No Ordinary Family – Mystery and intrigue raise their heads

by Michael Noble

'The heat is on' as we discover a few things to pique our interest, such as the relationship between Watcher and Dr. King.

Many issues came up this week on No Ordinary Family, most of them good for you, good for me. If you saw it, you know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout, Willis. What say we touch on the latter first?

The kids – Daphne and JJ. Well, they’re getting into all sorts of monkey business, aren’t they? They’re not exactly using their powers cleanly and pristinely. JJ’s using his mental abilities to win at poker, Daphne’s helping him out. Family friendly fare? Nope. I don’t think so. This recurring theme has been going on for quite awhile now; Daphne’s used her telekinesis to land a boyfriend or win over a stuck up schoolmate. And JJ? Same thing. He’s tipped the scales in his favor to land a quarterback spot on the football team and beef up those mathematics grades. Come on, NOF writers: Enough with the hogwash. I realize these might be issues every teen in school might get themselves into given the powers these kids have … but you’ve beaten this horse so much we’re smelling glue already. Capisce?

And George St. Cloud (Romany Malco). *yeesh* Is it me … or is this guy getting extra whiny of late? He’s a pain in the ass. Hey, writers: Can we get a future bad guy to ‘off’ George in Season 2 … please?

Hokay … onward. The ‘good’ issues:

Pissy-boy Dr. Francis Chiles (Reggie Lee) got the boot from Global Tech for not playing by Dr. Dayton King’s (Stephen Collins) rules. But, snoop that he is, he’ll still be around a while it appears. Seems he might have ‘the goods’ on what makes some of those super powers tick, he just doesn’t realize what he’s got yet.

Sleaze-oid ‘Fireman’ Theo Patton (Alex Solowitz) was nothing but a good, old fashioned, second-rate hood who was imbued with a spiffy ability (fire), got power hungry and paid the ultimate price. (Yep. Kaput. And that in itself brought on some reflection from Jim and Stephanie at the close of the show in re-evaluating this whole superhero business.) But, oh … what a nice taste of nastiness, huh?!? Dude had the typecast child molester look going on to a ‘T’. Still, dumbass is as dumbass does and he bit the big one. (Speaking of dumbasses, I dug the fact ‘Scowly’ – better known as Det. Cordero (Guillermo Díaz) — indirectly got his ass kicked by Theo. Dude’s had it coming for some time now.)

Best of all, we have Watcher (Josh Stewart) who we come to find out doesn’t have his special and amazing ‘abilities’ all by his lonesome. They are manufactured … instigated … processed by Dr. King and/or his lackeys. And it appears the green goo Watcher covets lets the good doctor hold powerful sway over him. Nifty. (Did anyone get the ‘green with envy’ reference?)

Come on! Get outta your La-Z-Boy and onto your feet and cheer with wild abandon! When all is said and done – despite the obviously foibles and stutter steps — this was a rather boffo episode!

Who’s with me … ?!?

Photo Credit: ABC