Have you survived the world mandated by your employer that may conflict with objectives in your private life at home? Do you “sever” the reality between those two parts of your life on a regular basis? So do many people to keep the chaos at a minimum level between private and work life? In this series viewers explore the enigma that everyone faces in their lives in the real world but with fascinating details accentuated only a superb science fiction series as created by Dan Erickson, and executive produced by Ben Stiller can do!
Viewers will recall that in season one we began with Mark being promoted at a fictional corporation named Lumon Industries. In a separate sequence we meet Helly who is on a boardroom style table after she was sent as a replacement for the work group now led by Mark who interviews Helly.
The first season ended in an episode aptly named “The We We Are” that sets up the second season when viewers learn about the consequences of the main characters actions including details about their family relationships and their jobs as “Macrodata Refinement” specialists.
Image courtesy Apple TV
Over the course of the first season we learned that our heroes are Lumon employees who voluntarily have undergone a “Severance” procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. This is accomplished using a computer chip implanted in their brains.
This technology is not dissimilar to technology being developed and utilized in contemporary times to help handicapped individuals. However, in “Severance” the extent of the control of their memories goes far beyond what science is capable of today.
Image courtesy EOline
As delightfully described by the series creator and executive producers that include Dan Erickson, Ben Stiller, Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette, Severance is a “daring experiment in “work-life balance” is called into question as Mark finds himself at the center of an unraveling mystery that will force him to confront the true nature of his work … and of himself. In season two, Mark and his friends learn the dire consequences of trifling with the severance barrier, leading them further down a path of woe.”
Image courtesy Apple TV
As season one winds down, Helly finds herself as the star of a high-profile Lumon corporation gala in the season finale “The We We Are”. It is here that viewers learn that Helly’s character is revealed to actually be Helena Eagan, daughter of Lumon’s Chief Executive Officer the Eagan dynasty. Season two further explores the conundrum of why Helly elected to become severed.
We include a video recap of Severance season one below, and above the creative work of excellent VFX Supervisior Eric Leven at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) courtesy of Accolade Publicity and Consulting. Included below are several video clips from season two videos below courtesy of Apple TV for your enjoyment of our Severance series analysis.
In season two, as the villainous Lumon corporation seeks something known as control of “Cold Harbor”, a “Macrodata Refinement” goal that is delineated in the final episode of season two episode. The season also focuses on Mark’s efforts to rescue his wife Gemma from the clutches of Lumon corporation, revealing significant developments at their headquarters.
The second season shows enjoyable but sometimes crazy sequences including a room full of mountain goats, fruit trays, balloons with Mark’s face and extracurricular field trips to places that in effect are attempts to bribe our heroes. Viewers are stunned to find out that Mark’s wife Gemma no longer exists in the outside world but is being held captive inside the evil Lumon corporation in the “Cold Harbor” room!
The loss of Mark’s wife Gemma is what motivated him to seek “Severance” in the first place as a way to emotionally deal with the painful situation over the disappearance of his beloved Gemma. Along the way viewers learn significant additional details in episode nine “The We We Are” about why the main characters agreed to a computer chip implantation surgery procedure that segregates each employee’s brain into two entirely separate individuals.
The separate halves known as the “Innie” characters, people who spend their seemingly useless work days in the insane and overly controlling Lumon workplace with no memory of their own personal life. This is juxtaposed with each characters “Outie,” where the individuals experience no memory of the horrors the Innie characters. These characterizations are often analogs to what many people experience in real life with corporate and governmental secrets of their employment that cannot be revealed to anyone.
People in real life regularly execute such a mental division on a voluntary basis. This is quite is similar to what is portrayed in “Severance”. However in the streaming series, our Innie heroes Mark, Helly, Irving and Dylan decide during their “work day” to rebel because they suspect that the agreement they made with Lumon corporation is a poor decision. They work out a plan to uncover and reveal the truth about working at Lumon corporation which is run by openly sadistic supervisor’s led by Seth and Harmony that leads to a “Macrodata Uprising”.
Mark’s is in turmoil as he and his team determine they must lead to a “Macrodata Uprising” at Lumon corporation by activating a procedure known as the Overtime Contingency (OC) protocol. Dylan breaks into a Lumon security office depressing two levers simultaneously to activate the forbidden OC procedure. This allows Mark, Helly, and Irving’s to experience Innie consciousness in the outside world for the first time as Outies. Irving seeks out his love interest Burt in the Outie world.
Image courtesy Apple TV
As viewers know, Mark’s Outie agreed to the “Severance” procedure to compartmentalize his sorrow after years of all-consuming grief over the tragic loss of his wife, Gemma. Helly / Helena had voluntarily undergone severance to promote the Lumon technology but also rebelled when she learned that the technology was being used to manipulate the situation and the individuals involved who appear to have become victims of the circumstances.
During the exciting conclusion of season two Mark learns that “Cold Harbor” is a room where Innie Gemma is held captive. Designed to help her deal with trauma and sever from her pain, Mark seeks to free Gemma despite the efforts of Harmony referred to as Ms. Cobel in the show. Cobel Selvig is the former manager of the severed floor at Lumon and in an unexpected plot twist, viewers learn that she is likely Mark’s mother. How dystopian is that?
At the end of “Cold Harbor” we witness Mark’s Innie elect to stay with Helly at Lumon instead of leaving to be with his Outie’s wife Gemma. The adventures of our heroes are mixed with rewards provided by Lumon setting up the third season of this fabulous science fiction series. Severance creator Dan Erickson confirmed that it’s not Helena taking advantage of Mark, but rather Mark “claiming his own autonomy” with his decision to stay at Lumon corporation as an Innie.
We look forward to Severance season three in the future and hope that panels and Press Rooms will be featured at San Diego Comic-Con in July later this year. In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or your family!
We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit TeamWHR on X, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
Fellow Science Fiction Television Series Enthusiasts,
Images courtesy Netflix and Apple TV
Have you ever pondered the fate of science fiction TV shows on regular television networks? Streaming has now become the preferred mode of consumption. In the past, we enjoyed shows like Star Trek, the original Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Lost in Space, and Land of the Lost, all broadcast on network television. While it was delightful to tune in on a specific day of the week to catch our favorite science fiction stories, this is apparently nearly no more as TeamWHRreported recently.
Streaming giants like Apple TV+, Peacock, and Netflix are now leading the way in offering science fiction shows to fans. It is a fact that the number of science fiction shows pales in comparison to the abundance of cop, doctor, and reality shows that have long dominated streaming apps. These shows have always been the norm for network television, making it a tough environment for new scripted science fiction shows to break through. Even when we do get a new science fiction show, it often struggles to gain the same popularity as the more generic, cookie-cutter shows. In this article we will discuss our favorite streaming series with a fond look back at the good old days of science fiction on network television in the United States.
Image courtesy Warner Brothers Television
Shows like Fringe, Farscape, and Firefly were captivating science fiction series that garnered devoted followers but faced challenges due to their ratings. Despite their compelling storylines and high production values, these shows struggled to capture a broader audience. Audiences were primarily familiar with the iconic franchises of Star Trek on television and Star Wars in film. As a result, other science fiction shows found it challenging to resonate with viewers beyond the established realms of these two celebrated series.
Image courtesy SYFY
The rise of streaming services has brought about significant changes for science fiction scripted shows. Once exclusive to regular television networks, these shows now have a new home on popular streaming platforms like Netflix and Apple TV. This shift has led to increased budgets and more compelling story lines for us, that science fiction series enthusiasts enjoy. With tech giants entering the arena, the genre is experiencing a revival. Despite the occasional unsuccessful endeavor, the future of SciFi on streaming platforms looks promising, and we can look forward to more innovative and captivating shows in the years to come:
Netflix:
Image courtesy Netflix
This streaming service had been late to the game to produce original science fiction series. This was a result of focusing on movies and licensing content from other entertainment studios. Additionally, Netflix mistakes were often caused by poor choices in producing questionable political propaganda programs that turned off viewers.
Netflix wisely changed their offerings beginning in 2016 to produce Stranger Things that has particularly captivated audiences and is set to enter its fifth and final season in 2025.
Original high quality science fiction series have been rare, with many current shows adaptations of existing source material. A standout in the genre was Fringe, which brought a fresh and original concept to the screen. While it explored familiar science fiction themes, it added a darker twist and more profound meaning, setting it apart from its counterparts. Despite facing challenges in its final seasons, dedicated fans rallied to secure a short final season, highlighting the immense impact of fans on the success of the scripted science fiction series. This rarity of original content makes us appreciate the unique and innovative nature of science fiction television shows.
Image courtesy Amazon MGM Studios
Scripted science fiction series often face a challenge in presenting original story lines, making it a rare occurrence. While many fans gravitate towards common themes in these shows, deviating from the norm can lead to uncertainty among the general television audience. When a science fiction show gets canceled by a network, it usually spells the end of the series. However, the rise of streaming platforms and vocal fan bases has changed this narrative.
Shows like The Expanse have been able to find a new lease on life, with the opportunity to be revived and complete their final seasons. This was evident when The Expanse, initially canceled by the SYFY network, was later revived by Amazon MGM Studios on Prime Video highlighting the power of dedicated fans and streaming services. This empowerment of the audience is a significant shift in the fate of scripted science fiction shows.
The show will begin its fourth season soon, which is exciting news for existing fans and potential new ones. It is noteworthy that Snowpiercer is based on a movie from 2013 with the same name starring Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton and Ed Harris.
Produced by AMC TV Studios, this series is seen on AMC and AMC+ in the United States. Created by Anna Fishko with episodes directed by John Fawcett, Orphan Black Echoes is a spin off of the original Orphan Black (2013-2017) that Fawcett also directed. This superb new series featured on AMC, Orphan Black Echoes, follows a cloned woman and the women she encounters as they weave their way into each other’s lives and embark on a thrilling journey to determine the mystery of their identities. Starring Krysten Ritter, Keeley Hawes, Amanda Fix, Avan Jogia and featuring a stellar supporting cast, based in part on the hit series Orphan Black starring Tatiana Maslany who is featured in a photograph during the pilot episode of Orphan Black Echoes.
There is a beloved series that fans have been eagerly hoping to see revived – Stargate SG-1. With a massive fan base and a history of rumors about its return to television, the time seems ripe for Stargate’s comeback. With the proliferation of streaming platforms, there is a real opportunity for Stargate to make a triumphant return.
Given its well-established fan base spanning decades, there’s little doubt that Stargate would face challenges in its revival in 2018 with a streaming series named Stargate Origins. It seems like we are in a waiting game now, anticipating the moment when Stargate will finally make its comeback. This potential for revival with an announcement expected soon, hopefully at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 giving us hope for the future of science fiction shows on streaming service networks.
Xfinity (owned by NBC Comcast) has created an exciting new streaming bundle called “Xfinity Streamsaver” that includes entertainment content from Apple TV, Netflix, Peacock and hopefully other streamers such as Paramount Plus and AMC+.
This means that fans of each platform have a fantastic opportunity to explore various series across the streaming world if they have an Xfinity account.
The new streaming bundle allows viewer users to discover new shows they may not have encountered before or have not had the chance to watch.
Apple TV:
Image courtesy Apple TV
A noteworthy streaming service provider is Apple TV who has created several original scripted science fiction series. One such series is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, developed by Matt Fraction and Chris Black. The series features talented actors such as Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, Kurt Russell, and Wyatt Russell. Following the massive success of Godzilla Minus One, “Monarch is set after the battle between Godzilla and the Titans. It reveals that monsters are real and follows one family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets and a legacy linking them to Monarch.” The first season is worth watching, mainly if you are a Godzilla fan. The success of this series raises hope for the possibility of more Monsterverse original content.
