Wayward Points - When the lights go down in the city

"One life to save Wayward Pines."

There's a ton to recap this week, so we'll burn this thing to the ground tonight and save any critical analysis for next week's season finale. Major spoilers to follow, of course, but... you probably already knew that. Let's take this baby from the start. Deep breaths, everyone.

***

Always answer the phone if it rings. Kate is dragged, amidst wild applause and at knife-point, to be reckoned by Sheriff Ethan Burke. Legit chills to open the episode. Hashtag Wayward Pines.

Oh gosh. Two minutes into the episode and the Abbies are INSIDE THE FENCE! ...But the first one in gets run over by the sheriff truck and Ethan blasts the freak with a shotgun. Oh baby. He takes out the dump truck tires as two more Abbies try to crawl underneath it, crushing one of the so-called aberrations in the process. Ethan Burke is a bad man.

This just in: The Bomb Squad prisoners do not like Ethan Burke. Three new dudes in trenchcoats - Class One of Wayward Academy - come storming into the sheriff's office, confronting the former lesbian receptionist Arlene and accusing Ethan of being too lax on the rules and of sheltering terrorists. They claim that the future of the town is in their hands. If Ethan doesn't reckon the traitors, they threaten to do it for him. Arlene makes a bold stand and convinces the Class One Trio to "skedaddle."

Ethan asserts that the dump truck incident happened because they didn't know what was out there - because Pilcher didn't tell them what was out there. Pilcher in return urges Ethan to reckon Kate, as doing so, he believes, would put an end to the rebellion. He rubs salt in the proverbial wound by reminding Ethan of his mistake with the Easter Bombings.

The next morning, Harold is dragged in for interrogation. Ethan shows Harold pictures of the Bomb Squad Dudes that got eaten at The Fence and demands names of the insurgents.

Back at the hospital, Nurse Pam looks longingly at a picture of herself and Pilcher as children. She checks in with Theresa to see how Ben's recovery is coming. In a hushed voice, Pam tells Theresa about the dump truck incident. Pam knows that Ethan told Theresa The Truth and she admits to Mrs. Burke that it is very good to question things. She then mentions that Main Street is not safe and encourages Theresa to take an alternate route home. "See what you find..." she says, and she slips Theresa some kind of ID card that says "restricted access" on it. What the Pam??

Harold gave Ethan 14 names, which Sheriff Burke takes to Pilcher at The Complex. Surveillance shows that all 14 insurgents have removed their tracking chips and stashed them in a cup at the beer garden.

There's something wrong at the hospital. Ben goes to investigate. Amy's in rough condition. Brain hemorrhage. Ben is sad. Stupid Mrs. Fisher shows up and immediately establishes physical contact with Ben. I've taken to thinking that physical contact is a kicker for her hypnotism. Ben hears something pounding outside the hospital window and approaches it to find the First Generation, in unison, playing Paper-Rock-Scissors as some sign of admiration for poor, suffering Amy. Mrs. Fisher urges Ben once again to be a hero and speak up against his father, but Ben seems reluctant.

The surveillance worker focuses in on the Paper-Rock-Scissors tournament outside the hospital as Ben Burke steps out to speak. Ben preaches to the First Generation about the importance of The Rules, informs them about the dump truck incident and outs his father for "[failing] this town." The leader of the Class One Trio demands a reckoning for the Bomb Squad, but Ben admits that his father isn't planning on killing anyone else in Wayward Pines.

Theresa heads to Plot 33 with Pam's access card and knocks out the surveillance camera. She enters the shack and finds something under the precariously loose floorboards. Like... that wasn't very securely hidden, people. It's a ladder and, like any concerned citizen, Theresa climbs down the hole like Alice into Wonderland. Looks like an underground bunker of some sort. She uses the access card to open a sealed door...

