“TOUCH” Season 2 Premiere Preview

6 02 2013

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During the last season of TOUCH, we learned that Jake (David Mazouz) is one of the 36 Righteous Ones (Lamed Vav Tzadikim in Judaism mysticism). According to the Talmud, “as a mystical concept, the number 36 is even more intriguing. It is said that at all times there are 36 special people in the world, and that were it not for them, all of them, if even one of them was missing, the world would come to an end.” The sequence Professor Teller was working on he called “The Amelia Sequence” also known as the “mind of God.” We learned that Aster Corps, the corporation that Abigail (Martin’s sister in law) works, is interested in knowing the Amelia sequence for their own greed. (Note: an “aster” is a cellular structure shaped like a star, formed around each centrosome during mitosis, although their corporate logo is not represented by a star which may or may not be an important symbol in the show. I did see several stars during the season 2 premiere episode). Jake was part of their bigger plan. Martin (Kiefer Sutherland) taps into people he helped in season 1 to help him break Jake out of the boarding facility and try to disappear. The numbers lead them to Los Angeles which lead them to finding Amelia’s mother (Maria Bello) at the pier.

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Jake, Martin and Lucy

Last season, TOUCH ran into problems having Jake at a boarding facility (lack of mobility in the world), having Clea (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) as the adult Martin played off of (who was often tied to the boarding facility), and Martin who goes out on these quests for Jake. Clea, being the outsider, took awhile before she began to believe that the numbers Jake was showing the world were significant. Her dialogue lines almost became cliché, like Jack Bauer’s “We’re running out of time.” After a few episodes, while the thought was intriguing about the interconnectedness of everyone, a deeper mythos needed to emerge in order for the show to remain viable. As it was true with the shows “Alias” and “Lost,” TOUCH now moves into that realm.

TOUCH also had an image to get past. Unfortunately, it was not made clear that Jake did NOT have autism. Many media outlets reported it like that, and indeed on Netflix, they still describe season 1 as just that:

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Even though during the episode, Martin Bohm says that he was diagnosed with many things, including autism, he never bought into any of those diagnoses, but he is curious about Jake’s mutism. Mutism is NOT autism. Because of this, there were strong reactions from families with kids with autism. Having a character with autism is tricky enough. If the creators get it wrong, the backlash is horrible. I cannot tell you how many people have said, “Well, they say the kid has autism but that character is all the misconceptions of autism in one child.” And I have to still correct them. Kiefer Sutherland was on Ellen this past week saying Jake had supernatural abilities and not autism.

At the end of season 1, with the mysticism of the 36 Righteous Ones, coupled with an evil player (Aster Corp), coupled with several unknown characters of good and/or evil, you begin to develop a path where good and evil will collide. TOUCH adds the elements of hidden clues within the episodes that Lost so perfectly executed. Often I have to watch the episodes several times to see the subtle hints, like in this new episode of season 2, “Event Horizon.” It took my second viewing to see the object on the hacker’s desk.

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Guillermo Ortiz

While Gugu Mbatha-Raw was a great actress, the chemistry between her character and Martin Bohm could never become romantic. Thus, Maria Bello was added to the cast this season as Amelia’s mother, Lucy Robbins. This gives Martin another parent who understands exactly what he is going through, and gives way to the mission of season 2: Finding Amelia (Saxon Sharbino).

Added to the cast in this episode are Lukas Haas (24, Inception), as Calvin Norburg, who is part of Aster Corps. Actor Said Taghmaoui plays the character Guillermo Ortiz who has his own agenda. Fans of “24” will be pleased to see Greg Ellis (who played Michael Amador in the show “24”) as Jack’s former colleague, Trevor. Ray Santiago joins the cast as the hacker named Ruben Santiago. Dileep Rao (from Inception) joins the show for at least these 2 episodes. The episode also features another “24” and “Fringe” character actor, John Prosky, and “Date Movie” star Adam Campbell.

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Calvin Norburg

The episode of “Closer” was written by Carol Barbee (Jericho, Three Rivers). Everything she touches turns to gold and this episode is no exception. “Event Horizon” was written by Tim Kring. David Eick adds a producing credit and we know the quality we can expect from his productions.

Some people we see in “Closer” are Ayelet Zurer, Linda Gehringer, Randy Oglesby (Argo), John Boyd (of 24 & Argo), Isabella Acres (as Soleil, which means sun, which is the brightest star in our galaxy).