A recent hit, Dark Matter, not to be confused with Dark Matter (2015-2017) on SYFY, has taken the science fiction world by storm. The captivating SciFi series Dark Matter can be found on Apple TV and was brought to life by creator Blake Crouch, adapted from his novel. The show stars an incredible cast, including Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, and Jimmi Simpson.
The story line follows a “physicist in Chicago who finds himself thrust into a parallel version of his own life. He faces the daunting task of fighting to regain his original life and prevent an alternate version of himself from taking over his family.” Since Dark Matter is a standalone story, Apple TV has not announced whether the series will continue. This may be an opportunity to explore the narrative further with an original concept.
Another hit streaming series on Apple TV is Silo created by Graham Yost. Silo is based on the novel “Wool” by Hugh Howey that is set in a bleak dystopian future where humanity clings to survival deep underground within the confines of a colossal silo.
Starring Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette Nichols, Common as Robert Sims, Tim Robbins as Bernard Holland and Harriet Walter as Martha Walker. In the story arc of season one viewers find Juliette, an engineer tasked with unraveling the mystery behind the death of a colleague uncovering startling secrets that threaten the very fabric of their enclosed world which if larger than it seems!
Regardless of what happens with any of the current scripted science fiction series we have discussed available on streaming services, there is no doubt that the science fiction genre will continue to thrive including on the streaming service Tubi venturing into original content with ads. Let us hope platforms like Tubi will be at the forefront of new and original content.
I hope that as streaming platforms bundle together, we will see an increase in original content. I am hopeful that the mega studios, with their combined power, will recognize the value of original content. As fans, we deserve it. While we enjoy spinoffs and video game adaptations, original content is always the best source of entertainment. I hope the studios allow proven writers to shine again with original stories.
Well, science fiction series fans keep watching those fantastic shows, and someday we will get the new Stargate series that everyone has been longing for!
Thanks to Kenn for video and image embedding for my Turner Classic Movies Film Festival feature article and many thanks to you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. I will be back in the near future with new analysis as Team WHR prepares for San Diego Comic-Con 2024!
Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit me on Twitter by clicking the links or images avatars in this news story.
On July 22, 2022 Team WHR was very excited as we prepared to visit the Paper Girls on Prime Video Press Room. Paper Girls is a science fiction series we have waited six years years to learn about after the Comic Book version received the Eisner Award for Best New Series in 2016! The comic book series began publication on October 7, 2015 and concluded on July 31, 2019 after thirty hit issues, shortly before the television series began production at Amazon and Legendary Studios.
Image by Kenn for WormholeRiders News Agency
Originally published by Image Comics, the Paper Girls has been brought to our screens on Prime Video by the comic book creators Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, the Eisner Award winning series is a fabulous science fiction time travel production starring Fina Strazza as KJ Brandman, Camryn Jones as Tiffany Quilkin, Sofia Rosinsky as McKenzie ‘Mac’ Coyle, and Riley Lai Nelet as Erin Tieng as the twelve year old Paper Girls who are catapulted in time from 1988 to 2019, back to 1999 and then 1974 to face extreme danger to their lives, and those that they encounter in time.
Image by Kenn for WormholeRiders News Agency
Our heroes find themselves caught in a temporal war between two factions that seek to control the fate of humankind throughout time.
A shadowy group known as the Old Watch, who controls the technology over all time periods, operates from apparent safety, controlling time from being changed in the past from a distant future. The Old Watch seeks to avoid any changes in the timelines of the past that could adversely impact their dominance over time.
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The Old Watch is hunting down a group that is seeking to overthrow their iron fist control over time against known as the Standard Time Fighters Underground or STF Underground who we meet via a humble and friendly, but seemingly less than formidable character named Larry Radakowski portrayed by veteran actor Nate Corddry.
The STF Underground as a rebel force is seeking to subvert the Old Watch paradigm consisting at first of Adina Porter who stars as the Prioress who we see in six of the eight episodes, and Jason Mantzoukas, known as Grandfather, a rather nasty character who appears in the last three episodes.
Image by Kenn for WormholeRiders News Agency
During our time in the Press Room, courtesy of Wolf-Kasteler Public Relations, we were delighted by the enthusiasm of the four young actors and the creators.
Each actor in the Paper Girls series is excellent in their roles. Each of these wonderful actors shared details about how they learned details about the 1980’s and the late 1990’s, how excited they were to share their adventures with viewers, how they were hired for their roles.
We note the similarities to the The End Of Eternity and fringe (discussed below), that the creators were familiar with, and how they all look forward to a potential second season of Paper Girls on Prime Video!
Image by Kenn for WormholeRiders News Agency
Unfortunately, after spending truly quality time with the cast and creators, we learned subsequent to our Press Room Paper Girls visit that our HD video camera’s high definition external microphone had failed causing the loss of all forty plus minutes of audio on the video. We were gutted to learn of this development.
We therefore include an outstanding interview segment with the cast from Screen Rant below for your enjoyment.
Back to The Future, The Time Machine, The End Of Eternity, Fringe and Paper Girls:
Image courtesy Amazon Prime Video
Unlike the Back to the Future movie series where meeting one’s self in an alternate timeline could destroy the fabric of the universe, our journey with the Paper Girls heroes goes across time from 1988 where we meet older versions of the Paper Girls. Fortunately, no such universe destruction occurs. Specifically, we meet Ali Wong who portrays the adult version of Erin, Sekai Abenì as the adult Tiffany, Delia Cunningham as the adult KJ, and Kellee Stewart as Dr. Carol Quilkin, who we learn is the inventor of time travel utilized by the Old Watch. We also meet various members of the Paper Girls families in the future timelines that affect the final outcome of events.
Purchase The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov at Amazon!
Readers and entertainment viewers have always enjoyed time travel adventures beginning with The Time Machine written by H.G. Wells in 1895 and popularized in the 1960 movie version directed by the legendary George Pal. In this classic, the protagonist escapes the past to save the future of humanity enslaved as breeding stock for the evil Morlock’s who eat them!
Paper Girls story arc is somewhat leveraged from the classic science fiction masterpiece novel The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov that was published in 1955. Although it was attempted to be brought to the movie screen several times, with protagonists similar to the STF, The End Of Eternity never was produced either a movie or television program.
Instead, a hit television series, Fringe (2008 to 2013) by Bad Robot Productions, produced at Warner Brothers, envisioned a future where a nefarious group known as The Observers made changes in the past to ensure their own survival in the future. This including bringing their own temporal agents and supplies from the future, traveling through time to enslave humankind in the present.
Click to learn about Fringe
The Paper Girls group Old Watch is somewhat similar to The Observers in Fringe and The Eternal’s in The End of Eternity that used Time Kettles to travel back to the past to make major to minor adjustments in the timeline to keep things the way that The Eternal’s wanted them to be. In fact, the final scenes of Paper Girls show what appear to be Time Kettles, or Time Ships that travel to the past and the future.
Years later, Isaac Asimov wove The End Of Eternity story arc into his broader Foundation Series by hinting in the Foundation’s series of books, set in a universe where Eternity had once existed, but was destroyed by one of The Eternals (Harlan from The End of Eternity). This led to an all human galaxy without time travel that ties out with the protagonist Harlan’s final actions in The End of Eternity. Fringe follows a similar good ending where evil members of The Observers are defeated.
Paper Girls Across Time:
Image courtesy Amazon Prime Video
In Paper Girls, the story arc generally follows the concepts from the terrific thirty episode comic book series, but with modifications that do a nice job of adapting the concept to the small screen. In season one, we find a similar conundrum where our heroes get caught up in the temporal war.
Near the end of the series they are taken aboard the Old Watch Time Ship controlled by Grandfather to have their memories erased, and to be subsequently reinserted into their past lives as if nothing had ever happened in the first place. However, our heroes memories are not erased and they end up in a time period before they were born!
Without revealing major spoilers since we believe this superb science fiction adventure series should be watched by the viewers themselves, we will not publish a blow by blow, scene by scene review of the Paper Girls, but we do include some favorite moments from the series that do not reveal the overall series story arc.
Instead, we will say that the eight episode series sets up the time travel adventure nicely in episodes one through four, explodes into action in episode five, returns to a slow boil in episodes six and seven and then blows the viewers mind in episode eight.
In the final superb sequences of episode eight, with the help of the Prioress, who has reconsidered her role in the Old Watch, helps Mac and KJ escape in a time ship to an unknown destination in time. All four were supposed to be aboard, but the Prioress is shot and Erin and Tiffany stay behind to help her.
Image courtesy Amazon Prime Video
Subsequently, after using future medical technology that begins to heal the Prioress after she was shot by one of Grandfather’s minions, Erin and Tiffany escape the Old Watch in another time ship as Grandfather rushes to stop them. Erin and Tiffany find themselves at a drive-in movie theater that appears to be showing the 1974 film The Longest Yard, some twelve years before they were born in an earlier time period!
Image courtesy Amazon Prime Video
The final scenes in the excellent eighth episode sets the foundation for a season two that is rumored to have begun production in late June of 2022 according to a source that we cannot confirm at this time.
Although a Paper Girls season two has not been officially announced as renewed by Amazon Studios, the final scenes set up a great cliffhanger opportunity for launching a second season which we hope will be announced in the near future! In the meantime, we include the Paper Girls panel from San Diego Comic-Con 2022 for your enjoyment courtesy of Magic In the Numbers!
We at Team WHR will be back in the near future with more of your favorite entertainment convention, television series and movie analysis. In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit Team WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
Image courtesy Salvage Marines. Click to learn more!
San Diego Comic-Con 2022 is currently behind us but certainly not forgotten! Team WHR had the great opportunity to interview three main cast members in the official Press Room and attend the panel which featured the latest trailer (included below) of the upcoming PopCornFlix streaming series Salvage Marines. Salvage Marines is based on the Necrospace book series by Sean-Michael Argo, who helped create the series along with Raphael Jordan and Jamie R. Thompson.
Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency
What better place to show and introduce a series like Salvage Marines than at San Diego Comic-Con? Where Starship Troopers had a panel 25 years ago (yes, it has been that long) and where science fiction adventure shows are the norm with shows like Fringe, Doctor Who and Firefly over the last decade, Salvage Marines was a delight to behold. It almost goes without saying that in particular, fans of this genre dress up like characters from Star Trek, Stargate, Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Galaxy Quest and we look forward to Salvage Marines Cosplay at future conventions!
Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency
One of the reasons I wanted this interview was Casper Van Dien. As a HUGE fan of Starship Troopers, I would be remiss not to get a chance to sit down and talk with Johnny Rico! Casper, Peter, and Jennifer were so much fun in the interview, and I could see their dynamic in person translate beautifully on the screen to the series.
Salvage Marines harkens back to the older science fiction days when the original Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Star Trek, and Doctor Who were seen on the airways. It gives you that sense of nostalgia while still maintaining the current political and social climates today. Corporate greed and life debt are the definite themes in this series, how once you accrue the debt in your life, you spend the rest of it trying to, albeit unsuccessfully, repay that debt. If that debt is not paid, it gets transferred to your children, and so on. Salvage Marines is the only way to repay it. However, the mortality rate is very high, so if you cannot make it, then your family will be the ones that have to be burdened with your debt.
Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency
The Salvage Marines panel featured the trailer (above) for the upcoming series, many other cast members, and the director of the whole series, Shaun-Paul Piccinino (Lady Driver), and co-creator Rafael Jordan (Ride the Lightning). Kevin Porter (Heroes with Issues), Shane Graham (The Son), and Linara Washington (Casting the Net) rounded out the cast at the panel for this beautiful series. Legendary actor Armand Assante (Mambo Kings) was missing from the panel, but his presence was still felt throughout, with the main actors praising him and his skill. Jennifer Wenger commented to me during the interview before the panel that she would go and watch him on set, even if she wasn’t needed that day, because he is such a legend, and you can learn so much from watching actors like him.
