No Ordinary Family "No Ordinary Detention" Review

Photo Credit: ABC

What the hell did I just watch? For the second time in the show's history, stuff actually happened in an episode like revelations and the progression of the overall narrative. Nevermind that the Powell family managed to keep thing their secrets secret during the episode but, at least, the truth about Sylar II began to unearth itself. Now, friends and well-wishers, the degree of things changing was about as seismic as Qwest Field during Marshawn Lynch's 67 yard run against the Saints. The episode provided the illusion that great changes happened for each of the main characters in their respective stories.

Indeed, Stephanie learned that Rebecca Mader's a shady, shifty woman (or rather Katie did but one imagines Stephanie will get that information between episodes) and Jim managed elude punishment even though he clearly violated protocol in the police department by being a vigilante. And just when the expectation that Jim would reveal his powers to the most important woman in his field, the show reminds everyone why it has many miles to go before it's good again.

The most interesting story of "No Ordinary Detention" felt like the B story, which is weird. Stephanie, Katie, Sylar II and Rebecca Mader were locked down after Mader forced a lock down. Sylar II fell victim to Katie's plan for Stephanie to check him out since Sylar II felt under the weather. He suffered from withdrawal following his stance to never inject the super serum into his body. Unfortunately, once Katie's life became threatened, Sylar II injected the serum into his body so he could throw Mader through a glass window with his mind. THERE IS NO SPOON. Conveniently, Stephanie's knocked out throughout the fun so she remains unaware of what exactly happened. In fact, the more I think about it, Katie will keep Sylar II and Rebecca Mader a secret because Sylar II asked her to which is an annoying trait of the show. One step forward seems to be two steps backward. But the B story seemed to plant the seeds for May sweeps when Dr. King's plan becomes known, and the Powells have to band together to stop he and Rebecca Mader. Katie will inevitably be forced to make a decision between love and her best friend, and then Sylar II will most likely leave the show a villain as the show, in all likelihood, might be too lazy to tell a redemptive story about a recovering addict even if it's just a super powered person.

In the A story, a criminal and his three lackeys decided to take the entire police department hostage. Fittingly, Jim stopped the criminal in the teaser of the episode just as a woman arrived at the police department to investigate the possibility of a rogue cop in the department. Jim became paranoid, seemingly unaware that he could get in trouble for being a vigilante. Throughout the hostage situation, Jim put the lives of all the hostages in danger as he slowly beat the criminals up one by one. The situation works out wonderfully for Jim. While he continues to break PD protocol and endanger the lives of many others, he ends the episode as a hero and in the good graces of the the woman from Internal Affairs. She decides to protect Jim because he's a hero.

Throughout the two most important stories, the possibility that Jim or Stephanie or both would reveal their powers to one of the guest-stars seemed realistic. Unfortunately, everything remains the same as in the beginning of the episode--except the Powells actually eat family dinner together (Stephanie desired a family dinner in the beginning of the episode). Sylar II and Katie's relationship changed but that won't go anywhere until late April or early May.

But credit where credit's due, the A and B stories were entertaining and I actually enjoyed myself during the episode. Rebecca Mader brought the evil quite well, and I kept waiting for Juliet to show up so she could kick Charlotte's ass one last time but they were characters on a far more superior series. The two Katies was fun as well as Jim's delight at having the upper hand over the devious villains. As always, I understand what No Ordinary Family is. It will never have the serialization of LOST, Terriers, ANGEL or Buffy. But if the series can entertain me once every 3 months then I'm a happy camper.

In the C story, the teenagers found themselves in detention with the rebel from last week, JJ's girl and Bailey, the prettiest girl in school. NOF detention did NOT resemble actual high school detention. But detention subplots rarely resemble the actual experience as any teen drama would prove. Detention existed to bring the rebel and Daphne together as well as JJ and Bailey, following the end of JJ's relationship. The teacher didn't bother to stay in detention so all sorts of fun occurred like truth or dare. Also, JJ made a romantic gesture towards his clearly disinterested girlfriend by making snow because she once witnessed snowfall in a town that never got snow before. Blah.

Also, Andrew Rothenberg portrayed the central antagonist of the episode in the A story. The last time Rothenberg was on TV, he portrayed Jim on The Walking Dead, who had the fate of joining the zombie apocalypse as a zombie.

Leigh Dana Jackson and Zack Estrin wrote the episode. Longtime TV Director David Petrarca, who directed quite a few episodes of Dawson's Creek and Everwood, directed tonight's NOF.

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