After watching the two episodes, I think the show has improved a great deal. There is an element of danger that was elusive in season 1. Instead of the numbers pushing the path for Martin to find the clues, the numbers serve as markers for Martin and Lucy that they are on the right path. There are other signs given along the way as well. Jake undergoes dramatic character changes. While it is recommended you watch season 1 to understand the base story, a new viewer can easily jump into season 2 with the explanation of important plot points given in the narration and the first episode. There are several targets on Jake’s back so danger is all around and you have to be careful who you trust. The change of location shoot opens up the scenery which is also a refreshing change.  I feel they make a joke within the dialogue:  Lucy:  “Maybe he’s ready for something new.”  Martin:  Aren’t we all?

I wish to thank FOX Broadcasting and the FOX VIP program for allowing me the privilege of the preview.

The special two-hour Season Two premiere episode of TOUCH, “Event Horizon/Closer,” airs Friday, Feb. 8 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Join us on Twitter for a tweet up.

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Touch (S1E7) Noosphere Rising

4 02 2013

(Recap of a season 1 episode in preparation for Season 2 of “Touch” beginning Friday, February 8, 2013)

One has to ask the question, “What is a noosphere?” Loosely defined, it is collective consciousness. Indeed, Jake narrates at the beginning that prayer is a collective request sent up in unison of shared hope. Numbers are a constant until they are not.

Clea (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) reviews the footage of Professor Teller’s (Danny Glover) visit. There is missing time outside of room 6 until he brings Jake (David Mazouz) the car back. Martin (Kiefer Sutherland) asks Jake if Teller gave him anything, and while playing cards, the visitor’s badge and key falls out of the deck with 1188 inscribed. It’s a dead-man’s hand, a poker thing (the show took liberties of making it any suit, but normally it is a two-paired poker hand that consists of black aces and eights along with a “hole” card; this was the hand reportedly held by Wild Bill Hickok before he was shot.

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The B-plot story is about Natalie’s (Amelia Rose Blaire) video blog. Daryl, her boyfriend, broke up with her, but she decided to go to Europe anyway (flight 225). While in Paris, she was ready to go to another country when she finds a red flash drive. She is also wearing red earrings and red shoes. Being an Italian history major, she was able to translate the message on the flash drive to Celeste from Paolo (Alberto Frezza). All he knows is that she is going to be in New York City on March 28 for her birthday and he sends a video message to meet at Cafe Kismet at 7 p.m. This is Natalie’s blog post #1188. This becomes a campaign to find Celeste.

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Maggie, Teller’s daughter (Deidrie Henry), and Martin officially meet. She remembers him from the hospital and the funeral. Maggie and Martin talk about Jake, her father’s theories, and that Maggie was his assistant. She was worried about Teller and followed me and he went to a basement on Third and Allan.

Abigail Kelsey (Catherine Dent) goes to visit Jake and gives him her company’s latest computer tablet not yet released to the public. I instantly do not like her.

At the basement, Martin tries the key but it does not work. However, he is told that if he wants “in” it will be $1000. Martin returns with it which buys him into a poker game and he meets Stacey (Angela Gots), the dealer.

Meanwhile in Australia, a father leaves 1188 hectares of Groton Valley Station to his son, Devon Michael Jones (Sean McGowan). But he has to ride his horse, Zeus, first. Devon is a math professor In New Jersey (with Logan, see below). Eventually Zeus lets him ride him once Devon has broken down about his feelings about his father. He gives the ranch to Zeke (Robert Pike Daniel), his father’s friend.

Natalie is shocked at the 20,521 video responses. Among those are the Happy Pop Twins (remember them? Our Japanese travelers, Miyoko (May Miata) and Izumi (Satomi Okuno) from earlier episodes). And through them, Natalie has found a new band to like, “The Morticians.” Natalie suggests that they should all meet there for Paolo in case Celeste does not show to support him. Everything should wear the color red. It’s the “I Believe in Love” Team.

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Clea shows Jake how he can use the icons on the device to speak. Instead, he goes to a solitaire game (where we see 2 aces and 2 eights).

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Martin plays poker. Stacey asks him if he is “another math guy.” Martin has aces and eights but loses. When cashing out an opposing player, on the $200 mark, there is a $20 that says Logan loves Stacey; Martin follows her outside. Professor Logan Coteweiler (Eyal Podell) is a math professor. He won $200,000 in week 6 of his experiment. The house thinks she was in on it so she has to pay it off.

