Neighbors of murderers and other violent felons always talk about what a quiet, unassuming man the criminal was, or how he always "kept to himself" and seemed like a nice person. In this case of Hal Mason, nobody has that excuse. Especially Maggie, who's been watching the guy go bye-bye for weeks.
Maybe it's just me, but is it unreasonable to ask that a series about human resistance against an extraterrestrial occupation of Earth -- especially one that runs a lean 10 episodes per season -- ease up on the soap opera bullshit?
Neither Marina (Gloria Reuben) nor Pope (Colin Cunningham) are pleased to learn Maggie's been withholding Hal's mental instability (Marina even less so, considering Hal body slammed her in order to take Tom hostage). Ben (Connor Jessup) takes umbrage at Pope's assertions, making him the second Mason in as many weeks to clock the ex-criminal. Maybe next week Matt will kick him in the nuts.
Hal's (Drew Roy) plans to deliver Tom (Noah Wyle) to Karen never quite materialize, as Maggie (Sarah Carter) is conveniently nearby and takes out his vehicle with one shot. How convenient. Hal's demands of his dad are pretty simple: give up info about the Vohm superweapon, or get a paddling. Or the Espheni equivalent thereof.
He also wants a 6000 SUX, er, a Humvee to make a hasty retreat. Weaver (Will Patton) gets to work on it, while Marina makes contingency plans to have Tector (Ryan Robbins) take Hal out if things go sideways. I actually forgot Tector was still alive. Good for him. And mole or not, Marina is one of the only people making sense anymore.
A separate squad consisting of AfroMatt (Maxim Knight), Ben, and Maggie work their plan to infiltrate the building. Meanwhile Tom plays his own mind game, talking about Hal's mom to get him to question his alien motivations. Things come to a head as Team Discovery Channel bursts in. Hal puts a gun to his head and for a brief moment we think we might finally be rid of him, but a struggle ensues, Hal shoots, but suffers a superficial wound. Aw man.
Of more interesting note is Pope's tasteless/hilarious creation of a betting pool on the outcome of the standoff (Both Masons survive, both die, etc). Weaver's arrival puts a bit of a kibosh on the festivities. He makes it clear if anyone tries to "affect the outcome," he will decorate the place with Pope's skull. Pope, wishing to avoid the Ned Stark treatment, dispatches Lyle (Brad Kelly) to make sure nothing happens to Hal.
The rebel Skitters have a solution for Ben's bug problem. Maybe. Hal -- for whatever reason -- doesn't want to wait, and tries to get Maggie and Tom to believe him, sounding increasingly like a junkie as he does so. The Vohm's nanobyte "cure" is administered and does its molecular scrubbing bubble business. After a false cardiac arrest alarm, he seems okay. Once again, this show has yet to kill anyone of significance.
Tom submits his resignation to Marlena before heading off with the boys to find Anne and Alexis. He also gives over the entirety of the Vohm plans. Interesting strategy, handing over the reins to the person who admitted going through your files to get the superweapon photos in the first place.
With four episodes left, it's be nice if the writers started reeling in some of these plot lines (are Hathaway and Cochise still alive? Are they just going to let the question of whether Hal killed Arthur Manchester drop? Is Lourdes really in charge of the hospital now?). As in season one, personal drama is overshadowing what should be the show's main focus, leading to what I'm afraid is going to be another unsatisfying season finale.
Next week: More on-the-road hijinx with the Mason clan.