The Class One Trio busts into the sheriff's office as Arlene frantically tries to call for help. Arlene desperately glances at the security camera, but the leader insists that "they" won't help her. They're on his side, he says. They're just here to protect Wayward Pines. And, you know, it looks like he's not wrong. Pilcher and the surveillance worker are watching this all unfold without any visual cues of panic. The leader, Jason Higgins by name, demands the keys to the jail cell and Arlene spits in the guy's face. Jason handcuffs Arlene to a filing cabinet and begins to loot the sheriff's firearms. He's not scared. He knows Ethan won't reckon them. Kate recognizes Jason as "a good kid" that used to frequent the toy store. She talks some sense into two of the Trio, but Jason is crazed. "One crack in the ark and it all goes down." Jason believes it is his responsibility to take out the terrorists. He frees three members of the Bomb Squad, but forces them to their knees at gunpoint. He opens Kate and Harold's cell, too, smacking Kate in the face with the butt of his shotgun. He forces Harold to the ground and proceeds to scream The Rules, a la Sheriff Pope (RIP) at the reckoning of Beverly way back at the beginning of the series.

Work hard.
Be happy.
Enjoy your life in Wayward Pines.

And he blows Harold's head off. Kate, with blood splattered on her face, and Arlene, still handcuffed to the filing cabinet, let out tear-filled screams of agony as Jason executes the other incarcerated three members of the Bomb Squad. As he makes his way for Kate, pointing the smoking shotgun barrel right in her face, Ethan Burke arrives back at his office and shoots Jason in the back and orders the remaining members of the Class One Trio to their knees.

Kate is now in the holding cell. She still has blood on her face. You'd think she would have cleaned that off by now, but hey, she does answer the phone upside-down, so this chick obviously marches to the beat of her own drum, as they say. Ethan asks Kate to tell him where the 14 insurgents are hiding. Kate appears to still be processing what just happened at the jail cells. Following Harold's death, she doubts Ethan's ability to keep anyone safe, but says that if he truly wants to protect the citizens of Wayward Pines, he needs to stop protecting her. Oh good. Kate's a martyr now. Ethan says he can't oblige Kate's suggestion, but Kate says, "Someone's gonna kill me. I'd rather it be you."

Theresa shows up at the sheriff's office, spooking Arlene at the front desk in the process, and tells Ethan, "There's something I need to show you. I think Kate should see it, too." Oooooh, Plot 33!!

Deep inside the bunker at Plot 33 is a desk with a computer. Theresa boots it up and finds video footage of secret service agent Adam Hassler, that buffoon from Seattle who was apparently in cahoots with Pilcher from the very beginning. The video shows Hassler, panting for breath, on September 15, 4020. The Truth is legitimate. He pans the camera around to show the Golden Gate Bridge, run down and partly buried by the ocean. He has found no survivors. Only Abbies. Speaking of... RIP, Hassler. Theresa says Hassler was only one of hundreds who recorded video journals from across the country. There's nothing left out there. Ethan decides that they must tell all the citizens The Truth. Ethan tells Theresa to find a way to get as many citizens down to the bunker as possible before midnight. Because at midnight... there's going to be a reckoning.

Ethan requests a meeting with Pilcher at The Complex. He says he wants to reckon Kate, which, Pilcher adds, is the right decision. Ethan disagrees. It's not the right decision - it's the only decision. Kate was the leader; she brought this on herself. Ethan says he'll reckon Kate, but that's it. No more executions. But he wants everybody there. Pilcher hands him a phone. Oh gosh. We're back at the beginning of the episode.

Always answer the phone if it rings. Kate is dragged, amidst wild applause and at knife-point, to be reckoned by Sheriff Ethan Burke. But Ethan's not going to kill Kate. He's not there to kill anyone. He's there to tell them The Truth - because they're running out of time. He tells the crowd that they've been lied to. Pilcher, watching on TV from the comfort of his office at The Complex, can't believe his ears. Ethan outs Dr. Jenkins as David Pilcher, an evil, controlling villain. Ethan, Kate and Theresa divulge the sinister secret - Wayward Pines is the only thing that's left - and their testimonies are backed by those of the citizens who have been to Plot 33. One of the few dissenting voices is that of Mrs. Fisher, who cannot believe that Kate would desecrate the name of David Pilcher. (Mrs. Fisher, as you'll recall, has been in on it from the beginning, too.) Mrs. Fisher calls Pilcher "the savior of all mankind" and says that it is an honor to have been chosen to live in Wayward Pines. Mercifully interrupting Mrs. Fisher's rant, Theresa steps up and slaps her right across the face. Praise you, Theresa Burke.

Then the power goes out. Pardon my French, but PILCHER IS PISSED. There is no electricity in the entire city - including The Fence. Holy heck, David Pilcher is going to let the Abbies breach the perimeter.

