Wayward Points S02E03: Storytime with Pamela Pilcher

"Once upon a time, there was a town..."

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What we already know:

• Ben, Xander and Theo were all exiled from Wayward Pines, sent outside the Fence to fend for themselves. Theo was brought back into town to operate on Kerry, who got slashed by an Abbie, but Ben and Xander are presumed dead.
• Theresa is furious that Jason has broken the First Rule of the First Generation (that they can't harm one another) by leaving Ben outside the Fence.
• Pamela Pilcher is no longer working at the hospital. That's about all we know - she may or may not still be alive, but we are unaware of her current whereabouts.
• They've finally harvested food for the starving citizens.
• It appears that the Abbies are no longer concerned with Wayward Pines; Episode 2 ended with one of the monsters running away from the town.

Wayward Points:

• ONCE UPON A TIME IN WAYWARD PINES
• This episode revolved around a series of flashbacks that give us insight into the childhood of Jason Higgins. He was put into cryo-sleep as an infant and raised as the "son" of David and Pamela Pilcher. Jason was raised as "the firstborn son of Wayward Pines," being molded into the leader that he would one day become. Jason was raised to be different than the other children in the town, which ultimately caused him to withdraw himself from the others from a social standpoint.
• We later see a flashback of Jason returning to the Complex after his execution of the Bomb Squad in Season 1. He tells Pam how happy he is that he had cut down the rebellion, only to find out that Pam had been put in a situation that led to her shooting David to death. "There is no humanity in murder," Pam says. That little life lesson obviously didn't set in with young Mr. Higgins.
• MISCELLANEOUS

• Arlene is given the most hilarious dialogue in the entire show. She is so awkward and so hysterical.
• Well, my mom, who isn't really familiar with the series, other than my word of mouth, watched tonight's episode with me, two of my siblings and my brother-in-law. (YES, IT'S TRUE - I watched "Wayward Pines" with other people in the room! Miracles do happen, I'm telling you!) With that being said, that scene with Mrs. Fisher talking to the young girls about pregnancy were pretty freaking awkward. At one point, my mom asked, "What are you watching?!" *gulp*
• THE RETURN OF PAMELA PILCHER

• Back in the present day, Pam is back! She shows up in Jason's kitchen in the middle of the night, because, well, she's Pam and that's what she does. Previously, she had been kicked out of town for murdering David, but Jason allowed her to live in a creepy house on the outskirts of town, where he agreed not to go looking for her.
• Pam returns to work at the hospital, where she creepily interrogates Theo about his marital intimacy, because she's Pam and, well, that's what she does. Pam sneaks down into the Complex where the live Abbies are kept (we see several in containment, as mentioned last episode and as previously seen in Season 1) and steals a vial of some sort of medicine. She later injects herself with it at her creepy home.
• Mrs. Fisher confronts Pam at the Complex. Mrs. Fisher tells Pam that she has dedicated her time to researching weaknesses in the Abbies' genetics. Pam scoffs at the fact that a hypnotherapist has taken it upon herself to become an expert in biology, but sincerely apologizes for killing David, with whom Mrs. Fisher had a deep connection. However, Mrs. Fisher refuses to forgive Pam, saying she will not welcome her back like a hero.
• JASON DREAMS BIG

• The weird relationship between Jason and Pam was on full display in this episode. She's obviously not his real mother, but he doesn't understand that and never truly will. But when Pam returns to Wayward Pines, Jason immediately appoints her to be his assistant, which ticks Kerry right off. What is she? Chopped liver? (We certainly notice the frustration and tension between Jason and Kerry when Jason returns home at the end of the episode.)
• Jason reminds Pam that he has studied all of David Pilcher's books. He knew that David had plans to expand beyond the Fence, and that's precisely what he intends to do: gather crops, strengthen security and expand beyond the Fence when the city was strong enough.
• PAM PILCHER'S PLIGHT

• At one point in the episode, Pam returns to her run-down house on the outskirts of town. (I'd have flipped if they made her live in the house Bill Evans was killed in back in Season 1, but alas, it was a different place.) She prepares to inject herself with the liquid that she stole from the Complex, but is interrupted by Theo, who apparently walked all the way there. What is that stuff? Medicine? A vaccine? An antidote? We don't learn right away, but Theo eventually leaves and she shoots herself up.
• After injecting whatever it was, Pam heads back to the Complex, where she walks in on a meeting being held by the First Generation leadership. She waltzes on over and kisses Jason right on the lips... Oh gosh, she's transferred whatever she injected herself with to Jason! Is she going to kill everyone or something? One thing is certain - she's either just killed herself and Jason or the exact opposite - she's protecting herself and Jason and leaving everyone else to die.
• One of the Complex workers informs Mrs. Fisher that a vial has gone missing from the medical bay. The vial, we come to learn, is a smallpox virus... which means... Pam injected herself with smallpox?? And she transferred it to Jason?? Holy crap, Pam is trying to wipe out Wayward Pines! She is immediately quarantined, although Theo tells Jason that they caught it while the smallpox was still in its incubation phase. In theory, this means that the smallpox will not spread, but, uh, I wouldn't be too sure about that.
• While in a glass holding bay, Pam tells Jason that this is how the story of Wayward Pines is meant to end: the boy in the story finally realizes that his plan will fail and he decides to take the town to "a peaceful end," AKA it's time for Jason to wipe out humanity with smallpox. Either that, apparently, or kill Pam himself and keep on keeping on, as they say.
• Ultimately, Jason takes Pamela Pilcher out into the woods and chokes her to death. Her body is then burned by two men in gas masks. (Uh... bad idea? Guys??) CJ the harvester watches from the shadows. He's not wearing a mask.
• THE PAST IS FULL OF HOLES

