Alphas: Season Two (DVD TV series review).
The entire season 2 is devoted to the apparent government run Alphas team tracking down the extremely long-lived Stanton Parish (actor John Piper-Ferguson) and his Alphas network as they plan the genocide of the human race.
Of course, there is the little matter of Doctor Lee Rosen (actor David Strathairn) being locked up after his revelation on life television that super-powered Alphas exist to be overcome in the first place. Fortunately, they need him to run the team who need his leadership and he gets it on his own conditions. Neither side trust each other and that’s just the goodies.
Over the 13 episodes there are a lot of potential spoilers and development. There’s a new character in the shape of Kat (actress Erin Way) who becomes an expert on any subject she can watch in person or off video but has no memories beyond a month ago which, had ‘Alphas’ gone to a third season, should have been explored. What makes this great TV is that the enemy Alphas are as clever and dangerous so you never quite know which way it goes unless a mistake is made…and that applies to both sides.
Ryan Cartwright as autistic Gary Bell steals his scenes. This doesn’t berate the other actors but it’s an incredible performance. All of them get a chance to shine making this an ensemble performance.
The biggest shame is it being cancelled after this season. Sy-Fi Channel was notorious for doing this with not even a final episode to tidy things up. In some respects, the ending might just get away with this but you’d still like to know what happened next.
GF Willmetts
September 2018
(region 2 DVD: pub: Universal, 2005. 4 * DVDs 546 minutes. 13 * 41 minute episodes. Price: about £ 6.00 (UK). ASIN: 829 707 1)
cast: David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Warren Christie, Azita Ghanizada, Laura Mennell, Malik Yoba, Erin Way, Kathleen Munroe, Summer Glau and John Piper-Ferguson
check out website: www.universalpictures.co.uk/
