BELIEVE

His life is slowly ending, eaten away by renal cancer, stage four. Why would anyone want to surrender to that horrible waste of life? I’m not too informed on the terminology, but things don’t look good for Bryce right now and it just goes to show that tragedy can befall even those with the most brilliant of future's ahead of them. Not wanting his family to go through another long emotionally drawn out death, Bryce opted for what he thought was the only dignified way out. And now we know what brought him to be standing on the pier with a gun to his chin, about to pull the trigger at the precise moment the entire human race fell into their 137 seconds of unconsciousness.

Bryce informs Olivia of his illness and she thinks she has convinced him into visiting a clinic in Houston. She really cares about him and is both stunned and heartbroken by his lack of faith in her. I love that we saw Bryce disembarking the aircraft, walking through the terminal and then the “Welcome to Tokyo” sign appears. I couldn't help but laugh. That cheeky rebel, I thought.

We also know the epiphany that he experienced that changed his entire outlook on life. Her name is Keiko, and she’s a good Japanese family girl who has dreams of being something other than the robotics engineer her parents worked so hard to create. She has dreams of finding true love with someone other than the men her parents have chosen for her. She’s seen his face, she knows where to find him and she’s taking the risk to make her dream come true. They will seek each other out, they will find their dream on April 29^th and, for whatever time Bryce has left, they will find the hope and happiness of their vision.

Am I the only one who thought it funny that Bryce and Keiko were on the same plane, and, if they had only looked at their fellow passengers, they may have met that much sooner?

Mark learns of the text that was sent to Olivia and begins to question the relationships he has with his friends and co-workers. While we all know that neither Aaron nor Stan sent that text (that would be way too obvious), Mark realizes that someone else knows. I’m wondering when he is going to figure out that whomever knows of his drinking had to have been a part of his flashforward and therefore, in his vision. The problem here is that Mark is so focused on his big board of clues and the three gunmen that he hasn’t seen the trees for the forest. In other words, he needs to pay more attention to what he deems as innocuous in his vision and I believe he will find who sent the text, and possibly who the mole is.

The NSA, National Security Association (?), does it’s best to refine the video of Suspect Zero, managing to isolate the symbol on the ring. Of course, we’ve already figured out that it was the Alpha Ring that he was wearing. But Stan wants the face and starts asking questions that the NSA representative is hesitant to answer. When prompted, she confesses that someone in the LA Field Office is being investigated. The NSA intercepted a phone call to Dimitri, but can’t tell where it came from.

Yeah, this does not make sense to me. So, the NSA flags a routed and rerouted and re re routed cell phone call, records the info and decides that Dimitri is a risk because someone told him he would be dead in six months? Understandably, Dimitri is not a happy camper. And who can blame him? Someone has a voice recording of the anonymous person who, in effect, has threatened his life. After a bit of pressure, the NSA releases the recording to the FBI and Vreede removes all the layers. I agree with Dimitri. It’s pretty depressing to hear that voice and those words again. But, by peeling back the layers of the call, they are able to pinpoint the origin of the call. Hong Kong it is. But Stan refuses to allow Mark and Dimitri to go to find some answers.

I watch FF with my daughter and my father. Both are pretty sharp and quick on the uptake, if you get my drift. Both are enjoying the sensation of thinking these clues through and trying to solve the mystery and both have their own ideas about certain aspects of the show. My father has said that he suspects Stan Wedeck as being the mole, and his argument is pretty convincing. Stan pretty well jumped on Mark’s vision without so much as an “are you sure?” and created an investigation based on a foggy vision. He blackmailed the President to ensure he retained control of said investigation (possibly to keep on top of, and report, any break throughs). Janice discovers the towers that may have caused the event in Somalia (and no one but Dimitri, Mark, Vreede and Stan knew that it was she who had found the clue) and there’s a coordinated assassination attempt on all the agents involved almost immediately. He refuses to allow Mark to go to Somalia. Now, with the revelation that the mystery caller was in Hong Kong, he refuses to allow them to find her and ask a few questions. There’s also the fact that no one can actually verify his story of taking care of business in his vision. Either he’s so busy protecting his rear end from the governmental hounds or he’s trying to keep things covered up, or he’s just so darned incompetent that he doesn’t recognize a solid clue when he sees one. I haven't made up my mind yet.

There’s also Vreede. This is the agent who was leaving the FBI building at the same time gun men were after Mark (in said FBI building) and we have only seen maybe fifteen seconds of his flashforward, if that. Who’s to say that he isn’t the one responsible for giving the gunmen (whom we all now know are Jericho by the three stars tattooed on their arms) access to the building? How do we know he didn’t walk past Mark’s office and saw him drinking from the flask (do we know that’s really alcohol?) on his way to opening the door for the assassins? Yes, it is a stretch, but it could happen. Did you see him squirm when the NSA lady said someone in their office had been red flagged? It was very brief, but he did appear somewhat uncomfortable, did he not? I also think he may have been the one who sent Olivia the text message telling her about Mark's drinking in the future.