Image courtesy Salvage Marines
During the panel, Casper said something exciting; he noted that almost all space or science fiction shows were Westerns in space. He said Starship Troopers, Star Wars, and Firefly are all based on the formula of a Western; he said, “we are out there cowboying, cowgirling it.” Knowing that he said that and seeing all the movies he mentioned makes sense.
Linara Washington also made a great point about science fiction; it’s one of the only inclusive genres. No matter who you are or what you look like, you are accepted in that world. It’s kind of like the island of misfit toys, only better. “It’s almost at the forefront of things that are happening; it’s like having a blueprint before things actually go down.” The series feels relatable, even though it is “based in the far future” as Rafael Jordan noted, “their problems are our problems; it helps put you into the story.”
Image by Team WHR WormholeRiders News Agency
One significant point Peter Shinkoda brought up during our interview and reinforced during the panel is that Salvage Marines “drops us into a specific time…we all start the same place. It doesn’t matter your age, social status, and certainly not your race puts us on a playing field; we are all under the same common denominator. We all face the same obstacles”. That is why the sci-fi genre is much more inclusive, and you will always see more diverse casts than in any other genre.
Image courtesy Salvage Marines
I am happy that shows like this are being made on smaller streaming platforms like PopCornFlix. I am looking forward to people discovering the series, and I am sure the book series fans will appreciate and enjoy the series. Having an actor like Casper Van Dien at the helm of this series is a no-brainer; his resume speaks for itself. When you are part of one of the most iconic, cult-favorite sci-fi bug movies, who else would you want to lead the way? It helps that he has his friends like Peter Shinkoda and his wife Jennifer Wenger with him in the series, as it lends itself more to the believability of the situation.
Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency
There were some fun antics that the actors talked about during the panel. One such was when Kevin Porter, who plays Boss Wynn Masters, was reciting a monologue to his Marines, and the camera was on them; he forgot some of the monologues and started reciting Beauty and the Beast, “A tale as old as time” which made some of the cast almost break character, he even warned Jennifer with a visual cue not to break character or he would as well. I always like hearing about things like that on a set; viewing the series is much more fun. Shane Graham also mentioned how one of the other cast members, Ashley Mary Nunes (Beasts of the Field), pretty much outran everyone on set, and when he was in a scene with her, she got into a ditch, she was jumped into a 12-foot ditch and he “was like 30 seconds behind her.” It was a laugh for everyone in the panel and a cheering session for Ashley as she stood up and waved at all of us in the panel.
Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency
With Star Trek being the one science fiction show that dominates the airways, it is nice to see another type of show that can be added to the Sci-Fi list. Especially when you have a veteran like Casper at the front of the series, it makes it much more acceptable. I hope you get the chance to watch these great excellent series on Popcornflix and help bring more series like this to this streaming service and others.
Thank you to Casper, Jennifer, and Peter for the great interview and the rest of the cast and filmmakers for the fun and insightful panel. I look forward to seeing the reactions to this new series and hope there will be more seasons in the future. Salvage Marines premieres TODAY July 28th, 2022 on PopCornFlix!
Thanks to Kenn for video and image embedding for my feature article and many thanks to you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. We will be back soon with more analysis about our favorite television series, movies and conventions in this year and beyond!
Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit me on Twitter by clicking the links or images avatars in this news story.
American Badger stars Stefancikova, most recently featured in Debris series. Andrea is a talented actor, and one of Team WHR’s favorites whom we were excited to interview on Thursday July 01, 2021. We include our interview with Ms. Stefancikova below for your enjoyment.
American Badger is executive produced by Kirk Caouette and produced by Ines Eisses, Jacqueline Nguyen and Rick Podd. As described on IMDB, American Badger is about “A seemingly cold-blooded hitman (Kirk Caouette) who is assigned to befriend a call girl (Andrea Stefancikova), but all hell breaks loose when he is forced to kill her!”
American Badger stars Andrea Stefancikova and Kirk Caouette. Image courtesy Cranked Up Films
The films main protagonist, Dean, the American Badger, is portrayed by Kirk Caouette. Caouette is most well known for his over twenty-five years of television and movie industry experience as a superb stunt performer and fight scene choreographer. In 2003, Kirk moved into acting with a supporting role in Stargate SG-1 after performing stunts in the series a number of years earlier. In 2012 Mr Caouette expanded his career to include directing and producing before American Badger, where he writes, directs, and takes on the leading role.
Caouette portrays a ruthless secret agent operative, and if need be, an assassin named Dean who is assigned by his employers to make friends with a chat room call girl named Velvet (Andrea Stefancikova). Dean is subsequently ordered to take assassinate Velvet. This presents the American Badger with a conundrum that will challenge his amoral beliefs that he ultimately decides to go against.
Debris S1x13 Irina looks at Maddox after he says there is another door for you Irina. Image courtesy NBC
Stefancikova, who portrays Velvet / Marcella Horvathova, is a gifted actor whose career we at Team WHR have followed for years. Her recent role as Irina in the science fiction Debris series was excellent. Unfortunately, much of Andrea’s performance was cut from the final broadcast episodes in which she appeared leaving many questions unanswered.
Sadly, the Debris series was not renewed by NBC after a hit first season for reasons that do not make much sense. NBC also cancelled their own flagship science fiction mystery series Manifest, leaving fans without answers to the final story arcs in both cases.
In this way, fans may never know the fate of Irina, BUT we can see this superb actor in American Badger, where we witness Stefancikova in a full fledged starring role displaying all of her considerable entertainment industry performing arts talents!
American Badger poster. Image courtesy Cranked Up Films
The opening sequence begins with a textual definition on a black background of what an American Badger critter is, and how the American version differs from it’s European cousins. In specific that the American Badger is anti-social critter and likes to be left alone.
The opening scene segues to a background discussion from the American Badger lead character himself. His name is Dean who explains who he is and why he has chosen American Badger as his nickname and that he never asks questions about his job, a must in his business, that Dean’s wife who died from cancer and who originally gave him his nickname. We also learn that Dean has a dog that he loves, that we see on the opening credits, who he shares dinner with and is seen throughout the film. Nice doggy.
As the film progresses after the opening sequence, we learn that Dean is an assassin who prefers to work at night to complete his assignments, that Dean is an expert fighter, as witnessed in a card game that he recalls from recent job where he kills everyone at the game as Dean replays the moment in his mind. The fight sequences leading to the killing of his targets in his last assignment are well choreographed and realistic.
Subsequent to the opening credits, Dean continues to delineate his life. He appears to be a heavy drinker and smoker. Since his wife’s death Dean has been a recluse. Not unlike all the real critters of the American Badgers namesake, in fact Dean has hardly spoken a word to a woman in over twelve years. Dean gets his assignments from the “Handlers”, executes them, often with requisite violence involved, and then goes home like anyone would do with their job.
Dean is aptly named American Badger after the feisty wild animal of the same name that is well known for dedication to the task at hand, it’s fierceness, as well as it’s lesser known “lone wolf” type of behavior.
American Badger – Kirk Caouette as Dean. Image courtesy Cranked Up Films
Dean, the American Badger is not to be confused with what we have all seen about the wild creature “Honey Badger Don’t Care” who seems to be an affectionate critter in the cute videos. Dean is however somewhat like the “Honey Badger” in one respect; Dean has a well-earned reputation of being a fierce, feisty agent who takes his assignments very seriously!
The story arc follows the American Badger on his next assignment. When Dean is handed his next project in the film, we learn that he has been recruited to find a chat room lady named Marcella Horvathova, nicknamed Velvet portrayed by Andrea Stefancikova. Dean finds Velvet online via a chat room and begins his assignment in earnest.
Next we find out that Velvet appears to have a handler of her own named John played by Zak Santiago. We witness Velvet and John arguing in an alley with Velvet asking John to leave her alone. John is not being very nice to Velvet. Dean approaches and snap goes John’s neck, so it’s bye by John.
American Badger – Michael Kopsa and Andrea Stefancikova. Image courtesy Cranked Up Films
Dean’s initial directive is to extract intelligence from Velvet about what she has been doing, who she is dealing with, and why she is working for a shady Albanian criminal gang has been doing what is now outside their prerogative. Velvet is the closest person the Albanian mob boss Vasily (Michael Kopsa) has to family. We find out later that Velvet is like a daughter to Vasily.
We also learn that Velvet is an abused, frightened sex-trafficked female when her brother shows up demanding that she return home and stop embarrassing the family. After Dean finds Velvet, he makes an awkward, yet memorable introduction, by pointing a gun at the brother’s head, effectively saving her from both John and the dear brother!
Their friendship takes on a new aspect, a pleasant romance that is believable on screen. The Badger has not been very good at making friends, but he has made one of Velvet. It is here that we learn why Marcella is nicknamed Velvet, her entire wardrobe is made up of red velvet clothing.
American Badger – Romance develops between Velvet and Dean. Image courtesy Cranked Up Films
As we move on in the story arc, it becomes apparent that Dean is excellent at following the orders of his employers. Despite his initial objections about ever becoming involved with his targeted assassinations, Dean gets too close to Velvet Marcella Horvathova.
Developing a soft spot for Velvet as their relationship grows while Dean is attempting to extract information as he has been directed, Dean ultimately hesitates when his employers give him an order to take down the entire Albanian criminal organization beginning with Velvet!
Even though he identifies himself as a hardened recluse, Dean quickly realizes that he is much more vulnerable than he thought he was. The conflict causes difficulties, but Dean is able to impart a sense of self worth and confidence to Velvet that was an unexpected, and pleasant development in the story arc.
American Danger – Velvet and Dean fight for survival. Image courtesy Cranked Up Films
American Badger features several perilously violent combat sequences that are very well executed with good fight choreography. As the writer of American Badger, Kirk Caouette has terrific scenes hammering the evil people guys. As he falls in love with Velvet it becomes obvious that Dean will not execute Velvet as revealed in one scene where Marcella asks, “Don’t you feel bad about killing people?”. The film ends with a great scene with Velvet and Dean fighting for their survival!
American Badger is a great action packed film with well choreographed slow motion fight sequences with well placed cameras producing a believable set of scenes that include a great soundtrack of techno funk theme score by Matt Dauncey and Dion Marinos to dovetail the action that leads to a surprise ending that we will not reveal here.
Overall, the American Badger is a story about love, relationships, and that people can make positive changes to their lives. It is a film worth buying and watching multiple times to catch subtle aspects that make the film even more enjoyable with an aesthetically pleasing look and feel as imparted has a clear vision. American Badger is available on YouTube, iTunes, Fandango and other sites that feature fine films.
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With the announcement of NBC not renewing the beloved Debris series for a second season, this episode leaves even more unanswered questions. I am, as are countless fans, a bit disappointed with the cancellation of such a fabulous show.
Word of the cancellation sent a multitude of tweet storms voicing the utter disappointment, shock, disbelief, and denial that accompanies a wrong decision by the network. Alas, if it were up to me, I would have kept the property on for another season at least. Knowing how the showrunner/creator J. H. Wyman is, he no doubt had a whole story arc planned out for a second (and possibly more) seasons.
Fans of Joel’s know that his intelligent series are never cookie cutter, formulaic series, they are always complex and cerebral. Sadly, the majority of viewers seem to not want to think when watching television. It appears that they would rather just be entertained and not have to use their brains. As in life the majority rules, so the fate of Debris series was decided by the that majority. I am hoping that another platform will pick up Debris series, perhaps Netflix or Amazon may throw their hat in hat ring. Oh well, let us begin, shall we?
