Zoo Review: The Contingency (Season 2 Episode 11)

Just like that, the Zoo Crew is headed to Pangaea.

While many things don’t add up (yet again) in “The Contingency”, and Zoo continues to re-write its own short history, at least we know that we’re going to get that saber-tooth tiger.

PANGAEA.

My anticipation is high that when Robert brings the Zoo Crew to the sacred island for the season finale, there will be prehistoric goodies for me munch on until the summer of 2017 when I, inevitably, continue watching the animal apocalypse.

The reunion of Jackson and his father is both a joy and a head scratcher.

Robert does answer many of Jackson’s questions. He explains how he came to be a part of General Davies’ Noah Objective, and admits to creating the gas that will kill the animals, the same gas that killed Chloe (but, you know, Jackson doesn’t seem to remember that).

But I can’t help but compare Robert’s explanations regarding his work to what we learned about the somewhat-mad scientist in Season 1, and when I do that, I find a few plotholes that bother me throughout the hour.

Last season, Jackson and Abraham went out in search of Robert’s research. They were led to Minako, Robert’s wife, who gave them a plane and tagged along. The plane crashed, and she died. Here’s photo of her to jog your memory:

Where does Minako fit into the story that Robert gave to Jackson here in “The Contingency”? She’s not mentioned, at all. Jackson fails to say a word to Robert about meeting her, or being with her when she died. Did it slip his mind in that same way that the gas killed Chloe?

Additionally, I want a mention of Robert’s research work on Evan Lee Hartley. You remember him — the wolves broke him out of prison. Robert injected him with the Ghost Gene, presumably based on what we now know. Again, just another plotline that is suddenly dropped because it doesn’t fit the new story that the writers are telling.

This blatant lack of continuity wouldn’t bother me so much if Zoo was in its fifth or sixth year, but my memory of LAST SUMMER is crystal clear.

The series opened so many mysterious doors in its freshman year, stories I’ve become invested in. To have those plots completely disappear without even a quick mention makes me feel as though the writers have no clue what story they want to tell. This is concerning because, as a viewer, I actually care about continuity.

Maybe the point of Zoo isn’t continuity. Maybe it’s just wine bears and CRAZY GORILLAS.

Again, Zoo…such poor timing on use of animals. First there was that unnecessary gator attack just a few weeks after the gator attack in the US. Now they’ve got a killer gorilla on the loose while the internet is loaded up with memes dedicated to Harambe, the gorilla who was killed at a zoo in the US earlier this summer.

This crazed gorilla is probably the biggest attack of the season. Sadly, it’s also the attack that claims the life of a child. I don’t know, maybe it’s just because I’m a mother, but it always bothers me when children are killed on a television show that I watch for enjoyment. It’s just not cool. It puts a serious damper on anything else that happens during the hour.

The gorilla does serve its purpose of bringing Mitch and Jamie back together, though at this point, I don’t even think they should be.

It’s not a romantic reunion, but it is a return to their flirtatiousness and their camaraderie, and leaves the door open for future development. That’s really all that anyone can ask for.

Their reunion (albeit, friendly at most) sends Allison packing, and once again I ask, what was her purpose exactly? I guess she’s a bad guy, becasuse her parting words to Mitch, regarding his relationship with Jamie, are bitchy.

Allison: You’ll destroy each other.

I don’t know if this is supposed to be foreshadowing, or what. Then again, Zoo forgets its plotlines and starts all over each season, it seems. I’m almost positive that Allison won’t even be mentioned when Season 3 hits next summer.

The one bright spot in this episode is Abe and Dariela’s baby, which gives everyone on that plane hope and something tiny to fight for. Abe’s reaction to Dariela’s news, despite his gloomy attitude leading up to it, is a lovely moment. We actually see his thoughts on his face as he realizes he’s going to be a father, and the resolve that comes with his decision to fight for it.

Zoo still knows how to hit viewers with heart. At least there’s that.

The special 2-hour finale airs next week, and I’m at a loss for how it will all wrap up. I know there will be a saber-tooth tiger, and my fingers are triple crossed for more prehistoric surprises.

What did you think of this episode of Zoo? Are you over Jamie and Mitch? Why was Allison there, anyway? Did you forget about Minako and Evan Lee Hartley? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Zoo airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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