Wayward Points: An origin story/The glitch is back

You didn't think Wayward Pines ran itself, did you?


So it's the year 4028. What the freak? That's where we left off in the last episode, anyway... But this week's episode started with what appeared to be a flashback, showing a (presumably) much younger Dr. David Pilcher (formerly known as Dr. Jenkins) walking the apocalypse-ridden streets of a pre-"Work Hard, Be Happy" Wayward Pines. How mysterious. Hit the music. Cue the intro. Hashtag Wayward Pines.

***

We learned A LOT in this week's episode of "Wayward Pines." I'm a couple days late, due to a weird glitch on my DVR, but a big shoutout to Julie Owings, who let me mooch off of her Hulu Plus account to check out the most recent goings-on in TV's most interesting city. Let's get the quick rundown of information as we try to make sense of the biggest bombshells dropped last Thursday night. Before we get to this week's Wayward Points, let's dissect the good stuff that went down between two of the show's main characters: Ethan Burke and David Pilcher.

Ethan spent the episode with Dr. Pilcher in a huge building known as The Complex. It's where more than 200 "volunteers" run Wayward Pines behind the scenes. Pilcher gets a little busy with his day-to-day tasks, so Nurse Pam takes Ethan and patches up the wounds he sustained from his recent run-in with a herd of Abbies. While she's bandaging him up, he learns that Pam and David are siblings. He also discovers that Pilcher's people (Pillagers, maybe?) have an Abbie locked up in the basement. It doesn't like Ethan very much, by the looks of it, but they are able to subdue the beast with some sort of chemical gas.

Throughout the episode, we are treated to a series of flashbacks from Dr. Pilcher's life, which will be quite instrumental moving forward. Let's bring up our first set of Wayward Points as I recap what we discovered:

• Pilcher, a scientist and corporate mogul by trade, had bombed a presentation. In the late 1990s, Pilcher's company discovered a small genetic mutation that, in the worst case scenario, he believed could destroy mankind. You see, as humankind mistreated the environment, it, too, would suffer. By Pilcher's estimation, mankind would be wiped off the face of the planet - and it would happen soon. Other scientists, however, didn't much care for Pilcher's rantings and ravings, and he began to become quite discouraged. He was comforted by his sister, Pam, a recovering drug addict, but he stressed to her that there would not be enough time to save everyone. He would need to act fast if he wanted to put his plan into action.
• In other flashbacks, we see Pilcher run into two future Wayward Pines residents, Mrs. Fisher, the hypnotherapist, whom he meets at a book signing, and Sheriff Pope, who was previously employed as a security guard at Pilcher's office building. Pilcher's book, "The Coming Crisis," would probably have been classified as a commercial flop, as he recalled that the other scientists wouldn't listen to him, but he was approached by Mrs. Fisher, who offered to help hypnotize people as a way of getting them to participate in Pilcher's project. Pilcher declined, saying that he would only take volunteers, but Fisher takes a hold of Pilcher's hand (hypnotizing him, most likely) and begs him to accept her help. Pope, on the other hand, was recruited by Pilcher to join the experiment. [Pope declares his love for Rocky Road ice cream, by the way. It was glorious. RIP Ice Cream Man.] Pilcher knew nearly everything about Pope's life, including his struggles with illegal drugs, but offered to let the man with dreams of law enforcement take part in what he called a second chance - "a chance to restart, but also to participate in something quite extraordinary." That's when Pope started abducting people. That's right! We see, through flashbacks, that Pilcher and Pope began stealing people against their will and cryogenically freezing them so that they could re-populate the planet at a later date.

What ice cream did Pope say he liked during Pilcher's flashback? Here's a hint: It's NOT rum raisin. #WaywardPines pic.twitter.com/eUow4H7UO7

— Wayward Pines (@WaywardPinesFOX) June 27, 2015

Present-day Pilcher tells Ethan that he had funneled his company's money into cryonic research. He is called down to observe the recently unfrozen body of a new arrival - Sarah Barlow, a teacher from Missouri. Ethan asks how many others there are and the camera pans to show that there are TONS of cryo chambers in The Complex. Ethan examines some of the chambers. It's a young girl. Pilcher admits to his "burden" of abducting people to inhabit the city. He believes it was done altruistically - because someone in that young girl's bloodline would eventually need to be saved from the impending crisis.

