that her new host-body hasn't fully matured and will require a lot of upkeep. But other than her eventual red-shirt status, it seems that Courtney was introduced to simply to vomit up loads of exposition, technobabble and information.

And then she dies. By her own hand, and in a puff of croissant flakes, no less.

Despite their powers and placement as the center of this episode, the aliens compose the weakest and least intelligent parts of "Wipeout." Minus the plot, that is. Isabel, in a bout of reasoning that I've still not figured out, strikes out from the others and despite having heard how damn poweful the kid is, offers herself to Nicholas. (All together now, "Ewwww!") Michael, knowing that Nicholas can read minds, tells the vulnerable Courtney where the Granalith is located. Then, when they are all tied up inside the school, not one of them uses their powers to do anything. Well, until Tess does her Firestarter thing at the end. And that was the worst part of all.

Compared to the aliens though, most of the human contingent acted with courage, intelligence, and compassion. William Sadler's performance is spot on as he paints Sheriff Valenti as a father facing his own mortality who realizes that his continuing silence will leave his son without the self-confidence he needs to survive. For his part, Nick Weschler's Kyle is appropriately confused then strengthened by his father's words. It is equal parts the intense desire to bring his father back and the confidence he has gained from the words spoken before he dissapeared that enables Kyle to overcome his fear of the Skins and set out to return the townspeople.

Despite her ditzy persona, Maria is a source of compassion, strength and ingenuity in "Wipeout" (although that last bit might have been just plain dumb luck). Nevertheless, while the other, supposedly smarter, characters search for a way to combat the degenerative state of Courtney's husk, it is Miss DeLuca who comes to the rescue, offering, without hesitation, her Michael-Gueren-Inspired-Holistic-Med-Kit. However, the true proof Maria's strength and courage is that she feels deeply and expresses her emotions. Before setting off with the last remaining humans in Roswell, she doesn't let Michael's previous coldness stop her from letting him know that she still cares. But that isn't the full extent of Maria's strength that is seen in this episode. While others, who shall remain nameless, are content to moan and whine piteously about their plight, Maria courageously steps up to the plate whether it be being open about her feelings or trying to save the town for even her status as a Remedial Science student doesn't stop her from trying when she is the last humans standing.

And I'd like to add one final note, Mrs. Parker is way cool. First she marries John Doe of X (you know what I mean) and then she listens to Elvis Costello on laundry day? She's obviously a woman of refined tastes. Too bad... Never mind.

-- Linda M. Najera

Roswell airs Monday nights at 9pm EST on The WB.

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