Alphas – Nina is a bad, bad girl

In this episode of Alphas, we find out what Nina’s been up to, and as one might have guessed, it’s not good. Nina’s established as a somewhat wild and selfish character — with her power, who wouldn’t be? Like any telepath in any story ever, she can pretty much do whatever she wants, whenever she wants, and it’s only whatever bonds she places on herself that hold her. But as this story demonstrates, it may be a life without responsibility, but it’s not a life without consequences to herself and the people around her. As long as the consequences remained distant, they didn’t matter (the poor steward who nearly froze to death for her entertainment, for example), but this story does a good job of bringing the consequences home to her in a very direct way. She tries to recapture what she lost as a child, and for a little while it works, as she can push Tommy into being what she wants him to be and return to her childhood when she was happy, before he grew disenchanted with her and of course, before her father died. But she can’t go back, and ultimately all she created was a fantasy world that shattered the moment she gave up her control.

I really liked what we saw of Young!Nina and her story (love that young actress, too!).  It does a lot to fill in her backstory and earned sympathy from me as well, because to have that kind of power so young, and have it end up so disastrous, is a terrible burden. I understand the desire to run from it, to make a new reality where those things didn’t happen. But of course for Nina, the mere act of making a new reality ensured it would eventually end — even without the other Alphas, she would have had to push Tommy to death to make him stay, and she would be on the run.

I also really liked it that Nina’s tampering with her friends has direct consequences. Rachel says Nina’s not her friend anymore, Nina has to wear restraints and a blindfold, and Cameron has a sling for his arm after his amazing save. Rosen may be extending trust to her at the end, but I get the feeling it’s still going to take some time. Though trying to jump to her death should help everyone understand the depth of her problem, where anything less probably wouldn’t have. So it’s kind of a sad situation all around. I think I’d try to sympathize, even forgive her, but it would take a long time before I would trust her again.

Meanwhile, in the lighter parts of the episode, Kat runs around taking video of her new surroundings so at least she has something to look at when she starts forgetting all of it (bet Nina would like to share in this power for awhile …), and Rachel and John (the tactical guy) flirt a little more, establishing that John does, in fact, have A Troubled Past. They’re sort of cute, but distracting as well, since none of it feels organic yet. Oh, and though Gary doesn’t do all that much in this episode, he made me laugh when he nearly shows everyone “his fruit” when he showers late. Ryan Cartwright is great, but honestly, there are images and thoughts I don’t need.

Lastly, I feel I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that kiss/make-out session between Rachel and Nina, which I’m sure is easily found in gif form somewhere on the internet already and enjoyed by all interested parties.  Well done, ladies.

Clacked by Liz Tamura
on Aug 14, 2012 @ 03:55 EST5EDT