Roswell, New Mexico Season 2 | Episode 2 “Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space” Review

Saving Max gets put on hold in this week’s episode of Roswell, New Mexico as other problems need attention first. When Rosa learns the truth about what the town thinks of her, she struggles to cope with this new life. Meanwhile, Maria’s mom is still missing. Michael offers to help, and he finally admits his feelings for her. Isobel’s mom takes her on a quest of spiritual healing to help cope with the loss of Noah. Little does she know that Isobel is trying to cope with a completely different matter.

Coping with the Truth

It’d be stupid to assume that Rosa would come back from the dead after 10 years and be perfectly okay with the new normal of the world. A lot has happened, not just in her personal life, but in the world in general. Even though she hasn’t made her comeback to the public yet, it’s a bad move on Liz to lie to her about what really happened 10 years ago after her death. I get that she doesn’t want to hurt her sister’s feelings and the plan is for them to move, but Liz had to know that Rosa would sneak out, do some internet searches (especially after getting a phone) and learn the truth. I understand Liz has a lot going on, trying to save Max and all, but what I don’t understand is how she could be so naïve to think Rosa would stay cooped up at Max’s without anything to do. It ultimately lands her in hot water with Rosa.

You see, while Rosa’s sneaking around town, painting alien graffiti in a ballcap and hoodie, she witnesses Michael and Wyatt Long get into a fight. Curiosity gets the best of her because Wyatt apparently used to be a nice kid, so she does a Google search, and isn’t happy with what she finds – a racist rant video of Wyatt urging for people to build a wall in memory of his sister. It doesn’t take long for Rosa to learn that it’s not just him who feels that way, but the whole town believes she got behind the wheel wasted and killed those two girls. The whole thing sends her into a tailspin of wanting to slip back into her old bad habits, mainly alcohol. She even rips Liz a new one for wanting to save her “vanilla mayonnaise white bread boyfriend” for not coming clean when people started committing hate crimes against their family. It’s not until her second nightmare (of the episode) where Max pleads with her to stop Liz that she gives into the urge. “I never dreamed when I was using,” she tells Max before waking up on the Crashdown’s billboard and takes a gulp of tequila.

I Don’t Need A Hero

“Maria DeLuca is her own savior.” Liz said this about her best friend last season, and man, it’s showing to be more and more true this season. Her mom has been missing for two weeks, and the local PD doesn’t seem to be making it a top priority, so she’s doing it herself. She’s posting signs all over town. She’s doing everything she can to earn extra money for a private detective by hosting a “find your inner Goddess” exercise called “Woman as Warrior: Strength Training for the Mind, Body, and Spirit”. She’s even sleeping at The Wild Pony in hopes Mimi shows up there. She’s doing all this while remaining as strong one can be and even sort of being there for Isobel during the strength training.

Maria DeLuca may not need a hero, but it sure doesn’t hurt to accept help when it’s being offered. Michael’s main concern this whole episode, from the moment she puts a sign on his door, is Maria and her mom. He even gets himself arrested for fighting Wyatt Long in public when he catches Wyatt using a sign to get gum off his boot. While in a jail cell together, Liz (yes, Liz gets arrested because she takes the fall for Rosa’s graffiti) advises Michael to admit his feelings for Maria. First, he admits it to Alex, who seemingly understands. Then he shows up outside The Wild Pony, airstream in tow, ready to keep an eye on the parking lot while she’s staying there alone at night. He likes when she’s happy, when she’s singing, when she’s giving him crap and when she’s laughing. So, no. Maria DeLuca doesn’t need a hero, especially in Michael Guerin. But she does deserve to be happy, and if Michael is finally letting his guard down and admittedly wanting to be a source of her happiness, then why not accept it? “On a casual, trial, non-exclusive basis” with absolutely no hook-ups with any Lindsays ever, of course. 😉

My two cents on the Alex-Michael-Maria triangle: I know it’s a weird predicament, and Malex fans are kind of in an uproar over it. I get it. I love Malex. But I also think they have a lot of baggage to sort through. Michael and Maria are cute. They have some issues that I’m sure will come to light over time – mainly, Maria finding out about aliens, Michael dealing with the grief of his mother, and whatever Mimi is going through. So, I’m sure they won’t have it easy. And Maria being one of Alex’s best friends is sucky. And Michael’s on-again-of-again feelings for Alex isn’t fair. But people can explore their feelings when they aren’t in serious and committed relationships. In the end, Malex will most likely be end-game, but just like with most other end-game couples, there will be a slow burn, and there will be other people involved. That’s just how it is.

Setting Yourself Free

It’s been two weeks since Isobel took an ultrasound of her stomach and learned that she’s pregnant with her late murderous husband’s baby. She’s five weeks along. It’s the size of a lentil, and it’s eating her alive. Not literally, but in the figurative fearful sense. She doesn’t know what to do. Thankfully, her mom comes in just in the nick of time to take her to Maria’s “Woman as Warrior” exercise. As expected, Isobel puts on a front of not taking it seriously, but she does participate in each of the exercises, including writing down her worst fear: the lentil. At the end of the exercise, Maria asks everyone to throw their fears into the fire while saying “I choose to set myself free.” Isobel is hesitant to do so. She feels like she can’t, but in a nice moment of rare connection, Maria encourages Isobel that she can. And she does. She sets herself free of the fear of the baby. When she gets home, she takes it a step further by taking a drop of the alien cure serum she stole from Liz/the lab. Anyone else confused by this action? This stuff nearly killed her, and she makes sure to gripe at Liz for still having it. What does she think this will do?

Notable Mentions

• #TeamSaveMax now has a secret lab, curtesy of Alex’s job. Security detail is also Alex’s team who take order without question. Alex is in a pretty powerful position now, huh? Why aren’t we thanking him more??
• Kyle watches in on a heart surgery, essentially so he can do the surgery on Max. Not sure this would be the same since Max is, you know, an alien, but we love the effort. I’m sure it’s a good blueprint in some way or another 😊
• Jesse and Flint Manes are up to something shady… more shady than usual.
• Who is the fake hospital employee that Alex walks past on the way to see his dad who starts convulsing??
• “I get it. You know, honestly, if I could choose to be with Maria DeLuca, I would too.”
• Max feels like he’s “burning alive from inside”
• Rosa graffities on outside The Crashdown and sees her dad :’(
• “I have to keep fighting for him. Even if it’s hard, it’s- harder than I could’ve ever imagined.”

Roswell, New Mexico airs Mondays at 9/8c on The CW!