This episode was written by the maestro himself and once again directed by Eagle Egilsson. Throughout the series one thing has remained constant, the incredible scenery of Canada that has served as a backdrop to the other cities it was emulating. Michael Wale is the cinematographer for this episode and his use of the natural landscape is beautiful and breathtaking. Often times the environment or city is another character in certain series, lending itself and all its beauty to the story and often helping give the viewer a better understanding of the story. This episode is no exception, the rocky terrain and mountain side provide a stark backdrop to the beginning of this episode.
Celestial Body:
Debris S1x13 Finola and Bryan confirm Anson Ash has escaped. Image by: James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
With Bryan (Jonathan Tucker) and Finola (Riann Steele) being informed that Anson Ash (Scroobius Pip) has escaped from prison by teleporting out, we come to find that his body was riddled with Debris. This information definitely ups the ante regarding helping George Jones (Tyrone Benskin) to stay hidden.
George in the meantime is watching out for any strange goings in at the facility he has been hiding out at trying to figure out the latest debris. He sees a strange entity that looks like a human but is not actually fully formed. When Bryan and Finola come to pick him up, he is definitely on edge. Bryan and Finola sense this tension, leave it alone. Later we will find out this is an apparent mistake by taking no action.
George dons his now infamous tin foil cape and finally goes with them insisting that they make a very quick getaway. This new Debris incident has brought a number of people to this remote area (the beautiful mountain side) where the people are all facing East for some unknown reason. The people are absolutely still, like chess pieces but experience odd emotional outbursts like crying and laughing in unison.
Debris S1x13 George, Bryan and Finola head to the incident where people are facing east. Image by James Dittiger/NBC)
George hypothesizes that they all must have come into contact with the alien objects before hand and are now instructed to come to this place for a specific reason. Bryan and Finola are worried that the same fate will befall these people as did their colleagues back at the lab who all died after two hours. The race to find the cause and fix the matter is of the utmost.
Bryan then brings up a question to Finola that she may not want to hear. Bryan asks if they can still trust her father? If George does remember correctly, or if “Influx” planted those memories, or information in his brain when he was reanimated. I can understand his hesitation especially since George has been acting strangely since Bryan and Finola tracked George down, picked him up, and saved him several Debris series episodes ago.
Debris S1x13 Julia tries to teach her son Dario how to speak again. Image courtesy NBC
Next, we get to see Julia Maddox (Jennifer Copping) with her son Dario (Christian Rose) teaching him words. You can see the anguish on her face and the utter guilt that she still has because of the accident she caused putting her son in this wheelchair. We had the immense pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Copping before the finale, and I can say what a great person as well as talented actress she is!
Jennifer gave us a hint during her interview about the finale episode in as much as she said it will be emotional and she was right. Her emotion came through with such sadness that you could feel her pain in every gesture she made toward Dario. It was a harrowing scene to say the least because you were left with a feeling of dread.
Debris S1x13 Irina and Maddox meet to swap Debris offering Irina another door for her. Image courtesy NBC
Craig Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz) has been a complete enigma since the beginning of the Debris series. Viewers were never quite sure if Maddox was a good guy, or a bad guy until the “Celestial Body” episode.
Maddox always toed that line of greater good or was perceived as a spy for the enemy. This is the confirmation that Maddox has been a good guy all along and we see that at the end of this episode.
Craig Maddox meets again with the Russian operative Irina (Andrea Stefancikova) that we have seen before in the Debris series. Maddox has been seeking and wants to obtain a specific part of the alien artifacts that deals with a special type of communications. Viewers may have thought this alien object that Irina brings to their meeting dealt with electronic communications.
Debris S1x13 Irina looks at Maddox after he says there is another door for you Irina. Image courtesy NBC
We will learn later in this episode that Craig Maddox knows something about this specific alien artifact that Irina is bringing to him. We do not know what that is at this point. This factor reveals the actual motivation of Craig Maddox that is both sincere and is not related to Andrea being a spy.
We witness Maddox sincerely offering “another door for you Irina”. Reading between the lines, this obviously has a meaning, a way for Irina to defect from Russia to the United States.
Andrea told us in her wonderful interview that Maddox had offered to help Irina defect in exchange for the alien object that he wants, but that part was unfortunately left on the cutting room floor.
This scene, though, again does not yet give us the full picture of what Maddox is up to, and still has us wondering if he maybe killed her agent boss after getting the alien artifacts he wanted or is it something more sinister?
Debris S1x13 People with newborn infants are all facing east. Image courtesy NBC
We learn that the common thread is that all the people facing East at the mountain location is that they all have newborns, which George comments on as the reason they are all currently connected. He mentions “energy emotional emergence”. The heightened emotional state they are all in now that they have a newborn. The highs and lows of it, the lack of sleep, the worry, the extra added stress. The people run through a gamut of emotions from laughter to anger due to them being emotionally connected. It is a fascinating scene to watch unfold as you can see how each individual handles those emotions. Bryan is perplexed to say the least while Finola is preoccupied with helping her father.
Joel’s theme of human connection is predominant in this episode. This episode is probably the most emotionally charged episode of the season. From the people in the grips of the debris to what transpires later on certainly gave the viewers something to think about.
Debris S1x13 Otto, Loeb and Anson head to the Debris site. Image courtesy NBC
What made this particular episode the most epic episode in the history of television (in my opinion) is the addition of the absolutely wonderful, spectacular, brilliant John Noble as Otto.
I was beyond happy to see John be a part of this episode. Since seeing him on Fringe I have become a lifelong fan and ANYTIME John is on my television it elevates that episode or series that much higher. I am also so happy that he got to use his native Australian accent.
John Noble’s character of Otto is seen with Anson and Loeb (Ben Cotton) at a gas station where he just exited out of the station store. When Anson questions Otto about what he had done, Anson goes into the store and finds victims in twisted, compact states. It is creepy and telling about who Otto really is.
Debris S1x13 Otto sets up a device to stop the Debris from affecting people. Image courtesy NBC
Seeing John again reminded me of the character he played on Fringe either as Walter Bishop or as Walternate. Otto is definitely neither, he makes Walternate look like a pussy cat in comparison. With the leather jacket, jeans and tattoos, Otto far surpasses Walternate in being a bad ass. I do love that Joel keeps it all in the family. That we have seen two actors from the Fringe universe in Debris, Sebastian Roché and John Noble, Joel has also brought us some Easter eggs or little signs of Fringe again in Debris series. I enjoyed it immensely.
As more and more people join the already big group of people connected by the alien artifact, Bryan suggests shutting it down to break the connection. It is the only way to save them. Finola asks her father about the recalibration. George says she can touch it; that it will not harm her. Finola’s reluctance is noticeable, but she trusts her father enough to take his word and does touch the alien artifact. It does not harm her but does glow red under her touch. I suspect this was on purpose that George instructed Finola to do that and at the end of the episode is maybe the reason why he asked her to do that.
Debris S1x13 George tells Finola about the characteristics of this specific Debris object. Image courtesy NBC
George tells Finola that in order to release the people from the grips of the alien artifact that their memories will be wiped completely. Finola objects but George insists that she must let it happen in order for him to save their lives and allow them to be released. George says we have no choice, to which Finola replies that we always have a choice.
As they argue back and forth about regarding this specific alien artifact, we hear Finola saying that she can find a way and George insisting that there is no time. George finally tells her that Influx agents are on their way. Finola is visibly shaken at this news and then George delivers the bombshell; he called them!
This is when the episode takes a sharp turn into the meatiest part of the episode. This is where you as the viewer may question and find yourself in a quandary right along with Finola. George confesses to her that he did indeed commit suicide in order for a rebirth to happen, for which he paid the price.
Debris S1x13 Finola thinks her father George is delusional. Image courtesy NBC
Finola thinks that George is still delusional because of what happened to him, when in actuality he deceived her from the beginning. “If we cannot help people then we do not deserve this debris” George said to her. He told her that he knew she was coming to rescue him, but that she came too early.
George tells her that the United States has been weaponizing the alien artifacts and so have other countries such as China and Russia. He had mentioned that other governments cannot be trusted to be the guardians of the alien objects, it should be used for good.
What George mentioned about the debris is that specific debris in consort with others “will enable the transformation of the human mind so that humanity can ascend to a higher plane of consciousness and thought”. This last part of the episode is where, for me, “Celestial Body” gets remarkably interesting.
Click to learn about Nikola Tesla
It reminds me of one of my father’s heroes, Nikola Tesla, who was so far beyond his time that it was his downfall. Another genius in his time this reminds me of was Leonardo da Vinci. Both men were far beyond what we consider genius, they were on a level that, dare I say other worldly? Their inventions and discoveries were for the betterment of man but have since been used for weapons and destruction. J. Robert Oppenheimer as well never intended his invention to become the atom bomb, but alas it did.
Both Da Vinci and Tesla were men that were feared by their respective governments so much so that they were almost silenced for their inventions, thoughts, and intellect. They both have often said that they had dreams or visions that were not of this world. That their knowledge or some of their ideas come from outside the realm of consciousness and maybe considered extraterrestrial. That concept those men like them have maybe had the knowledge of the universe and the ages has plagued them for centuries. So much so that both Tesla and da Vinci became recluses during parts of their lives. Tesla wanted to share his inventions with the world for free, but the government prevented him from doing so. The Shakespeare quote from Hamlet“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Also, it begs the question that there are things in this world that even though we cannot see them they are still there and always have been. That there are entities that can pass through this world, energy, spirits, connections, and that are a part of this realm whether we see them or not is amazing.
Debris S1x13 Finola is captured by Influx. Image courtesy NBC
When Otto, Anson and Loeb show up things get tense. Finola is still devastated by her father’s admission to her and cannot figure out why he did this. George mentions to Otto that a telesphere was born yesterday out of a pocket universe inside Orbital and its arrival may have been triggered by the alien artifacts as a whole. Loeb tells Finola that she must be so proud of her father, that he has a vision that only he can see. He knows what we can be, what we should be…humanity. This episode turned everything on its head for sure.
Once the alien object is hooked up to the machine that Otto brought, George asks how long before the people will die? Otto informs him that it will be quick, and George asks if he can ease them off the bottle, instead. Their minds will still be erased, but things can be learned again. This part reminded me of the movie Johnny Mnemonic who is a “mnemonic courier” that transports sensitive data via an implant in his brain, but at the cost of his childhood memories. The irony of that movie is “In 2021, society is driven by a virtual Internet, which has created a degenerate effect called “nerve attenuation syndrome” or NAS. Mega corporations control much of the world, intensifying the class hostility already created by NAS.” Sound familiar? That is exactly what George is trying to prevent by trying to get the alien artifacts away from governments and corporations.
Debris S1x13 Finola is forced to take the blue pill to avoid her memory from being erased. Image courtesy NBC
Finola is then given a blue pill (like The Matrix) to help her from having her mind erased. She vehemently protests taking it but is forced to do so by Anson. As the machine is activated it sends out a wave that disrupts the connection to the Debris causing the transfixed people to fall like dominos. Bryan is also affected by this wave blast; he barely survives but is definitely struggling when he gets to Finola and the other men.
As Bryan approaches, Otto mentions that Bryan must be the “Third Man”, that aside from Garcia and Ming, Bryan was also given the injections that may have just saved his life from the debris. What Otto says next gives the viewer a what the heck moment, Otto says “wonderful job in hiding your identity” which begs the question; who is Bryan Beneventi really? Is he perhaps an entity from another dimension that shape shifted into Bryan?
