Alcatraz Episodes 3 and 4 Recap

There's nothing new in Episodes 3 and 4 of the new series Alcatraz, they continue in the same style as the previous 2 (well, 1, really) episodes. In Episode 3, Kit Nelson, we learn that Hurley  Soto was kidnapped as a child so he feels a particular affinity towards the victim of this weeks criminal, Kit Nelson, a child abductor who takes 11 year old boys, kills them and returns them 48 hours later. Of course Soto has been kidnapped, because if there's one thing I've learnt from cop shows, it's that it is impossible to be a character on one without a TRAGIC PAST.  In any case, Nelson's trademark is to leave a white chrysanthemum behind and Soto, upon hearing this on a radio scanner, immediately rings up Hauser and Madsen. Honestly, this guy is the wikipedia of bad guys. It must be said that even though this villain is quite sinister the threat level he possesses seems to be zero. I can't say I ever actually thought anyone was in danger, even though Nelson was suitably creepy. Flashbacks to the 60's tell us that Nelson is even eviler than suspected as he recalls how much he likes killing young boys and even fesses up to killing his own brother. In short: very evil. After Soto unwisely confronts the kidnapper and kidnappee in a pie shop which he has deduced they may be at, (also, how convenient-Soto also happens to love pie!), Nelson and the kid make their hasty getaway after handcuffing Madsen and Soto to a dumpster. My faith in the police is restored! It should be mentioned that Hauser also has somewhat unsound morals as he doesn't mind letting the boy die as long as they capture Nelson-for the greater good and all. Fortunately children in 2012 are more resourceful than they were in the 60's and after Nelson takes him to his bunker of death the boy uses his shoe and a well timed throw to escape. Hauser, Madsen and Soto conveniently figure out the location of the death bunker and just happen to be in the woods for a well timed shot to Nelson's head. I must say, it really was a relief to finally see a baddy get shot in this episode but Soto's story to the boy and fellow comic book afficionado that escaping a kidnapping makes you a superhero of sorts feels like something you've seen a million times before. 

Episode 4 brings us an even more sinister baddy, Cal Sweeney who likes to kill people for no apparent reason with some gross 'airgun' thing that makes a huge whole in the victim. Eww. He, unlike the other returned inmates, is after something in particular which he searches for in various banks' safety deposit boxes. His MO is to seduce the sexy and impressionable bank tellers break in and take...something. What he is after is the real mystery of this episode and, thankfully reminds us that there is something bigger going on here than less-sexist Criminal Minds episodes. Back in the 60's (side note: I hate the prison bar/flashback signifier!) we learn that Sweeney ran a smuggling business in the prison but eventually he get's outplayed at his own game-oh snap! The uber irritating deputy warden (what is a deputy warden, anyway?) wants a cut and after swirleys and stabnation the score is deputy warden 1, Sweeney 0. It's infinitely hard to root for anyone here as all of the characters in the prison are insufferable! We also learn that Lucy is a psychologist and wants to rehabilitate the prisoners. Unlike the grumpy and jaded wardens she actually wants to do some good here.

Sweeney holds up a bank filled with hostages but Madsen smuggles him out while Hauser distracts the Police with his crankiness. After Madsen apprehends him with her 21st century technology (seatbelts) he joins everyone else at Alcatraz 2.0. The finale of the episode shows the warden and Sweeney's young padawan opening one of the doors with one of the mysterious keys we've seen in this episode and the first one. Of course all we get is glowy light and the shock and horror on everyone's faces but at least this episode made me want to speed on to the next episode! 

Alcatraz-Episodes 1 and 2 Recap and Review

So I just started watching Alcatraz this past week so it's time for a recap! I was pretty excited to watch the Pilot because it has all the elements of a great show, a good mystery, Sam Niell and the always lovable, Jorge Garcia. Although I intend to keep watching this show I definitely felt a bit letdown by the Pilot. First off, the opening credits were fantastic: the music, the creepy voiceover informing us that Alcatraz officially closed but THAT'S  NOT WHAT HAPPENED. Instead all the inmates and staff members, whose numbers are in the 300's disappeared and now they are coming back...without having aged. The 'not having aged' is a common theme in sci-fi, so I hope there is a badass explanation for this. Sam Niell used to be a warden but now he works in a high tech lab underneath Alcatraz where he tries to figure out where they went, who took them (I'm guessing some baddie with an agenda and lots of money but I'm hoping for aliens) and what they want. Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) meanwhile is a cop who has recently lost her partner, and if there is one thing I've learnt from excessive television watching it's that once you lose your partner you are set for a life of regret, guilt and never being able to find another partner you like as much. She recruits Diego Soto (Garcia), an expert on Alcatraz. At least if everything else goes wrong on this show, we'll have Garcia who is funny and charming as usual. Emerson Hauser (Niell) also has a partner, Lucy (Parminder Nagra ), who we soon learn is one of the 63's (the people who disappeared in 1963. Derr) The inmates are committing crimes left, right and centre and Hauser and team are tasked with stopping them and finding out what they are doing here. The problem is that the bigger mystery is left alone too much and Alcatraz stays in familiar cop show territory, with Madsen and Soto catching the bad guys just in time, loads of cliches and flashbacks that feel contrived. Overall, the plot is original but the presentation feels worn out. The Pilot is essentially two episodes in one, each hour dealing with a different criminal which means that this show is going to be obligated, more or less, to follow this theme with 300 different baddies?! Since that's about 15 seasons I don't think that's what they will do, nonetheless, it seems to be the way season one is shaping up, at least. You know what? I don't like cop shows. There,  I've said it. They are formulaic, love torturing innocent characters and the cops always have their 'cop-drama' which 'civilians don't understand.' Overall they are boring and pretentious and require less writing than an episode of Jersey Shore. With that grievance aired I can say-if Alcatraz becomes a real LOST/Fringe-esque mystery I will keep watching but if it's just another cop show with a twist, I won't be.