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Back at Stanford House, Abigail informs Clea and Martin that she has filed to be Jake’s legal guardian. Jake is looking at an article written by Dr. Logan Coteweiler on 1188. Abigail is trying to buy her way inside by offering tablets to all the children with special needs at the school. She informs Clea she has come back “to protect him.”

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Martin finds Logan on the floor. After calling 9/11, he finds his cell and calls this “Devon” person. Devon informs Martin that Logan is diabetic and his insulin is in the refrigerator. He starts waking up.

Celeste has been found “sort of.” A picture of her was located on a cell phone circling the globe (see episode 1).

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Logan loves Stacey. He was using Teller’s Amelia sequence, which he calls it like the mind of God, which turns Schrödinger equation, which is a partial differential equation that express how the quantum state of some physical systems change with time. The Amelia sequence ties the past and the present and the future together. Martin tells him what happened to Stacey. In order for Martin to find where the key fits, Logan tells Martin he has to buy into a high-stakes poker game to win the money to get Stacey out of trouble. Logan tells Martin to follow his cues, but Martin listens to his own and wins on aces and eights.

Logan gives the money back to Stacey at Cafe Kismet. Martin receives change of a $20 and it is the bill that says Logan loves Stacey on it. She is not ready to talk to him about that. He tells Martin that the red door will lead him to Teller’s research.

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Natalie is also outside Cafe Kismet where Martin walks across her video screen. Natalie is overwhelmed by the response and the people who came. Paolo is there, but he is not looking any longer for Celeste; he is there for Natalie. GOOSEBUMPS! I’m such a sucker for love.

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Stacey eventually meets with Logan at Cafe Kismet. Celeste found her true love. Natalie and Paolo spend time together. Clea sees the picture of Amelia on the missing video footage.

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And Martin finds the door that the 1188 key opens. He adds to the sequence, but FLICK FLUB, he forgets to put a “6” after the 975 and before the 1188.

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Touch (S1E6) Lost and Found Recap

4 02 2013

(Getting caught up on my recaps for the Season 2 start to Touch on Friday, February 8, 2013)

This was one of my favorite episodes as it signaled a turning point. Clea (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) moved past being the nagging person who admonished Martin (Kiefer Sutherland) for not being the parent he needed to be in order to keep custody of Jake (David Mazouz). Mystery begins to develop around “The Amelia Sequence.” Is Teller on to something or is it simply a brain event linked to an aneurysm or stroke? I have a brain aneurysm and have never had anything like that before. Who is Amelia? Who are the people who belong to the group that Teller keeps referring to as “them?” But most of all, it had one of my favorite actresses from Fringe, Michelle Krusiec, who granted me an interview.

Now onto the show itself: During the narration, Jake refers to the North Star, Polaris, as our anchor. It is at 89 degrees, 15 minutes and 50.8 seconds. It is a constant, a fixed point.

Opening sequence: A woman gets a phone call with obvious bad news and looks over at a couple with a baby. A man looks at “Lamont Properties/Queens Plaza North” on his computer. A couple reports a missing son. Clea stands on a bridge where a train rushes by. Martin wakes up from a dream of a smiling, happy Jake who jumps off a swing and into his arms only to see Jake standing over him. Jake is playing with a red car.

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While reviewing Jake’s case with center-director Sheri (Roxana Brusso), Clea gets a call that her mom (Carlease Burke) is in Victory Hospital. Teller asks Martin for the numbers Jake has given him thus far. Martin starts, “3, 18, 52, 96…” and Teller finishes, “32, 87, 95, 22, 975.” It’s apparently “The Amelia Sequence.” It connects everything with everyone. Teller explains that he was told he had an aneurysm but he disagrees. He would like to see Jake that day. Martin says no, but Teller finds his old visitor’s pass to Stanford House.

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Lanny Zheng (Michelle Krusiec) is at the airport and sits next to the Lamont Properties guy, Will Davies (David Julian Hirsh). She is booked on Pan Horizon Airways from JFK to Omaha at gate 77, Flight 975. He is on stand-by.

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Martin brings a lost bag from JFK to the home of the missing boy, Andy. His dad, Mr. McNichols, (Diego Serrano) looks down at Andy’s red tricycle.

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Clea goes to the hospital to see her mom; it’s been 6 years since she has. Clea’s mom is schizophrenic and does not recognize Clea. She takes about another child, “My baby’s at home” and the woman runs out.