Was Bryan exposed to alien artifacts way before we get to meet him? What reality are we in and why does Otto extract, by putting his hand close to Bryan’s head, what I assume is information from him. “Wonderful meeting you” Otto finally says as he bids a farewell to Bryan.
Debris S1x13 Bryan survives the mind erasure because of his injections. Image courtesy NBC
George insists the alien artifact must stay with him. “There are things you have no knowledge of about the debris. There are things that only I know-you belong with me, your father.” Finola’s answer is a gut punch, but makes perfect sense to her “My father died six months ago; you are not him” as far as she is concerned. George then says a final word to her “This tech will be free” just like what Tesla wanted with his discoveries and tech.
As the episode climaxes, we find out that Bryan about his injury in an alien artifact incident with Garcia (Zak Santiago) and Ming, which he has to admit to Finola that he has been taking the injections since the incident. He has been taking precautions to “stave off something” but did not know what. Now we do!
I think it was preparing him for when the alien artifact was activated in “Celestial Body”. It would certainly explain why Bryan has been having a different experience regarding the debris than Finola. Why his time in the military was secretive, why he kept being in a time loop in the dual Icarus episodes.
Debris S1x13 The Sandman follows Otto Loeb and Anson. Image courtesy NBC
Bryan thinks this is the first time something has happened because of the injections, when it was probably happening all along, he just never put it together. He claims he has never seen Otto before, but that does not mean that Otto is not Ming as a shapeshifter.
Bryan tells Finola that they need to inform Maddox of what just happened, but who knows if Maddox already knows or not?
Otto tells George that “it would have never worked out with the girl in any iteration”, meaning Finola I assume. As the men are driving down the scenic road, an alien “Sandman” appears and George spots it, then they all do.
Once the car passes the entity, the entity turns around and follows the car. But does it continue to do so as it disappears and becomes invisible? That is the last we see of the men, the question being where they are going with the debris and what will happen to Bryan once he recovers?
.Debris S1x13 Craig uses the Debris to allow Dario to speak again Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
The final scenes are poignant. It made me think that Maddox is a good guy in this last time when we see with him. Craig comes home with the alien communications artifact that he received from Irina, asking Linda (Jennifer-Juniper Angeli) the babysitter where Julia is.
Linda says that she is upstairs napping as she had a headache and Linda stayed to make sure everything was okay. This scene made me nervous because when Maddox calls out to his wife who is in bed, she does not answer him right away. He tries again a few more times until Julia finally wakes up and hugs her husband tightly.
A sigh of relief came over me that Julia did not do what she intended to do. She tells Craig that she almost did something but stopped herself. He does not suspect anything is wrong thankfully but does ask her to come downstairs with him.
Debris S1x13 The communications Debris allows Dario to speak again. Image courtesy NBC
We see that the alien artifact that Maddox received from the Russians is set up and projecting a force field like shield around Dario.
We can see that Julia is confused about what Craig is doing. Then when Dario says “Mom” to Julia, she understands what her husband has been doing, which then makes Julia shed tears of joy.
Clearly at this point the viewer knows that the whole reasoning behind Maddox getting his hands on the debris was to heal his son.
This also makes the viewer wonder what exactly the alien artifacts are going to be used for in the future? Was this kind of thing what George meant by the greater good? The elevated humanity that the alien artifacts sent here to help people with their problems?
Debris S1x13 The blue orb arrives in Sedona Arizona. Image courtesy NBC
In the final scene of the series, we are back in Sedona, Arizona where a blue orb has arrived next to the Indigenous man that we saw in a previous episode.
The man says to the blue orb that it must have had a long journey and that his name is Dahkeya (Julian Black Antelope). The blue orb follows Dakheya into a cave where we see another Fringe alum, Sebastian Roché (Brill).
Brill mentions something about the piece of a specific alien artifact in Virginia. and then we see a clone (at least to me) of Finola.
Brill says, “Let’s begin” and that was the end of the episode. With the title of this episode being “Celestial Body”, I have no doubt that is most likely referring to not only the clone or Finola, but maybe others as well, perhaps Bryan or Otto or more people or aliens that we had yet to meet?
Debris S1x13 Brill says lets begin as we see another Finola in a force field. Image courtesy NBC
Unfortunately, with the cancellation of this series we will never find out what was going to happen with that Finola clone or what other things the alien artifacts can do.
What George Jones may be doing with the objects if the spheres at Orbital would ever be completed?
What would have become of Dario? Would he have been completely cured?
So many questions that we will never know because the series has ended. It pains me to no end that, yet another sci-fi show of great intelligence and story has ended because it was too cerebral for the masses.
That maybe the point of the Debris series, the humanity we have been seeking the last few millennia has slipped through our fingers once again.
Debris S1x13 Finola clone in an alien artifact force field – crop. Image courtesy NBC
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Eglisson does a good job at giving us a glimpse into the psyche of a soldier and what war does to people on both sides in an episode written by Ryan A. Wagner who has written two other episodes, “Do You Know Icarus” and “In Universe“. I am also looking forward to exploring more about this type of subject matter, hopefully in later episodes.
Asalah follows “I Am Icarus”, the second part of a superb two part episode that began with “Do You Know Icarus?”, where the fabric of the universe is unwinding or is inadvertently being ripped apart by a young man named Shelby (Keenan Tracey) and his sister Kathleen (Jessica McLeod).
Shelby and Kathleen witnessed an alien object land in the ocean near their home. Shelby and Kathleen then unwisely elected to investigate the Debris, setting in motion a series of unintended consequences with nearly devastating results to our reality!
Erin Karpluk as Mariel Caldwell. Image courtesy NBC
The scene opens with a woman sitting in the middle of a forest with the Debris obviously not too far away from her. As the Orbital agent approaches, she says Bryan’s (Jonathan Tucker) name two times. Michael Wale is the director of photography for this episode he did such episodes as Fringe, Smallville and Almost Human so he is another one who is familiar with this genre. Also, it seems that J.H. Wyman likes working with the same people over and over again which is always a plus because they are familiar with his work and know how to capture it best.
We come to find out the woman’s name is Mariel Caldwell (Erin Karpluk) from Cedar Ville Maryland and the Debris followed her like a shimmer. She was a high school teacher with no other extraordinary background, just an ordinary person.
Erin Karpluck as Mariel Caldwell, Riann Steele as Finola Jones, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Once Mariel arrives at the facility and Bryan confronts her, she starts talking about Surobi, Afghanistan, a brown paper folder and dust everywhere. As the viewer we know and remember that Bryan Beneventi was a Marine Special Forces in Afghanistan. So of course, hearing all of this piques our interest knowing that there has always been something in Bryan’s past from that time in his life that we have always been curious about.
In an earlier episode there was a picture of a woman that Bryan has kept with him and prior to this episode we did not know who that woman was. Tonight, we do as the title of the episode suggests her name is Asalah (Zarina Sterling). It was great to finally get a reason for that picture and what the story behind it was.
Erin Karpluck as Mariel Caldwell, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi, Riann Steele as Finola Jones. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As the episode progresses Mariel is away from the alien object, her recollection of the situation and Afghanistan keeps coming and she keeps telling Bryan more and more, only things that are specific to him and his experience.
It is interesting to hear that story from that part of the world. Often times when we see or hear war stories, we forget there are two sides and experiences to it, the innocent civilians, and the soldiers. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie Platoon by Oliver Stone and that quote is “the first casualty of war is innocence.”
The lab determined that even away from the Debris Mariel still recites part of Bryan’s life back to him. So, the debris has somehow manifested in her consciousness or maybe merged somehow with Bryan’s and because she came in contact with the debris it implanted his memories into her, and she almost became a carbon copy mentally of his brain.
During the scene where Mariel recites once again parts of Bryan’s life back to him, she grabs him by the arm. With this interaction with Mariel, Bryan passes out almost as if her energy or the memories, his memories are transported back to him with such force that it knocks him unconscious.
Debris S1x11 Bryan with his team in Afghanistan. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Next, we get to see Bryan interacting with his fellow soldiers as well as his commanding officer played by Josh Blacker. The Bryan that we see in Afghanistan is not anywhere close to the one that we see today as an Orbital agent.
Finola (Riann Steele) panics once Bryan passes out and he is immediately helped by the doctor on duty.
The doctor informs Finola that he is going through an idiopathic neurological event which I looked up. It is nerve damage that is also related to PTSD.
That makes perfect sense considering that Bryan’s experience in Afghanistan has directly contributed to that and the condition called TBI (traumatic brain injury) may occur under severe stress such as military combat.
Asalah portrayed by Zarina Sterling. Image courtesy NBC
We do get to see Asalah for the first time and see her interactions with Bryan, it is clear that from their first meeting that they had a connection.
Not only is Asalah a beautiful woman but someone who has hope and dreams and wants to leave Afghanistan to have a better life for herself. That appeals to Bryan, Asalah talks about music and wanting to be a pianist, “Music is food for the soul”. Bryan then tells her about Elton John and pulls out his headphones and gives them to her so she can listen to Bennie and The Jets.
The other person concerned about Bryan and his condition and what Mariel is talking about is Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz). Mariel keeps repeating events that happen in Afghanistan and one in particular comes up called Desert Falcon. Maddox knows what she is talking about it is definitely significant to him regarding something about the Taliban. Which is the whole point of why Bryan is there and what the mission that he is on.
There has always been something a little vague and shady about Maddox and his involvement in Orbital as well. I have often thought he has many secrets about Bryan and what happened in Afghanistan and can hold that against him. So, it is almost as if Bryan owes him a debt.
Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
The one thing that stood out to me especially with this episode is about what happens in specific countries, for example Afghanistan, and during World War II, is how the innocents and art are are always affected by war. How during World War II the Nazis had taken possession of art in the countries that they were conquering. And basically, stole millions and millions of dollars of precious artworks, precious music even musicians from that period of time.
They did not want any kind of freedom of thought, did not want any kind of salvation or happiness to happen in those countries. I assume that the same happened in Afghanistan that being a musician or having any kind of artistic creativity or artistic inclination is a bad thing. The arts are so often underfunded around war torn countries that the sometimes the only solace you have is in the arts, is in dance or music or painting or acting whatever it maybe it is a salvation for a lot of people.
Bryan finds the camera with Taliban locations. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
“Sometimes good intentions go awry” that in this episode is absolutely for sure. “Peace is possible-always”, we will have to see if that ever happens. Asalah asks Bryan to keep her grandfather safe.
Bryan, being the upstanding soldier that he is and the compassionate person he is, promises her but asks her to please stay out of it. Although Asalah promises to stay out of the situation that does not happen.
We come to find out that she actually took pictures of the Taliban and specifically, the place to find them. She disguises it as she found Bryan’s camera lying in the street and came to return it to him.
Meanwhile Finola thinks that the debris had cloned Bryan in Pennsylvania and that is what is causing this neurological episode since the clone was the one that had the picture of Asalah in his pocket.
Finola believes the Debris can transfer and manipulate memories. Image courtesy NBC
The pieces of Debris could be talking to each other, meaning that Bryan’s memory could have been uploaded or backed up supposedly to a network like an Internet cloud. Another theory is, it could also be a living thing an entity that our world and our technology has no power over or no way to control it. The alien objects appear to have capabilities to manipulate memories maybe even alter reality. If this particular piece of Debris gets into the wrong hands, it can be used as a psychological warfare weapon.
Finola suggests possibly rebooting the brain that might hopefully help disrupt the connection between the alien artifacts and Bryan. That suggestion is actually a particularly good idea considering that the body has its own electrical system. It has been shown that when the body experiences a large electrical charge (such as being struck by lightning or electrocuted) electrical charges altered states of mind, altered intelligence.
