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Roswell
After two weeks of reruns, (very good ones if I may say so myself) we finally get a new one this week, and it's the special holiday episode of Roswell. So sit back, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy watching Isabel the Christmas Nazi whipping everyone into the Yuletide spirit.
"Samuel Rising"
Season 3, Episode 9
Written by Jason Katims
Directed by Patrick Norris
It's three days before December 25th and we find the Roswell gang having breakfast at the Crashdown. Michael and Maria are still at that awkward stage of being friends after their break-up. While Isabel is fretting over creating the perfect Christmas for herself and those less fortunate through volunteering, Max notices a little boy sitting at the counter who keeps staring at him. A few seconds later, the kid walks up to Max and calls him "daddy." It turns out that Samuel is an autistic who doesn't speak, but it left an impression on Max who thinks his own son might be trying to communicate with him through the child.
Convinced that he must investigate the matter further, Max approaches Samuel's mother and offers to help, even going as far as meeting with his psychologist. It is during that session where he first sketches a spaceship and hands the picture to Max. Apparently, Samuel has always drew numbers but never anything else, which causes Max to believe that there is a special bond between the two of them now more than ever.
Max continues to spend more time with Samuel the next day, teaching him to play basketball, and taking him to see Michael (in an attempt to spend more time with Maria after she and Liz agree to help Isabel with the Santa Village) dressed up as Santa Claus. When Max touches Samuel in an attempt to get a connection through physical contact, the boy freaks out and nearly cracks his forehead on the sidewalk. After the incident Samuel's father Warren reveals to Max that this was not the first time Samuel uttered a word, and tells Max that whatever he's looking for just maybe isn't there. Max finally realizes that he has been reading too much into the whole thing, but Liz explains that maybe Samuel reached out to him for a different reason, and encourages him to find out what the kid is trying to say.
Taking Liz's advice to heart, Max makes a visit to Samuel that night and attempts to heal him with his power. Unfortunately, it didn't work, because Samuel is neither sick nor physically hurt. Then it occurs to Max to seek out Isabel and have her use the dream walk ability to bring the parents into Samuel's dream. What happens next is probably the most touching moment of this episode. Well, Christmas Eve finally arrives and we see each of the Roswell folk spending time with his or her loved ones, and I think Isabel says it best in the end -- that Christmas isn't about being perfect, it's about being with family.
What a great episode to close out the year -- good dialogues, decent character development and a very fitting message. Roswell has sure had its ups and downs this season. Not all of the new changes have been good or implemented with finesse, but I really have high hopes for 2002. Maria and Michael definitely still have feelings for each other, but how much longer will they remain friends instead? The experience with Samuel only served to cement Max and Liz's relationship further, and I sure hope it's strong enough to withstand whatever else lies ahead in their journey. Jim and Kyle continue to serve as the show's comedy relief, but they just don't have the same intensity as before…talk about wasted talents. Jesse is still the same dull person since the beginning of the series, no surprises there. I have completely given up on the writers ever making him interesting. Anyway, don't forget the special New Year's episode on January 1st, and I will see you all in 2002!
Episode rating: 8 out of 10
- Zalasta would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!
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