Wayward Points:

• The Abbies can be killed. At least these ones died with full stomachs.
• Harold's last words to Kate were, "I love you." Tender!
• One would think that the power outage at the hospital would kill a patient in critical condition like Amy. Sadly, she looked just fine in the preview for next week's series finale. I'm sorry, but I just don't like that girl. She always looks like she's high. :-|
• This wouldn't be the first time the community was purged... but it would be the first time Pilcher did it intentionally...
• By the looks of it, next week's series finale is going to be off the chain!! And I never use that stupid phrase. Can't wait.

The Rules:
- Everybody answers their phone to start the episode.
- The bartender at the beer garden answers the phone.
- Ethan makes a phone call and everyone answers.

Questions:
- Whatever happened to Big Bill? That dude was a pervert.
- Did Ben finally get his cast off??
- What in the freak is Pilcher doing??

Answers:
- Plot 33 is a bunker containing The Truth. The whole Truth. And nothing but The Truth.
- Pilcher and Hassler did not time travel. They knew each other back in 2014 and both survived, cryogenically, until the year 4020.

Wayward Lines:
- Jason Higgins: "If you break the rules, you have to be reckoned. That's the sheriff's duty."
- Pilcher to Ethan: "One life to save Wayward Pines."
- Ethan to Harold: "What? Are you going to call your lawyer? Sit down."
- Class One Trio member to Arlene: "Skedaddle??"
- Kate: "There's more Jasons out there. They breed them in this town."

***

Who will live? Who will die? What will be the fate of our beloved Wayward Pines community?

ONE EPISODE LEFT.

RIP at least two Abbies

Episodes 8-9

RIP Harold Balinger and Bomb Squad members

Episodes 1-9

RIP Jason Higgins... allegedly

Episode 9

RIP Agent Adam Hassler... allegedly

19??-4020

RIP The Fence

2014?-4028

Until next week,

Work hard and be happy.

Wayward Points: Clear and severe

"Freedom or safety - not both."

Last week, Ben went boom. Spoiler. We picked up this week with Ethan carrying his lifeless boy through the hospital and screaming for help. Pops plops his kid down on a stretcher, Nurse Pam promises to protect Ben (as part of Wayward Pines' most precious resource) and we're already hitting the opening credits. Hashtag Wayward Pines.

***

Let's get the quick rundown and get to some juicy theories as to what's next for "Wayward Pines."

Pilcher tries to pass the truck bomb off as a "gas leak," but people aren't buying it. Rumors are running rampant and the residents of Wayward Pines are growing skeptical of their safety. What seemed like a good idea on paper got shot to crap when Pam's proposed "Fellowship Gathering" gets shut down by Sheriff Burke shuts the thing down after about two seconds. He wants that place on lockdown until the bomb investigation is over.

Meanwhile, in the hospital, Amy and Ben are recovering, and that's all well and good, but Mrs. Fisher, the resident hypnotherapist, visits young Master Burke and tries to talk him into turning on his father. Her main claim is that Ethan is too lenient on people, as was evidenced by his releasing Harold from custody last episode. Her "clear and severe" ideology does a number on Ben, who accuses his pops of allowing the terrorist act to transpire. If he would have kept Harold locked up, that bomb never would have gone off.

In a flashback, we learn that Ethan made a similar mistake back in his life as a member of an anti-terrorism task force. His squad had apprehended the mastermind behind two horrific, simultaneous bombings, but Ethan got a call from an agent he assumed was dirty, ordering the squad to release the villain. Ethan obeyed and set the guy free. Several weeks later, that same terrorist killed 620 people in another attack. In present-day Wayward Pines, the sheriff swears to his wife to never make that mistake again, and he takes off to track down Harold.

And he does, as Harold is on his way back into town after helping another member of the Bomb Squad steal a dump truck they intended to use to break through The Fence and bury a fellow conspirator who was injured last episode. Showing no mercy, Ethan chases Harold down and pistol whips him right in the face before handcuffing him to a tree. Ethan demands answers and Harold ultimately tells Mr. Burke that he's too late.

That's right. Ethan is too late. The rogue member of the Bomb Squad drives the 30-foot dump truck smack-dab through the middle of a gate in The Fence and, at long last, has accomplished his goal of being able to bury his friend on "free soil." His joy seems ominous and would shortly prove fruitless, as his brief celebration came to a quick and untimely end - three Abbies were there to greet him and welcome him and his deceased companion back to the "free" world with their carnivorous teeth.

