Spoilers Counterpart, season 2

[auntiehill]

I totally didn't see the Berlin wall falling as a result of the experiment--they had the tvs--one from each world-- side by side in the lab an on both screens had the Berlin wall falling, so I didn't make any connection there, other than shared history. But, since the two Yaneks became aware of each other, they were consciously trying to be different, and the murder REALLY did change things, for both sides at the same time, causing events to eventually unfold on different paths. And then, of course, the virus...

I LOVED getting to see how management set up The Interchange and who that old man in the garden shed really was.

This was SUCH an amazing episode. This one hour of TV was WAY better than any science fiction film I've seen in quite awhile.

Why the FUCK isn't everyone watching this?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I totally didn't see the Berlin wall falling as a result of the experiment--they had the tvs--one from each world-- side by side in the lab an on both screens had the Berlin wall falling, so I didn't make any connection there, other than shared history.

Ah, I stand corrected. I thought the TV on the left didn't have footage of the Wall falling. My mistake then.

I LOVED getting to see how management set up The Interchange and who that old man in the garden shed really was.

Even though I figured out they were Management early on, I didn't make the connection to the old man until they developed the communication cases and then it was a "duh!" moment. I figured since the season 1 finale the two Managements were in cahoots with each other, even if I couldn't figure out why, so it was great to see that confirmed here.

This was SUCH an amazing episode. This one hour of TV was WAY better than any science fiction film I've seen in quite awhile.

That's how I felt, too! I haven't felt this exhilarated by a science-fiction show since the pre-alternate timeline episodes of Fringe, although Orphan Black was excellent in a different way.

Why the FUCK isn't everyone watching this?

I find myself asking that every single week. Like I said before, Counterpart has replaced The Americans as the best show no one is watching.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

I wish more people were watching this show. It's really good. People are missing out on some really great television here.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

This last episode was fantastic. I wasn't expecting to get such a massive infodump on the Interchange and Management and all the rest. It will add so much depth to the narrative going forward. There was an episode of Fringe explaining Walter Bishop's creation of the alternate universe, and one of Person of Interest involving Finch's creation of the Machine, that felt similar in spirit to this one, in the best way. The Butterfly Effect demonstration with the cassette tape and how that tiny change has affected both worlds so profoundly was fascinating. Loved it. "A+"

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Yup, I also thought of Fringe and Person of Interest, as well as LOST (learning how Desmond got to the Island). They're all cut from the same cloth and they're all beautiful as a result.

 

[auntiehill]

Wow...the plot thickens. Stupid Quayle finally grows a backbone, but at exactly the wrong time. We get to see more of "Shaw's" tragic backstory and Our Howard takes a bullet while being "rescued" by alt-Emily.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I keep thinking this show can't possibly keep up the intensity with each passing episode and the show keeps proving me wrong.

This episode was a time when certain characters finally took control of their lives after being manipulated by others for so long.

Alpha Howard was the most blunt, declaring his intentions to Prime Emily moments before acting on those feelings and taking a bullet in order to save their lives (and Alpha Ian/Wesley's too).

Following Alpha Howard's lead, Alpha Ian did the same in order for them to escape. We don't know the full extent of Wesley's history and what caused him to be exiled to the Alpha world (or even by whom), but in the short time we've known the truth about his reality, we've seen how much he loathed being under whoever's thumb.

Alpha Peter finally did the smart thing and resigned for the greater cause (or at least for Alpha's Office of Interchange) and went on the run with Prime Clare and little Spencer.

But it's Prime Clare's decision to break away that is the most striking. We've seen hints of doubt about her dedication to the cause ever since Alpha Peter found her out. She wavered more two episodes ago before consummating her relationship with her childhood crush and it looked she had restrengthened her resolve for the cause when she reunited with her childhood friends (and angsty Ethel). However, she wavered again as she saw how dedicated Prime Spencer was for the cause despite learning the truth about her parents' death. She may not have broken away so quickly if it weren't for Alpha Peter's sudden and rash decision to run away, but it was the push she's needed for awhile.

