Martin Carr reviews the eighth episode of Wayward Pines season 2…
This is a continuation of last week’s powder keg episode where Abbies had congregated outside the fence by the thousand. Inside remained a hot bed of in-fighting, finger pointing and slanderous exchanges. What episode eight gives us is more of the same except this time the female has escaped completely. Megan Fisher has bled out and sits prone undiscovered until ten minutes in, at which point there develops a number of dividing factions all out for their own ends.
Tim Griffin’s Adam Hassler who continues the unkempt, dishevelled, hobo chic is almost beside himself at the prophecy unfolding as panic runs rampant. Hidden entrances and exits from the town are discovered which smacks of convenience rather than poor planning. While man points are won and lost on both sides between Xander and Yedlin, in an episode which appears to achieve nothing apart from establishing once and for all that Abbies are the smarter species.
As far as what Wayward Pines has become over the last eight episodes remains a mystery. Favourite characters have come and gone in unspectacular fashion, only to be replaced with less convincing, noticeably less driven replicas who do little to propel things along. Now I have been watching this show since season one and was looking forward to what new stuff might be put in the mix. Jason Patric has turned from a Matt Dillon clone into something worth investing time on. And Yedlin continues to be the most watchable thing in a show which spends running time treading narrative water.
Tom Stevens is no Toby Jones and it shows. Jason lacked sympathy from the outset and continues to build on this foundation of mistrust and animosity. He may have been forced into this situation and be making the best of things, but unfortunately he lacks presence, character development and any audience empathy. Kerry has barely registered with me, CJ also failed to make a dent in proceedings, while Megan Fisher was labouring away within a thinly defined role, making her reason for still being in Wayward Pines less and less apparent.
Although the social dynamic exhibited by Abbies is intriguing and their intellect something worth exploring, human drama which revolves around power struggles and male dominance are neither interesting nor fresh. As I am contractually obliged to continue watching Pines there remains hope because that is all I have left. Hope that things will improve, gain momentum and offer up satisfying closure or enough unanswered questions to warrant a third run. Judging by this lacklustre instalment Wayward Pines has one hell of a mountain to climb.
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https://youtu.be/b7Ozs5mj5ao?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published July 19, 2016. Updated November 29, 2022.