One of the other causes may be the injections that Bryan has been taking since returning back from Afghanistan and Maddox wants to up the dosage. My theory about that is if anything I think that these injections are doing more harm than good, I think almost it is like a tool to keep the soldiers subversive.
Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi is transported back to the battlefield by the Debris. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As the pinnacle of the episode unfolds, we find that Bryan tells Asalah to disappear, and he will find her later. Earlier in the conversation they were talking about hope and that she has hope and he needs to protect that. Asalah asks Bryan what the hope is he is holding onto and he does not answer which is very typical of his character.
Bryan is someone who keeps his feelings awfully close to the vest. He does not like to show emotion too much or to too many there are a select few who have been privy to that. But with his war experience you tend to not let that show as it is a sign of weakness in most cases.
Next, we see Bryan transported back to combat at a firefight that happens unfortunately Asalah turns out dead in the village. Bryan broke his promise to her and that guilt of her dying is carried with him.
Bryan was subjected to electro-shock therapy to break the tie to the alien object controlling him. We then find out that Mariel is dead as well almost as if she had manifested Asalah and what happened to her. Asalah was worried that Brian would think that she betrayed him she came back to the village to warn him about what was about to happen.
Bryan electro-shocked. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Bryan took revenge for a Asalah’s death as he came upon a group of Taliban he found in a cave. Unfortunately, those were different insurgents, and they were not to be touched because of them being a CIA protected group for a CIA operation.
Bryan ended up going to prison because of it. Maddox got him out of prison and thus Bryan owes Maddox his life literally.
“I don’t carry this so that I can remember her, I carry it so that I don’t forget what it’s like to invest in something that I can lose” Bryan tells Finola about Asalah and his reasoning. He also mentions that all of the alien objects may be somehow connected. “The Debris is experiencing us the same way we are experiencing it.”
However, we still cannot figure out why Bryan is the only person the Debris deliberately sought out… yet!
Dahkeya Nakai portrayed by Julian Black Antelope in Sedona Arizona. Image courtesy NBC
The last few minutes of this episode are probably my favorite of the entire episode. Sedona, AZ a man, Dahkeya Nakai (Julian Black Antelope) is walking out in the desert. A voice over starts to tell us “It all began when Blackwater grandfather threw his energy to the four directions. To the East he laid black metal in the earth, the South blue metal, to the West yellow metal and to the North white metal. In the next phase Blackwater grandfather threw black wind towards the earth”.
First off, I am incredibly happy that they cast a First Nations actor to play the indigenous man. As a huge fan of the TV series Ancient Aliens there have been many episodes about this last part of the episode, my favorite part of the episode.
Many indigenous or First Nation tribes in Canada as well as the United States have believed for centuries in Star people or what we would call aliens. There have been many stories handed down generation to generation about those star people about the ways that they have taught indigenous and First Nation tribes. Their knowledge, their way of life, there have been many tribes that believe their origins started with the Star people.
Click to visit the First Nations Institute. Image courtesy First Nations Institute
I have always been fascinated with these folklore type of stories. The First Nations have knowledge, they have spirituality, they understand that part of human nature. As well as nature itself which they learned from star people.
Also, through indigenous populations scattered throughout Canada as well as North America we find that there are certain places in the country or the world that do have energy that is different than any other place. That could be spiritual energy, it could be electrical energy, electrical currents or it could be something we do not know.
One such place that I know of is Nazca, Peru, and the famous Nazca lines. The energy in that area of the world is definitely different than other parts and in Sedona, AZ that is the case as well. There has been much speculation about the spirituality of that place the energy physical and mental energy of that place. In Sedona there is a long history of strange events happening, so it is no surprise that this is where they ended the episode. I hope we can explore more about that subject.
Ancient Aliens S12. Image courtesy The History Channel
Places like Sedona, Nazca, Egypt, and many parts of Central and South America as well as parts of the United States that have these electrical anomalies are the prominent in UFO sightings. Places around the world that have been associated with anomalies that have been always attributed with Aliens or unexplained mysteries. I have been and always will be fascinated by the ancient tales that the indigenous people of our country will tell. It is something fascinating and I have always had a great respect for.
I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I did! It was great to finally get a little bit of answers to the question or mystery of Bryan Beneventi.
Thank you as always Debris fans. Until next time… make sure to watch Debris on NBC or you can watch the next day on Peacock TV to help Renew Debris. See you in two weeks when I will write the season one finale!
Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. Thanks to Kenn for video embedding and adding images for my feature article. I will be back later this season to provide additional analysis about Debris as we learn more about this fabulous new science fiction series on NBC!
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Debris creator J.H. (Joel) Wyman certainly deserves an A PLUS for this two part episode in specific, and the series in general, for producing an extremely high quality science fiction series being televised weekly on our screens in 2021.
Thank you Mr. Wyman and NBC Universe Entertainment Television for bringing Debris to science fiction admirers for our mutual viewing pleasure in the United States, and hopefully around the world in the very near future!
“I Am Icarus” is the second part of a terrific two part episode that began with “Do You Know Icarus?”, where the fabric of the universe is unwinding or is inadvertently being ripped apart by a young man named Shelby (Keenan Tracey) and his sister Kathleen (Jessica McLeod) who witnessed the alien object land in the ocean near their home. Shelby and Kathleen unwisely elected to investigate the Debris, setting in motion a series of unintended consequences with potentially devastating results.
The damage is becoming manifest in “I Am Icarus” from a phenomena referred to in the episode as “Bilateral Deviation” that could cause fracturing to, or even the complete destruction of various realities residing within the Multi-Verse.
Click to purchase The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov at Amazon!
Regarding Multi-Verse theory, the term was coined in 1895 by the American philosopher and psychologist William James. Since that time there have been many scientists, famous authors, movies and television series have postulated what it is all about.
The question for science to discover and prove, is it real, what versions are there of it, and could the Multi-Verse be impacting all of us even is we are not aware of the causes and implications thereof?
Respected scientist and author Isaac Asimov wrote a best-selling science fiction book in 1955 called “The End of Eternity” which featured time travel to go back in history and make changes to obtain a future desired reality change ordained by the ruling class.
Click to read our feature articles about Fringe. Image courtesy Warner Brothers
Before Debris, other great science fiction series, Fringe produced at Warner Brothers Television, created by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and J.H. (Joel) Wyman who served as executive producer and writer, (and is the Debris creator as mentioned above), also dealt with alternate realities and the so-called desired outcomes sought by some of the nefarious “Observers” as they were known in the series.
During a successful five year run on FOX television in the United States, ”Fringe” trimmed all the branches that featured the evil “Observers” at the end, and each team member went on to live happy lives.
Prior to that, another beloved science fiction series, Stargate, specifically In the Stargate SG-1 series, produced by MGM Studios, featured episodes over a twelve year television run, that dealt with alternate realities using a “Quantum Mirror”, or even the Stargate itself.
In Stargate SG-1, the hero characters travel to, observe, and in some cases alter reality that caused people to be erased or changed as if they never existed in the eyes of the person(s) from the reality they originally came from.
The 2008 movie Stargate Continuum, in effect, the final episode of the series, featured an erasure of former Stargate Command events caused by a super villain name Ba’al (Cliff Simon) in his quest for dominance across all realities that utilized a Stargate.
However, using one aspect of the Multi-Verse theory, the original timeline would still exist, so that who and what the heroes fought was a villain in a separate reality within a different Multi-Verse timeline.
A more contemporary example is The Avengers movies infinity War and the sequel Avengers Endgame, where the villain Thanos, used the “Infinity Stones” to change reality by erasing fifty percent of all living beings with devastating consequences for those who were erased.
Thanos, thinking it was the best thing for everybody, did so in order that the remaining living beings would be grateful and happy to live in a universe that was not as crowded before he wiped out half of everybody in existence. Thanks Thanos! NOT!
Image courtesy J.H. (Joel) Wyman on Twitter
In this iteration of a different Multi-Verse theory, somewhat similar to “I Am Icarus”, Captain America trimmed all the alternate reality branches save one; he stayed in the past and lived a happy life marrying his fiancé at the time, Peggy Carter and all was still well in the present reality with the deafeat of Thanos.
In this outstanding two part episode conclusion, written by Kyle Lierman and directed by Padraic McKinley, the Multi-Verse story arc follows the branch trimming theory to restore reality to what it was before Shelby and Kathleen triggered the reality changes.
Things really get dicey in “I Am Icarus”, but end up successful, avoiding permanent damage to the space time continuum.
Subsequent to reaching a crisis point of no return, reality appears to have been restored by our heroes before it could destroy everything in all adjacent realities! To reiterate, Team WHR is hoping that NBC will renew this superb science fiction series by J.H. (Joel) Wyman for several more seasons!
Keenan Tracey as Shelby, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi/ Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
The episode begins with Bryan (Jonathan Tucker) and Shelby having just been reality shifted again when Bryan jumped in the ocean to try and stop Shelby during his own quest to be rejoined with his partner Finola Jones (Riann Steele) who was no longer in their reality.
As the story arc unfolds, it becomes obvious that Shelby and Kathleen found, and together subsequently used, a large hollow circular piece of alien Debris in the ocean near their home just off the coast of a city called Oceanside, located in Washington State. After their first use of this very large piece of Debris, Shelby’s and Kathleen became separated from each other’s alternate realities!
This particular piece of Debris is the perhaps the most insidious and dangerous of all that we have witnessed to date. The alien object, having the capability to shift people across realities, to nearby parallel universes, or other realities in the Multi-Verses, can send them back in time to a starting point where many things may be, or are the same, but many things may be, or are different.
Bryan is trapped in an alternate reality and Grace becomes Finola’s partner. Image courtesy NBC
Bryan, in various realities is sometimes with a partner named Grace (Aliyah O’Brien) who has been with Bryan for five years in this reality. Grace plays it by the book, trusts her partner Bryan, but is loyal to Craig Maddox, who ordered her to stop Bryan at all costs, shooting and injuring him just before the last reality jump took place..
The Team WHR theory is that the Aliens may have used the “Multi-Verse Pod” to go back and correct their mistakes made during their travels to Earth in the past. We assume that the aliens had been properly trained to avoid the situation that became manifest in the exciting two part episode with Shelby and Kathleen.
Just as people on Earth make decisions in their lives that affect their future, now Shelby and Kathleen, but without the proper alien Debris training, are making decisions that have disastrous consequences for not only their reality, but potentially for all the adjacent realities!
Kathleen appears in an alternate reality. Image courtesy NBC
In this case, Shelby’s sister Kathleen was not really erased. More accurately, she was trapped in another parallel or alternate reality when Shelby was thinking about how his life would have been had Kathleen not been born when he was inside the Debris under ocean near his home.
POOF! No more Kathleen in Shelby’s reality and visa versa!
Enter Finola Jones of MI6 and Bryan Beneventi of the CIA who now work together as a close knit team in an organization named Orbital. Orbital is tasked with finding and neutralizing Debris from the crashed alien spacecraft which broke up in orbit sending alien objects all over the United States and perhaps elsewhere on the planet too.
After a rocky start due to their superiors Craig Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz) and Priya Ferris (Anjali Jay) who were keeping secrets from each other while each working their own agendas, Finola and Bryan developed a professional trust. Things seemed to be wonderful…
Until Shelby tries multiple times to correct his mistake. He visits the Debris again and again to return to the reality where his sister is. Panicked that he never had a sister in each new reality he ended up in, he keeps trying, but things get worse with each attempt, including changing realities, never finding Kathleen, and a dozen new partners for Bryan who keep showing up at his house!
