Two episodes in, and there’s still not much going on. The action will pick up in the next few episodes, but there were still too many questions left over from the pilot. Most remain unanswered - and we’ve gotten some more in the process - but I think the writers have given us just about enough at this point to move forward. If nothing else, we know more than Charlie does.
When last we saw Charlie, he was lying unconscious in the desert, being poked by a weird little girl. That’s where he still is - dreaming about Jasmine, remembering the dead mystery girl, the accident, and the woman at the site. Weird little girl Jody pokes him again and he finally wakes up.
You’re alive! You’re one of them, aren’t you?…The invisible people. I see them all the time.
In Reena’s words
For the rest of the episode, Reena narrates. Even when our focus is on Charlie, it’s filtered through her perspective.
Wandering around a temporary camp set up for evacuation and relief efforts, Reena hears that the bomb she set off killed 200 people here in Beta. We see her anguish over that fact, coupled with the sure knowledge that more died in her own world as well. Throughout the series, Patricia McKenzie does a fantastic job showing Reena’s vulnerability. She doesn’t want to be here; she didn’t want to hurt anyone. But as guilty as she may feel, she’s not going to hang around to get questioned by the police. She jumps on one of the trucks transporting people to Cape Town.
Vex-Cor chairman (in this ‘verse, anyway) Julius Galt (Danny Keogh) answers reporters’ questions about the accident, but doesn’t know what caused it yet. Karl Lubinsky (Tyrone Benskin) - who’s been hovering around, picking up the strange pieces of blue glass, and taking pictures - comes up to Galt and confronts him. Galt obviously knows Lubinksy as a conspiracy nut. Of course we know there really is a conspiracy.
A quick side comment on names in Charlie Jade: they were not chosen at random. Draw your own conclusions about J. Galt.
Karl meets weird Jody and she points out Charlie, telling Karl, “he used to be invisible, but I think he lost his powers.” Twenty years chasing conspiracies and aliens and this guy knows to listen when a crazy girl speaks. Time to start stalking the guy with stubble.
There’s a bit more of Charlie dazed and confused at the service station until Karl finally offers him a ride to Cape Town - the home of the mystery dead girl. On the ride, Karl tells Charlie he believes aliens run Vex-Cor. Karl may know something’s going on, but he’s as much in the dark about the truth as Charlie.
Psych(okiller) 01
The board has informed Essa Ramkin (Michele Burgers) that they need someone to travel between the ‘verses to assess the situation. Apparently there’s only one person who can travel unaided - 01 Boxer (Michael Filipowich). This goes over great, as Essa tries to flex her power to prevent it and the board shuts her down. Then we finally meet 01 in all his glory.
Expecting to be put in charge of operations in Beta and Gamma, it’s a slap in the face to be offered a position as “special envoy”. It’s even more of a slap when Essa calls him the “company courier”. She thinks he’s a sociopath who belongs in prison. Can’t say I disagree.
But how exactly can 01 travel between the ‘verses?
Running with Scissors
While Charlie crashes at “his place”, Reena sleeps on the couch at Gordon Bolt’s. A very old, very scary dude who used to work for Vex-Cor, Bolt wants to know where Reena came from and how she got here. His interrogation with scissors is pretty scary, and they did a great job of building the tension in the scene. The scissors were so threatening that it almost seemed anti-climactic when he pulled the gun on her, until he blew the back of his own head off. Now Reena is truly alone in this strange world.
Charlie meanwhile is also looking for a friendly face. He goes over to Papa Louis’ place, but of course she isn’t there. Karl Lubinksy is, though, bearing breakfast.
A quick drive by Charlie’s office -another deadend - and Charlie finally thinks to ask about the Glass Door. I’d start to question just how good a PI this guy is, but I’m trying to cut him some slack being so far from home. That’s why I’m also not going to question why next he was hanging out in a parking garage instead of heading over to the club. Besides, we know he was there so he could see Jasmine/Paula. Meeting Jasmine’s doppelganger further cements for Charlie just how lost he is.
At the Glass Door, 01 and Julius Galt meet. 01 hands over a “slate”, which is apparently an encrypted communique from the home office. Oh yeah, and 01 killed a dude. Boy does not fool around
Showing up hours late, Charlie arrives as the police wheel out the body and sees a flyer posted for the dead mystery girl from the pilot. Pieces are coming together, even if Charlie’s world is coming apart.
Far from home
Demonstrating his remarkable detective skills once again, Charlie grabs a bite at the very same soup kitchen as Reena. She bolts. In a pretty exciting foot chase, Reena gets away, leaving Charlie gasping on a rooftop. The episode ends with Charlie alone and Reena in voice over saying, “I never knew who he was, but he was there when the world changed. Back then I could tell he was even more lost than I was.”
How about everyone else? More or less lost than Charlie?
R.A. Porter is an aspiring television writer who currently toils away in the software mines. He can be found at his personal blog and stalked on Twitter.
