Max and Michael find themselves at an impasse over how to deal with the 4th alien. Liz has a dangerous encounter with an unexpected visitor. Kyle spirals after uncovering a dark secret about his father's death. Michael is forced to make a difficult decision about his future.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the season finale of The CW's Roswell, New Mexico.
"Recovering the Satellites" was written by Carina Adly Mackenzie and directed by Julie Plec
The first season closes with deaths and resurrections. It's a shocking finale where a lot actually happens. Sure, there was going to be some inevitable twist once Noah was killed off halfway through. That threat was absolutely terrifying and seemed to culminate everything the story was trying to do this season. It didn't always succeed simply because there was so much going on. The mysteries with the aliens and Liz's investigation into her sister's death were often very separate from Kyle and Alex learning about their families working for a government conspiracy. It's a lot to juggle. As such, it has felt like some stories have stopped and started abruptly this season. In fact, Maria was often sidelined. Her mother was introduced in having some kind of connection to aliens but needing help. That was completely dropped only for a brief tease here about how she may actually be protected in a way because of her necklace. That is something worth pursuing. It's also exciting when Noah reveals that the three central aliens could be much more powerful than they ever believed. They have operated with the understanding that they each have unique powers. That may not be true at all. Of course, Max is the one who impressively gets to use many of his skills here. He is essentially playing the hero because he's trying his best to protect those he loves. At first, that's dangerous because he's literally holding Michael at gunpoint. He even shoots at him. That's just to destroy the antidote though. Sure, that doesn't stop Noah from attacking and getting his strength back. There is still enough of the formula for him to regain his powers. Plus, there's the rush from seemingly killing people. Of course, Michael's death is overplayed. Him bleeding out seems like a major moment only for Max to immediately heal him. In fact, that could become an easy crutch for the show. If Max can heal any injury or bring people back from the dead, then the show runs the risk of losing any narrative weight to its twists. Liz is stabbed here when Noah attacks her at the family diner. Kyle can stitch her up without having to take her to the hospital but Max actually heals her wounds. She allows him to do so because she wants that psychic connection with him once more. They have been through this traumatic experience and got the answers they have long sought out about the world. Liz is grieving in a new way now because there is no longer any mystery surrounding Rosa. And yet, that's not true. It's insanely creepy that Noah kept her dead body for all of these years. He preserved her in his own pod that brought him to Earth. The alien science may not have brought her back to life but Max is more than willing to do that. He sees it as giving Liz what she has always wanted. She could get her sister back. That is a joyous final moment. Rosa still appears to comfort her. It could just come at a great cost to Max's life. The season ends with him seemingly dead. It's probably much more complicated than that though because the show wouldn't just kill off its romantic male lead. Noah even explained that Max is the alien savior. He will be a target eventually for the aliens who destroyed their home planet. He is special in a way the show continues to be vague about. That will need more details in the future. But it also ensures this won't be a fatal decision on his part. It just might put him precariously close to that line so that he's never tempted to bring anyone else back from the dead.
"Recovering the Satellites" was written by Carina Adly Mackenzie and directed by Julie PlecThe first season closes with deaths and resurrections. It's a shocking finale where a lot actually happens. Sure, there was going to be some inevitable twist once Noah was killed off halfway through. That threat was absolutely terrifying and seemed to culminate everything the story was trying to do this season. It didn't always succeed simply because there was so much going on. The mysteries with the aliens and Liz's investigation into her sister's death were often very separate from Kyle and Alex learning about their families working for a government conspiracy. It's a lot to juggle. As such, it has felt like some stories have stopped and started abruptly this season. In fact, Maria was often sidelined. Her mother was introduced in having some kind of connection to aliens but needing help. That was completely dropped only for a brief tease here about how she may actually be protected in a way because of her necklace. That is something worth pursuing. It's also exciting when Noah reveals that the three central aliens could be much more powerful than they ever believed. They have operated with the understanding that they each have unique powers. That may not be true at all. Of course, Max is the one who impressively gets to use many of his skills here. He is essentially playing the hero because he's trying his best to protect those he loves. At first, that's dangerous because he's literally holding Michael at gunpoint. He even shoots at him. That's just to destroy the antidote though. Sure, that doesn't stop Noah from attacking and getting his strength back. There is still enough of the formula for him to regain his powers. Plus, there's the rush from seemingly killing people. Of course, Michael's death is overplayed. Him bleeding out seems like a major moment only for Max to immediately heal him. In fact, that could become an easy crutch for the show. If Max can heal any injury or bring people back from the dead, then the show runs the risk of losing any narrative weight to its twists. Liz is stabbed here when Noah attacks her at the family diner. Kyle can stitch her up without having to take her to the hospital but Max actually heals her wounds. She allows him to do so because she wants that psychic connection with him once more. They have been through this traumatic experience and got the answers they have long sought out about the world. Liz is grieving in a new way now because there is no longer any mystery surrounding Rosa. And yet, that's not true. It's insanely creepy that Noah kept her dead body for all of these years. He preserved her in his own pod that brought him to Earth. The alien science may not have brought her back to life but Max is more than willing to do that. He sees it as giving Liz what she has always wanted. She could get her sister back. That is a joyous final moment. Rosa still appears to comfort her. It could just come at a great cost to Max's life. The season ends with him seemingly dead. It's probably much more complicated than that though because the show wouldn't just kill off its romantic male lead. Noah even explained that Max is the alien savior. He will be a target eventually for the aliens who destroyed their home planet. He is special in a way the show continues to be vague about. That will need more details in the future. But it also ensures this won't be a fatal decision on his part. It just might put him precariously close to that line so that he's never tempted to bring anyone else back from the dead.
