By: Jennifer Larson
Kyle (Matt Dallas) is confronted with his complicated past, while on a camping trip with Lori (April Matson), Jessi (Jaimie Alexander), Declan (Chris Olivero), Josh (Jean-Luc Bilodeau) and Amanda (Kirsten Prout.) What was supposed to be a carefree getaway for these five friends, turns into a series of mishaps and confusion; And, to top it all off, they happen to have picked the spot where the ruins of Zzyzx lie. This leaves Kyle troubled, while Jessi is just confused. Thanks to the reprogramming Mada Corp has done on her, Jessi has no real memories of the building where she germinated, but that doesn’t mean she can’t feel the evil that emanates from its remains.
A summer camping trip is supposed to be fun and full of adventure, but nothing is ever that easy for a couple of clones. And, when you add teenage love into the mix, it can become a recipe for disaster. On top of all the mystery and intrigue that stumbling upon Kyle and Jessi’s birthplace brings, there is the heartbreak of lost love to deal with. I’m not sure how Lori is able to handle camping out with her ex and his new squeeze. If it were me, I would short sheet her sleeping bag, or leave an open bag of jerky in front of her tent for the local Grizzly Bears to find. But, that’s not Lori’s style. Besides, she has another agenda for this trip.
When Tom Foss (Nicholas Leah) returns, Kyle confronts him about Lori’s attack. It isn’t just the ominous note left for Declan that has Kyle suspicious. Once Kyle decodes Adam Baylin’s (J. Eddie Peck) encrypted message, he discovers that he had some doubts about Foss’s loyalty as well. But, how many twists and turns can this show throw at us? I mean, first Kyle is told to put his life in Foss’s hands, only to turn around and leave him a dire warning about whether or not he is to be trusted. I’m more than a little confused at this point. That being said, we do get a little bit more of the back-story behind Kyle’s existence. Whatever plans Adam originally had he was betrayed by some people inside the company he founded.
Meanwhile, on the family front, Lori has decided to deal with her brutal attack by picking a spot in the woods where – as legend has it – somebody was murdered. There’s nothing like a trip into the macabre to get over a beating. Or, maybe she watched THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT one too many times. This spot may not be good for a camping trip but it is; however, the prefect place for Kyle to transport himself to his past, and find out the secrets behind Zzyzx. While in a spooky drainage pipe, Kyle begins to get visions of the day Adam Baylin was betrayed. It answers a lot of questions, which is good for him. But, the drainage pipe isn’t so good to Amanda.
Poor Amanda gets stuck with Jessi, who grills her about her relationship with Kyle. It appears Declan isn’t Jessi’s main target after all, because - as she now explains to Amanda – Kyle and her have a connection and are meant to be together. Yuke! I mean, if Kyle and her come from the same DNA doesn’t that make them siblings? Although, we don’t know for sure who’s DNA created Jessi, so I guess anything’s possible. Jessi better watch out though, because if she keeps this boy hopping up, she’ll be known as the new girl/slut in town.
Whatever doubts Kyle had of Foss, are now cleared up. During one of his trips back to the past, Kyle sees Tom saving his life. So, that mystery is solved, but what about the betrayal of Adam? Apparently, his employees at Zzyzx had a different agenda, one that included Kyle becoming some sort of super-soldier. When their little project began showing he had a mind of his own - as well as the one they provided him – they decided to scrap him and start again. This, I believe, is where Jessi XX comes in. But, we still don’t know who or what created her. So, it is yet to be seen if she is Kyle’s true soul mate or his annoying little sister. My bet is soul mate, this is a family show after all.