THE EVENT: Sci Fi for Preschoolers and the Recently Dead

Season 1, episode 5 (Casualties of War)

Last night’s episode of “The Event” finally started to move us along — barely — in the overall storyline. We found out a little more about “them,” the people from the ship that crashed in 1944. I guess I should give them a cute name — like the Travelers.

Evidence is growing that the Travelers are from the future. Twice in last night’s episode during flashbacks set in the 1940s, a Traveler seemed to know that eventually we’d develop better technology. Which to me suggests they are from the future.

Now, did you see what I did there in that last paragraph? I wrote the same basic sentence at the beginning and the end. That was in honor of the writers of “The Event” who have characters repeat information; give us flashbacks to something we’ve already seen; and have the same conversations occur over and over. In essence, the writers think we don’t pay attention. They think we are dumb.

But a hallmark, in fact the very essence, of a good sci fi is its secrets. The viewers watch the show in a game of who-can-figure-it-out-first. Who can discover clues left by the writers that will reveal the truth behind the mystery. But “the Event” writers do not give us a chance to go on an Easter egg hunt for hints. They present all the clues on a platter, with a “Ta da!” They make everything so obvious, almost a “look at this neat magic trick,” when it’s just another bunny being pulled out of another hat.

The plotline with Vicki is a case in point. She has a son. We know that. Last night, early on in the episode, we saw her in a flashback being ordered to kill a family. They cut away just as she was pointing a gun at a baby, like this was so dramatic. But, I knew before she even entered the family’s house that there would be a baby; she wouldn’t kill it; she would take it; and it would turn out to be the aforementioned son. I’ll place bets that all my sci fi nerd brethren knew it, too. I’m sure the other nerds among us — the action nerds and the paste-eating nerds — caught on quickly afterward. I think the only viewers surprised when it was later revealed in the episode that her son and the baby were one in the same were the recently dead and a few preschoolers.

And, speaking of the recently dead, just kill the plane people already. They’re alive. They’re dead. They’re alive again. They get nosebleeds. They’re dying. Again.

But there was one thing I was happy to see — the resolution of the Lelia kidnapping storyline. Thank God that’s over.

As for the big Lelia rescue scene … Sigh. Okay, so a few points. Sean makes this claim that he’s going to put the picture of Vicki’s kid on the Internet unless they give him Lelia. But all Vicki has to do is kill Sean and the FBI agent and no one would know about her kid. Instead, she helps them? Killing her own people? Lots of them? Vicki has said repeatedly how much she wants to kill Lelia. (But, frankly, who among us doesn’t?) But Vicki now helps them escape? None of this makes any sense.

Here’s what would have made more sense: Sean and the FBI agent arrive at the police station and realize it’s a trap. Sean’s call back his friend Rick, who he tells to post the picture unless he hears from Sean in 5 minutes. Sean calls Vicki, and tells her a friend of his will release the photo unless she sends Lelia out to him. Vicki must then figure out how to kill all the people inside and get Lelia out. She tells the FBI agent to kill the guy on the roof. Gunfights ensue. Vicki pushes Lelia out the door of the police station, hopefully making one last threat to kill her if she sees her again. And then Lelia and Sean have big reunion in the street.

My version solves all of the problems of the original: Sean’s threat about the picture is now a real one and Vicki’s actions now make sense. All done.

Overall, I don’t ponder “The Event” very much. I don’t really wonder about the Travelers or what their deal is. But, during last night’s show, I did find one thing curious: Why were the travelers wearing clothes from the 1940s when they crashed? This might be a fun tidbit to ponder. But here’s the problem: I do not trust the writers of this show. If this were “Lost” or “Fringe,” I would be confidant that the writers added this detail as either a clue or a red herring. The clothes would be a giveaway that the Travelers were attempting to integrate into the 1940s society for some reason. But I do not have the same confidence in the writers of “The Event.” I think it’s just as likely the Travelers were in 1940s clothes because someone in the costume department had a surplus of suspenders and fedoras.

And where there is no trust, there is no audience.

—Xtine