And so Mark is burning old bridges and building new ones in his quest to learn who sent Olivia the text message. He both angered and hurt his close friend Aaron and completely pissed off Stan. But what is he to do? As far as he knows, only two people in the world knew at that time that he saw himself drinking in his flash. Yeah, I‘d be asking questions as well.

Aaron is coping with his own problems as Tracy sinks deeper into despair and fear and finds the relief she feels she needs in a bottle of Whiskey or a bottle of wine. She drinks herself into a stupor in order to get some sleep. And he blames himself for the state his daughter is in (which is not true by the way) and fears there is nothing he can do to stop her downward spiral into that dark world. He has been there himself and it is going to be a major test of his commitment to being a recovering alcoholic.

Mark and Aaron’s relationship has changed forever, but the friendship is still strong and the support each of them are going to need is still there. Despite what he feels is unjustified accusation, Aaron really needs a friend, someone he can count on as he travels the dangerous road to finding a way to help Tracy overcome her addiction and her fears.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and tell you about my suspicions. Remember the ex-soldier, Mike, who left Tracy for dead after the Humvee attack? I suspect he is a member of Jericho. Tracy’s door wouldn’t open from the inside. I'm just sayin' She was left for dead. Then, he does his best to convince Aaron that he actually saw her die, yet what we saw belies what our ears are telling us. Odd how he shows up shortly before Tracy does. Jericho, which is headquartered in Santa Monica, knows all there is to know about her, and, once she disappeared from the hospital in Afghanistan, they need someone to get close to her father, him being the next logical safe haven she would seek out. Colour me rainbow if I’m wrong, I’ll supply the silly string even, if it turns out that Mike is innocent of these suspicions.

DID YOU NOTICE?

The bullet that Bryce took out of the box and loaded into the gun had a blue tip. I wonder if it had NOT TODAY printed in blue ink on the side.

Bryce's Jeep appears blue in the parkade when he crashes into the classic Thunderbird (that guy was a jerk anyway), but at the prier on the day of the black out it appeared either silver of white.

Tracy is a bit of a messy miss.

Tracy made chili and she puts cheese on it. Just that way I like to eat my chili.

Do you think the guy who summoned Keiko to the boardroom has a thing for her? He seemed very apologetic after the boss told her to pour the tea.

QUESTIONS

1. Where is Tracy getting the booze? If she's so scared of Jericho and afraid to go out, how is she getting the alcohol? I doubt the recovering alcoholic Aaron is going to stock the cupboard above the refrigerator.

2. Am I the only one who thought it was ironic that Bryce was vomiting and the Japanese CD was translating "How are you?"

3. Does Olivia suffer from PMS? She's really difficult to follow, one minute she's curt and negative toward Bryce, the next she's like a mother hen and taking his temperature.

4.Did Bryce confide in Nichole more than his quest for Keiko? Does she know how ill he is?

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

"You don't know what the future holds. None of us do.....Live each day doing what feels right" ~ Bryce's psychiatrist

"I want to report a hit and run....He's still hitting me!"~ Jerk Thunderbird driver

"Nothing is going to get me through this. The diagnosis is terminal" ~ Bryce

Flashforward is preempted next week to make way for the US Thanksgiving and will return on December 3rd. Episode 1.10 is called A561984.

Again with numbers!

PLAYING CARDS WITH COYOTE

When I first heard the title of this episode I immediately thought of Wiley Coyote with Simon's face. I think I was wrong. In traditional Aboriginal lore, the coyote is often portrayed as a trickster, which does not describe Simon at all. Simon may be the most intelligent man on earth, but he's too self confident in his abilities to talk himself out of trouble using intellectual mambo jumbo to resort to tricking people. In contemporary lore, the coyote is often portrayed as inventive and evasive as well. I believe the coyote they were referring to was Lloyd Simcoe. From previous experience playing poker with Simon, he knew the odds were stacked against him, but he also learned that in order to win he would need and ace up the sleeve. Literally and figuratively, Lloyd took steps to ensure he would come away the winner. There is no shame is changing the game, right?

Mark and Olivia were also taking steps to change their futures. They've renewed their, er, intimate relationship and are being as honest as possible with each other. Olivia tossed away the slinky undies Mark had bought for her, dismayed and disgusted since that's what she was wearing in her flash. Mark too, took steps to change what he saw by drawing out the 3Star Guy and, oh yes he did, he killed him. But as we saw there's three to take that one 3Star Guy's spot.