The Abbies are coming.

***

Wayward Points:

• Did anyone else find the opening scene with Amy, still covered in blood from the bomb, stumbling like a zombie through the halls of the hospital a little funny? Maybe I'm just a terrible person, but I almost laughed when I first saw her walking around.
• Speaking of which, Amy sucks. She lays on and next to Ben while he's lying in his hospital bed, which I'm pretty sure would not be allowed in a real hospital.
• Theresa confronts Mrs. Fisher about her visit to Ben, reminding the hypnotherapist that Ben is the Burkes' son, not hers. She threatens Fisher, telling her to stay very far away from the Burkes if she knows what's best for her.
• Kate has several flashbacks in the episode, the first of which shows her in a straight-jacket in a
  padded cell. She is straight-up mental, demanding to be set free from her captivity. Pilcher
  takes a few notes to track her "progress" and Pam injects her in the neck with some sort of medicine. Later, in another flashback, Kate has embraced her well-known weirdo persona.
  Chalk it up to "acceptance" of her circumstances. She asks Pilcher for a refill prescription for
  her medication, which she immediately crumples upon leaving his office. In the present day,
  Pilcher visits Kate in jail, having come to the realization that his "model citizen" was never truly reformed like he thought she was.
• We learned this episode that the Bomb Squad has at least a dozen members or so - one of which is Ruby, who works at the diner. Dr. Pilcher notices that she arrived late to work and had pine needles in her hair. Further investigation proves that Ruby has removed her tracking chip.
• Ted, the delivery guy, is dead. Over 90 percent of his body was burned by the truck bomb.
• Television screens at The Complex monitor all surveillance in Wayward Pines. Twenty-four people man the surveillance systems around the clock. Pilcher and Pam held interviews with members of the surveillance team to see if anyone had been aiding the insurgents. One of these Complex workers is a nervous guy named Reggie Hudson. Reggie admits to occasionally
  blurring footage or wiping tape if he felt uncomfortable by anything he saw or heard. "It's human nature to ask questions," Reggie tells Pam. When Pilcher learns of Reggie's dishonesty, he sticks him in a tube and has him killed in front of his co-workers.
• Surprisingly, Pam tries to cover for Reggie. We later learn that Pam believes that if
  Pilcher starts executing his own volunteers at The Complex, he'll lose control of the Wayward Pines experiment altogether. Pam, at one point, even offers her own life on Reggie's behalf, almost begging Pilcher to punish her instead, which was a little surprising.
  
• This place is corrupt, from top to bottom. The surveillance team had a crack, Pam lied to Pilcher and the sheriff is done taking orders. Chaos is coming to Wayward Pines.
• "Stay alert. Stay vigilant. Report anything suspicious." Wayward Pines security is going to get beefed up and it sounds like Pilcher is through messing around.
• The Abbies are real. They've got to be. And now there's a dang hole right in the middle of The Fence.

The Rules:

- A phone rings in the diner as residents gossip about what really caused the explosion. Everyone in the diner turns their attention to it.

- Reggie admittedly has broken surveillance rules and protocol.

- Pilcher says Wayward Pines is entering a time of war, where new Rules must be applied, security must be tightened and protocols must be reinforced.

Answers:

- So... Kate was never actually a weirdo, apparently... But she still answered the phone upside-down that one time, which was one of the strangest things I've ever seen.

- Ethan cheated on Theresa because he felt like he could not confide in her his secret that he let the Easter Bombings terrorist free. Full of guilt and remorse, he turned to Kate because they were partners and he felt like he could trust her.

Wayward Lines:

- Amy: "I can hear your heart."

  Ben: "I would hope so."

***

Two episodes left.

RIP Ted Laufer

Episodes 6-7

RIP Reggie Hudson

Episode 8

RIP Bomb Squad dudes

Episodes 7-8

Until next week,

Work hard and be happy.

Wayward Points: The Bomb Squad

"We're not going to get a second chance. ... We execute tonight."