In an alternate reality, George Jones is working at Orbital. Image courtesy NBC
Shelby, who recognizes Bryan in each new reality seen so far, failed each time because he withheld information from Finola, Bryan and Finola’s Orbital founder and scientist father George Jones (Tyrone Benskin), about exactly what transpired the first instance, that both he and his sister had been messing with the Debris that caused what George referred to as Bilateral Deviation.
Depending on the realities visited during the two part episodes, George is either dead, having been killed by Bryan in the “Influx” raid, or is alive and is working at Orbital. The “George factor” may have an influence on future events in episodes leading up to the season one finale.
Use of the Debris causes the participants to move back in time and relive portions of their lives that may not be the same reality they were in depending on what they were thinking and feeling when the Debris activated in each instance of shifting realities, thereby changes the reality for the person(s) who activated it.
Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As a result of not telling the truth out of a fear that Orbital will confiscate the alien artifact, Shelby actions may result in him never being able to rejoin his sister Kathleen again because they are now in separate realities.
Each instance of using the Debris, without knowing exactly how to operate it, is causing the fabric of the space time continuum to rip apart. The situation becomes desperate when people in the nearby realities are actually able to see the others within the parallel universe realities.
Bryan, fully aware of what is happening since he was with Shelby during the last reality jump, returns with Grace to Shelby’s home. While Grace works on setting up measurements of the Debris near their SUV, when the door opens, no Shelby!
In this reality, Kathleen has appeared at the front door in near tears. When Bryan asks for Shelby who is no longer in Bryan’s reality, Kathleen breaks down and tells Bryan the truth!
Kathleen takes Bryan to the front room where the fabric between the realities is nearly nonexistent. Exterior views of the house depict a glowing reflection from the various realities materializing. Grace, his new partner comes into the house and sees the disaster unfolding and wants immediate extraction of the Debris.
Garfield Wilson as Gibson, Riann Steele as Finaola Jones. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Bryan and Kathleen cannot allow this to happen. They need more time to figure out what is going on, so they jump almost together into the alien artifact, resetting the timeline again. This time around, Finola returns with a new partner named Wilson (Garfield Wilson) and Bryan becomes trapped with Shelby in the same alternate reality.
In the meantime, Kathleen convinces Finola to listen because she knows Finola’s fathers name whom she contacts for guidance since he is the head of Orbital in this reality. This time around, the windows between the realities are so transparent that the four can write notes to each other while George figures out, and tells Finola about Bilateral Deviation. George explains that the problem was caused by Shelby and Kathleen jumping individually and that all four of them must reality jump at the same exact time to return things to normal to cancel out the Bilateral Deviation.
The four do so with Shelby and Kathleen able to get back together in the original reality. It seems that Bryan and Finola have returned back to working together in a reality that appears to be the same before the first time they went to the house. When Finola and Bryan come to the house, they do not remember anything that has happened.
With reality fixed Shelby and Kathleen are back together. Image courtesy NBC
Why? Because it never happened! Got that? This is because Shelby and Kathleen, who remember everything, are back together BEFORE they ever visited the alien reality time changing artifact. Shelby and Kathleen invite them in the house to tell them what has been happening with the Debris.
As the outstanding two part episode concludes, interesting things happen that setup the next three episodes leading to a season one finale.
First, we are with Craig Maddox who answers the phone in his office. Unlike the previous episode where Craig went to see his wife Julia (Jennifer Copping) after receiving the same phone call to try and save their marriage subsequent to the devastating accident Jullia had that crippled their son Dario (Christian Rose), Craig does not do so this time around.
Only a subtle reality change, but a change nonetheless. Craig arrives home and he finds their divorce papers on the kitchen table. Jennifer Copping is set to reprise her role in the season one final, so we will have to wait and see if our theory about any impact from the subtle changes to the reality we witnessed become relevant or not?
Anson Ash is planning his escape. Image courtesy NBC
Second, danged Anson Ash (Scroobius Pip), the captured “Influx” operative is observed in his cell in a dungeon of some sort at Orbital when the guard comes to collect his food tray. Anson makes a fuss and deliberately grabs the arm of the guard on purpose for an extended period of time as he did with Finola is an earlier episode to establish a mental link or bond.
When the guard goes to activate the combination lock on the area where Anson is imprisoned, Anson is somehow able to either read the guards mind or can see through his eyes as he keys in the code for the combination lock. No doubt this factor will be used by Anson to escape and return to his “Influx” organization members.
All of this will certainly play a part in the season one finale with Anson back on the loose, and subtle reality changes in the timeline which this reviewer has a theory about; that George Jones never died in the subtly changed reality, is still the head of Orbital, and Craig Maddox works for him!
We shall see!
We are certain to learn more next week! Make sure to watch Debris on NBC or you can watch the next day on Peacock TV. See you then!
As we proceed to the future with Debris in our thoughts, Team WHR will return with more analysis of our favorite series including select science fiction book and television reviews. We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future!
Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
For those of you that are Fringe fans, this Debris episode was by far the most inspired by Fringe that I have seen so far. Fringe, produced by Warner Brothers Television from 2008 to 2013 is a series we have long admired here at Team WHR.
We are very pleased to see that many of the creators involved then, are bringing us quality science fiction entertainment entertainment each week!
No secret that J.H. Wyman sprinkles a little bit of that beloved show in everything he does. I was incredibly happy to see the parallels in this particular episode of Debris.
The name of this episode is “You Can Call Her Caroline” starring Caroline Packard (Evelyn Burke) is a little blonde girl who bears a striking resemblance to another little girl from the Fringe universe named “Olive” (Ada Breker) (or Olivia Dunham of the FBI Fringe Division as she was later known in that series).
We meet Caroline Packard later in this weeks episode “You Can Call Me Caroline”. Again the similarities to “Olive” in Fringe will be clear to admirers of both series.
Liam Packard (Kynan Foster) waiting in Bar Harbor Maine. Image courtesy NBC
The episode opens with several people waiting for a ferry to arrive in Bar Harbor, Maine. One man, Liam Packard (Kynan Foster) nervously waits along with a couple apparently anxious about their in-laws arrival. A woman approaches Liam and asks for his duffle bag, which he refuses to hand over at first. Next thing we see is his body betray him and it is forced to give the woman the bag and in turn pull out a gun and kill himself.
This leads me to believe that Liam was in possession of some of the Debris and that it has mind control elements embedded within it.
I love that as the viewer with each episode we delve further and further into the debris and all the incredible things (good or bad) that it can do.
Craig Maddox fills Bryan in on the unusual encrypted cell calls from Maine. Image courtesy NBC
When Bryan Beneventi (Jonathan Tucker) goes back to the CIA to talk to Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz) he is told about Anson Ash (Scroobius Pip) and “Influx”. Maddox informs Bryan that Influx is an anti-government ideological movement organized to dismantle all the governments control over the debris. Bryan asks about the money that is used to fund this organization and Maddox tells him that he does not know, he has no clue where it all started.
That scene reminded me that “Influx” is almost being like a James Bond villain, mysterious and extremely rich with resources beyond our wildest dreams. It will be interesting to finally (if ever) we find out who is behind it and why. Maddox says that to him it seems like Influx are these autonomous cells.
Encrypted calls from Maine to Anson Ash. Image courtesy NBC
Maddox shows Bryan the phone he recovered from Anson and there is a weird encryption on it that keeps receiving calls from Bar Harbor, Maine. Maddox asks Bryan to investigate “quietly” and find out what is happening and what are they facing, he does not want to lose anymore lives. Bryan curiously asks Maddox if Anson has told him what Influx needs George Jones for?
Bryan then drops the nugget to Maddox that Finola Jones (Riann Steele) and MI-6 might know that George Jones is alive. Bryan mentions that since he has been spending a lot of time with her lately, he is noticed she has been different (which is a lie). My guess is he told Maddox to gauge his reaction to the news, and as suspected he was almost unfazed.
Finola, Bryan and Agent Tom examine Liams body. Image courtesy NBC
When the body of Liam Packard is found, his debris levels are remarkably high. As Bryan examines his body with Agent Tom (Thomas Cadrot) and Finola, she mentions that Liam does not seem like he would be the kind of guy who would be involved with “Influx” or any kind of sleeper cells. Bryan mentions “clear skins” (or clean skins) which is “a person who does not have an existing criminal record or who has not attracted the attention of police or security forces.”
By definition that is exactly why he was chosen, inconspicuous, he would be able to blend in and not even be noticed. That is what those sleeper cells rely on the ability to be unassuming and not draw any attention to themselves.
Benjamin Hollingsworth as Luke Packard, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by: James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Finola and Bryan find Liam’s brother Luke (Benjamin Hollingsworth) at Liam’s house with Liam’s daughter Caroline. Luke tells the team that Liam found pieces of the debris in the marsh behind his house.
When Liam found it, he had started looking onto UFO websites and even contacted people on the dark web about selling them the alien tech. The debris also altered Liam’s behavior, it made him more intense, like he had “shell shock” something Luke experienced when he was back from Afghanistan.
Bryan had mentioned that he was in Afghanistan as well with the Marines the MARSOC division to which Luke says, “wow you guys are no joke”. I am glad we find out about this regarding Bryan and his military background, it gives us a bit more insight to who he is. Finola asks him about his time in Afghanistan and Bryan shrugs her question off. She is as curious about his time there as we are.
Riann Steele as Finola Jones, Evelyn Burke as frightened Caroline Packard. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
The Debris that Liam had found was the kind that controlled mind and body, that whoever possessed it could control or manipulate others to their will. Finola notices that Caroline seems frightened by something. That is a powerful weapon indeed and in the wrong hands could be deadly.
As I mentioned before about the James Bond villain, this is exactly why it is imperative that the Debris does not ever fall into the wrong hands, the fall out would be catastrophic.
Once Bryan and Finola head toward the marsh to find the debris, Finola hesitates as a feeling of dread washes over her. Bryan asks her if she is okay, and she responds “the debris does not want us here” that the debris “spoke to her” almost like a whisper.
Anson Ash is about to be interrogated. Image courtesy NBC
Anson Ash is being held in a top-secret location and is currently strapped to a chair and it looks like he may be tortured to find out where George Jones (Tyrone Benskin) is being held. Maddox enters and starts talking to him about where Anson is from in England and his military past. As he is doing this, he injects Novocain into Anson’s head and then a team member makes an incision into what I assume is the memory part of the brain.
With Maddox still talking to Anson about a little church in his hometown of Lancashire and how Maddox wanted to paint it the next time he visited it. He is making sure to describe to Anson everything Maddox remembers, so that Anson can recall it himself and project a mental image of it. Anson resists as best as he can, but the shock treatment is too powerful.
This scene made me audibly gasp because Maddox brings out this device or rather a “window” that will help Anson’s image show up. That moment was a genuine Fringe moment for me, it reminded me of the “window” that was invented by Walter Bishop (John Noble) and William Bell (Leonard Nimoy) that could bend time in order to see the Alternative universe. Maddox talked about the different frequency that the bells of the church were on, the vibration was different, again the reference to Fringe and the different frequencies both universes and Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) were on.
Caroline is compelled to find more Debris for Luke. Image courtesy NBC
The last number Liam had called was his ex-wife Gloria Hernandez (Kate Dion-Richard), when asked why she does not have her daughter her answer was “she belongs there”. The way she said it was eerie, like it was not her saying it was as if she was being forced or manipulated to say it.
The similarities to Fringe keep showing up as Caroline enters the marsh and sits down in the water. Again, this reminds me of whenever Olivia (Anna Torv) would enter the “tank” and activate the Cortexiphan in order to travel to the Alt universe. Caroline is connected to the debris and is able to summon it from the depths of the marsh. Water has always been a conductor of energy, so it is no surprise that when Caroline sits in the marsh, she is connected to it. She is the only one that can “communicate” with it.
