Max investigates the break-in. Alex continues his research. Rosa and Isobel team up. Liz makes a shocking discovery.
In 2020, the television industry aired 493 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of The CW's Roswell, New Mexico.
"Bittersweet Symphony" was written by Leah Longoria & Steve Stringer and directed by Rachel Raimist
Everything is connected. Even when that seems impossible, the drama still proves it to be true. That's the foreboding message given through voiceover by the cast of characters at the start of this episode. It's a reflection on their current events. They are trying to figure out what happened to Kyle. It's not as simple as the Regiment taking revenge against him for sending their leader to jail. It's much more complicated than that and figures into the alien mythology that lurks beneath the service of this community. Now, a lot has certainly been happening this season. Sometimes, it feels like the narrative is moving at a brisk pace to allow these big things to happen to the characters and let them react to it all. Other times though, it feels the urge to drag things out for as long as possible. This episode declares that it's going to reveal how all of these plots are connected. They all center around Kyle. He is that pivotal to all of them. And then, the episode concludes by sidestepping that proclamation altogether. Instead, it ends on a different note that shares how one of the protagonists has been impeding progress on this journey. That tension already exists and is perfectly fine between Alex and Michael. Alex made the choice to join a new covert organization hoping it would answer the great mysteries of the universe. It's certainly been the most tangential plot of the season. But it was always going to have relevance due to the inherent nature of people being curious about aliens and wanting to engage with them in Roswell for both good and evil. Ramos reveals more of his true intentions here. And yet, that momentum is stopped completely because the show is more engaged in the whole Max-Jones switch. That's still an engaging story. However, it needs an explanation as well. And so, this episode suggests it's going to deliver on one thing only to end with more questions. The viewer is possibly more confused than ever before. Kyle apparently has another family member in Roswell who is deeply connected to its history. Jones switched places with Max at some point and has created chaos for the protagonists. These clues should be picked up before the protagonists start to figure it out as well. That's the benefit of the audience being aware of so much. That first connection arrives through the bats suddenly dying. Different explanations are given as to what caused that to occur. In the end, it affirms that Alex shouldn't be trusting of anything that Ramos has presented to him. That should have been a given due to the test that he had to solve in order to even be let into this organization. Of course, that workplace hasn't been defined through a connection to aliens. It's not as pronounced as similar organizations have been in the past. Instead, it's just been a place to ask questions without much guiding the way. Alex saw a benefit. The overall story hasn't at this point. He was always going to be deeply involved in the apparent murder that Maria sees. He is in on the cover-up. That may come from Maria having an alien handprint on her head. It takes awhile before Liz finds that as well. Too many convenient plot developments happen here that prevent much progress from happening. Part of that is the limitations of the characters. Michael lashing out blinds him from rationally leading this investigation. Rosa's fears prevent her from trusting her growing alien powers. And then, a machine is broken for Liz. That's her big hurdle. Meanwhile, Jones assaults Maria's mind in a way that can conveniently go unnoticed by Isobel for awhile. The show wants the spontaneity to produce lots of unexpected twists. And yet, it keeps tripping itself up by being overproduced in pursuit of being clever. Plenty of solid character moments still happen. And yes, it probably will be more engaging to have Jones walking around Roswell instead of Max. It can still all be too confusing for no larger point. It offers the idea of progress being made when every detail is just like Liz being frustrated that Max continually pushes her away after he seemingly turned a different page earlier. A reason exists for that in this particular case. Max isn't acting like himself because he isn't himself. Jones knows just enough to pretend as suspicion shifts to another unpredictable newcomer in this world. It takes solving an elaborate puzzle for various characters to reach the same conclusion. That's how Isobel and Rosa see Maria's memory. And then, Liz simply talks with a nurse who provides just enough information to present a damning case against Jones. It's pure chaos without informing the limitations or possibilities imbedded with each of these characters. It's about the plot not them in any given moment.
Everything is connected. Even when that seems impossible, the drama still proves it to be true. That's the foreboding message given through voiceover by the cast of characters at the start of this episode. It's a reflection on their current events. They are trying to figure out what happened to Kyle. It's not as simple as the Regiment taking revenge against him for sending their leader to jail. It's much more complicated than that and figures into the alien mythology that lurks beneath the service of this community. Now, a lot has certainly been happening this season. Sometimes, it feels like the narrative is moving at a brisk pace to allow these big things to happen to the characters and let them react to it all. Other times though, it feels the urge to drag things out for as long as possible. This episode declares that it's going to reveal how all of these plots are connected. They all center around Kyle. He is that pivotal to all of them. And then, the episode concludes by sidestepping that proclamation altogether. Instead, it ends on a different note that shares how one of the protagonists has been impeding progress on this journey. That tension already exists and is perfectly fine between Alex and Michael. Alex made the choice to join a new covert organization hoping it would answer the great mysteries of the universe. It's certainly been the most tangential plot of the season. But it was always going to have relevance due to the inherent nature of people being curious about aliens and wanting to engage with them in Roswell for both good and evil. Ramos reveals more of his true intentions here. And yet, that momentum is stopped completely because the show is more engaged in the whole Max-Jones switch. That's still an engaging story. However, it needs an explanation as well. And so, this episode suggests it's going to deliver on one thing only to end with more questions. The viewer is possibly more confused than ever before. Kyle apparently has another family member in Roswell who is deeply connected to its history. Jones switched places with Max at some point and has created chaos for the protagonists. These clues should be picked up before the protagonists start to figure it out as well. That's the benefit of the audience being aware of so much. That first connection arrives through the bats suddenly dying. Different explanations are given as to what caused that to occur. In the end, it affirms that Alex shouldn't be trusting of anything that Ramos has presented to him. That should have been a given due to the test that he had to solve in order to even be let into this organization. Of course, that workplace hasn't been defined through a connection to aliens. It's not as pronounced as similar organizations have been in the past. Instead, it's just been a place to ask questions without much guiding the way. Alex saw a benefit. The overall story hasn't at this point. He was always going to be deeply involved in the apparent murder that Maria sees. He is in on the cover-up. That may come from Maria having an alien handprint on her head. It takes awhile before Liz finds that as well. Too many convenient plot developments happen here that prevent much progress from happening. Part of that is the limitations of the characters. Michael lashing out blinds him from rationally leading this investigation. Rosa's fears prevent her from trusting her growing alien powers. And then, a machine is broken for Liz. That's her big hurdle. Meanwhile, Jones assaults Maria's mind in a way that can conveniently go unnoticed by Isobel for awhile. The show wants the spontaneity to produce lots of unexpected twists. And yet, it keeps tripping itself up by being overproduced in pursuit of being clever. Plenty of solid character moments still happen. And yes, it probably will be more engaging to have Jones walking around Roswell instead of Max. It can still all be too confusing for no larger point. It offers the idea of progress being made when every detail is just like Liz being frustrated that Max continually pushes her away after he seemingly turned a different page earlier. A reason exists for that in this particular case. Max isn't acting like himself because he isn't himself. Jones knows just enough to pretend as suspicion shifts to another unpredictable newcomer in this world. It takes solving an elaborate puzzle for various characters to reach the same conclusion. That's how Isobel and Rosa see Maria's memory. And then, Liz simply talks with a nurse who provides just enough information to present a damning case against Jones. It's pure chaos without informing the limitations or possibilities imbedded with each of these characters. It's about the plot not them in any given moment.