Last time we checked in to Wayward Pines, we learned much of the history of TV's strangest city and got a glimpse of a covert plan to blow up The Fence. That's right - Kate, Harold and Ted are leading a revolutionary faction that has a bomb and a plan to get the heck out of town... But if Ethan is forced to pick sides, will he side with the rebels, with the iron-fisted rule of Dr. Pilcher or will he choose to take the law into his own hands? Time will tell...

***

First of all, I love that the show opens with Pilcher telling Ethan not to divulge the truth of what he learned in the previous episode to anyone and then, right off the bat, he tells Theresa everything. So now Theresa basically thinks Ethan is crazy. Good times at the Burke household. That's about how this entire episode would end up going. Lots of people ratting other people out and talking about stuff they aren't supposed to be talking about. Anyhoo, Ethan is paranoid about the lingering bomb threat that we ended last episode with - and you know what? With good reason! Because it looks like somebody planted an explosive under the hood of the dear sheriff's truck. Luckily, Ethan is a sharp dude and he figures it out before he blows himself to kingdom come. Hashtag Wayward Pines.

Much of this episode revolves around a new character named Franklin Dobbs, who The Files tell us was an explosives engineer in his previous life. Ethan immediately takes an interest in our new pal, Franklin, supposing him to be a lead suspect in the botched truck bomb incident. Ethan meets with Franklin to ask about help with some imaginary gophers, you know, since Franklin is good with explosives, and all... but Franklin nervously ends the conversation and high-tails it outta there. Ethan follows him and finds that he is meeting with Harold from the toy store. Yes, that Harold. The one who put together a bomb last episode with hopes of blowing a hole in The Fence. Suspicion increases and Ethan plans to take Harold into custody to ask him a few questions about the truck bomb, but Harold, too, makes a break for it, earning himself a nice face full of asphalt.

While in custody, Ethan accuses Harold of planting the truck bomb, which he denies any knowledge of, but he does somewhat admit to planning the revolution. He covers for Ted and Kate, claiming that he was acting alone. Ethan passes him a note, requesting that Harold's "wife," Kate, meet with the sheriff ASAP, which she graciously does, meeting at the Burkes' newly-de-surveillanced home. (That's not a word. I made it up.) Ethan again splurges and tells The Truth to Kate, who apparently had no idea what year it truly was. SURPRISE!! Kate goes on to tell Ethan about how the Bomb Squad was formed - and we see, in flashback, Kate, Harold, Ted and Franklin meeting in secret with an additional member that we don't yet know from the seven episodes we've seen on TV. (She may not actually be important. It was an African-American woman, for the record.) This revolution has been in the works for 12 years, by the sounds of it. Ethan asks Kate to anonymously hand over the Fence bomb and all of her supplies and end the rebellion, but, on the other hand, we see Kate hurrying back to the toy store and urging Harold to speed up the time table and to enact their back-up plan, as well. Kate wants this thing to happen - tonight!

Later that evening, Ethan tracks the Bomb Squad to The Fence and busts their big plan. After Ethan holds Kate at gunpoint, Franklin diffuses the explosive and four people, including Franklin and Kate, were thrown in the slammer. Ethan interrogates Kate in a separate cell and realizes that Harold was not with them at The Fence. With the help of Nurse Pam, he uses surveillance video to see Harold's last-known whereabouts - at a bar, meeting with Ted, who we discover was the jerk who planted the truck bomb. The surveillance also shows Ethan and Pam something that we already knew - that Harold handed Ted the bag with the bomb for the Fence. That's a bit of an issue, because Ted is currently running his furniture delivery route and headed to The Fence, as per usual.

Sheriff Burke springs into action and goes on the hunt for the Fence bomb, which is nestled safely in the back of Ted's delivery truck. But it just so happens that Ethan's son, Ben, and his Wayward Academy crush, Amy, are simultaneously using the back of that truck as a convenient place to, um, hook up. (To her own admission, Amy has done it a bunch of times before. Hmm.) Amy finds the bag with the bomb - disguised as a music box from the toy store - and unknowingly activates the bomb by leaving the music box open as she uncomfortably kisses Ben. Ethan is in hot pursuit as the truck slows to a stop for a pedestrian, then, just as Ethan is about to reach the vehicle, KABOOM!!!

The bomb explodes in the back of the truck. Ethan goes flying to the pavement. He gets up and finds Amy, bleeding profusely from the head and leg, then he sees, to his shock and dismay, his son, Ben, lying lifeless on the ground.

Whoa.