Caroline tried to warn Finola and Bryan. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Caroline warns Finola to stay away from the barn where the Debris is being held. Caroline tells Finola that it was because of the debris that her uncle Luke is acting the way he has and that it was Luke that controlled Liam to kill himself. She has been hiding pieces in order for Luke not to get a large amount, his plans for it are not good. “Mission must be executed” Luke told the team, he wants revenge on the military for what they did to him, Bryan can relate to it but knows better than to do what Luke is planning. Bryan tells Luke that he can help him or at least get him the help he needs for his PTSD.
Next thing we see is Finola and Bryan back at base, no way they just left without the debris or anything from the house. When asked they say nothing was found and that Caroline “she belongs there” was repeated by Bryan. Finola asks how they got back since she did not remember leaving and driving back. Luke had followed them made his presence known by crashing a military plane with the debris mind control. Luke comes towards Finola carrying the bag of debris, she pulls her gun as well as the MP’s that help her and Luke immediately makes one of the MP’s shoot his partner and then turns the gun on Finola.
Luke forces Bryan to point the gun at himself. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As Bryan shot the other MP who was ready to shoot Finola, Luke asks Bryan if he is “he’s with them now” and forces Bryan’s hand to point the gun to his own head. Finola fights against the control telling Bryan to fight it as Luke is telling him to pull the trigger. Luke empties the debris on top of a car and just as he is starting to interact with it, we see him fall over and collapse, a sharp piece of debris stuck in his head. Caroline to the rescue, she appears and saves the day. She can communicate with it after all.
Caroline is reunited again with her mother and all is restored at least for now. When Gloria asks Finola what Liam found, she tells Gloria that they are still trying to figure it out. Finola tells Caroline that she was the strongest out of all of them, again just like Olivia who was the strongest and the (if memory serves, it has been a long time since I have seen Fringe) the only one left of the Cortexiphan kids.
The theme of family, connection, love was present and part if the common theme that runs through all of the episodes so far. As the episode draws to a close Finola receives a call from her sister Dee (Gabrielle Ryan). Dee mentions a place “Michelle’s country house” that she wants Finola to visit with her again when Finola comes back to England. Once Finola hangs up, she knows there something not right with her sister, Michelle’s country house was code for when their parents were around and did not want them to hear what the sisters were talking about.
Her suspicions were correct as we see Dee hand the phone to Priya Ferry (Anjali Jay) once the call ends. Maddox also calls Bryan and lets him know that they found out where George Jones is and in turn Bryan tells Finola. Good stuff!
I am hoping that once George Jones is found we may get a few more answers about the Debris, “Influx”, Orbital and all the shady dealings. Well Debris fans, I hope you enjoyed this Fringe heavy episode as much as I have.
As always, please stay safe and happy viewing and make certain you tune in to NBC next week for more Debris!
Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. Thanks to Kenn for video embedding and adding images for my feature article. I will be back later this season to provide additional analysis about Debris as we learn more about this fabulous new science fiction series on NBC!
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I hope you enjoyed this latest episode as much as I did. With just two episodes aired already we can clearly see the influence and parallels between that other sci-fi show that J.H. Wyman was involved in that goes by the name of Fringe.
Certain showrunners or directors have signatures within their work that makes their work uniquely theirs and Debris is no exception. Especially with the latest episode that aired entitled “You Are Not Alone”, there are definite hints of Fringe and maybe some The X-Files as well sprinkled throughout.
As the episode opens, we are in a small town called Fleetwood where certain items made of metal are being dragged toward a specific area of town.
I could not help but think of X-Men and Magneto, how he was able to manipulate anything metal to his advantage. The metal items are forming a perimeter and the whole town is being evacuated, or so the team thought!
In this episode, directed by Padraic McKinley a well known film editor who has directed several television series since since 2016, the Debris team finds what appears to be a lone survivor named Eric (David Alpay) who was the only person left in town.
Before continuing with our review of “You Are Not Alone”, we include an interesting video, courtesy of NBC, featuring Jonathan Tucker talking about Debris and discovering the unknown in space with a real-life NASA Astronaut, Mike Massimo!
Riann Steele as Finola Jones, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi – Images by James Dittiger, courtesy /NBC
Not only do Bryan Beneventi (Jonathan Tucker) and Finola Jones (Riann Steele) find Eric, but also his clone or rather clones, three to be exact. The clone then proceeds to tell different members of the team what each of the clones needs and wants. Eric tells the team that he must take care of things, he is frantic and needs to take care of his unfinished business. It is with this scene that things start to get interesting.
The debris it seems can somehow alter consciousness or rather invade the mind of the victim and extract what it needs to feed off the person. It is as if the debris almost short circuits the brain of the victim, causing them psychosis of some sort. The body and brain are connected by and electrical system as it is, so it makes sense. We are “hard wired” as the phrase suggests to certain things and the debris takes advantage of it and alters it.
David Alpay as Eric, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Energy seems to be a theme in this episode. The energy we feed off each other, the energy of the earth and the kinetic energy of the universe that is constantly around us. Energy also makes me think of “the Force” and what that means. Life energy, spiritual energy, universal energy it is all connected. What energy Eric is putting out in the universe is coming back to him, what his powerful energy is seeking has found him and is threatening to consume him and everything around him.
The debris again is the culprit of what is happening in the town of Fleetwood. And once again Finola’s father becomes the subject of discussion. As far as Finola is concerned her father is dead, but as we found out in the pilot episode that is not true. Bryan still knows that secret and is conflicted with knowing and not telling. We also come to find out that the last text Finola received from her Dad read “You are not alone”, which is a very loaded text.
Image courtesy Warner Brothers Television
That scene when we find out about Finola and her father again reminds me of Fringe and the parallels that Wyman has here. Fathers and daughters are prevalent in both series, strained relationships and nonexistent ones are present in both. Finola it seems had a semi-strained relationship with her father George Jones (Tyrone Benskin) who had a significant part in the Orbital’s mission. In Fringe, Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) we know her biological father had little to no impact on her life unlike her stepfather. Olivia’s stepfather was not only abusive to her mother but to her as well, which made a huge impact on Olivia and her future life as an FBI agent. Add into the mix Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) who became a bit of a surrogate father to Olivia while still trying to repair the damaged relationship with his son Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson).
David Alpay as Eric, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
The three clones of Eric King are in a losing battle, each fighting for dominance within the host. As Eric is being interviewed by the team, he mentions a ball of light that he saw and asks if they saw it too. One of the team members mentions that when people are dying, they often see their life flash before their eyes, their hopes, dreams, regrets, and everything in between. Those regrets or issues is what is making the debris act the way it is, what is making it pull the metal to make a barrier around the town and more specifically Eric’s house.
The three major issues that Eric is battling is regarding his professional goals, a major decision, and a lost love. All these issues are manifesting at the same time, bringing chaos into his life in the form of a fractured life currently. Eric is at the center of the chaos and until he finds a solution, the debris will still be manifesting itself in his clones.
Riann Steele as Jones, Jonthan Tucker as Beneventi, Chris Web as Field Officer, Jeanie Cloutier as Agent Kazemi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy /NBC
Much like the Fringe Division of the FBI, Orbital is the department looking after the debris that has been slowly falling to earth the last six months.
Between MI-6 in England and the CIA in America, working together albeit reluctantly for reasons yet to be fully explained, hopefully the enigma that is the debris will be figured out.
Of course, it would be up to the individual agencies to be transparent with their agents, which they are not. There is a bit of secrecy on both sides of the pond and as the series progresses.
I bet we will see more and more of this conflict unfold as Debris continues to unfold in season one. Not only has MI-6 and the CIA both kept the secret that George Jones is alive (or so they think), but there are other parts of the agency that are still classified if you will.
Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC)
Once the agents investigate further, they enter Eric’s house and Bryan comes face to face with his own clone! Seeing this clone visibly shakes him and he has no choice but to eliminate the clone to save himself. I have a theory as to why his clone appears and I will mention that a bit later.
The Orbital team also encounters the third and final clone of Eric, This clone is focused on one thing as we find out Eric must resolve his lost love. With all these clones now in existence the team must figure out how to solve the situation.
Bryan is forced to shoot his own clone. Image courtesy NBC
Subsequent to killing the clone, Finola and Bryan discuss what is happening to Eric, that it is like what happens when a person is in survival mode. The body discards the non-essential parts of the body, psyche, emotions that are clouding the situation and leaves only what is utmost for survival. Once the team figures out that the original victim, Eric King is still alive, they race to find him, and they do. He ends up being trapped in his car that has become entrenched in the twisted metal wall surrounding his home. As Bryan makes his way to help Eric, the debris signals the metal wall via a ball of light to start compacting itself, essentially crushing whoever is in its path.
Eric surrenders to Finola. Image courtesy NBC
As Bryan is trying to help extract Eric from his car, flashes of Eric’s life are seen with one of the main parts being his lost love. With the original host still living the clones are still destroying Eric’s life as he knows it. Once Eric is saved, his clones virtually disappear, Eric found something to live for, his lost love. He resolved that that is the main part of his life that was causing the chaos, the main part that was changing the energy and creating the metal wall that became his temporary prison. All the other “debris” in his life that was not part of the love he had for his wife, fell by the wayside and that is what saved him.
That message is significant and can be applied to our lives every day. We have often heard the energy you put out is the energy you get back, what goes around comes around and other clichés that we have heard for years. Energy is all around us, in everything we do, breathe, think, manifest. If there is a disturbance in that energy (or in the force) it is reverberated in the subject’s life. Until balance can be restored, chaos will reign supreme. That negative energy will control your life, lead you down a dark path (or to the dark side). What you do with that energy is what will ultimately dictate the rest of you as a person.
Bryan calls his boss. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As I promised I have a theory of why Bryan sees his own clone. He saw it because of the secrets or chaos that he holds within himself regarding his life as well as what he knows about Finola. He knows about her father and has been sworn to secrecy by his boss Craig Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz). That secret he keeps is causing chaos within himself, it is the conflict that Bryan must currently live with that manifested in the clone.
That secret he is keeping goes against everything he has known. As a Marine, Bryan swore an oath of loyalty and trust, how can he uphold that within himself if he cannot uphold it with is partner? The secret he is withholding from Finola goes against that loyalty he dedicated his life to. Finola joked about what she would see in his clone. Would she see the loyalty he has to her or the betrayal he has in just knowing the secret about her father? We also see a glimpse of someone from Bryan’s past which will hopefully be revealed at a later episode.
Norbert Leo Butz as Craig Maddox. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As the episode ends, we see that Eric’s life does become whole again when he reaches out to his wife who it seems has left him. Once that part of Eric’s life becomes whole again, the debris lets go of the grip it had on Eric and his life. The clones are essentially destroyed and what is left is what was missing or balanced in Eric’s life.
Bryan’s conflict is only compounded as his boss Craig Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz) reminds him that he is to uphold his end of the bargain regarding Finola and her father. His last line of the episode is “buckle up” and I have a feeling that is not only a warning but to her but to the viewers as well.
We conclude, courtesy of NBC, with the video of Bryan confronting his own clone!
Well, Debris fans, I hope to see you this next week for the third episode “Solar Winds”! Stay tuned for more coverage by TeamWHR of Debris, the new NBC series and make sure to catch the series on Mondays at 10:00pm!
Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. Thanks to Kenn for video embedding and adding images for my feature article. I will be back later this season to provide additional analysis about Debris as we learn more about this fabulous new science fiction series on NBC!
Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit me on Twitter by clicking the links or images avatars in this news story.
We look forward to Severance season three in the future and hope that panels and Press Rooms will be featured at San Diego Comic-Con in July later this year. In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or your family!
