TV PREP: Under the Dome – Season Two, Episode Two (“Infestation”)

First aired July 7th, 2014.

Chester’s Mill is being overrun by butterflies because the dome has altered their mating patterns to make them reproduce like bunnies. As pretty as they are, the butterflies pose a danger to the entire town.

According to science teacher Rebecca (played by Karla Crome) the eating habits of caterpillars were also altered by the dome and they will quickly eat all of the town’s crops. She decides a good plan of action is to burn down fields where eggs are hatched until Barbie (played by Mike Vogel) comes up with a better one. He goes up into a plane and sprays pesticides over the fields to kill the caterpillars and butterflies. There’s a brief moment where Barbie nearly crashes into the dome but he, of course, lands safe and sound.

I don’t know if there’s any scientific accuracy to magnetic pulses and butterflies but I found the whole plot line to be boring. This episode was meant as a way to integrate Rebecca with the rest of the main cast. The entire time she had this slightly crazed look on her face that leads me to believe she may be slightly unbalanced. And there’s this weird obsession Rebecca seems to have with Big Jim (played by Dean Norris). She practically kisses the ground that he walks on.

Speaking of Big Jim, he has managed to once again gain the trust of everyone else in town. Apparently, word got around about his attempted sacrifice for the dome. Everyone starts to praise him for saving town, telling him that they wouldn’t be there without him. He even seems to be trying to be a good person, opening his home for Joe (played by Colin Ford) and Norrie (played by Mackenzie Lintz) and guiding Barbie safely to the ground during his flight. Of course, people like Barbie and Julia (played by Rachelle Lefevere) are wary of the new Jim.

I’m stunned that nobody has revealed all those murders Big Jim committed back in season one. Barbie seemed worried about how loyal everyone was to Big Jim. A simple solution would be to tell them what a monster he is/was. There’s no way he has it in him to stay reformed and not revert back to his evil ways. Hopefully, this reformed and kind Jim will not be around for too long, because he’s boring. He’s much more fun to watch when he’s scheming and taking people out.

When Junior (played by Alexander Koch) finds the body of Angie (played by Britt Robertson), he naturally assumes his father killed her. They investigate and find evidence that the mystery woman from the season premiere (played by Grace Cox) was at the scene and she’s arrested. Julia works with Sam (played by Eddie Cahill) and finds evidence that it was a man who killed Angie and saves the girl moments before Joe tries to execute her. While this mystery woman didn’t kill Angie, it’s obvious she is important to the series narrative since she mentions an unknown force (the dome) making her go to the school before Angie was killed.

I’m still convinced that this girl was hatched from that egg and that she’s some kind of lovechild of the dome. It would explain why she has no memories and goes into those weird trances, plus it’s the most interesting explanation for who she is. Angie’s murder is going to be a major plot point going forward but I don’t understand why nobody checked that locker she was looking into. It was mentioned that her handprint was on it and she must have been trying to get inside it, but they never tried opening it. Whatever was/is in there must be connected to the dome and I’m hoping not another egg.

Quotes & Thoughts

“How is it possible that everyone around me is trapped in Big Jim’s orbit?”

Rebecca’s speech about the town being too populated and Angie dying being “bittersweet” in that respect sounded like she thinks more death is necessary. She may actually be crazy.

“Heroes leave behind a good story, but a great leader leaves a legacy.”

How does a radio DJ get promoted to sheriff?

If you enjoyed Manny’s review, you can find the rest of his work right HERE on Sci-Fi Bloggers. You can also follow him on Twitter @KN_Manny.

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