Here we are again, ready to dissect another episode of Roswell, New Mexico that left us asking wait, what exactly did we see? Is this show ever going to stop throwing us for a loop? Considering we’re halfway through the season, the answer is probably no, right?
Joining me this week are Erin, Gillian and Jasmine, as we discuss the flashbacks, the ships and the answers of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Here we go!
Describe your thoughts about “Smells like Teen Spirit” using six words or less.
Lizzie: “Smells Like Heartbreak.”
Erin: What the actual fuck?
Gillian: So much angst!
Jasmine: “What the actual fuck was that?”
Describe your thoughts about “Smells like Teen Spirit” using a gif.
Lizzie:
Gillian: Until the last 15 minutes:
Jasmine:
Max finally came clean with Liz: he and Michael knew Isobel was responsible, or at least involved, in Rosa’s death, and they said nothing, in fact, they helped cover it up. Can Echo ever recover from this? How are your ship feels?
Lizzie: Conflicted AF. I don’t even know how you get over this, and yet, at the same time, I don’t know how I can truly judge Max for doing anything and everything to protect HIS sister. The thing is, I think he should have tried to get to the bottom of it, because I don’t think it’ as simple as it looks. But yes, I think Echo can recover, but boy, is it going to take some time and some atoning in the part of Max, specifically by helping Liz (and Isobel, really) get to the bottom of what happened that night.
Erin: I think that ships are one of the most complicated and yet the easiest thing in the world. You fall for a ship and you think that you will be able to ride out the ebbs, flows, and the rough waters. I think that sometimes ships hurt and the tear you limb from limb. I feel that way with Echo. That I didn’t expect this much pain, and when I saw what happened my first though was: can they ever find their way to each other? Truth is, I don’t know. I am not even sure I want them to. It would take a lot for me to ever move past it. You know, like memory loss and invasion of my body. But do I hope that they can? Yes. Because I want to believe in love. But if we’re being honest, I don’t believe that we know everything about that night.
Gillian: This is a rough one. I mean, on the one hand, they were scared teens. On the other, Max definitely should have owned up to it by now, especially if he wanted a future with Liz. I have faith they’ll work it out but this is a major blow to the trust they have been building up.
Jasmine: At the moment, my Echo ship feels are slightly scorched. I know they will come back from this although it will take some time. I am so upset with Max not only for what he did but for keeping that a secret from Liz for so long. She came to him several times and asked if he knew anything about Rosas death and he lied to her face every time. I’m really upset because of the ramifications of that decision he made. He turned her and her family into pariahs and made the entire town hate them. Liz was basically killed in the first episode because of him. He brought her back I know, but if he wasn’t able to, that would have been more blood on his hands.
We got a little background on Alex and Michael, how they got started, and why they became the people they are. Did this background help you understand them better? How did you feel about that horrible scene with Alex’s dad?
Lizzie: It made me feel them more, I think, because the level of softness, or caring, the way Michael used his words, and then how their one moment of comfort, of happiness, was taken from them in such a violent way, that just broke my heart. I didn’t need reasons to root for them, I already was, and I didn’t even need reasons to want to protect them forever, I also already wanted to do that, but if possible those feelings have intensified.
Erin: My heart broke for them. My soul broke. I fell harder for them. I fell deeper for them. I also hate Alex’s Dad more than life.
Gillian: I was totally on board with these two from the pilot. I did enjoy finding out about how they were in high school though and it was sweeter than I ever imagined. I am so angry with his dad’s reaction though again, it fits what we already knew about his character. I’m sad that their relationship didn’t get to grow properly because of that but fingers crossed, they’ll remedy this.
Jasmine: Yes, that glimpse into how Malex began really did help me understand how they turned out. I got to see that Michael was not always so closed off with a huge wall up to conceal his emotions. I also got to see that Alex once was a pretty cool guy who didn’t conform to society’s standards. When Alex’s dad busted Michaels hand with that hammer, I wanted to reach through my TV and fight him. That was such a tense moment, I really thought he was going to hit Alex, I did not expect him to do what he did to Michael.
What do you think is going on with Isobel? Does it relate to childhood trauma?
Lizzie: I think there’s very clearly a different side of Isobel, whether that’s a different personality or just the way she copes with trauma, I’m not sure, but I do think it has to do with unexplored childhood trauma. These three have been so worried for so long about being discovered, that they’ve never gone to doctors, and while physically, they might never get sick, the mind is another beast.
Erin: Got me. But whatever it is – that girl needs help. Lots of it. She’s well….
Actually my Mom said if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.
Gillian: I am very confused about Isobel. I’ve been sort of comparing the original show and the reboot so this is kind of a major shift from the previous Isobel. She does seem to have abandonment issues in regard to Max and Michael but it seems like more than that. It very well could be something in the aliens’ nature but I don’t know why it affects her more than the guys.
Jasmine: I have no idea what is going on with Isobel. If anything, that glimpse into her past made me even more confused. She was acting soooo weird with Rosa, like borderline creepy, I don’t know if it was just because she was looking for a connection with someone but that was weird.
We saw enough to know that she was involved somehow, but not enough to have a definite answer. So, do you think Isobel killed Rosa?
Lizzie: I still don’t. There’s more to the story. TV shows, when they want to do the full reveal, will show you the ACTUAL killing. Roswell, New Mexico didn’t. So that means something else is afoot here, something else happened. Now, that might not mean Isobel is completely innocent, but I do know there’s a lot more to the story that we haven’t been told.
Erin: There is more to the story. I don’t know what it is, but there is more to it.
Gillian: No? I feel like something is taking over Isobel. So, while it looks like her, it’s not really her. I wish I could explain it better, ha. There is more going on here and we’re not privy to it yet.
Jasmine: As weird as it is for me to say this, I don’t think she did. The guys came in on her just holding Rosa, they did not actually see her hurt Rosa so I don’t think she did kill her. I need to know what the hell happened to Rosa because this is stressing me out!
This episode marked the middle of this short season. What do you want to see from the show from here to the finale?
Lizzie: Honestly, I’d love this Rosa thing to be solved this season, I don’t want to go on with the mystery of what happened that night into the season 2 this show is clearly going to get. We can use that to explore the characters and the dynamics more.
Erin: I’d love Rosa’s mystery to be solved. But I also want to know what is going on with Isobel and if she finds a personality. I also want to know if there are more aliens out there, cause I think that they have something to do with Rosa. Oh, and I need to know if Alex or Kyle are working with Project Shepherd.
Gillian: Agree with Lizzie. Rosa’s death needs to be resolved. I’d like to get into whatever is going on with Isobel. And how she met her husband and the type of normal stuff she focuses on instead of all the alien craziness. I’d like Michael and Alex to be happy. I want more Maria!
Jasmine: I agree with Lizzie and Gillian. I want this Rosa death mystery cleared up already! I need to know what really did happen to her. I also want to know what the hell is going on with Isobel and why she has been so messed up lately. And I want my ECHO kiss dammit!
Agree? Disagree? Share with us in the comments below!
Roswell, New Mexico airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on the CW.