PKTrekGirl, this one's for you.

I didn't quote your last post 'cause I didn't want this to get out of hand (size-wise).
Anyway, I took your advice and didn't reply to your post right away. Now I actually have some time to post, so here it goes.
Yeah, the second half of S2 definitely showed how well Max & Liz work together. The group as a whole also works much better together. The thing I really enjoyed how Michael became such a huge part of the group, even though in a way he never wanted to. I mean OK, he cared about Max and Isabel from the beginning, but he never wanted the humans to be involved.
Kyle, Kyle, Kyle... you know, I didn't like him at first. But then, at the start of the show he we the typical asshole quarterback (or whatever). But slowly, he became such a great character. I'm really glad the writers decide to do that. I think one of the first signs of that was in S1 when those friends of his beat up Max and he was upset about it. And slowly, he actually started caring about the group (not just Liz and Maria). And the scenes with him and Alex where they were trapped inside that crystalline structure (in the ep with Michael's "sister") were just brilliant. The two of them singing Miss American Pie... priceless.

And yeah, Kyle thinking of ways how Isabel could get back at Max was another great moment (actually more then just one). And don't even get me started on Buddhism. Kyle saying Buddha was down with gambling... oh man, that one totally cracked me up.
You know, I still haven't decided what I think of Valenti starting a band. There were a lot of fun moments, but I'm still not quite sure the whole thing really worked. In a way it makes sense though. I mean, he starts as a sheriff whose dad believed aliens were real. And through the course of the first two seasons he goes through a lot. He finds out his dad was right, his son gets shot, he gets fired... it makes sense the whole thing would take a pretty big toll on him.
Oh yeah, Michael going with Liz and Maria to find out what happened to Alex was also great. I mean, we all know how he felt about Maria, but he also really cared about Liz (in big brother/little sister kinda way). The scene in the park with Michael and Max was just... well, it was a great scene that's for sure. The whole full circle thing and how much these two guys have changed was great. Michael, who wanted nothing to do with humans when the show started was the one who wanted to stay. And Max, who actually liked living on Earth (especially once he got involved with Liz, hehe) being the one who actually wanted to leave.
Yeah, I agree with you on the whole "Max not being perfect which makes him interesting" thing. Despite being an alien, and a leader and all that, he was still just a young guy who often screwed up.
I never actually noticed a similarity between Tess and the Founders until you pointed it out. Good catch.

And you know, I actually wanted to like Tess. When she moved in with the Valentis and she became a part of their family, there were times that I actually did like her. As I was watching S2, I was hoping she'd get over Max and could just become a part of the group. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. And the way she betrayed Alex and especially Kyle who was like a brother to her... it sickens me just thinking about it. Anyway, I actually wonder why she left the show at the end of S2 (was it Emilie's decision, or the writers).
It's interesting comparing Michael and Tess. They had quite a few things in common, like they both had a screwed up father figure and neither of them had much of a family. But I guess the difference was that Michael had Max and Isabel to help him get through the rough times and help him be more human. And Tess had Nasedo... who really was totally like a Founder. It's too bad Kyle and Jim Valenti came into her life too late. Because I think it would have been possible for her to turn out differently.
Rob Roy is a non-alcoholic kiddie drink? I had no idea... man, that's just hilarious.

Yeah, Michael was alright!

Besides Liz, he's probably my favourite character on the show. So you've seen "Michael, The Guys and The Great Snapple Caper" huh? Man that was another fun episode.
About 3x01... yeah, I didn't buy it either. It almost felt like the show jumped the shark when Max and Liz robbed a convenience store. Luckily it didn't.
So how far along S3 are you?