Pilcher takes Ethan to his private office in The Complex, which looks completely different than the copy-and-paste cement walls we've grown accustomed to. Here, he explains several important things:

• Pilcher and his volunteers left the world in 2014 and woke up 2,000 years later - long enough, he says, for the world to reset, and long enough for all the other humans to die out and stop destroying the planet. It only took two years to rebuild the city. They established a perimeter around the town to keep the Abbies out. When Ethan asks if the Abbies ever got inside the city, Pilcher says he discovered that the Abbies were dangerous, but very predictable. He compares the town and its government to Colonial America - spies on every street corner, traitors hung in the streets. Ethan compares it to the leadership style of Joseph Stalin.
• Ethan urges Pilcher to stop the surveillance and the executions. Pilcher says that won't work - and he knows it to be true. He's tried it before. He explains: The current cast is "Group B." There was a Group A - the first group. He told them everything. The effect wasn't immediate, he said. It spread like cancer. They tried to run away - they didn't get very far. Those that did believe caved into despair. The shock of the new reality drove them to insanity. People, he says, accept change gradually. He had been too distant with Group A. He was blind to their circumstances. "These are the Dark Ages," Pilcher says, "but enlightenment is coming."
• Pilcher needs Ethan to keep Wayward Pines safe. Young minds are fearless, Pilcher explains. At that point, Ethan realizes that Ben knows the truth. Now Pilcher is searching for a way to protect the First Generation. Pilcher tells Ethan of a faction that has been removing their tracking chips. [Viewers realize that he speaks of Harold and Kate - but we'll get into that later] He knows that The Faction plans to take down The Fence. But Ethan is prepared to do whatever it takes to stop anyone else from dying at the hands of "this wreckless group," the Abbies or Pilcher, himself.

***

So there we have it. That was the main storyline this week. But there was much, much more happening elsewhere. Let's break it down.

Wayward Points:

• There is a "clean" room in the back of the toy shop where Kate and Harold work. No surveillance, no microphones. Several times in this episode, they meet with a delivery guy named Ted and, completely out of their typical weirdo personas, they discuss a package left in town by the late, great Peter McCall. Ted doesn't know where it is, but it urgent to find it. We later discover that the package was left in Theresa's new real estate office. Ted sneakily recovers the package and delivers it to Harold toward the end of the program. Inside the package is a bomb - the bomb that Pilcher says The Faction will use to take down the perimeter. Harold fashions the bomb into a music box and it's ready to go for Episode 7.
• Kate has interesting conversations with Harold and Theresa. She is bent on blowing a hole in The Fence, but refuses to do it without Harold's help. She wants to find out what's out there, including whether or not Harold's pre-WP fiancee is still alive. Kate also breaks character a bit for Theresa, asking for forgiveness of the ill-fated decisions that got her stuck in this freaky town and probing Theresa's willingness to help out with their covert operation. While no official alliance was forged, it's likely Kate will try even harder to recruit Theresa in future episodes. [Also, it is of not that Kate drinks from a mug just like you'd think she would - like a total weirdo.]
  
• Meanwhile, Theresa discovers a mysterious part of town called Plot 33 - a 1.66 acre lot of undeveloped land, which Theresa describes as a prime residential area. Her pervert of a boss, Big Bill, gets upset at Theresa for talking about it and a former employee named Henrietta believes that curiosity about Plot 33 led to the untimely death of our friend Peter McCall. Apparently Peter thought Plot 33 was a way out. And, apparently, he thought wrong. When Big Bill leaves for work and Theresa is all alone, she digs out the Plot 33 plans and books it out of there like it's 5:01 on a Friday afternoon.

***

What we learned:

- The warehouse facility that Ethan discovered a few episodes back stores all of Wayward Pines' food, according to a comment made by Nurse Pam at the beginning of the episode.

- As Dr. Pilcher walks Ethan through The Complex, Ethan overhears a female telephone operator asking if a man would like to leave a message for his wife. At the beginning of the series, Ethan repeatedly spoke to a woman named "Marci," who said she was a new receptionist at the Seattle secret service office. He'd never heard of Marci before. Now we know why.
- While many of Wayward Pines' residents are "volunteers," the "accidents" that brought people like Ethan, Theresa and Ben Burke to Wayward Pines were strategically thought-out abductions, organized by Pilcher and his company.

Side note:
- Apparently Sarah Barlow, the Missouri teacher, is the subject of FOX's online companion series, "Gone." Maybe I'll have to check that out sometime.

The Rules:
- Kate uncharacteristically breaks The Rules in the toy store's clean room by talking to Harold about his fiancee.

Questions:
- What is Plot 33?
- Still don't know if Pilcher and Pope were time traveling ...or whatever... when we saw them back in the first couple episodes of the show.
- If Ethan is asked to choose between Kate/Harold, Theresa and Pilcher/the safety of Wayward Pines residents, which will he choose?

***

Welp...

RIP Group A

Episode 6

Until next week,

Work hard and be happy.

LDS musician Alex Boyé thrills judges on 'America's Got Talent'

Mormon musician Alex Boyé appeared on the 10^th season of NBC’s hit variety show “America’s Got Talent” on Tuesday night, impressing all four judges and advancing to the second round of auditions.

Boyé, a British singer-songwriter known for his flamboyant African style of music, is a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In recent years, he has become a YouTube sensation with his popular covers of songs like Disney’s “Let It Go” and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk.”

