When last we left Wayward Pines... Actually, you know what? That's not a good phrase to use because, as we all know, nobody leaves Wayward Pines. Anyway, in the Season 2 premiere, we discovered that our beloved little community isn't quite what we imagined it would be upon our return. If Season 1 was a "utopia," Season 2 is definitely a "dystopia," because a lot of stuff just ain't right. Let's see what Episode.
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What we already know:
- It's the year 4032. Wayward Pines has been overrun by the First Generation, led by Jason Higgins. They've instituted a curfew, ration the food and rule the town with an Iron Fist.
- Dr. Theo Yedlin and his wife Rebecca are two of the town's newest residents. Theo was brought in to operate on Kate Hewson, who recently took a bullet. However, Kate kills herself as a symbol of rebellion.
- An organized revolution led by Ben Burke and a "double-agent" named Xander has been quelled by the First Generation. As punishment, Ben, Xander and Theo were locked in a truck and sent hurtling beyond the Fence, left at the mercy of the Abbies.
- The Abbies are smarter now, and they've apparently got a plan to hop the Fence...
Wayward Points:
- Any rule-breaking is now handled in, as far as we can tell, one of two ways: public Reckoning or televised punishment. The latter is the case in regards to Ben, Xander and Theo, whose little excursion beyond the Fence is streamed on television for the entire town to witness. Things get a little out of hand, though, when the Abbies begin piling themselves up. Jason notices that they are getting dangerously close to the top of the Fence and orders that the broadcast be stopped. He doesn't want anyone to panic - which is exactly what happens when the First Generation officers turn of the TVs.
- With the Abbies preoccupied with the Fence, Theo, Ben and Xander book it to the woods. Xander gets attacked by an Abbie, presumably killing him (but, as Mrs. Fisher can testify, that doesn't necessarily mean he's dead). Meanwhile, the First Generation response units start gunning down the Abbies. Several Abbies hop the Fence. One of them slashes Jason's partner, Kerry, leaving her bleeding to death. Jason grabs her and rushes her to the hospital, only to realize that their new surgeon just got exiled. Whoops. He sends troops out to bring Theo back to town, leaving Ben to fend for himself in the wilderness.
- Before helping Jason with Kerry's surgery, Theo elevates his baller status by demanding answers to his questions. Jason explains that Theo was kidnapped in Hawaii and placed in cryogenic suspension to avoid the destruction of the human population. He tells Theo that the citizens of Wayward Pines are the last of mankind. Rebecca, who already knows the Truth, calms her husband down and urges him to help save Kerry.
- Arlene has apparently recovered from whatever was ailing her in Episode 1 (remember - she was getting some sort of shock therapy in the hospital - a "tune-up," she calls it). She is now the hospital receptionist.
- The First Generation is in possession of five Abbie corpses, which they are studying at their new research center. One of those bodies is presented to a class at Wayward Academy by Mrs. Fisher. They also have three live Abbies in "custody," I guess we'll call it. The students are concerned that the Abbies are going to try to hop the Fence again, but Mrs. Fisher assures them that they are perfectly safe.
- At least one of the students in Mrs. Fisher's class was pregnant.
- Theo and Jason continue to butt heads over Theo's responsibility in the town. Jason expresses his frustration to Kerry. They both agree that Theo is a threat, but Kerry says that fighting him would be a waste of Jason's time. Theo saved Kerry's life; she says, "Our lives are worth his arrogance. I'm still here today. ... He's difficult, but ... he's necessary to the survival of this town."
- The latest harvest of crops is long overdue. A heavily defended group of harvesters sets out beyond the Fence to gather food. The attack the Abbies with flamethrowers. Ben Burke has been hiding in the corn field. He approaches a harvester and demands to be rescued, but is ultimately left behind by the convoy.
- Ben returns to the Fence and speaks directly into the security camera with what could be his last message to Wayward Pines. He addresses his mother, Theresa, and Jason, specifically. He apologizes to his mother for taking things as far as he did, sometimes without her approval. He accuses Jason of giving him a "death sentence" by sending him outside the city limits. He reminds Jason that Pilcher forbade members of the First Generation harming one another, but says that if any good comes of his peril, maybe people will see Jason for the kind of leader that he truly is.
- Theresa Burke is furious that her son has been left outside the Fence. She demands to know where he is. Elsewhere, Ben is shown wandering through the corn fields. In a disjointed series of shots, we are shown the following images: Ben in a corn field, some Abbies in a corn field, Ben apologizing aloud to his martyred father, and some Abbies pouncing on someone or something in a corn field. This is intended to make it look like Ben was killed, but... was he?