***

So that was crazy. Let's touch on a couple other things that happened this episode:

Wayward Points:

• Mrs. Fisher is on a sex-ed kick at Wayward Academy. No wonder they don't want the parents to know what their kids are learning at that infernal institution. She awkwardly and openly talks to the kids about procreation, encouraging them to start taking the baby-making business seriously. It is, after all, their first and primary job as the youth of Wayward Pines. They want the next generation of children to be "100 percent originals." So creepy. She singles out Ben and Amy, which is, ultimately, what let them to their ill-fated rendezvous in the delivery truck, so that was... unfortunate... but hey, on the bright side, the resident hypnotherapist did have a couple of classic "Wayward Pines" quotes that I'll share with you now.
• "School is for children, Theresa, not their parents."
• "Open your books to page 17. Go ahead and... look at all the pictures... Giggle, if you want."
• On finding a mating partner in Wayward Pines: "Take a look around the room. This is a small town!"
• Also of note was Ben's best line of the night, which he uttered after being used as an example in class: "That was weird."
• There are two new pregnancies in town. Nurse Pam is pleased. But she is not quite as happy with Harold and Kate, the perfect Wayward Pines couple, who, despite optimal circumstances for pregnancy, have yet to conceive a child.
• Dr. Pilcher, under his alias, "Dr. Jenkins," made a brief appearance in this episode, expressing to his sister, Nurse Pam, his concern that another revolution is taking place. He wonders why it is happening all over again.
• Theresa wandered on over to Plot 33 again, this time breezing right on past the gated fence and snooping around in the shack. As she walked across the dead grass, the ground was visibly loose, which prompted her to investigate a little further. Using a piece of rebar, she prodded into the ground and discovered something that sounded metallic, like a large container. She asked Big Bill about it and, conscious of his office's surveillance, he was, as always, very reluctant to offer any details. Basically, like usual, he told her to stop thinking about it and mind her own business.
  
• Finally, Theresa approached Kate with her concerns about Ethan's mental stability. Both women fear that Sheriff Burke has been brainwashed by the head honchos and are worried about what to do with him. Theresa tells Kate that, upon first arriving in Wayward Pines, she made an outbound phone call on a secure line and got in touch with that Seattle secret service agent that we haven't seen much since the beginning of the series. He told Kate, allegedly, that she was entering into a government experiment and that the best thing to do would be to lay low, fit in and be careful because she would be severely tested - possibly by another agent. Kate is unsure whether he was referring to Ethan Burke, but she remains wary to this day.

***

The Rules:
- Theresa small-talks Ben on the way to school, asking if he misses things like camping and his old friends. Ben tells her, "We're not supposed to think about the past."
- When Franklin Dobbs brings up Sheriff Pope, Ethan says, "Franklin, we don't talk about the past here. You know that." He then mentions that he was joking about enforcement of The Rules.
- Ethan disables all the surveillance in his house.
- In the flashback, the Bomb Squad discusses their past lives.
- Kate answers a ringing phone. Disappointingly, she picks it up like a normal person, not like a Wayward weirdo.
- Ben is hesitant to go out in the woods with Amy because he feels like it's against the rules. Amy says there are "rules" and then there are Rules.

Questions:
- Is Ben really dead? Highly unlikely, in my opinion, since the preview for Episode 8 shows Ethan rushing him to the hospital. If he were really dead, we would have known it by now.
- Did that phone call between Kate and the Seattle agent really happen? If so, is Ethan the double-agent, or is it somebody else?
- I've mentioned this before, but is Ethan actually crazy? Or is what we're seeing, from Ethan's perspective, actually happening?
- What's under Plot 33? My immediate thought: "Holy crap, it's the mass grave of Group A." But who knows?

Answers:
- Kate really has been stuck in Wayward Pines for 12 years. Now that we know The Truth, that makes sense. But since she's an adult, not a child, apparently they didn't feel the need to let her in on the little secret that, uh, 2,000 years had passed.

***

Three episodes left.

RIP Ben Burke?

(Probably not.)

Until next week,

Work hard and be happy.

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.

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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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Looking to find "McFarland, USA" on DVD or Blu-ray in the Salt Lake area? Check out these suggested links:
Best Buy store locator
Wal-Mart store locator
Find a Redbox near you!
Or get the digital download from Amazon.com!