On Tuesday night’s episode, Boyé performed his unique rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” with his band, Changing Lanes Express, in front of a packed ballroom audience.  Boyé’s energy and enthusiasm quickly got the attention of the show’s four judges: Howie Mandel, Melanie “Mel B” Brown, Heidi Klum and Howard Stern.

Following the adrenaline-infused audition, Mandel kicked off the judges feedback with high praise. “I’ve got to be honest with you - in my six years here, this is my favorite music act ever. It really is!”

“That definitely woke everybody up,” Brown added. “You filled the whole room with your excitement and energy. Thank you for auditioning today. That was brilliant!”

“It was contagious,” Klum said. “You were rocking out on stage. It was awesome. … You guys are talented and so much fun.”

Finally, Stern said, “I could watch you all day. You’re terrific.”

The judges’ voting was unanimous, capped off by “an enthusiastic yes” from Stern, who later commented, “They’ve got a great sound. I’m very excited about them.”

An emotional Boyé reflected on the moment by telling host Nick Cannon, “When you’re on the older side of things, you start thinking that maybe it’s not going to happen. And then you have a moment like this – it just opens up opportunities again. It’s priceless. It’s been an honor.”

Boyé and his band will get a chance to showcase their talent in front of even more viewers as “America’s Got Talent” continues to air on NBC Tuesday nights this summer at 7:00 p.m., Mountain Time.

Watch Boyé's performance below:

Along with Boyé, other AGT contestants with ties to Utah and the LDS Church include now-world-famous violinist Lindsey Stirling (2010), Morgan County’s Fab Five clogging troupe (2009), and, most recently, musicians Josh Wright and Lexi Walker (2014).

For more information about Mormons on reality TV, click here to see the world’s most comprehensive list.

Wayward Points: The truth will set you free

Ok, I don't know about you guys, but I am STOKED for this episode. Everything I have read about the show says that things get CRAZY in the fifth episode - and here we are!! First of all, let's remind ourselves of a few things:

- Nobody seems to know what year it is.
- The whole town is under surveillance by... somebody.
- Ethan's kid, Ben, is getting brainwashed, along with all the other kids at Wayward Academy by that weirdo hypnotherapist, Mrs. Fisher.
- Theresa has been offered a new job.
- Ethan has climbed the rock wall on the outskirts of town and there is a freaking THING out there!! Holy crap.

All right. MAJOR SPOILERS. Let's do this thing.

***

We start where we left off. Ethan has scaled the wall and that freaking thing is out there creepin'. Ethan fires off a near-infinite amount of shotgun shells, but that thing is speedy-quick. In the midst of the fracas, it zips by and slashes Ethan's arm with something sharp. And Ethan continues to unload cartridges into the woods. Cue the intro. Hashtag Wayward Pines.

***

All three members of the Burke family play vital parts this week and this episode did a great job of holding my attention for the full hour. I'll try to break it down as fluidly as possible, but the storyline jumped back and forth between the Burkes pretty consistently, so I'll see what I can do.

Ben and his new friend, Amy, seem to be growing closer. She wants to hang out with him a lot and even gives him a kiss here and there. Ben, however, grows a bit wary of the uncommon, almost unnatural sense of friendliness that he experiences at school. Kids never treated him this way before he got to Wayward Pines...

Theresa is also skeptical of Ben's new friends. She knows this place isn't safe, but has to keep "playing along," as to keep the authorities at bay. She's started up her new job as a realtor, and her boss, "Big Bill," seems like a real perv. He likes Theresa, though, and has her first client all ready to go, right off the bat. The guy's name is Wayne Johnson. He was just in a bad accident and needs a place to live. (He also gives his regards to Theresa's husband, Ethan, who he thanked for getting rid of Peter in the last episode.) Theresa meets Wayne in the hospital, but our new buddy just wants to be left alone. The two start to talk and Wayne just isn't feeling that hot. Theresa mentions that she, too, was in an accident, then Wayne asks if she saw it, too. Confused, Theresa, ever conscious of the Wayward Pines surveillance system, tries to get more information out of him, but to no avail. She suggests that they go somewhere a bit more private to talk. His new home, perhaps?

Back at Wayward Academy, Ben is asked to attend Orientation with two other students. They meet in a plain white room in three chairs, marked 109, 110 and 111. Time to get brainwashed, kids! Mrs. Fisher, the hypnotherapist, joins the three, informing them that they were selected based on their aptitude in their first round of meetings. If they graduate from Orientation, they will officially join the "First Generation of Wayward Pines." Only those who are truly ready are selected to proceed. Ready for the truth, she says.

