Star-Crossed Review: Season One, Episode Three – “Our Toil Shall Strive to Mend”

First aired March 3rd, 2014.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Atrians arrival on Earth, human high school students are being allowed to visit their government sanctioned home, the Sector. Emery volunteers to shoot a documentary film to tell the Atrians’ side of the story.

Although Roman is completely against her going there since there are rogue Atrians trying to kill her, Emery decides that’s not a big deal. She and Grayson, her second love interest/Red Hawk/cameraman, get to work.

This is a really interesting storyline that is unfortunately barely touched upon. Instead, we’re mostly treated to jarring flashes of Atrians walking around in the Sector. There’s one brief scene where Roman’s sister, Sophia (played by Brina Palencia), gives an interview about when she first saw the lights of the city and couldn’t wait to explore and meet people. There were surely many more interesting stories such as hers and the episode would have worked better if had shown at least one more.

Another upside to the film plot is Emery finally learning about Grayson’s agenda against the Atrians. When her film is interrupted by a pirate video condemning the Atrians, she overhears his parents gloating about it in their limo. Why they would have that conversation with their window wide open is beyond me. That said, it’s better that Emery learns the truth now instead of dragging it on for half the season.

Meanwhile, the Trags are continuing their quest to overthrow humanity, recruiting Drake, the Atrian who always wears a scowl. He is given the task of breaking into their old ship for a weapon that will help them wipe out humans. Teri (played by Chelsea Gilligan), one of the Atrians attending the high school (who happens to be daughter of the Trag leader) assists. She has mostly hung around in the backdrop so far and it’s good to get to know another main character. Unfortunately, it adds more teen love drama since the only reason she does so is because she’s spurned by her old lover, who’s none other than Roman.

Teri’s obsession runs so deep she slips a plant leaf under Roman’s pillow that gives him sex dreams about her. As creepy as that is, we also learn more about the plant life from Atria which seems more dangerous than the plants from Pandora. The Trags plan to use one such plant in conjunction with their secret weapon, a glass cube that can create a poisonous black vapor.

Overall, this episode is good but not as great as it could have been. Things that I wished they’d have focused on more, like the film interviews, are hardly addressed. Julia has a bad reaction to Roman’s life-saving blood and her veins light up like a Christmas tree, but that storyline is also on the back burner (she’s fine in case you were wondering). Gloria (Victoria Platt), the person behind integrating Atrians with humans, is revealed to have an Atrian child. Did she steal him from his parents, or perhaps have an affair with an Atrian? This is the kind of story I want to see explored in the next episode.

Thoughts/Quotes

Turns out Uncle Castor isn’t a villain, he’s just a bad guy.

“No one’s been allowed near the ship since it crashed.” “I’ve been on that ship. You’re not missing anything.”

Drake is an annoying character.

“One day we’re gonna break down these walls and you’ll be sorry.”

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