Tracy woke up with a recurring nightmare. One she's had for two years. She explained to her father why she didn't return home immediately (nice of them to take care of her, get her prosthetic leg and teach her how to walk again). She saw an entire village population of women, children and really old people being wiped out. After she'd informed her commanding officer, she and the other soldiers were sent into a trap. She only left Afghanistan because she was worried the Jericho mercenaries would go after Kamir Dijon and the IEC, to get to her. No one must know that she is alive. Ooops, Mark knows and I'm sure Olivia will soon too.
Jericho are military contractors. A polite way of saying mercenaries. Basically they do the dirty work no one wants to be associated with and demand much money for it. At least, that's my take on it. The Jericho, as we learned, identify themselves with three stars tattooed onto their left forearm. I have a feeling that Jericho are deeply entrenched in not just the government, but also whatever the symposium of scientists (read Simon, Lloyd, Gordon Myhill , Elizabeth Rhee, Phillipe Tarhan and Gabe Clayson) are into. By the way, who thinks the man who took the case of rings and shot the lead Jericho dude is either Gordon Myhill or D. Gibbons?
Speaking of the rings, it is beginning to look as if those people who did not pass out during the GBO were wearing one. See the above close up (I'm getting good at the screenshots, aren't I?). The symbol looks as if it's the Greek symbol for Alpha. In electronics the Alpha is the symbol for "transistor." Also, when combined with H (H-alpha) it is an "emission" line created by hydrogen atoms. The large man mentioned that there was one ring missing. Who wants to bet that Suspect Zero still has his?

Janice tried to resign so she could take sometime to re-evaluate where her life is going and what she wants for her future. Unfortunately Stan refused to accept her resignation, which is good because Janice has a great eye for detail and Mark is going to need her. Not to mention the obvious fact that they are so short handed it's almost funny. Quickly she is put back into action protecting Ingrid Alvarez, who witnessed the 3Star Guys killing Neil Parofsky (an aeronautical engineer) in the alley behind her bird shop. I would never have had the presence of mind to use my cell phone to record it (I admit to being more likely to wetting my pants and running away in a cowardly attempt to preserve my life.)

The FBI realizes they have a mole. Interesting how D. Gibbons knew they were coming to Utah. The coordinated attack on the LA Field agents. They take advantage of the fact that 3Star Dudes killed the wrong witness and use Ingrid Alvarez as bait. Unfortunately, Mark kills the man before he can kill either Dimitri or Mark. Another unfortunate thought? Dead men can't spill the beans, and they are back to square one.

I have an idea who the mole in the office is, but I'm going to keep my big mouth shut for a bit. It can be one of two people from what I can tell, and right now both are very suspect in my eyes.

Take a look the picture above. It's the notice that Nichole took off the cork board at the hospital. I can't read it, but I have a feeling this is how she ends up being drowned on April 29th.

DID YOU NOTICE?

The e-mail addresses all ended with @nlap.us.com? What is nlap?

Dylan instantly became silent, almost defiant, when Simon walked into the hospital room. I don't think the kid likes him very much.

I read somewhere that Dominic Monahan bases his characters after the traits of animals and that Simon is modeled after the behaviour of a preying mantis. If you get a chance to watch it again, keep you eye on Simon when he is confronting Lloyd at the hospital and after the poker game.

Aaron's vision appears to be coming true, so he now believes that what he saw MUST happen.

Olivia believes that what she saw must NOT happen.

Mark, is conflicted because he saw his life in danger and doesn't WANT it to happen, but isn't sure if he can believe that events can be changed.

Even brilliant surgeons with great legs need to fold the laundry.

Nichole is standing on the lookout over a cliff and just down the coast a little ways is the hotel where Olivia and Mark are holed up.

The opening song is titled Unthought Known by Pearl Jam.

QUESTIONS:

How did Dimitri find Celia in order to send her the letter and why didn't he deliver it himself?

Who is taking care of Charlie?

How many people have slapped Simon for being so arrogantly, rub-it-in-your-face smug in his extreme intellect?

Is Lloyd almost as smart as Simon?

Where do Lloyd and Simon work?

Who were the two men sitting at the poker table with Lloyd and Simon? They had to be someone they knew and trusted since they were talking about going public and all.

Did Mark purposely kill the 3Star Tattooed guy and does he really think he has leveled the playing field and changed his future?

Who is the mole in the FBI office?

QUOTABLE QUOTES

"If Al's death proved anything, it's that our choices matter now more than ever"

"I've had to check myself into the hospital to have my bruised ego x-rayed."

"You want to wager the fate of millions of people on the outcome of a poker game?"

"Twenty million deaths on our shoulders......If that doesn't qualify us for Godhood, then tell me what does"

And, my favourite...

"Am I keeping you awake, Cupcake?"

Just a quick explanation. Both Simon and Lloyd used some very big words and phrases in this episode (they think they're so smart). Quantum Suicide is explained here. I have a general idea of what it is, but I need a bit of time to get it into my own words.

QED = quod erat demonstradum. Literally it means "which has been demonstrated". Simon arrogantly believed that since he had won all the previously played hands he would win the next hand. Unfortunately he didn't factor Lloyd's "ace up the sleeve" play into his calculations.

I admit that I am so not liking Dom's new character. But I am loving to hate him.

Next week is 1.09 Believe.