So, orientation commences. Mrs. Fisher shows the kids a series of pictures that were taken outside The Fence. In one of the pictures, Ben spots one of the freaky creatures that Ethan has encountered in the woods. Mrs. Fisher goes on to teach the candidates about the history of these things - she calls them "Abbies" (short for "aberrations") - saying that they are genetic mutations that have evolved to become the most efficient carnivores on the planet. They have bird-like talons that can kill a foe in one strike, a heightened sense of smell and advanced hearing. Also, she notes that their DNA is extremely close to that of homo-sapiens... because they were homo-sapiens. These things are highly evolved humans!

Meanwhile, Ethan continues to make his way through the woods in hopes of finding some help. He has a couple close encounters to the monsters we now call Abbies. He, being the bright fellow that he is, hides behind a mutilated deer carcass, getting a close-up look at three of the mutants, which are just as ugly and dangerous as Mrs. Fisher described, and manages to evade them a bit longer. As he charts his course, he comes across a rusted, old highway sign, leading to Boise.

Back in Orientation, Mrs. Fisher gives Numbers 109-111 each a coin, which Ben figures was probably from the Roman era. But after rubbing off some of the dirt, he realizes that it's just a quarter! Then, upon further investigation, the students inspect the year on the coins. "This is not the year 2014," Mrs. Fisher says ominously. The date on the quarters is 2095. THEY'RE IN THE FUTURE!

But wait! Slowly, the hypnotherapist asks the students to dig deeper:

"Don't think of it in terms of what is or is not possible, Ben. Think about it in terms of the facts. What do you know about what you are? ... What's the last thing you remember, before arriving in Wayward Pines? ... The accident."

Each of the students were in a car accident. Each of them remembered waking up in the Wayward Pines Hospital. But just how long were they unconscious? She speaks to the children about lab rats. She talks about running tests on those rats that allow them to go all winter without food or the basic needs that sustain life. It's possible. They did it.

Jump back to Theresa and Wayne. Wayne remembers something after his accident. He remembers looking through glass - a small window. He remembers people looking at him through the glass. Nurse Pam was there. He remembers seeing many other people in similar chambers. Like lab rats.

Mrs. Fisher tells 109-111 that they have been chosen to be a part of a very special community. The quarters they held in their hands looked very old because they were very old. They are the last known relics of human civilization - a civilization that died out almost 2,000 years ago. "This is not the year 2014," she says. This is the year 4028." These kids, the First Generation, have been chosen to ensure the survival of humankind.

Ethan makes his way to a vantage point, where he looks out and sees the decayed remains of Boise, Idaho. Truly, this is the year 4028 - exactly double the year that Ethan set off to look for his partners. But hang on... is that what Boise looks like? I've never been there, but that looked an awful lot like Washington, D.C. to me... I dunno.

At Orientation, the kids learn about a scientist who foresaw the end of civilization. His name was David Pilcher. He would never hurt the residents of Wayward Pines. He is their "Protector." He created this community as an ark to protect thousands of years of culture. But, in order for it to work as he had planned, Ben and his classmates are forbidden from speaking of the truth they've learned to any adults. The future is not made for adults. Wayward Pines rests in the hands of the children - the First Generation. Speaking to their parents would result in catastrophic consequences. Any holes or cracks in the Ark would let the water in and drown everyone inside. It is up to the First Generation to steer the Ark safely to short. They are the First Generation. They are the First Generation. They are the First Generation. Students 109-111 have their picture taken and are ushered into another room, where a group of candle-toting classmates (led by Ben's friend, Amy) start a slow-clap to welcome them to their elite society.

Ethan has been followed by a helicopter, which lands in front of him. Out pops Dr. Jenkins, who has helped Ethan and been somewhat of a confidant to him in previous episodes. He introduces himself to Ethan as his true identity - David Pilcher, the creator of Wayward Pines. Ethan asks Pilcher what is going on, mentioning that he does not believe that the decaying city is truly Boise, but Pilcher counters with the suggestion that Ethan's mind is playing tricks on him, refusing to accept the truth that it is seeing. They can hear a herd of Abbies rushing through the woods. Pilcher asks Ethan to join him in the helicopter. (Basically, either join him or die.) Pilcher promises to show Ethan what Wayward Pines truly is and, probably hesitantly, Ethan makes his way to the chopper. Oh, and Nurse Pam is there. Goodie. They take off, through the trees and the fog, just before the herd of Abbies can reach them, and the episode draws to its close.

***

Wayward Points:

• Upon returning to her office, Theresa looks through a binder of "new client" files, including those of her family. She takes a quick look at Ethan's file. I paused the show and was able to read most of the fine print. In essence, the "new client" agreement says that residents of Wayward Pines can live in the city for free, so long as they remain "a positive and productive member of the town." All rights to the property must be relinquished if any of the town's bylaws are broken, whereupon all ownership of property and everything in the house belongs to the Township of Wayward Pines.
• "Big Bill" is proud of his newest realtor, Theresa. He gives her a gold star, in fact! He's got another client for Theresa. He says people come in like clockwork, just when they are needed. Theresa asks if people are always in accidents before they arrive. He tells her not to think too hard about it, lest something happen to her pretty little face.
• Pilcher's pitch to Ethan was basically this: "You've got a new community here: family, property, culture... Perhaps W.P. isn't that bad, after all... Right?" Better than getting ripped to pieces by the Abbies, I suppose.

