Roswell, New Mexico Review: Don’t Speak (Season 1 Episode 5)

I am still catching my breath from the intense and action-packed Roswell, New Mexico Season 1 Episode 5, “Don’t Speak.” The thrill a minute episode doesn’t leave its character development behind in all the fire.

In fact, the episode’s most shocking revelation (okay, okay, other than Isobel’s lost memory) is the gorgeous connection and painful history between Kyle and Alex.

KYLE: You’re the bravest person I know.

I am ecstatically surprised to learn that there is a platonic relationship between two men that is mature, honest, emotional and witty on Roswell, New Mexico!

Honestly, I’m floored and I’m sad that I’m floored because this should not be a new thing.

The show that is centered on a strong female character and the facets of her strength are important and certainly worth highlighting.

But, that’s a bit basic. A strong woman at the heart of a show is not that new.

As it turns out, what Roswell, New Mexico gives us that IS new is strong male characters.

Kyle has established that he is not going to punish Liz for how she feels about Max. He is not going to punish Max either. Kyle is confident and that means he doesn’t need to trick people into valuing him; if Liz chooses Max, his self-worth will not crumble.

He can accept the integrity of other people. Heck, he even accepts without prejudice the integrity of aliens.

Where Liz is intrepid AF, Kyle is perceptive AF. He sees other people. Like Michael, he never really looks away.

That is strength and it is not something I have seen in male characters.

Alex too is incredibly strong. He has been torn to shreds by this town. The war he has been fighting is against his father, and he has had to stand alone, unloved.

Tyler Blackburn beautifully performs Alex’s monologue about his childhood pain. It breaks me and is the most heart-stopping part of the episode.

Alex’s past has not turned him to stone, which would be a sign of weakness. Instead, as Kyle’s dad knew, Alex’s vulnerability and courage in the face of all that hate is his great strength.

I stan these two strong men!

And I am not the only one. Roswell, New Mexico stans its characters.

The characters on the episode reveal that they are far from perfect. They have secrets, they have been mean, they have done the wrong things for the right reasons. But none of them are unloveable.

In fact, those imperfections are treated as cracks where the love and light can be let in by the show’s creative team. The flaws reveal the humanity and therefore worthiness of the characters.

No character is just a representation of negativity, violence or cynicism.

Except for Father Manes, he’s a piece of garbage (I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets some depth and backstory too, but for now he’s the only “bad guy”).

That love and empathy for the characters shines through each aspect of the show and makes it not just a fun and timely tale. Roswell, New Mexico is authentically optimistic about humanity and that is a message that can save us.

Liz and Max’s connection is deepened and twisted on the episode. Liz, once again, expresses the complex web of her feelings.

She feels safe and knows that Max will protect her and at the very same time feels distrust. Her sleuth skills are spot on.

We now know that her mind has been manipulated and so what she is observing is based on more or less muscle memory.

Liz is a robust and colorful character who I already love.

With that base of love and adoration, it is really enjoyable to watch Liz grappling with the intersections of science, emotion, and alien magic.

The armor that she has been wearing, facts and evidence, don’t work in the context of a magical alien bonding.

But, that discovery and tension is not really where the drama is.

Instead, it is in the realization that Liz isn’t the only love of Max’s life; Max loves his siblings and will sacrifice everything for them, too.

Nathan Parsons does tortured-soul-in-unrequited-love better than I have seen in a long time. It pierces through layers of armor.

Liz’s fierce truth-seeking and Max’s guarded protectiveness is a tough pairing. This couple has a wall between them.

I know they will tear it down, and I am excited about the painful process.

Max, Isobel, and Michael have a deep bond, but that doesn’t mean they can read each others’ minds.

No, there are secrets upon secrets and unhealed hurts, all in a misguided effort to save each other.

It is romantic and confusing.

The tone, though, is so gorgeous and raw. The mystery is complex and makes my brain hurt, but the show has found its pace and the balanced voice that it needs to sustain the amount of plot it has.

Isobel in particular really shines as a person who contains multitudes and can’t be pegged easily, even to herself. That struggle with identity is so real. I hope it gets explored further.

I am glad that I will get a chance to catch my breath for a week before Roswell, New Mexico returns.

Diner Dish

• Maria knows that Rosa “hated” Isobel and now we know that Isobel has lost memory regarding hurting Rosa. Maria knows a lot. Could this mean her psychic powers aren’t just a shtick?
• Alex has a piece of the glass bowl thingy, just like Michael. Two pieces of a puzzle that I really need to see fit together again.
• Rosa grabs that bottle of liquor from the bar- could it have been to heal an alien, not drink?
• Isobel and Rosa were in love.
• Alex came out in high school and so his reaction to Michael could be more out of a fear that his dad will hurt Michael. He has been surviving that war his whole life, he doesn’t want Michael to be a casualty. MY MALEX HEART!
• I’d love for the show to be gayer. Always, more gay, please.

What did you think of this episode of Roswell, New Mexico? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Roswell, New Mexico airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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