Roswell, New Mexico Review: What If God Was One of Us (Season 2 Episode 4)

KYLE VALENTI: I can pick his nipples out of a line-up, Liz. I really hope you understand what I’m sacrificing here.

Kyle wins the episode Roswell, New Mexico Season 2 Episode 4, “What If God Was One of Us,” with his trifecta of wit, wisdom, and warmth. 

It’s a big win; the competition is stiff! Several characters and arcs absolutely shine on the excellent episode. 

Kyle is able to tell it like it is, even to himself. It is satisfying to see Liz called out again for her self-centered behavior. Kyle does it in a really soft way, not blaming or judging her. Like Maria did on Roswell, New Mexico Season 2 Episode 3, “Good Mother,” Kyle holds up a mirror to Liz so she can see herself.

Liz, being the badass scientist she is, takes in the data, erm I mean, feedback, and begins to process it. 

There are few, if any, people Liz respects and admires more than Kyle and Maria. Their input matters as she heads towards a big decision regarding bringing Max back.

Is she going to be able to widen her tunnel vision when she learns about the potential danger of reviving the love of her life?

However things move forward, all signs point to major character growth for Liz and that’s what we love and need to see from our hero. 

Kyle is the one who really presses her to her growth point, which contributes to his champion role on the episode.

Michael Trevino’s performance is so wonderfully disarming that we really are immersed in all of his mashups with other characters. And all of them work on “What If God Was One of Us.”

The look exchanged between Kyle and Steph when she opens the closet is ship-growing manure. I love that shit! 

Nothing tops the birthday celebration Kyle plans for his mom.

Sheriff Valenti has had a rough time. She’s a widow in the middle of an investigation she feels in her gut tells her has a deeper story. Her son is gaslighting her to protect his friends and her. Her job has replaced her spouse as her main partner.

It’s complicated. 

Dr. Valenti doesn’t let all that get in the way of showing him mom how much she matters to him. It’s a very sweet and tender moment that shows us that the Valenti squad should not be overlooked or undervalued. 

The Malex content is gloriously angst-free and it is just SO GOOD.

Even as they encounter tough subjects, like the realization Guerin never had a family to care for him with something as simple as marking his growth, the two have fun together.

Forrest Long fits perfectly into the fold as Malex slueths at the old barn. I mean, the soldier, scientist, historian threesome we get to see? YES PLEASE. This is the only thrupple I will accept on this show. 

The decision to have Forrest Long be a historian is truly brilliant. It provides a natural place for him in the plot and it is a dead sexy profession. 

Just imagining Michae and Forrest at the microfiche machine makes me heartrate blast off. 

The fun adventure leads Malex to the “happy beer” conversation and it’s a huge breath of fresh rain-smelling air. Like Arturo’s quest for forgiveness, Alex too is stuck in a place of self-blame.

He doesn’t know how to internalize the fact that it is not his fault that he is a Manes Man.

Around the fire, he does the simple yet heroic act of opening up.

He admits that he’s kept things, part of the spaceship specifically, but there is more to it than that because he wanted to block Michael from leaving his life. 

Michael’s reaction is to sincerely assure Alex that what has happened to him is not Alex’s fault. That he is not the sins of the father. Alex finally agrees to get out of Michael’s way, so as not to repeat the Manes Man cycle. 

Michael is anything but relieved. 

And his sigh.

 

I haven’t been as filled with hope for this majestic couple since their trailer sleepover on Season 1. 

I’m not naive. I know there is heart-stomping conflict down the road. But, we now know that they are able to have light-hearted moments mixed in with emotionally deep ones. 

Their connection is not just physical! Michael knows that now, too. 

I’m a happy Malex camper!

Isobel’s compassionate use of her power to reunite Arturo with his lost daughter takes me by surprise. It’s not that it’s out of character, exactly. It’s the resonance and moving impact of her choices that surprises. 

Rosa is a miracle. She always was. 

Isobel fits in so nicely at The Crashdown. It would be a really fitting development for her professional future to include the Ortecho family’s future. 

“What If God Was One of Us,” is the best episode of the season so far!

Diner Dish

• Arturo’s reference to “Two-Spirited niñas” is a bit cringy. “Niña” is a gendered term and Two-Spirit is gender non-conforming. Also, Two-Spirit is a native identity, not Latinx. It sounds weird just plopped in the dialogue without context or explanation.
• Is Michael just not going to grieve Max? Maybe he just trusts that Liz is going to get him back?
• Shiri Appleby has immense talent as a director. The episode is beautiful.
• No Maria on the episode, which is disappointing. 
• The mysteries continue to build. I am super concerned about Cam!? No one is even going to realize it if she goes missing!
• He calls it beer, but I suspect Father Manes is chugging canned rosé. 
• Jason Behr is fierce. But, also. Quite hot. 

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 Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.

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