What we learned:

- The Abbies are real.

- Amy confirms to Ben that they are in Idaho. Supposedly.

- It is the year 4028 - Double the year that it was for the most recent of the car accidents. W.T.Freak.

- Dr. Jenkins is David Pilcher.

The Rules:
- Theresa is warned several times not to be too much of a "free thinker."
- Mrs. Fisher warns that Pilcher's Ark will only work if everyone follows the Rules.
- Note: No phone calls this episode. No phone calls and no ice cream. :-(

Questions:

- So... apparently, Pilcher can time travel? We've seen him in 2014... or.. was that the past?... But that was 2,000 years ago! (Screenwriter Chad Hodge promised TVGuide.com answers in the next episode. Read that interview here.)

- What is Wayward Pines? Is Pilcher going to give Ethan the same information that Ben received in Orientation? What are Pilcher's true intentions?

- Who are the Abbies? Wayward rejects?

- Was that really Boise?

- Were the tests that Wayne described done in the same warehouse that Ethan stumbled across a couple episodes back? It's quite possible! Lots of doors and windows down there...

- Why does @WaywardPines keep tweeting backwards messages?

***

What the heck, people? What is happening? They promised a game-changer tonight and, by jove, I'll say they delivered. The show will be totally different from here on out - but we've got to wait two weeks until the next episode!! Please! Somebody comment! I need to talk to somebody about this show! It's awesome! Nobody died this week, though, so I guess I need to think of another obituary to post before I wrap this thing up... Hmm...

RIP Boise, Idaho

1863 - 2095

Until next week,

Work hard and be happy.

Powerful 'McFarland, USA' earns highest recommendation (Blu-ray review)

[Originally posted by Aaron Christensen on Examiner.com]

McFarland, USA (2015)
Starring: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Ramiro Rodriguez, Carlos Pratts, Hector Duran

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When a troubled high school gym coach moves his family to a small, Hispanic town in California, he never would have guessed how much his life would change. It wasn't the ideal career move for Coach Jim White (Costner), but it had to be done. He was run from his last job in Idaho after an unfortunate encounter with one of his football players and McFarland, California, seemed like one of his last available options. His family wasn't thrilled about it, either. But it would only be a temporary thing, they assumed. Get Jim some tenure at a high school to smooth out his rocky resume and then they'd be outta there faster than you could say "hasta luego." But when he discovers that several of his P.E. students are naturally gifted long-distance runners, Coach White comes up with a hair-brained idea to start up the school's first-ever cross country team. With a little bit of coaching and the right amount of motivation, these underdog Mexican kids from McFarland might actually make something of themselves, after all!

--

The Salt Lake DVD Examiner is going to do things a little differently this time around. He's going to write in first-person. It's never been done before, in all of his 130 reviews, but, by the looks of it, not many people read his posts, anyway, so what could it hurt, right? Here goes nothing.

--

I believe that "McFarland, USA" is one of the most culturally important movies that has been released in years - probably since "42" or "Remember the Titans." I served a mission for The Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2006-2008 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was assigned to work with Hispanics. I learned their language and spent the better part of 22 months living among them and working alongside them. Based on that qualification, I can proudly say that I know the Hispanic community. With that being said, "McFarland, USA" hit pretty close to home for me, personally. Perhaps I'm biased, but I can truthfully say that the portrayal of the Mexian-American community in this film is spot-on. Surely, I understood, connected with and laughed at parts of this movie that may not be relevant to a Caucasian living in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley who has had little-to-no contact with small towns like McFarland, but those with open minds should certainly find this movie enlightening, to say the least.

I love "McFarland, USA." The way that it tackles tough, sensitive topics like racism, prejudice and inaccurate judment, gang violence, teen pregnancy, domestic violence and suicide prevention - especially in today's politically correct, hyper-sensitive American society - is touching and beautiful. Early on in the film, the White family moves, reluctantly, to a society filled with Hispanics. Jim and his family exhibit outward concern about their new community that mirror very closely the attitude of many people I have come in contact with in my own life. To be perfectly honest, I'm sure that I even harbored some of those same unfair judgments in the past, as well. Stereotypes are a dangerous thing. While they accurately portray a small minority of certain groups (jocks, nerds, Blacks, Mexicans or what have you), they inaccurately describe the majority of those same groups. "A few bad apples spoil the bunch." But as the movie goes on, the Whites begin to realize that their new neighbors are not the gang bangers they believed them to be. They are, in fact, genuine, caring, generous, hard-working, religious, family-oriented and surprisingly patriotic.

