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Alphas 2.12 “Need To Know” TV REVIEW

THE ONE WHERE Mitchel escapes, and the full extent of Stanton Parish’s plan is revealed.

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VERDICT The end is incredibly nigh, and my lord, if Alphas hasn’t taken a turn for the dark side in order to prevent it happening. Rosen and Hicks throw caution – as well as the law, morals and basic fire safety precautions – to the wind in order to get to the bottom of Parish’s plan, and it’s all a bit silly, really.

Okay, so they’re upset about Dani’s death, but Rosen the Alpha-interrogator? It just doesn’t sit right. I suppose the death of a child can fundamentally change a person, but there doesn’t appear to be any trace of the old Rosen left. It’s an interesting argument all the same. How far should we be prepared to go to fight terrorism? Is torture acceptable if it saves thousands – if not millions – of lives?

It’s exactly the sort of thing I’d like to have discussed with old, rock and roll, hippy Rosen, but this new guy? I think I’ll leave him to it. He looks nasty. Well, that’s not strictly true, as by the end of the episode he looks like he’s rapidly bleeding out, but the point stands.

Stanton Parish’s plan finally emerges this week, and it’s a cracker. Essentially, he’s going to kill everyone that isn’t an Alpha, a play straight from the A Hitler Big Book Of World Domination. It’s admirable that the writers have attempted to give Parish’s scheme some real worldwide scope, and I’ll be intrigued to see what happens next week. I’ve got a crushing feeling this dastardly plan will be foiled via an oddly underwhelming combination of Rosen’s team and a Skylar super-gadget.

There’s been a bit too much reliance on Alpha abilities as convenient plot crutches this season, so I’m really hoping Alphas pulls something spectacular out of the bag for the grand finale. Perhaps Gary’s twitter campaign (remember that?) will actually turn out to be a worldwide network of internet controlled e-soldiers that can handily destroy Parish’s brain fryers.

BEST LINE
Gary: “I hate that, being darted. It’s exhausting.”

Rob Power

Alphas season two is currently airing in the UK on 5*, Tuesdays at 10pm

• Read our other Alphas season two reviews