Alphas Season 2 Discussion

[Ahriman238]

Next week (Monday the 23rd) Alphas' second season first airs, the first episode is titled "Wake-up Call."

Alphas has a familiar story, people with extraordinary, superhuman abilities. The twist being that all these tend to be more like mental skills or physical quirks, have serious drawbacks and almost everyone with superpowers has some sort of complex, like the "living lie-detector" whose pathologically incapable of trusting anyone. Or Cameron, who has impossible hand-eye coordination making him a spectacular marksman/baseball pitcher, except his gift cuts off whenever the pressure is on, so he's a recovering alcholic with a broken marriage and sees himself as a failure because he always chokes. Etc.

The team of Alphas were lead by Dr. Rosen, who more than their boss was their therapist, helping them to cope with their abilities and the consequences to their personal lives. They fought a sort of ill-defined group called Red Flag. In the pilot, Red Flag was a group of criminals exploiting Alpha powers for financial gain. In their second appearance, they were terrorists killing people in the name of 'neurodiversity' (a term often used in regards to toleration for autism) and later still, as a nation-wide movement of Alphas fearing government exploitation, dissection, black helicopters etc. and organizing to defend themselves. In fairness, the feds DO have a secret sanitarium/prison where troublesome Alphas are held indefinitely with due process and it is implied several times that there are worse abuses beneath the surface.

In the show's season finale, the team unveiled the real mastermind behind Red Flag, an immortal sociopath named Stanton Parish. They also participated in a massive raid on a summit of Red Flag leaders, which turned into something of a bloodbath. And Parish turned up at Rosen's home later to brag that he'd used the Feds to clean house, disposing of the moderates and dissenters (many Red Flag leaders wanted to go public with their struggle, which doesn't suit Parish's agenda.) In the final minutes, Dr. Rosen broadcast a meeting of the secret congressional committee, revealing the existence of Alphas to the world in the hope of bringing much needed oversight to the government and thwarting whatever Parish's intentions are.

Presumably 0.01 seconds after the show ended Dr. Rosen was dogpiled by beefy security guys, but it's not like they disappear him, right?

They did announce a new series regular, a "mysterious, free-spirited loner" with the Taskmaster's "do any physcial stunt after seeing it once" powers. Someone with the patience to sit through the Olympics perhaps? Who will be played by Erin Way.

[Dr Roberts]

I just want to find out exactly what Parish's ability is.

[Ahriman238]

I just want to find out exactly what Parish's ability is.

We know he doesn't age, get sick, or sleep. He said he has a "perfect mind/body connection" or something very similar. God (and the writers) alone knows what that was supposed to mean. Oh, and he's apparently at least 180 years old (he looked about thirty in his Civil War photo, granted he looks about thirty now, so he may be far older.)

[Dr Roberts]

Precisely. Mind/body could be several things.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I'm really looking forward to see how the world deals with news about Alphas being out.

[Ahriman238]

Well, now that I think on it some more, the emphasis was more on the connection then saying he had a perfect mind and/or body. The context I think of mind/body connection in is the generally accepted theory of one's mood generally impacting one's health, for good or ill, and of exercise stimulating the mind. Perhaps he really just does have this effect taken to ludicrous extremes.

I'm really looking forward to see how the world deals with news about Alphas being out.

You know, I honestly think Parish is going to land on his feet better than the government in regards to the Reveal. I mean, the Feds will be flailing around trying to deal with public shock and outrage, with the looming specter of civil unrest, less for keeping secrets than having a secret prison and disappearing people into it. Red Flag, on the other hand, is a far leaner and meaner organization without the moderates, they have something to avenge (the warehouse massacre provoked by Parish) and a certain level of sympathy given that, well, the government has a secret prison just for their kind.

Both sides will be hampered with far less freedom of movement (any bets on how long it takes for someone to give Rosen's team shit because they're freaks?) but I think the government will generally be hampered a lot more.

I'd also like to renew my prediction from last summer: that we open on Rosen in a cell shortly before he's offered a conditional release so long as he toes the line.