Again, the portrayal of Hispanic culture in "McFarland, USA" is, in my opinion, incredibly accurate. I cannot begin to count the number of times that practical strangers invited me into their homes for food, even when I was not hungry. The generosity of the Mexican families that I worked with in North Carolina still astounds me, to this day all these years later. I was also impressed with those families' positive attitudes, humility, faith and hard-working nature. In spite of the ridiculously false stereotype that Hispanics are lazy and have come to America to mooch off of the government, they are some of the hardest-working people I have ever met. This characteristic is on full display in the film, as Coach White spends time getting to know his students on a very personal level. Hispanics are extremely hard workers and I, for one, deeply admire them for the long hours of manual labor that many of them put into their jobs. Watching "McFarland, USA" reminded me of all of the amazing (and widely unnoticed) attributes of Mexican-American families.

As I got to know Hispanics from many countries - not just Mexico - I came to love them as friends, just as the Whites learn to do in "McFarland, USA." As they let down their walls and decided to embrace their new community and get to know these people like they would any other human being, the Whites came to love that little town and all of the people in it. There aren't many movies that can give me what the kids these days call "the feels," but Costner and company just about got me to cry both times I watched this show, gosh dang it! Watching people from different races, cultures and backgrounds come together is incredible. I'm thankful that I was able to be a part of a similar process back in 2006, and being able to see it represented on film made me happy. Not the kind of "happy" that I get when I see the Avengers take down Ultron and not the kind of "happy" I get when it's Five Dollar Tuesday at Cinemark theaters, but the kind of happy when I know that this is real life. Stuff like this actually happens. All we have to do is break down those foolish stereotypes that we think in our brains and reach out to touch those around us.

My absolute favorite part of "McFarland, USA" is the National Anthem scene, where cross country teams from around the state, along with their families, friends and supporters, take a moment to pay respect to the United States of America. A large group of McFarland residents make the trip out to watch their boys race and they, along with all the Caucasians in attendance, start to sing along to the Star-Spangled Banner. While the juxtaposition of seeing a group of Mexicans sing America's national anthem may seem a little strange, I think it is absolutely wonderful. Half-way through, the singing fades out and makes way for a gorgeous acoustic rendition of the song, strummed by some unknown artist (I tried to look it up), and a brief montage of the young athletes' training is shown. As the anthem draws to a close, the shot cuts back to the Hispanics as they applaud and wave Mexican flags. It's a bit of an odd scene, but I think it is tremendously powerful. This is America, dang it! And America is awesome. In these past few years, we've gotten really tied up in a bunch of stupid things that make America (and the world, in general) seem like a pretty rotten place to live, but what I love about "McFarland, USA" is that it reminds viewers that America is the land of opportunity. Who are we to say or think that any group of people is not worthy to be here? Who are we to pass judgment on others? I love this movie because it shows that Mexican-Americans are awesome people who work unthinkably hard and love both of their countries. What's wrong with that?

On top of all the sentimental, personal connections I have with this film, there is also the simple fact that these seven runners and their dedicated coach turned around a quiet California town, creating a tradition of excellence unparalleled by anything those folks had seen before. This movie is a touching tribute to the efforts of those eight people who had a vision and put it into action. The final two minutes of the film and the eye-opening bonus features (featuring the guys who lived the story) are an testament to that inspired vision.

I believe that "McFarland, USA" is one of the most culturally important movies that has been released in years. I believe that "McFarland, USA" is a movie that everyone should see. It is the epitome of a feel-good movie and it will inspire you to be better. I cannot stress enough how much I really, really love this movie. It's not just a great story about a group of athletic Spanish-speakers. It's a powerful movie about an amazing culture that receives far too little credit for their contributions to our country. If you haven't seen this movie yet, please do yourself a favor and pick it up. You can snag it at the store, which would definitely be worth your money, or you can pick it up at the nearest Redbox if you don't want to take my word for it. Whatever you do, take time to watch "McFarland, USA." You'll be glad you did.

Without any hesitation, whatsoever, I whole-heartedly give "McFarland, USA" my highest recommendation.

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Similar movies: "Chariots of Fire" (1981), "Remember the Titans" (2000), "42" (2013)

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Blu-ray bonus features:
- Audio in English, Spanish, Portuguese, English Descriptive Audio and a bunch of other languages
- Subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese and a bunch of other languages
- "McFarland Reflections": The real-life McFarland runners, Coach Jim White and Kevin Costner hold a round-table discussion about the incredible true story of the historic 1987 cross country team.
- "Juntos" music video by Juanes
- "Inspiring McFarland": A short featurette with director Niki Caro and a couple others, in which they speak of the resilience and endurance of the seven McFarland boys. It was probably used as promotional material as the film approached its theatrical release.
- Six deleted and extended scenes

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Directed by: Niki Caro
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Running time: 129 minutes
MPAA rating: PG for "thematic material, some violence and language." Nothing inherently offensive. Very little profanity and most of the violence occurs off-screen. Suitable for all ages.
Costars Johnny Ortiz, Rafael Martinez, Sergio Avelar, Michael Aguero, Morgan Saylor
Blu-ray release date: June 2, 2015

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Wayward Points: We don't need no education

"Everybody's a prisoner here."

