The Walls of Jericho
It has been six weeks since the aliens resurrection, and there has been zero alien activity since their ships were destroyed. Ironhorse believes that the alien threat has been neutralized while Harrison counters to him that there is more to do. While they disagree about their next move, we see that the aliens have been draining herds of cows for their blood. The Advocacy members- Horek, Xana, and Oshar- are dying due to the radiation which is heating up their metabolism. The Advocates order for their scientists to find alternative methods to deal with the radiation problem. Back at the Cottage, Suzanne discusses in-depth the cell-phase matching process that happens when an alien possesses a human body. Her and Ironhorse both hint that the aliens could have died due to radiation poisoning, but Harrison is still highly skeptical regarding that. The aliens, meanwhile, possess a group of factory workers and steal plastic in order to preserve the lives of the Advocacy. General Wilson suddenly shows up at the Cottage and decides that there is no longer any need for the Blackwood Project. He thinks the aliens are dead now and the danger has passed. Advocate Horek is near death, and Xana and Oshar order the scientists to acquire what they need in another way if they are incapable of manufacturing it. Harrison is upset that the project is being shut down and he grows angry at Ironhorse, who he believes wants to shut it down as quickly as General Wilson. Norton, however, discovers that the aliens are up to something with the theft of the plastic but Ironhorse will not believe it, saying, "What am I supposed to tell the General? That the aliens are cornering the market in plastic tubing?" The other two Advocates are getting very ill too, but their suits are completed. They worry that if they die, there won't be three worthy heirs to the throne of the Advocacy. The aliens take over a nitrogen coolant factory which leads Harrison and Ironhorse (who begrudgingly went) to investigate. They pose as safety inspectors and come to the conclusion that aliens have taken over the factory. They return at night, and Harrison saves Ironhorse from near death. General Wilson also gets in on the action, and sees with his own eyes that the alien threat is still very real. The Advocacy say that although it is a setback that their people failed to control the factory, the Advocacy have more than enough nitrogen to sustain them throughout their mission. The Blackwood Project continues but the Advocates live also. COMMENTS: I love this episode. I think it truly displayed the aristocratic presence of the Advocacy (played by Ilse Von Glatz, Richard Comar, and Michael Rudder). This was also the first time we see the Advocates in their suits which they wore for the rest of the season. And I can't forget that this is the first episode where the series mentioned the often debated and hated "selective amnesia" explanation. Another joke is in the credits. The writer of the episode is named Forrest Van Buren which is a pseudonym based on the name of Clayton Forrester and Sylvia Van Buren. I wonder who the real writer of the episode is? Is it Greg Strangis (who wrote the pilot)? Or is it some other writer having fun with the audience? I think my favorite scene in the episode was where the wife screamed at her husband, Ralph- who's been possessed by the aliens. Her questions of where he has been and his answer of, "I've been working" is one of the series creepiest moments.
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Advocate members Xana and Oshar look on
Advocate member Horek takes a dip
Ironhorse and Harrison go undercover