Finally, a link to the old thread just because that seems like something to be included in a new thread.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I have a feeling like now that the 'secret' is out the government is going to be putting more pressure on Rosen to be a leader/advisor on the Alpha phenomenon. They really CAN'T lock him up because after that little broadcast he's probably the most recognizable person on the planet.

Here's what I'd like to see;
Rosen made an Undersecretary of Alpha Affairs
Mainstreaming of Alpha humans.
At least one 'celebrity' comes out as an Alpha.
The US military creates a spec-ops team of Alpha individuals.

I feel like these would be logical and very realistic developments in the story narrative.

[Ahriman238]

I say they lock him up on reflex before going through all the reasons they really can't in a week or three.

But we'll find out Monday. I really think the title "Wake-Up Call" is telling.

[Darksider]

Well the previews have images of him in Bingamton that aren't from the "traitor" episode, so it's a good bet he pissed somebody off

[Ahriman238]

There are trailers?





Oh yeah, there are trailers. Not terribly impressive. Gary in prison too.

[Enigma]

I'm thinking that the fallout of the Reveal will lead to the team and Rosen's incarceration as a knee-jerk reaction before being released when the government realizes that they are needed.

[Alkaloid]

"mysterious, free-spirited loner" with the Taskmaster's "do any physcial stunt after seeing it once" powers

This worries me a little. Actually a lot.

I'm thinking that the fallout of the Reveal will lead to the team and Rosen's incarceration as a knee-jerk reaction before being released when the government realizes that they are needed.

I'm thinking that a few of them will spend the first few episodes locked up, with Clay coming to them for help on the sly because shit is getting out of hand.

[Ahriman238]

Alkaloid, are you worried about the powers, or the character description? Because the later sounds like Skylar Adams and I'd rather they brought her back if that's what they're going to do.

[Alkaloid]

Little of both. The free spirit lone wolf type works in small doses like with Skylar because they can actually be mysterious and free spirited and not have to be crammed into a plot every other week to justify why they are still hanging around. If Skylar had been more than a one off the team would be so over equipped to make any situation laughable, and she would have become boring. Same with that 'invisible' assassin, who thus far is my favourite one off bad guy for the whole Ronin line, and sort of living up to it in a twisted way. But if she kept coming back regularly, it would get old.

They don't need anyone with that skill set between Bill and Cameron, and they are already struggling with the number of characters they do have to fit decent plots and development in. Bill, Rosen and Gary are interesting, Cameron and Nina are boring as batshit, although Nina has potential what with the whole old boyfriend eye contact thing and what that could mean she has done/is doing just by going to the shops, and the walking crime lab girl they started, but I can't really remember her name so I'm not calling it a great success.

It just feels a bit to unnecessary, like someone has demanded something to catch a demographic they are missing and shoehorned her in. That said I'm not writing it off completely, because they managed to handle an autistic character in a manner that to me, a guy with limited experience with the subject beyound knowing it doesn't just go away, in a manner that actually felt real, so someone on the show has some writing chops, but I am concerned.

[Ahriman238]

A thought occurs. Perhaps our loner was the blonde woman who kicked Cameron's ass at the warehouse. It'd be nice to have another Red Flag character who isn't a straight up villain (and however sympathetic she was, Anna did have people killed) and it'd be easy to have stories about her, especially if she becomes discontented with Parish and the new direction of Red Flag.

Just a thought.

Also, I just got season one on disc and while I thought it might be, on re-watching I'm certain it was Rosen's daughter in the room with Parish at the end. It seems she did more than go to a couple of meetings.

[Enigma]

It was his daughter that was with Parish at the end. No mistaking it.

[Ahriman238]

I WAS pretty sure of that. Now I'm positive. So except for Rosen's reveal, Parish really was controlling every little thing that happened in that episode, though sending his killer after the girl seems chancy.

[Malivotti]

Not very chancy since he was close enough it seems to kill his assassin if no one from Rosen's team showed up. Nice way to sell the info that Rosen's daughter was carrying. Dead bodies are useful that way. I just wonder if Rosen's daughter knew that this would happen, or if she gave Rosen an emotional push to do it.

[Ahriman238]

Show's on tonight, will probably have to catch it later.

