Austin Davies is the ringleader of four escaped cons who've already taken out a couple of cops. He's armed and dangerous, so Jim must Up, Up, and Away to the scene. You almost think there's going to be some tense action, but then this fierce, cop-taking-down escaped con steals a fricking moped and rides it across a college campus, and into a building. Jim basically just has to push him, and he comes crashing to the ground. Had I managed to squeeze in a nap before the broadcast, I think I could make that into a meaty metaphor about this series.
Rachel Jacobs, from Internal Affairs, thinks she is looking for a rogue cop, but she's actually looking for our resident rogue sketch artist (and someone to wax her upper lip). When Moped Man and his minions take over the precinct and hold Rachel and the rest hostage, Jim springs into action. Rachel doesn't bust him, because he saved her, which we knew was coming.
Daphne and Chris (last week's bad guy with a heart of gold) land in detention for bickering in History. JJ and Natalie are for texting during Math. Bailey Beeyotch is there, too, because you need a catalyst, I guess. It's all very Breakfast Club, except all three girls are Molly Ringwald and you really need some Pixie Stick-sucking Ally Sheedy to balance that shit out. Wackiness ensues -- good dialogue does not. JJ sort of reveals his super-genius during the course of the afternoon. Chris and Daphne kiss during a game of Truth or Dare, and she flashes on a traumatic incident from his past. I take that nap. Natalie dumps JJ in front of everyone in detention, but later, Bailey kisses him.
Stephanie, Katie and Joshua get locked in together at Global Tech, thanks to Victoria (Charlotte from Lost), who triggers a radiation alert, in order to trap Joshua while he's coming off the seekrit serum. She wants him to get back on the stuff and back on Dr. King's side. He refuses. Charlotte knocks Katie out and shape-shifts into her form, to further freak out Josh, who does care for our girl, even in the throes of withdrawal. When Stephanie finally determines which Katie is which, Charlotte knocks her out, and tries to kill Katie. Joshua finds a discarded syringe full of the serum, dopes himself, saves Katie with the power of his mind, and later reveals more of his secrets.
I'll be back tomorrow with the full weecap. In the meantime, grade the episode up top, and then please join the discussion down in our show thread.
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!
"No Ordinary Detention" locks key characters in together. Jim, George and Rachel (an Internal Affairs investigator looking for a rogue cop, which is actually just Jim) are held hostage by escaped cons, right in the police precinct, with a whole lot of Die Hard references. Victoria (Charlotte from Lost, which is what I'm going to keep calling her, because I can) sets off a radiation leak alarm which traps Steph, Katie, and a detoxing Joshua in the lab. JJ and Natalie, Daphne, Chris and Bailey Beeyotch are stuck in detention, a la The Breakfast Club. Every super Powell uses his or her newbilities in some way, and there are even some nifty reveals. The characters continue to be accessible and likable. The stories are engaging enough on their own, but it just doesn't work for me. There is too much hand-wavium going on, all the time. There are few consequences for our characters when they do reveal their powers. And there's this relentless feeling that precious little that happens one week -- even the big stuff -- is going to matter next week. I know a lot of sci-fi and fantasy shows suffer from being too serial in nature, so I think I understand why these episodes try so hard to stand alone. But that's not what this story needs, and I think the recent ratings slide demonstrates that. What happens one week has to matter more the next week, or there's no reason to care about it now, or tune in again. I mean, how many times has Jim been found out, or almost found out, by a cop? How can Dr. King still not realize that Stephanie has super-speed? Are any of JJ and Daphne's friends and sweethearts going to stick around long enough for me to care about their stories? I don't know, reader, I'm drowning in futility right now.
Stephanie: Well, then why are you talking about it, at all? We've totally got this. Go get yourself another cup of coffee.
Recapper: You don't have to tell me twice. Thanks, Steph.
Stephanie: Okay, so the hour opens with me making breakfast for my family, but the kids don't have time to eat with me. Jim plans to, but then you-know-who does you-know-what.
Katie: George calls?
Stephanie: Bingo! Before everyone leaves though, I do make it clear that we'll have a family supper tonight, and attendance is mandatory.
Jim: I'll be there with bells on, baby, but right now, I have to go hunt down escaped con Austin Davies and his three fellow escapees. They're on the run from the law... on, um... do I have to tell?
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