We’re here again! After analyzing Alex Rider episode 2, it is time to talk about episode 3. It is a transition episode in which everyone knows who Alex Friend is, and while we have good scenes and see some clues for the future … we didn’t go too far into the main plot.
Here we go!
Alex’s cover as Alex Friend, troubled son of one of the most influential families, takes him to the Friend home, to prepare his story well before venturing into the wolf’s mouth. There, he meets the Friend marriage (yes, I’ve been about to write Friends more than once) and their lovely daughter Fiona, who comes home by surprise … only to create trouble.
The truth is that there are several things that draw my attention about this family. The first thing is that they accept Alex at home because they owe MI6 a favor. Now they make it more or less clear that Mr. Friend committed various crimes, but they didn’t make him pay for them. However, I was left wondering if this family will come back again in the next season, because I think it could be interesting.
The next thing that strikes me is Fiona. I have to say that with this character they surprised me a lot. At first, I thought she was a capricious young woman but with many family problems, like lack of affection. Her parents hadn’t acted like parents. But then after seeing how she treats Alex when she’s with her friends I started to hate her. She and her friends seemed to me the typical bullies who only want to laugh at others because they consider them inferior when they are inferior.
But after she and her friends hunted, I think both Fiona and her friends are psychopaths. Everyone laughs and she keeps saying it was a joke. I don’t know where the fun is in trying to hunt down and kill a person. Because that’s what it was. A manhunt. And I don’t understand how psychopaths of such caliber can be free.
For them everything is a joke. Their parents are rich and powerful so scaring someone, trying to hunt her/him down, and even hurt her/him – or kill her/him – is no big deal. They will never pay for it. And I really hope that in season 2 we see this family again and they learn that every action has its consequences.
I cannot leave without commenting on the fact that Alex is once again acting and defending himself in a way that is inappropriate for someone his age. It is not only that he confronts Fiona and her friends but that he defends himself against them, so much so that they end up leaving with their tails between their legs – just as they deserve. I promise you, here I applauded Alex standing up. But I can’t help wondering why. His uncle had to train him without him knowing exactly what was going on, but I think there is an innate response here too. Alex was born for this.
While Alex has to learn to be a Friend, Tom knows that there is something wrong with Alex so he decides to follow him. That leads him to the Friend house. Tom is really worried about his friend and doesn’t rest until he knows exactly what is happening and what Alex is doing in that mansion. In the end, he learns the whole truth and, as happened with Jack, he doesn’t doubt it for a second. He is by Alex’s side, for whatever he needs.
I adore these two brothers. They are family and family is always there no matter what. No matter the risk, not even the lies or the secrets … the important thing is that they are by your side when you need them. Tom does just this. Support Alex despite everything. He was only concerned because he knew something was wrong with him and that he was trying to push him away. But he doesn’t stop there, Tom doesn’t let Alex do it, but goes to look for him until he agrees to tell him what is happening.
How can it be otherwise, Tom thinks everything is very cool, the whole world of espionage, secrets, infiltration in Point Blanc is sooo cool … he is a teenager and he can only think that and feel like all the adventures that Alex will live and of which he will later be able to show off … but nothing is that simple. This is dangerous and potentially painful. Only here Tom is behaving like a normal teenager in all his innocence and I love him for that. What’s more, I think Alex needs this, to remember that he is still a teenager, despite everything.
Following this conversation, we see Tom making a video about Alex, revealing his identity as a spy. He does it with the best of intentions but the road to hell is made with good intentions … and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we see Tom make this video.
After his infiltration with the Friend’s, the moment of truth arrives. Point Blanc wants to interview Alex to make sure he’s who they’re looking for … and he passes the test with flying colors. He’s just how a troubled guy is expected to be and I love this scene because it’s full of tension just … hoping they don’t get Alex before we start.
And so, we come to episode 4 that we will review tomorrow.
In conclusion, this episode is more of a transitional one, a bridge episode, that I think can be defined as the calm before the storm that will be Point Blanc. However, they give us clues of what is to come and we can see how Alex and Tom’s friendship takes hold. They are like brothers and they will need that bond, I’m sure.
