Star-Crossed Review: Season One, Episode Five – “Dreamers Often Lie”

First aired March 17th, 2014.

The Atrian Seven have been allowed to explore human life in town. Shockingly, there is no active resistance while they walk around. Maybe the protesters all got laryngitis.

The teen drama goes into full effect. Popular girl Taylor takes Sophia on her first shopping spree. This is all being done to get information on Drake, who she’s been flirting with for weeks. Drake is busy with his own plans, later revealed to be meeting with an undercover Atrian and planting that glass cube in the body of a dead Atrian traitor to grow the poisonous black cypher. He hilariously thinks Taylor is his contact and they have sex in a bathroom. Drake is disgusted when he finds out she’s actually human. Another person who may be upset is Sophia, who turns out to have a crush on Taylor.

Drake and Taylor’s attraction was hinted at for weeks and having it play out the way it does makes it relevant to the main story as well as funny. It also gives Taylor a chance to get involved in plot lines and not just make snarky comments. The reveal that Taylor’s ditzy friend Zoe (played by Dora Madison Burge) is the real contact works well because it further reiterates that undercover Atrians can be anybody.

Roman spends his day searching Eljida, a rumored Atrian colony residing deep within the bayous. Hot on his trail is Gloria, who wants her half-Atrian son to go there due to the escalation anti-Atrian violence. Roman confronts her and she admits to having an affair with his father (but not to having his son). After he leaves, a boat comes and she sends her son on his way to Eljida.

Since Eljida had been  mentioned for so long, it’s satisfying to finally have confirmation that it’s real. That should make for an interesting plot later in the series. Gloria not telling Roman he has a half-brother, is another good narrative choice as it leaves room for further conflict down the road.

Lastly, Emery is sucked into some Red Hawk drama with Grayson. Grayson is arrested after helping bully Eric and a couple of Red Hawks pull a getaway after vandalizing a house (coincidently Gloria’s). Eric (rightfully) takes the blame but Emery come up with the idea of tracking down the others and turning them in so neither boy has a record. Emery and Grayson’s half-assed plan nearly gets them both shot but eventually they manage to succeed.

This entire plot doesn’t work, mainly because it takes Emery away from the major storylines in the rest of the episode. Emery is portrayed as one of the biggest champions of the Atrians and, instead of sharing that momentous occasion with them, she’s stuck in a B plot that is just not interesting, like the writers didn’t know what to do with Emery in this episode so they just crammed her in. Not the best thing to do with the female lead.

Quotes/Thoughts

Teri and Taylor having drunk girl talk was hilarious.

“I’m strong. I have skills. I can tear a throat out.”

In the future, instead of trying on clothes, people do it all digitally. Greatest invention ever.

“If you thought that bubblehead was a Trag then you’re even dumber than she is.”

What’s going on with those other three Atrian kids at the school we never see or hear from?

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