SO WEIRD-S1E2: WEB SIGHT

 

SO WEIRD s1 e2: WEB SIGHT

 

In what appears to be a simplistic episode we get all the characters once again interacting naturally and realistically. Jack presents a very odd natural reason for what Fi thinks is a message sent to her via the net and email that is a review of Molly’s appearance (where is this? A club? A very small club? The Paramount Club), and later, for a sound byte that is sent that is a future argument she has with a man who wrote the review ahead of time.

 

We do NOT, as in the X FILES, get hard and fast answers here. The man wrote the review and later Molly does tell him off with the same exact words Fi heard on the sound byte sent to her.

 

Fi later, at the man’s place of business, sees a video sent to the computer there (?) of their tour bus (and home for most of the series) heading straight into a stalled car after a rain storm. The writer, Ty Spencer, once wrote a review 12 years ago and it was the worst review for Molly and Rex. He worked for the Village Voice as music critic and got kicked off it (not sure why). He now works for the Dillon Dispatch. Molly needs new strings.

 

When Jack uses Ned to disprove Fi’s future message theory, he asks Ned where they are off to and if it will take them anywhere near Rockville which is where the crash will apparently take place (it almost does but Fi turns the wheel on Ned and stops the crash later on). Ned tells them their planned itinerary for the next couple of days: Deer Falls tonight, then off to Tennessee for two days. It does not take them near Rockville unless they are looking at the map upside down.

 

Irene asks, “Why am I always the sane one?” Ned answers, “Process of elimination.”

 

Fi’s not good at math (here it seems like Trig). Jack has an English lit paper that is overdue to Ned. Fi offers cake to her alien stuffed doll. Fi’s handle is Rockerbaby.

 

What is a little weird is she says, “From Jack’s weird friend” so what is that? It is also a message from Candy from an unknown email which Fi calls Nowhere land. It also says it is to Fi. And to Jack so wtf?

 

Molly uses the alien voice, “You have trained him well, Zorcon Six.”

 

Fi avoids the collision and it was the same reviewer  that wrote that review. He was trying to catch up with them to apologize, which was nice.

 

We don’t get any explanation for what happened or who sent it other than Fi’s wonderful idea that it was her deceased dad. Fi saved the man’s life. And maybe everyone on the bus too though that is not stressed. Jack doesn’t chime in with any explanation either.

 

Fi does ask Molly, “Does everything happen for a reason?” Molly’s brave answer is, “I don’t know.”  What a great show.

 

A minor sub plot is Clue making some kind of documentary with Molly in it and it’s rare that we see Clue get on Molly’s nerves. He does seem to believe the messages are from the future unlike Jack. He is sort of the in between Jack and Molly for most of the show.  

 

Clue’s mom, Molly’s manager, Irene is now played by an actress more suited to the role and blond, so as to distinguish her from Molly’s brunette. She makes a wide mark here that singles her out as a tough and good character to watch, more so than the actress who was miscast in the pilot. Irene massages her sleeping son, worries when Ned’s driving across debris from a storm, grounds Molly from being upset by the bad review, talks to Fi on the phone and in general relates well to everyone. She’s perfect in the part.

 

Irene also stops a boy in the music store banging on the drums, “Try the accordian!” and also, “Bagpipes.”

 

Molly sings IN THE DARKNESS again. And once again the cinematography is beautiful as we see cloudy skies, a setting sun and more. The 1990s and early 2000s though are still like another world with few if any cell phones, what feel like ancient computers and dial ups, roughed out web sites, primitive fan sites (for Molly), and dial up connections.

 

Not sure the inside of the bus is really the inside of a bus but it sure feels like it and the adventure of driving around the country or countries in a bus on a tour for a mom who sings songs and performs hits home well here.

 

All the characters are engaging though Molly, as Jack points out, “I mean what is she two?” acts a bit immature with her, “You big fat liar!” 

 

Yet the point drives home: you can change the future when whoever it is that contacts Fi in the last scene admits after she asked earlier is the future warning can be changed, “You can change anything.”  Fi smiles.

 

A beautiful episode and well worth watching.