Starburst 10/13/03, on Adventure-Inc.net
The Breed
Written by Michelle Lovretta
Directed by Jorge Montesi
The Story
When a military base becomes infected with a deadly disease that turns its victims into anry, snarling imbeciles, the uncanny Mutant X team receive a distress call from a doctor who informs them that the project they wereworking on has gone pear-shaped and it would be great if they could come and give a little help. The team accept the challenge and must then get past a heavy military presence gurading the base and attempt to contain and neutralize this nasty little plague before it spreads to the outside world.
The Verdict
Considering that this story was a bout a deadly plague, it seems quite apt that the whole thing plagued me. The team stroll into this base wearing skimpy vests (Shalimar was dressed like she was going to a nightclub), knowing full well that they're dealing with a disease that can be spread by a bunch of blood-crazed freaks who would just love a bite of Human flesh.
Naturally, big Jesse decides it's best if he remains behind ot sit at his computer and bark orders to the rest of the team. What made me laught was the dialogue, notably when Major Klein tells Jesse "Your team took a very big risk going in there." And Jesse replies with, "That's what we do."
Later, when Lexa confronts Dr. Crippen about his unethical experiments, the good doctor fires a dart into her neck and mutters "Everything would've been fine if you'd stayed out of it!" which wasn't a million miles away from "I would've got away with it, if it wasn't for you pesky kids!"
The Best Bit
Shalimar throws an infected Brennan against an electrical fence, in an attempt to cure him of his ills.
Where Evil Dwells
Written by Bob Carney
Directed by Andrew Potter
The Story
The Mutant X team are called to uncover the mystery of the Puzzle Killer (that's right, folks, it's a killer who leaves puzzles) when the corpse of a woman is found with a cryptic message pinned to her chest -- a message leading to the exact location of his next murder. Although, as the Puzzle Killer has been locked away in a psychiatric prison for the last two years (best place for him really) it would appear that a copycat killer is on the loose but sadly, things can't be that simple.
The Verdict
This episode simply puzzled me. How did they get away with it? When Andrea was led into the prison to face the creep in the glass cell, I was just waiting for him to say "Hello Clarice" and be done with it. To say that this episode borrows slightly from the Silence of the Lambs would be a slight understatement. Not only that but the whole concept of Andrea being 'hooked up' to see the scene of the next crime smelt a bit like Minority Report. Yes, it would appear that a copycat killer was on the loose after all.
Sadly, the characters seem to lack any kind of common sense, conviction, or anything that makes me want to care about them at all. Lexa and Brennan walk into a trap which nearly kills them and then deduce "it's a trap!" while Shalimar defies logic by attempting to confrot the killer alone, in an abandoned abattoir. I assume that this is where they held the production meetings and butchered this story.
The Best Bit
The moment it was all over.
David Hill
© Starburst
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