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At the Stanford House, Teller (Danny Glover) says he is there for a consult to get past the front desk to covertly see Jake. Jake is painting the numbers 975 on his easel and Jake has been expecting Professor Teller.

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The police officer said that the mom was trying to steal cough medicine. Clea says her mother tried to take a child from a playground a few years ago. Martin walks in with a delivery for Dr. Williams. Clea is surprised to see him. They overhear news reports about Andy being missing. He was wearing a red baseball cap and has a cold.

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Will is questioning his purpose today. He says he feels guilty for telling his bosses about some great real estate property, a famous building they are now tearing down to put up a skyscraper. He asks Lanny if she has ever wondered that. Lanny replies that her parents would say that it is procreation, carrying on the family name. TSA asks Lanny to come with them as her luggage went missing. Will apparently takes the seat she will no longer occupy. Before that happens though, he gives her his business card and writes on the back of it, “I O U.”

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Toy cars apparently were Amelia’s favorite things. You hear Sheri come in and say, “Teller is here!” The next number in the sequence is “6.”

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At the hospital, Martin gets an Amber Alert on his phone, which is case #975, for Andy. Martin convinces Clea to trust him. They are going to have to find the mother and Andy themselves.

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Will wakes up in a field, attached to an airplane seat. The plane has crashed and he is apparently the only survivor. He takes his briefcase and starts walking, all the way back to his office. In a few hours, the old building will be blown up.

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Lanny goes home to her partner, Serena (Camille Chen), and she is consulting a medium named “George” (Boyuen). Lanny asks why the medium is there. None of Serena’s embryos were viable. The medium said one of their dead ancestors was upset. Lanny thinks it is a pile of BS.

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Using a map, Martin wanted Clea to point to where her mom used to go. Some backstory on Clea emerges: She was only 8 when she was taken from social services from her mom. She recognizes Queensboro Plaza. Clea tells Martin of a woman who got hit by a car there who had her mother’s cell phone. Martin says he witnessed that accident.

Teller goes to door 6, the one Jake was hanging around in a previous episode, thinking Amelia is there; however, he thinks he sees her in the hallway in a wheelchair connected to an IV. Teller is discovered. He accuses Sheri of being “part of it.” He asks her if she was promises money and fame” as he was.

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Clea remembers her mother screaming on the tracks to try to silence the voices in her head. She spots a star made in concrete that her mom drew as a roadmap in case she ever got lost (reference to the north star that Jake narrates at the beginning). It serves to jog Clea’s memory and another landmark jogs another memory. Clea remembers the crest of the building. They find out the place is going to be blown up for a demolition drop in 10 minutes.

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Teller gets into his car. It won’t turn over and he begins to see 9, 7, 5, 6 on his odometer and then sees all the numbers in a euphoric-like moment.

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Will goes to his boss, Lamont (Matt McCoy). He said they go into the poorest neighborhoods, drive down the prices, and then pave it all over. What they do is wrong. The building should have been a museum since all the jazz greats were there. He is not going to let that happen. He told his boss he had to do something that mattered TODAY. Then he turns around and walks out with blood drops dotting his trail. His boss does see it. Will arrives to the scene about the same time Clea and Martin do. He runs to the building.

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Lanny talks to Serena about her true feelings about having kids right now. Serena tells her she cannot wait much longer. Lanny’s cell phone keeps ringing. When she finally does answer, it is someone inquiring if she was on the flight that crashed.

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Clea and Martin search and find her mother. Talking to her mother about memories of their time in that building helps her mom remember just for a time. She lost Andy. She had taken him to a park. Clea thanks Will for saving his mother’s life. Martin goes running off to the park. The foreman sees Will is bleeding, but it is too late for him; he collapses and dies. Clea sees his ticket for flight 975.

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Martin hears the squeaking sound similar to his dream about Jake coming from the red swing seat at the park. Then he hears Andy’s coughing. The dream now makes sense to him.

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Serena thanks the spirits. Lanny changes her mind about children after this near-death experience. Lanny points out that they could use her eggs. Serena says because Lanny was born in the Year of the Dragon, they need to pair her with a snake. The picture from NuLife Fertility Clinic is that of our friend, Will, and she takes out the card he gave to her. It looks like she believes in fate by the end.

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Clea believes in Jake’s abilities now. She tells Martin he is a great father. Martin looks at the book and sees that Jake has added a 6. People run down the hall and out to the parking garage and Martin and Clea follow. Teller is dead.

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