After a quick recap of last week's episode, we pick up right where we left off... (Lots of spoilers to come, of course.)

The Burkes drive incredibly inconspicuously back to their home in the late, great Sheriff Pope's truck. Ben is pretty shaken up after having basically witnessed a dude getting his brains blown out, which is understandable. Ben asks what in the world took the sheriff's body, to which Ethan responds that it was a wolf. Wayward Pines is wolf country, as we've heard from time to time. Our beloved hero returns to the vehicle to comfort his wife, at which point Ben disappears. While out of sight, some creepy bike delivery guy drops off a new school uniform for young Master Burke.

In other news, Ethan has become the new sheriff of Wayward Pines. I guess you kill a guy, you get his job. What is this? The Santa Clause?? The folks chalk it up to a sudden, unexpected retirement, prompting the second best quote of the night, as the weird receptionist Arlene complains, "What an ice cream cone-eating b******! He leaves without even saying goodbye?"

Exploring his new office, Sheriff Burke astutely discovers a secret compartment in the floor, which contains information about the previous lives of all of Wayward Pines' residents. (More on that later.) Soon thereafter, Nurse Pam performs a citizen's arrest on a fellow named Peter - and as Ethan's first official act of business at the new sheriff in town, Pam is hankering for another Reckoning real bad. You see, there's apparently a "three strike" rule and our new pal Peter just earned himself his final demerit by defacing public property. (He spray-painted a message across a shop on Main Street that said, "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Pam was not pleased. She matter-of-factly instructed Ethan to hold the town's next execution the next night at 10 p.m., but Sheriff Burke don' wanna.

Peter gets locked up and Ethan takes some time to get to know the guy before putting him to death. He shows Peter his secret file, which includes pictures of his family and some other info about his previous profession, his age, hometown and a few other things. In present day, Peter walks with a cane, but Ethan notices that he shows no signs of disability in pictures from his previous life. Peter explains that he had a "rock climbing accident" - he tried to climb the Fence - and he tells Ethan that there is only one way out of the town. He puts a finger-gun to his head and pulls the imaginary trigger. And then the phone rings. A woman's voice instructs Ethan to execute Peter the next evening. "Telemarketer," Ethan says dully as he hangs up the phone.

After looking through his file, Peter comments that he had forgotten how much he forgot. But he was able to recall one instance in 2001 when he had a bit of a wild night with a brunette named Denise. The ensuing events culminated in a hotel room drug overdose that left Peter blacked out. He remembered waking up in a different hotel room, but Denise had aged considerably - and her name wasn't "Denise" anymore. It was PAM. Thus, Peter became a resident of Wayward Pines.

The next day, Ethan and Theresa attend a party thrown by the mayor. Nurse Pam raises a glass to the new sheriff, encouraging a strict enforcement of the law, including liberal use of the death penalty when necessary. Ethan cuts her off and vows to do everything in his power to bring the evils of this town to light and bring the true criminals to justice.

Later that evening, around the time of the anticipated Reckoning of Peter McCall, Sheriff Burke retrieves the prisoner from his cell with no intention of a public execution. Peter asks Ethan to take him to the Fence. Upon arrival, they have a brief conversation in which Peter rhetorically asks whether they are being kept in or whether something is being kept out... and he also tells Ethan that the town needs a man like him. He reminds Ethan that "they" are watching and urges the sheriff to help him end his life in order to earn the trust of the town's unseen enforcers. Ultimately, Peter makes it look like Ethan pushes him into the wall, where he is electrocuted to death. RIP, Peter. We hardly knew ye.

At the end of the episode, Ethan returns home to let his wife know that Peter is dead. He asks her to stay at home and keep playing along so nobody gets suspicious. Then he tells her that he's going to get some help. He returns to the sheriff's office, where he is greeted by Nurse Pam. Ethan relinquishes his office, stating that Pam is much more suited to be sheriff than he was. Gladly, Pam accepts and takes a seat behind the desk. Ethan grabs a shotgun and it looks like our hero is going ROCK CLIMBING! He heads to the Fence and starts scaling. But OH FREAK. Little does he know that there is a dude up there! Is it Gollum? Is it a human? Is it something different altogether? Oh heck. Time will tell.

