The Event Convolution Alert: It's Doubtful 'Everything Will Change'

Sometimes, it's nice for TV to carry a certain level of predictability -- because at least that means it's rooted in some discernible trajectory or consistent characterization or something. Not The Event though! Sure, there are times when, say, you could predict Thomas choking when he pulls a gun on his mother, but that's less a character-based level of predictability, and more a we-can't-kill-Laura Innes'-character level of predictability. The former leaves you nicely pleased with your own cleverness; the latter leaves you in a bloodied heap on your couch.

The fall season of The Event, culminating with last night's "Everything Will Change," was basically a study in something between zero and that second level of predictability. Not completely without the moments of viewer pride that high concept shows can generate, but, for the most part, not allowing for any of the connections that we're so fond of making in genre shows. It has been conspiracy after conspiracy, heaped on with so little disregard for what's already happened (Strange for a show that's only had 10 episodes).

That said, "Everything Will Change" wasn't the worst offender of the season as far as our Convolution Alert goes:

1. Leila and Sean pick up their meandering search for Samantha in the corn field we left them in. After leaving their assailant battered and drained of youth in the middle of nowhere (because Sean had moral objections to just, say, shooting him in the foot) they use the man's security card to get into a mental hospital where they hope to find Samantha. After some high quality sleuthing, they are forcibly removed from the hospital (isn't Sean a murder suspect?). They return after business hours to find Leila's name carved in the children-experimentation ward of the hospital.

Convolution level: GUARDED. Four or so episodes later and the addition of the youth-harvesting plotline still leaves me unsettled, but the most troubling thing about the Leila and Sean saga is absolutely Leila. She's cute and everything, but the way she navigates this episode with such naive assuredness makes me want Sean to leave her by the side of the road. I'm not sure if I even like the Sean character (I'm pretty sure I don't), because mopey, clumsy Leila has overshadowed everything in that thread since Vicki helped break her out of Dempsey's clutches.

2. Since last week's near matricide, Sophia has welcomed both Thomas and, for some reason, Isabel back into her alien culture club, which has its inaugural meeting this week as the three (plus Simon) sit on floor cushions and catch smoke in cups. This apparently has some significance to Sophia -- she thanks them for the lovely gesture through clenched teeth. Thomas and Isabel nod politely back at her. Immediately following the gathering, Thomas and Isabel split off, leaving Sophia and Simon to wonder whether Thomas is about to launch a missile at the United States.

Convolution level: ELEVATED. "How is Thomas able to launch a nuke?!" you ask in a fit of convolution-induced giggles. He's built a vast, off-books financial empire, didn't you know? Now, please hold your silly questions for our last point. Anyway, after scurrying around for the entire episode trying to halt the launch of this nuke, Martinez and Co. realize after it launches that it's not carrying a nuclear payload, it's carrying a message. "But sir!" shouts a man in the control room, "the message isn't being directed toward Earth!" "Duh, genius," Sterling says, "They're sending a message home." Martinez nods, apparently thankful for the exposition.

3. Amid the burned files Leila and Sean find at the hospital are pictures of the fathers of the kidnapped girls. None, including Leila's father, seem to have aged in the past 60 or so years.

Convolution level: SEVERE. I guess after such a long time was spent laboring over that not-nuke, there needed to be a revelation like this to make the episode feel less, uh, pointless. Just don't try to think back to the pilot, when Michael Buchanan was threatened (with the life of his now-aged daughter) into dive-bombing Sophia and Martinez. Obviously, that was just never going to work out for him.

Final analysis: ELEVATED. It's amazing how so little actual forward momentum can result in such a tangled mess. Tonight (and possibly from now on) I blame this on Leila and Sean.

What are your thoughts about The Event post_-The Cape_ (which looks ridiculous, I think). Is it possible that the reason the fall season seems so disjointed is because the creatives are focused on pacing for the actual event?