[Ahriman238]

Hokay, first off: I called it. Rosen is in jail ("psychiatric holding") the girls have quit, Gary was farmed out to the NSA then shipped to Binghamton as a dangerous uncontrollable Alpha after his first meltdown there. Bill and Cameron are still on the team, working for Clay.

We finally see building 7, which nobody ever leaves. Bit of a letdown, it's creepy and immoral but not the horror I imagined. Basically, they implant a 'pacifier' chip that keeps everyone doped out, compliant and non-violent into people's brains.

I'm sort of surprised and more than a bit disappointed that we only see Alphas publicly mentioned by supermarket tabloids and street crazies. It seems the government has been working overtime to discredit Rosen, bringing up an old LSD bust and arguing for a history of mental illness. Perhaps Rosen should arrange a sequel video of Alphas showing their stuff? For now, it seems the government is still covering up, though Rosen says they're fighting a losing battle.

Riot and breakout at Binghamton! How exciting!

Bill and Gary have come a long way.

The episode seemed dedicated a lot to showing how screwed the team is without Dr. Rosen's guidance, Cameron missing, Rachel locking herself away and Nina... being Nina.

Rosen seems a tad fixated on Parish. Obviously you should pay attention to and look for the leader of the opposition, but he never speaks of Red Flag anymore, only Parish.

[Alkaloid]

Yeah, it was ok, felt a bit rushed, but I still liked it. The governments response to Rosen was good, in a terrible and wholly immoral way, but his response was even better. Bill seems to be in real trouble though, I don't remember him struggling that much last season, he normally had about 15 minutes amped up before he started to suffer like that.

Also, I kind of like Parish, he's clearly evil and crazy, but not entirely dedicated to killing all the humans, just the ones he doesn't consider worth saving.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Is this show worth following? I haven't heard much about it, but I saw two or three episodes from the 1st season and thought it was a pretty cool premise.

[Ahriman238]

Is this show worth following? I haven't heard much about it, but I saw two or three episodes from the 1st season and thought it was a pretty cool premise.

I'd say yes, without a doubt. There are dissenting opinions. Someone in the last thread said something like "This show is what Heroes could have been, if the writers from Heroes had any balls." I'm generally inclined to agree. It's got a great ensemble cast, good writing, pretty good stories. For me, personally, it speaks to a lot of my experiences with disabilities, with autistic friends and my own getting an education/job with ADHD. I accept that other people don't have that sort of experience for the show to speak to, but I don't feel like you need it to get the show.

I do think that after everything the public disbelieving Rosen's broadcast is something of a cop-out. Yet it's realistic at the same time. If such a broadcast went out IRL we'd have a thread up within minutes so people could express their disbelief and explain how it's all viral marketing, a hoax, or the work of a deranged man. Then Stark would scoff at anyone ever questioning whether Alphas could be real.

I do wonder, now that he's out, if Rosen will run into anyone who recognizes him from his broadcast. If someone asks him, point-blank if Alphas are real, does he go with the government line?

Finally I wonder if the people we saw this episode (I'm calling them Sparkie, Torchie, Screamer, and Gorilla until and probably after they get names of their own) are going to be Parish's inner circle or A-Team or what have you.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I believe they said there were close to a thousand Alphas in building 7, so he's got a lot of powers to choose from. It was interesting to see some repeat powers, like another alpha who can push people (and shows why Nina is so dangerous).

The only part that bothered me is, if they're all chipped to be pacified, why ever let the prisoners out of their cells?

[Ahriman238]

Mostly it was the way they were all standing together at the end. Also, the supermarket robbers (and who robs a supermarket?) were Parish's choice to infiltrate Binghamton and liberate the prisoners, including Torchie/Scipio who was able to organize the prisoners and stall the Tac teams so almost everyone oculd get out.

Why let the prisoners out? To keep them from atrophying in case they ever do get out? More efficient to feed them all together if they at least follow instructions when chipped?

Do we even know what precisely the chips do? Do they sedate people, or negate ALpha powers or curb aggression? Gary was nonresponsive when chipped, but that might just be the reaction of an autistic thrown into prison for reasons he doesn't understand. How active or alert did the prisoners seem before the ball went down?