- Back at the Complex, Jason and Kerry are shocked to notice that there are no Abbies on any of the security cameras. "They're gone!" Jason proclaims. The camera cuts to a lone Abbie, glaring at the Fence and running in the opposite direction.
Who we met:
- CJ Mitchum: One of Pilcher's protégés. A farmer. Jason wants him to harvest his crops, but CJ is concerned about the safety of the harvesters.
- Lucy Armstrong: A young girl. She works for Rebecca at the beauty salon.
What we learned:
- "Group C" is aware that they are living in the future.
- Food rationing was a large part of the reason for Ben's rebellion. Children in Wayward Pines are suffering from malnutrition due to the food rationing. Only some citizens qualify to receive vitamins.
- Chemical levels in the soil have changed. Not really sure what that means, but maybe it's important.
- Rebecca has been in Wayward Pines for three years. She has officially bought into the "work hard, be happy" mindset. She used to be an architect, but was assigned to be a beautician when she was woken up. She still does some work with architecture on the side, however. We learn that the ice cream parlor burned down several years ago and Rebecca was asked to help rebuild it. She named it after her favorite professor at Harvard.
- Speaking of colleges, Theo graduated from Princeton and Harvard. Ooh. So impressive.
- Mrs. Fisher has been promoted to Director of Scientific Research and is no longer teaching full-time at the Academy.
Wayward Lines:
- Theo to Jason: "ANSWER MY QUESTIONS!"
- Theo to Jason: "Who's gonna operate, huh? You? Or maybe one of your pregnant 12-year-olds?"
- Rebecca to Theo: "You don't feel pain in a hallucination, Theo."
- Arlene to Theo: "I'm not really a medical professional or anything..."
- Mrs. Fisher to class: "Remember, kids - Wayward Pines works when we work together."
- Theo to Jason: "What I won't accept is that I wake up in a dictatorship."
- Jason to Kerry: "Wayward Pines has been here before. There can't be factions or dissenting voices. There can only be one person in charge, otherwise it all falls apart."
- Rebecca to Theo: "Sometimes to survive, you have to do what they tell you to do."
- Ben: "I'm First Generation - you can't just leave me here to die!"
- Ben: "I'm sorry, Dad."
The Rules:
- "For those who break the rules, there can be no compromise. They must face the consequences of their actions... in public."
- Ben demands to be rescued, citing that he is part of the First Generation. Last week, we learned that the First Generation cannot harm one another. He later specifically points this Rule out to Jason while addressing him through the security camera.
- Theresa confronts members of the First Generation, reminding them that not harming each other is "the First Rule."
- Kerry reminds Jason that they were taught not to harm another member of the First Generation. "I didn't harm him," Jason says. "I exiled him. The Abbies did the harm. ... He wasn't really First-Gen, anyway." Kerry clarifies that she wasn't, either. Jason back-tracks and says that she's different. "You're loyal. You're mine." They kiss. Disgusting.
Wayward Whines:
- Jason sucks and so does his hair.
Wayward Signs:
- "Dr. Theodore Yedlin, M.D. Doctor of Medicine & Surgery"
- "McConigles Ice Cream & Fudge Emporium"
- "Wayward Beauty"
Easter Eggs:
- Pilcher! David Pilcher! The episode kicked off with residents of Wayward Pines watching a video recording of our dearly deceased, diminutive leader explaining that the Rules have consequences. Later in the episode, a painting of Pilcher is hanging on the wall in Theo's office. (Theo takes it down.)
- The Yedlins live on the same street as the Burkes.
- An ice cream truck! And an ice cream and fudge emporium! Sheriff Pope would be proud. RIP, man. RIP.
What we don't know:
- Are Xander and Ben actually dead? Their deaths at the mutated hands of the Abbies were implied, but we didn't see either of their dead bodies.
Obituaries:
RIP Xander (allegedly)
Season 2: Episodes 1-2
RIP Ben Burke (allegedly)
Season 1 - Season 2: Episode 2
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Well, what do you think? A couple things come to mind immediately - I'm pretty sure both of those deaths were fake-outs. I'm less confident about Xander because, so far, he seems much more expendable than Ben, but there is no way that Ben is dead. Not a chance. Also, Theo is a boss. I like the dude. He's got big shoes to fill because Ethan Burke is a legend, but Theo is doing all right so far! What did you like about Episode 2? Do you have any questions or commentary that I didn't touch on? Let me know in the comments section below.
Until next week,
Work hard and be happy.
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