• The reason for Theo's trip out to Pam's place was for him to discuss his concern about the selection process for citizenship in Wayward Pines. Theo asked Pam why, out of all the qualified doctors in Boston, Theo was chosen, along with his wife, an architect. Of course, Pam didn't answer any of those questions because... where's the fun in that, right?
• Pam tells Theo that the night when he was abducted in Hawaii "wasn't all about [him]." Not sure what that means quite yet.
• Ever the inquisitor, Theo returns home to voice his confusion to his wife, Rebecca, who, he points out, is not wearing her wedding ring anymore. She claims that she never got it back after arriving in town. It seems that she has pretty much bought into the "Work Hard, Be Happy" philosophy and doesn't seem worried about anything out of her control. She does admit, though, that her past is also "full of holes." Where's Shia LaBeouf when you need him, am I right??

Who we met:

• Nobody new this week.

What we learned:

• We learned that Jason was put into cryo-sleep when he was two months old and was raised as the heir to the city.
• We learned that there are live animals outside the Fence now, which means that the Abbies are nowhere to be found.
• We learned where Pam disappeared to.
• We learned what David Pilcher's plans for Wayward Pines were.
• Hawaii was not "all about" Theo.
• There are, indeed, multiple live Abbies at the Complex.
• It's true - lots of students at Wayward Academy are pregnant. Hashtag Teen Moms.
• The day that Pilcher let the Abbies into Wayward Pines (RIP Ethan) is referred to as "Invasion Day."
• Theo had daddy issues before his abduction, but he is still broken up about the fact that his parents would have had to deal with his disappearance.

Wayward Lines:

• Arlene: "Well, I mean, you have to have hope. Otherwise, people just lose their crap."
• Arlene to Theo: "Hey... How would you like to have a celebratory drink with me at the Biergarten? I'm clocking out in five..."
• Arlene: "What happens in Wayward Pines stays in Wayward Pines. I mean, it has to. There's no one left. Lit'rally."
• Rebecca and Theo: "Sometimes you just have to stop asking questions." "Yeah, I can't do that."
• Pam: "Hello, Jason."
• Theo, as the First Generation marches down Main Street: "Well, this is festive! Who are they executing today?"
• Mrs. Fisher: "Let's put the 'pro' back in 'procreation.'"
• Pam to Theo: "Everyone was chosen for a reason."
• Rebecca and Theo: "Are you ok?" "No."

The Rules:

• Kerry reminds Jason that if Ben Burke is dead, then he's killed a member of the First Generation.

Wayward Whines:

• Mrs. Fisher's scoffing reaction to Pam's introduction as "the Mother of Wayward Pines" was hilarious. Ugh. She sucks.

Wayward Signs:

• MURDERER

Easter Eggs:

• In a flashback, Pam shows Young Jason a picture of Howard Ballinger. She tells Jason that Harold was an accountant, but he will be given a toy shop in Wayward Pines, where he can "make his heart happy."
• The First Generation fist stomping is back! So creepy!
• Pam says, "Ay, ay, Captain!" to Theo, just like she did to Ethan in S01E01.
• In a flashback, Mrs. Fisher tells Jason that Sheriff Pope is bringing a new ice cream flavor into town. RIP Pope, my man. RIP.
• Pam visits the Complex office where she shot and killed her brother, David. His death is briefly showing in a flashback.
• Jason's execution of the Season 1 Bomb Squad is briefly shown in a flashback.
• Unseen, as always, radio personality Hector Gaither plays the piano as we watch Pam's body burned in the woods.

What we don't know:

• Did Pam actually have contagious smallpox?
• And if she did, that means Jason would have it, too, right?
• And if she did, burning her body probably wasn't a great idea... right?? Like, I'm no expert, but wouldn't that spread the disease through the air?
• And CJ wasn't wearing a gas mask... so... CJ??

Obituaries:

RIP Pamela Pilcher (for real this time)

Season 1 - Season 2: Episode 3

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Well, what did you think? Things are getting crazy in Wayward Pines! And did you see the preview for next week?? So many questions!! There are other people living outside of the Fence! Xander is alive! (Called it.) It looks like the Abbies were keeping him in a hole of some sort. And Theresa recognizes that homeless-looking dude. Could it be... Adam Hassler from the Seattle Secret Service office??

Until next week,

Work hard and be happy.