This is seriously an awesome show. It's very complex but that's what makes me love it. It makes you think! No other show does that besides LOST. With LOST off until 2009, this is going to be a great filler. I really hope a season 2 happens. It's complicated but the more you watch it week after week, you start to get use to the tones of the universes and you start to get comfortable with the different characters. Very cool.
It is complicated, I'm a bit of the way through the second episode and am starting to grasp things a bit.
Sean, I missed your comment on this post earlier. Sorry. I'm glad you're getting into the show. It does start a bit slow and confusing, but it picks up pace and remains confusing.
Grr. Okay, three complaints about Disqus now. Here we go:
1. I tried to post a reply to you a minute ago and it got eaten
2. Can't subscribe by email to all the comments for a post. We can subscribe through RSS, but that's much less convenient.
3. (2) is true even for me and this article. I assume you and Jason get emails from Disqus when comments are posted to pieces on the site, but I used to get ones for my postings. Is there a way to configure Disqus to send emails to your guest writers?
Obviously, I meant only that we guest writers should get emails for our own postings.
I have the same complaint about Disqus as far as article authors not automatically getting all comments on a post. I'm not sure if that's something they're working on or not.
If you are the moderator on a blog you can select an option under your email notification settings to receive emails for ALL comments but that option doesn't seem to exist for those who aren't moderators. It seems you can only get email notifications when a comment is a direct reply to you.
That's a major problem for me as well so we're definitely looking into it.
Eh… LOST can be just as confusing at times so it's all good. I decided to download it because I'm impatient.
And I can't say enough for this show, it's that good. At least to me. I'm on episode 6 now. I plan on watching the whole season before next week. I'll be re-watching it with Sci-fi just to support the show and to stop by and comment on the episode.
They are coming out soon with multi-author support, so that will be fixed, but you are absolutely right in everything you said.
I think being able to subscribe to a whole post is coming soon too.
Coolio!
That's awesome, Sean. All I ask is that you not spill any spoilers.
If you can, work on getting your friends into the show, too. And then send them here!
Well, I am so very grateful for your recaps, because I am pretty well as lost as Charlie. The names are highly confusing to me and I'm having a hard time keeping them all in order.
I mean, I get what is going on for the most part with Charlie and Reena, but it's the side characters and the overall story of what happened, this 01 guy, etc., that throws me off.
I do like it so far, and those chase scenes on foot are awesome.
We're pretty settled in character-wise now. There will be the occasional guest character, but all the major players have been introduced already. That should help.
These first two hours were like showing up for your first day at a new job or new school and meeting everyone. You do your best, but have no hope of remembering everyone's name and story.
Good, that makes me feel a bit better
R.A. Porter,
Not to worry, I'll only comment on the episode that airs.
By the way, I finished watching season 1 and I have to say the finale is very confusing. I thought I was over being confused but that last one really brings you back.
Hi, I'm really depending on these recaps to get caught up since I missed the great SciFi Time Shift of this show (I don't have a tivo-type system).
So, some questions, since your recap of the first was a little shorter:
Papa Louis'? Is that where he found Paula? Or is that the Glass Door? Basically, I missed any reference to these 2 places in the first episode. Otherwise, loving it. Hey, I loved Count Zero because I had to work so hard to figure it out (I didn't know it was second in a series).
OK, answered my own questions. Thank goodness for downloadable TV. And I must say, being able to watch and rewind really helps to figure out what's important. The first episode is all about setting up ambiance and hints for the future. But it makes more sense when you realize where they were going with it. Like good novels, it requires that you take it on faith that the show is going somewhere with this. I'm excited to have found something intelligent to tide me over, a bit, until BSG comes back (sob.).
I am so sorry I didn't see your comment when you posted. The change over to Disqus commenting here on Pop Critics has one drawback for us guest authors.
Glad to see you found a way to watch the show and keep up. I hope you stay around and continue to enjoy the recaps.
I'll try not to miss your next comment, though!
[...] into the ether. Charlie’s reminded of Jody’s Invisible People from back in episode 2, “Sand”. After losing the mysterious stranger, Charlie turns a corner and spies 01 having a little party in [...]
It is defintitely a show you need to get the knack of. I thought Scifi channel should had the show run similar to a miniseries (two hours a night) for Friday and Saturday before going on a weekly schedule. You need to be use to the universes popping up in the show and the way the show tells a story. Not for the faint of heart but well worth the effort.
I'm enjoying more and more where is going. I wish there would be another season.
A second season seems highly unlikely at this point. We really needed Sci Fi to give it a fair shot to warrant that. As it stands, I don't even know if there will be an American DVD release. A real shame.
My recap is up for tonight's episode once you've seen it. Come on over and join the discussion: http://www.popcritics.com/2008/07/charlie-jade-...
[...] a few seconds during the link explosion and one foot chase through Cape Town way back in episode 2, “Sand”. Reena’s been off on her own, being poked, prodded, shocked, beaten, and abused by everyone [...]