The World's Changing

Pretender Episode Review

In which Jarod escapes through a ventilation shaft.

What Happened

Captured last season, Jarod is supposed to be shipped to Africa after Lyle is finished torturing him. Miss Parker, meanwhile, is still recuperating from being shot in the back protecting her father.

Jarod escapes, having overheard a conversation about a hit on a pair of scientists, part of an operation Lyle is running. The Nashes went into hiding after they found out their research on nuclear propulsion was being sold to the highest bidder. Separated in the confusion, Mr. Nash refuses to testify until his wife is found.

Once out of the hospital, Miss Parker goes looking for Raines, but refrains from killing him - and not because she believes him when he says he's found God. Later, she's not happy when Lyle asks for help keeping Jarod from botching the hit on the Nashes. When he plays the family loyalty card, however, she seems to buy it.

Angelo, who has bean playing eyes and ears inside the Centre for Jarod, emails him proof one of the guys arranging the Nash's entry into the Witness Protection program is in on the hit. Jarod gets there just in time to meet Mr. White, who's set his bomb. White tosses a file on Jarod's sister - that he just happened to be carrying around for this kind of situation - into an incinerator, covering his escape. Lyle, meanwhile, sends Parker into the building and takes up a position outside. Inside, Jarod retrieves the file, disarms the bomb, and then tricks the bribed officer into admitting what he's been up to.

He gives the Nashes new papers and tells them how to get away, all huggy and happy, then spots Parker coming up the stairs. He ducks out, but leaves behind his badge clipped to the bomb, so that she knows what Lyle's been up to.

That night, Jarod follows the lead on his sister, but just misses her.

What We Learned

• Men in white suits and shoes can't be trusted.
• You can always escape through a ventilation shaft. Usually.
• Brainwashing is not possible with Jarod.
• There are amputee dwarves down in SL6.
• Mr. Parker is beginning to worry about Raines' loyalty.
• Family is a tyranny ruled over by its weakest member.
• When she gets her strength back, Miss Parker is going postal.
• That's what they're afraid of.
• They have her down, but she'll be damned if she's out.
• Broots has a deviated septum from when he got hit by an Etch-a-Sketch when he was seven.
• Miss Parker misses the days when the people she couldn't trust were the people she couldn't trust.
• Finding Jarod's family is a full time job.
• You shouldn't underestimate Jarod, and you shouldn't underestimate Parker, and the next time Lyle sends Parker into a building that's going to explode, it had better, or it will be Lyle's grey matter they will be mopping up with a toothbrush.
• Mr. Parker is a little dense when it comes to his family.

Question

What were they gonna do with Jarod once they got him to Africa, anyway? Why not just take him there years ago?

What Did I Think?

Apparently, the world's changing, or that's what they keep telling me.