Daddy Dearest. Review: The Tomorrow People – "Things Fall Apart"

Season 1, Episode 13

Air Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 9/8c on The CW.

RATING: ★★★★★

“I understand the burdens you bear, Stephen, all of them, and I want to help you.” – The Founder

I’m not sure I believe anything that falls from The Founder’s (Simon Merrells) lips, no matter how eloquently spoken. In this week’s installment of The Tomorrow People, “Things Fall Apart,” family is the resounding theme. Whether it be father and daughter or mother and son, or even uncle and nephew, family takes center stage in this intriguing and beguiling episode.

The Big Bad Break Out

Stephen (Robbie Amell) is desperate to keep his best friend Astrid (Madeline Mantock) safe from Ultra and he’s willing to deal with the devil in order to get her home. The catch in all this is something Cara (Peyton List) sees before anyone else. “The man has all of Ultra at his fingertips and he asks you to bring in the most powerful break out we’ve ever seen, alone. Something’s not right…what happened to this girl that she wants her powers stripped?” Surprise deduction from the new Tomorrow People (TP) leader…well done, Cara, but it might be a bit too late for all the hesitation.

Stephen needs to work on his pick up lines. And since when does a high school kid order drinks at a bar…oh wait, its the CW.

Cassandra (Serinda Swan) wants to get the attention of her daddy, the Founder and by golly, she gets it. But I don’t think she’s going to want to keep it once she’s back in daddy’s clutches. I would say arms but the Founder doesn’t seem the cuddling type. Swan does a good job of playing aloof. Her so-called memories of her time at Brown University are a bit hazy when confronted with seemingly easy questions. When Cara touches Cassandra to gauge her memories, what Cara finds isn’t pretty.

Cassandra is what they call a “synergist”—as John (Luke Mitchell) explains, “A synergist is a break out whose parents are both paranormal. Theory is they have heightened powers.” It explains how Cassandra does so much more with her powers than any of the other TP. I wonder if she has a portal in her neck like daddy dearest.

Challenging Authority

I’m not sure the punishment fits the crime.

Stephen is fed up with his Uncle Jedikiah’s (Mark Pellegrino) futile promises and roundabout answers. I think Stephen needs to appreciate that his uncle isn’t a complete, self-absorbed Ultra tool. “Regardless of what you think of me, I’ve never lied to you.” Wait, is not telling the truth considered lying? I think Jedikiah’s concern for his nephew’s safety is genuine but it’s a day late and a dollar short. Is Stephen wise for quitting Ultra just when he needs them the most, especially to make sure the Founder makes good on his promise to wipe Astrid from the database?

Meanwhile, back at the TP lair, John and Cara have a bit of a disagreement about what the right thing to do is in regards to Cassandra and Astrid. I can’t say I like Cara being the new leader but there really isn’t much choice. While John has lied and kept secrets about his time at Ultra, he is still a bit more experienced and mindful when it comes to the safety of the entire group of TP.

Observations

Sarah celebrates Astrid’s return home…but the celebration is brief

Stephen’s mom Marla (Sarah Clarke) is quite inquisitive about her son’s comings and goings yet she doesn’t seem surprised or overly concerned when he circumvents around about his best friend going missing. Marla knows much more than she lets on. I’ve had my suspicions about her. She was married to one of the most powerful and gifted TP; she had to know or suspect there was something different about the man she married. While the end of “Things Fall Apart” shocked me, it is more like an “Ah-Ha! I knew it” kind of moment.

Luca (Jacob Kogan) may not be a TP after all. I think he may be a late bloomer or maybe the bong water is stunting his powers from manifesting.

Last I checked, there wasn’t a graduation episode. Have the writers forgotten that Stephen and Astrid are still in high school? I think it would be much more interesting if Stephen had some pressure on him by having him in school, forcing him to hide his powers. Right now, he’s more of an inept double agent. He really needs to work on his deception skills and pick up lines.

Memorable Lines

After Stephen quits, the Founder has a conversation with Jedikiah:

Founder: “Where is Mr. Jamison?”

Jedikiah: “He quit.”

Founder: “See, that word implies he had a choice in the matter.”

Jedikiah: “Yes, well, you and I both know he’s a little hard headed, like his father, but he’ll come around…eventually.”

Founder: “Oh, I think it’ll be far sooner than that.”

Comic relief comes in the form of Russell (Aaron Yoo) talking about Cassandra: “A hot paranormal mess…mmmph. Must have gotten her looks from her mama.”

Russell to John and Cara arguing: “Mom? Dad? Ix-nay on the ight-fay; you’re upsetting the children.”

Cara to John about their kiss: “It doesn’t matter what I want; when we’re together, I can’t be impartial…”

Overall

“Things Fall Apart” pushes The Tomorrow People forward with a shocking revelation about Marla. With everything Stephen has been doing to do to find his father, how will this new realization about his mom affect him? Cassandra and Stephen have a connection, much like Stephen had with Cara, but more powerful. I’m curious about where this connection will take them. And what did you think of Cara’s executive decision about John? Was she right or has she made a huge mistake? Leave me a comment in the section below, or tweet me @judybopp to let me know what you thought of “Things Fall Apart.”

Tune in to The Tomorrow People Wednesdays at 9/8c, only on The CW. For more on the show, visit the official site.

LIKE The Tomorrow People on Facebook.

Follow The Tomorrow People on Twitter and chat with the cast: (Stephen) @RobbieAmell, (John) @LukeMitchell, (Jedikiah) @MarkRPellegrino, (Astrid) @madelinemgm.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.