Continuum Review: “Wasted Minute”

“It’s like Spy vs Spy.”
–minutes before we literally see two identicals duke it out.

We’re narrowing the border gap: last week’s Canadian episode is next week’s American one. We invite your reviews and comments on this episode, which features some major developments, and sets up a… Season Finale? Midseason Finale?

Title: “Wasted Minute”

Cast and Crew

Directed by Amanda Tapping
Written by Jeremy Smith and Matt Venables

Rachel Nichols as Kiera Cameron
Victor Webster as Carlos Fonnegra
Erik Kundson as Alec Sadler
Erik Kundson as Alec Sadler
Roger Cross as Travis Verta
Lexa Doig as Sonya Valentine
Jennifer Spence as Betty Robertson
Brian Markinson as Inspector Dillon
Stephen Lobo as Matthew Kellog
Omari Newton as Lucas Ingram
Magda Apanowicz as Emily
Rachel Crawford as Catherine
Terry Chen as Curtis Chen
Adrian Holmes as Warren

Full cast and crew information may be found at the imdb

Premise

Liber8 hijack a truck and commit a curious crime against Sanmonto. Gradually, the motives of both sides become known, as Kiera investigates and Carlos develops serious doubts.

Kiera makes a decision to remove an Alec from the picture, shortly before learning the identity of her own killer.

High Point

Just as Alec duels with with Alec and Kiera must make a choice, we have a greater plot where the heroes can be difficult to distinguish from the villains.

Low Point

While both Alecs attempt to help Kiera, they also work against each other. Shouldn’t Alec have a better sense of what Alec might try to do? Alec frequently acts surprised by Alec’s actions. They haven’t diverged that much. Surely, Alec would anticipate some of Alec’s next moves?

The Scores:

Originality: 4/6 Liber8’s motives, and the twists the plots eventually take, invest this episode with a fair bit of originality.

Effects: 5/6

Story: 6/6 Time-travel aside, the show continues to use plausible technology to drive its SF stories, while giving us adversaries with credible motives.

Acting: 5/6 Generally good—though the Freelancers seems curiously wooden. Is this deliberate?

Emotional Response: 5/6

Production: 5/6

Overall: 5/6

In total, “Wasted Minute” receives 35/42