Season 1, Episode 2
Air Date: Sunday, July 27, 2014 at 10/9c on Lifetime
Rating:
“There’s something going on here; something bad.” – Dr. Alison Lennon
The Lottery continues its look into the infertile world of the future with the consequences of a few desperate actions. Kyle Walker (Michael Graziadei) remains on the run with his son Elvis (Jesse Filkow). They have to keep Elvis from the government’s clutches. Why? We don’t know yet, but I’m sure it’s something dastardly. Dr. Alison Lennon (Marley Shelton) finds she can’t just take what she wants without paying for it. And oh, does she pay. I feel sorry for the way the Department of Humanity is handling her “crime.” But is it really a crime? What about what happened to the donor of the fertilized embryo Alison liberated? A war is brewing. The government is trying to control something it is no longer keeping secret. So who will keep them in check?
Moment #5 – Secret Liaison
I wonder if Alison will find a cure.
“You coming over tonight?” Say what?! I did not see this coming. Chief of Staff Vanessa Keller (Athena Karkanis) is getting it on with another member of the presidential staff. Deputy Secretary Nathan Mitchell (J. August Richards) was not on my radar for sneaking around with Vanessa. I’ll be honest, I thought she was too busy for any socializing outside of work. I realize in this dystopian future, relationships aren’t conventional. Most men and women are hooking up with the hopes of creating the next human being. I don’t get that sense from Vanessa though. She’s not using sex as a means to an end.
Moment #4 – Two of a Kind
Elvis meets Camille’s (Genelle Williams) little girl in what has to be one of the sweetest moments on TV. The two kids have never seen another child before but behave as if they have play dates every week. I got a little teary eyed watching them hug each other without saying a word. This reunion, of sorts, makes me wonder quite a few things. One, why is Camille yet another single parent? Two, why hasn’t Elvis seen another kid his age before? Three, are the remaining six-year-olds all in separate parts of the world?
Moment #3 – De-Bugged
Kyle has to remove a bug from Elvis’ arm. Pocket knife? Check. First aid kit? Check. Superhero mask to keep the kid from screaming his head off? Check. I don’t think I could cut anything out of a child’s arm no matter how important it was to our safety. Just couldn’t do it. I’m so glad the camera cuts away just as Kyle puts the knife to Elvis’ arm. That would have been more than I could take.
Moment #2 – Torture
Alison learns she isn’t above the law. Labeled as a terrorist, she gets treated like one. You steal a fertilized human embryo, we water board your ass. While I knew something bad would happen to Alison when she is taken, I didn’t realize it was going to be that bad. You feel for her in her situation but also wonder what she’s doing. Why is it so important she keep that one embryo from being used in the lottery? Does she want it for herself or some other reason? “The embryo is the only thing keeping me alive.” I will say, after seeing what she goes through, she is one tough cookie. Kudos to Shelton for playing her part to a tee. She makes me root for Alison, no matter what she does.
Moment #1 – Taken
Whom do you trust?
Nathan is taken hostage for five embryos. No, I didn’t see that one coming either. Life is difficult enough for these people. Now, the threat of murder is being held over a nation’s head for the possibility of pregnancy. I’m not sure how this terrorist threat is supposed to work. Who’s behind the threat, and what will they do if the embryos don’t take to their surrogates? This story line leaves the writers a lot of room to maneuver. Oh the places they could go with this one. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Memorable lines
Darius to Alison when she asks to call her lawyer: “This is a fertility crime. There’s no due process, no constitutional safeguards, just us.”
**
“Simple. My husband and I want to be parents, badly, and the lottery might be our only chance to fulfill this dream.”
Emily Fritz to a reporter when asked why she decided to enter the lottery. I wonder how many other women like her are entering for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
**
President Westwood to Vanessa: “You’re my chief of staff. Find a way to make this lottery look like a good idea.”
Yeah, good luck with that.
**
Darius to Alison: “Just so you know, Dr. Lennon, I didn’t agree with this decision but having said that, I believe in second chances; so please, make the most of this opportunity.”
**
Overall
A father’s love knows no bounds.
Darius Hayes (Martin Donovan) gives me the creeps. Not only will he do anything (torture and murder not excluded) to get what he wants, he doesn’t feel bad about it. The fact he has no remorse shows he’s a ruthless SOB. I wonder if President Westwood (Yul Vázquez) knows what kind of man he has running the Department of Humanity. Just think about the title for a second, and then consider Darius. Does he even know what the word ‘humanity’ means?
What do you think about this week’s episode of The Lottery? Is this show going in the direction you thought it would? Drop me a line in the comments section or tweet me @ellemoe if you agree or disagree with my picks for best moments of “Rules of the Game.”
Tune in to The Lottery, Sundays at 10/9c, only on Lifetime. For more on the show, visit the official site.
Follow The Lottery on Twitter, using #TheLottery.
Photo credit: Phillipe Bosse/Lifetime © 2014 A+E Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.
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