Roswell, New Mexico Season 4 Episode 13 Review: How’s It Going to Be
After years of wondering what his purpose is, Max Evans ultimately follows his destiny to his home planet on Roswell, New Mexico Season 4 Episode 13, “How’s It Going to Be.”
My heart is simultaneously bursting and breaking as I write this review, mainly because this series finale beautifully ties up some stories while leaving others open to our imagination.
It is a bittersweet goodbye full of love and sacrifice as the characters we’ve connected with for four seasons figure out where their lives should take them next.
The Clyde Of It All
While the action sequences leading to Clyde’s defeat pull stellar performances out of Nathan Dean and Jeanine Mason, I struggle with the amount of time Roswell, New Mexico always spends on the buildup. The showdown has been building for four episodes. It could be tighter overall.
Sometimes it is more satisfying to trim the fat and get to the point. The viewers don’t care much for Clyde and the science behind his defeat, especially during the finale.
Not to discredit the overarching Oasis storyline, which pushes the characters to confront important responsibilities within themselves, but I think the series would benefit from more focus on the characters and less on the plot.
For example, how did Kyle save Alex? He was close to death in the liminal space, which is a primary focus on Roswell, New Mexico Season 4 Episode 12, “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane,” yet there isn’t one scene for Alex’s recovery.
Echo
Max’s choice is a twist that I never saw coming, mainly because he always wanted to be a simple guy from Roswell. However, his calling as the Savior pushes him to see his greatness outside of the small town he landed in as a child, which is an incredible twist for our hero.
I never expected this love story to end with such a devastating conclusion, but I think it makes me admire their relationship more. Their sacrifice makes their love affair even more epic and star-crossed.
I love that Max found his destiny and that it is helping people — something he’s always strived to do. This path doesn’t negate his love for Liz, as he’ll carry her strength with him onto Oasis.
My heart hurts for Liz, but these two always find their way back to one another, so we know they’ll do it again.
Malex
The brightest spot on “How’s It Going to Be” is without a doubt the payoff for the most complex love story on the series.
Michael and Alex’s destinies have always been a lifetime of love together — a poetic end for two characters who spent most of their lives feeling unlovable, yet bursting with love and affection to share.
No matter how many obstacles are thrown in their way, it always comes back to the simple fact that for them, “home can be a person.”
Watching them overcome so much trauma and heartache to find their way back to one another is one of the most rewarding legacies of Roswell, New Mexico. Television needs more queer love stories like this one.
I love that Alex, who, while sidelined much of the last two seasons, grows so much throughout the series, begins this chapter of his life free of the Manes family name.
Michael playing guitar for his husband, mirroring Alex’s performance of “Would You Come Home,” is peak romance and a sweet callback to their shared love for music.
They fit like perfect puzzle pieces on the dance floor, a cosmic reminder that “the pieces want to be together.”
However, I’ll admit that I’m upset that nobody from Alex’s actual family is at his wedding. I find it hard to believe that Gregory would let anything stand in the way of supporting his little brother on such a momentous occasion.
The ever-complicated Manes Family was a prominent fixture on Roswell, New Mexico Seasons 1 and 2, and I’ll always mourn the potential to explore it further.
Luckily, Alex and Maria’s lovely moment of friendship before the wedding reminds us that family doesn’t have to be blood, and these two have loved one another since they were children.
The Pod Squad
While Roswell, New Mexico specializes in epic romances, the relationship among Max, Isobel, and Michael is the heart of the series.
From watching Isobel and Max prepare Michael for his wedding day to Max announcing his choice to follow his destiny to Oasis, the chemistry among this group is perfection. They feel like true siblings.
It is a remarkable testament to their growth to watch Isobel and Michael support Max’s choice to leave, as he’s been their anchor their whole lives. They are long past their days of codependency, which hindered them in the past.
It is a bit heartbreaking knowing that they’ll enter the next phases of their lives with Max across the universe, but I’d like to think that alien brain tweets can be sent across the galaxy. Plus, Maria can contact Max with them!
“How’s It Going to Be” is not a perfect series finale, but it provides a comforting sense of closure for many of the major storylines.
This season mostly struggled to get the pacing right, which unfortunately hurt aspects of the final episode, but the overall messages about love and fate are universal themes that always intrigue.
I’ll forever wish Roswell, New Mexico utilized the explosive chemistry of its cast better and spent less time on fake science and unnecessary subplots with guest stars. But I’ll cherish the iconic 90s music and epic romances!
Stray Thoughts
- I wish there was more of an emotional beat for Kyle and Isobel, as individual characters and as a couple, but I’m ecstatic that they have each other.
- Shiri Appleby is delightful, but I don’t care about her marriage. However, I wish she was in more episodes because the OG Roswell nods are always so fun.
- Bonnie will make the sweetest bartender ever. I love this for her.
- I’m still sobbing from Sanders giving Michael a piece of Nora for his wedding. That speech!
- Dallas and Maria’s love story is a surprising joy this season, but it makes me sad to watch her lose another important figure in her life.
- Rosa Ortecho’s journey of second chances is so inspiring, and I’d watch a whole series about her life in New York.
What did you think of this episode of Roswell, New Mexico? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Roswell, New Mexico airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Julia Paino
Julia is a TV and pop culture enthusiast who gets too emotionally invested in her favorite characters. She loves making people laugh and is always down for a Taylor Swift sing-along. She is firmly on Team Stefan and has been since 2009. Follow her on Twitter @juliampaino!