We’are here again, spies! After our previous review, it is time to analyze Alex Rider episode 4. In which we discover many things about Point Blanc … but it shows that the story has only just begun … and the problems for Alex are beginning to arrive.
Here we go!
Alex is already in Point Blanc (AKA jail, because that is exactly what it is, with a night lockdown included) and begins to meet its students. Among them is Kyra – whom we love from the beginning, because she is smart enough to know that strange and horrible things happen in that place. There are two students who seem more robots than humans and we begin to discover the dark secrets that this institution keeps. This is when the show takes on a more serious turn as we begin to see how a student tries by all means not to go to the center’s doctor and, after doing so, disappears.
And something even darker, the show plays on the (disgusting) idea of the existence or creation of a superior race. The ideas of Dr. Grief, who little by little tries to make students fall in line, have Nazi overtones. This comparison is inevitable and it is somewhat surprising. As I have commented on several occasions, I didn’t expect the series to deal with such a topic.
It is a risky plot but it works very well on screen because it’s impactful and, at the same time, it sparks our interest. These ideas are disgusting, we hate them and then we want to see how the people who share these ideas, especially trying to instill them in teenagers, pay for it and we are immediately immersed in the story and we have chosen a side. What’s more, we want to know how Dr. Grief and his henchmen have managed to set up a structure like Point Blanc. So it’s a win – win.
In addition, you have to recognize the brave plots when a show takes risks and I think this story is quite brave and difficult to deal with because of its darkness and because of the difficulty in doing something different from other stories of this genre. That is to say, the show introduces this plot but, nevertheless, it does not become a series about Nazis in modern times nor does it lose the essence of being a spy thriller. A difficult balance that the show manages to maintain.
Away from Point Blanc, Jack receives an unexpected visitor. It’s Martin, the traitor who helped Yassen kill Ian Rider. And this visit changes many things. Martin ends up discovering Alex’s existence and his presence in Point Blanc. Jack, with good intentions, trusts him, since he was friends with Ian and, inadvertently, reveals too many details … Mrs. Jones’ notice comes too late.
I honestly understand Jack. I would have done the same. She is far from the world of secrets and lies of MI6, she is not used to living looking over her shoulder waiting for betrayal. And Martin was friends with Ian … and that immediately leads you to trust him. And more with the concern she feels for Alex, trusting Martin in some way makes her feel that she is closer to knowing what is happening at the boarding school or, at least, that there is someone from the agency close to Alex, protecting him. But nothing could be further from the truth, not with Martin.
However, Martin doesn’t get very far in his escape attempt. Yassen finds him first and kills him … taking the picture of Alex that Martin had taken. This has huge implications. On the one hand, as we wanted it to happen, Martin has paid for what he did. Not in the way we would have wanted or by the person we would have wanted … but I’m not going to waste a tear on Martin. He allied himself with the demon and what has happened to him are only the consequences of it. I don’t feel sorry for him.
On the other hand, Alex’s cover is in danger. Now Yassen has his photo and knows that he did not tie all the dots regarding Point Blanc. Alex is more in danger than ever …
And so we come to episode 5, which we will discuss tomorrow.
In conclusion, this episode goes a long way in terms of the main plot but it shows that it is only the beginning of everything that awaits us. I mean, we get right into the thick of it but we are only beginning to weave all the threads of this story. The storm is just beginning … we still have many shocks. And we can’t wait to find out what they are!