Wayward Points:

- Ethan has a few conversations with Mayor Fisher. He thinks he may be able to get more information out of him over the course of time. The mayor kept pretty tight-lipped throughout most of the episode, however, so Ethan's efforts thus far are fruitless.
- We were shown only a couple of the files from the sheriff's secret box. We saw some information about Mayor Fisher, found out that his wife was a hypnotherapist, and also discovered that Arlene the Receptionist is a lesbian. No joke, I laughed out loud.
- Ben got a lot of screen time this week, from his introduction to Wayward Academy to his new friend, Amy, and everything in between. The Academy's headmistress, Mrs. Fisher (wife of the mayor) took Ben under her wing rather quickly, greeting him with a totally odd high-five sequence ("too slow!") and hosting several therapy sessions in the boy's first couple days at school. It turns out that Mrs. Fisher was a hypnotherapist before she lived in Wayward Pines - and I'm rather confident that the weird high-five tendency is some sort of catalyst for the hypnotism of her students. [It is of note that she did not high-five all of her students. There were at least six of the kids who received a handshake, instead. Hmm. Not sure what that means.] Mrs. Fisher is working hard on bringing Ben's trust in his father into question and helping him forget where "home" is. If the preview for next week is any indication, we will get a gigantic helping of Mrs. Fisher in next week's episode.
- At dinner with the Burkes, Mrs. Fisher gave Ethan some interesting career advice: 1) Set boundaries and 2) Let people know that there are consequences for bad behavior.
- Ben makes friends with a girl named Amy, a fellow classmate at Wayward Academy. Ben, now obsessed with finding out what took Sheriff Pope's body, continuously asks Amy if she has been to the Fence and if she knows what is behind it. Amy says she has never been there and almost seems as if it has never crossed her mind whatsoever. Toward the end of the episode, she convinces Ben to sneak out of the house and join her at her favorite spot in the woods. While nothing monumental comes from this conversation, she does mention something which I'll bring up in a moment.
- Theresa and Kate meet for the first time in Wayward Pines at the toy store. Blocking the surveillance microphones with a music box, Kate tells Theresa that a lot has changed since she had an affair with Ethan. "Maybe for you," responds Theresa, who is clearly still upset. "For you, too," Kate says. "You just don't know it yet."
- Quote of the Night: "I just love it here. I think it's great. The mountains, the pine trees... the look of fear in everyone's eyes." - Ethan to Mayor Fisher
- Dr. Jenkins made a brief appearance tonight, examining the process of a cross-breed of two different pines. "She's thriving, but I worry." This felt an awful lot like a comparison to Wayward Pines, itself. Supposedly thriving, but in danger of a troublesome revolution.
- After Jenkins' brief chat with the Burkes, he gets distracted by music playing from speakers high up in the trees. Amy and Ben also hear this music. Apparently it's a local pianist named Hector Gaylor. The radio, Amy says, always broadcasts static, except for Hector's piano music.
- Theresa is given a new responsibility, presumably to take over for Peter McCall, who had "chosen to retire," according to a note left in the Burkes' mailbox. She'll start a new job as a realtor tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.

The Rules:
- Ethan obediently answers the phone in this episode. He was rather adamant about not answering it last week.
- Mrs. Fisher tells Ethan and Theresa that they don't make the laws, they just follow them.

Timeline:
- After seeing a picture of his family, an emotional Peter says he stopped thinking about his family four or five winters back, but he can't remember how long it has been since he saw them because there are no calendars in Wayward Pines.
- Peter apparently believes that he was brought to Wayward Pines in 2001. The year is currently 2014. He believes that he has been in the town for more than 5 years.
- It's hard to say whether "Denise" was actually a younger version of Nurse Pam or not. If it was, she experienced the same unnatural aging as Kate apparently did, as Ethan said his former partner looked visibly older than the last time he saw her.

Questions:
- While reviewing Peter McCall's file, Ethan discovers a sequence of four numbers, which Peter says he does not recognize. The numbers are: 1002 - 4001 and 8104 - 7110. What do these numbers mean?
- Who is Hector Gaylor? From what we know so far, he's "like 40" and is not a native of Wayward Pines. Why does his piano music play over the radios? It's got to be a signal or a distraction of some sort, but we're not sure what, exactly, at this point.
- What was with all the weird, distorted camera effects this week? Did anybody else notice that? Like we were watching the show through ripples in the water or something...
- What the heck is that creature in the woods?? I'm pretty sure it ain't a wolf.

There you have it: a bit of a longer recap this week, but there were some intriguing storylines brought to our attention in tonight's episode. I'm actually kind of ticked that there wasn't any ice cream, though. I miss the Ice Cream Man. (RIP Pope.) Anyhoo, if all the stuff I've read about "Wayward Pines" is true (and the preview for next week seems to be a testament to it), things are going to get CRAZY next week. The secret of Wayward Pines will finally be revealed! What is up with those freaky kids at Wayward Academy? What is in the woods? And what in the bloody heck is Wayward Pines?? Stay tuned for next week's game changer of an installment. Let me know what you think in the comments below. Oh, and....

RIP Peter McCall

Episode 4 - Episode 4

Until next week,

Work hard and be happy.