The leads to the question: What do they do now? None of them are in stable situations, and even as both sides of Management plan to meet face-to-face again, everything is precarious flux.

On a side note, I loved how Prime Peter quietly went back to work with his football footage retrieved from the rubbish, unconcerned by the death around him and utterly ignored by Alpha Howard and Prime Emily.

 

[auntiehill]

^ me, too! There's bodies and blood all around and he's over there, getting the VCR set up.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

I like Ian's character more now that we've learned a little more about his past. and that was a really nice scene with Peter Prime setting up his vcr. Gave me a nice chuckle.

 

[auntiehill]

Holy CRAP. The cat(s) is out of the proverbial bag, on both sides -- our Emily spent time not only in the other's home but took trips with their daughter, which really pisses off alt -Emily, and our Emily figures out that Howard is actually alt-Howard, and kicks his ass out.

I might need to make a chart to keep up with all this.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

My gods, this show makes me want to scream with excitement because of how damn good it is and because of how it hurts me so much that so few people are watching it!

I loved the quiet intimacy of this episode as Prime Howard and Alpha Emily, Alpha Howard and Prime Emily, and Alpha Peter and Prime Clare delved deeply into self reflections about who they are, who they aren't, who they could've been, who they couldn't be.

The Prime Howard and Alpha Emily conversations in particular were rich in one-sided double talk as Prime Howard knew the real truths while yet learning more about his own Emily and Anna. All season, I wondered when Alpha Emily would discover that he wasn't her Howard and how she would find out and I love the perfection of the reveal, with him demonstrating his violent capabilities at the most perfect moment.

Yet, that wasn't even the biggest cat-out-of-the-bag moment. Instead, it came from a seemingly routine sequence of Prime Anna saving Alpha Howard's life. The whole time I thought he would accidentally let slip the truth of his identity by saying he wasn't her actual father, but instead she revealed a deeper truth about Prime Emily, who pulled an Alpha Yanek (who pulled a Walter Bishop...) by stepping into the shoes of her other to spend time with the daughter she didn't have.

Lastly, Alpha Peter, for once, was the sensible, clear-headed one in his conversations, leading up to Prime Clare finally accepting the truth about the lies that have been deeply ingrained her entire life. This acceptance led her to realize what I feared for awhile: Prime Mira wants to "restore the balance" by releasing an identical flu onto the Alpha world. And the only way to stop her is turn herself in to Naya.

My gods, have I mention how much I want to scream right now?

 

[auntiehill]

This is SUCH an amazing show. Definitely no sophomore slump here-- it just gets better and better.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Forgot to mention: I keep wondering where is Alpha Mira and how does she fit into everything?

 

[auntiehill]

Whoa.

OK, did NOT see Mira's "final" plan to be...that.

Glad our Howard finally gets to go home, but how will things go at home now?

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Bad news...Counterpart canceled

 

[The Nth Doctor]

We finally got the long-awaited meeting of the Emilys and it revealed so much about both of them. Did I read the moment correctly that Alpha Emily got an abortion instead of suffering from a miscarriage? Because if so, fuck.

I'm not surprised by Management's sudden demise. The pretty much tipped their hand by casting James Cromwell as Yanek and then German actors for the rest of them.

Speaking of tipping hands, there's no way they just hire Patterson Joseph as an unassuming husband for one scene only.

But I can't focus on detailing anymore of this episode because...

Bad news...Counterpart canceled

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Here's hoping Netflix or someone else will pick it up. Because if this show ends prematurely, this would be worse than Firefly ending too soon.

Yeah, I said it.

 

[auntiehill]

I'm going to need to lie down now and reassess my life.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Because we're in the dark timeline.

 

[EnderAKH]

Ok... I'm starting to think it's me. I just got found and got caught up on Travelers, when it got cancelled. I just found this show a few weeks ago and am about to start season 2... when it's cancelled. I'll just stop watching television now for the rest of you.

 

[auntiehill]

Well....that was definitely a final episode.

Very depressing, on multiple levels.