#ogroswell

I've been having a hard time trying to put my feelings about the Season 2 finale into words, so I've been sitting on it for a few days, reading everyone's metas, and trying to organize and separate my actual thinky thoughts from the angst and heartache. That… is not something I am particularly good at. But I'm trying.

I LOVE this show. The writing is a mess. There's plot holes all over the place. The pacing issues alone make me want to tear my hair out. And dear God do I want them to give these characters and relationships (including friendships) the time and space for the big moments to land properly. I don't know if we'll ever get any of that though. And in the meantime, I love these characters and the story, messes and all.

Everyone knows my biggest love is Echo, so I'm gonna start there.

"I don't know what you thought love was gonna be like when we were 17, but it's not all sunsets and horseback rides."

Back in the OG days, there was one consistent criticism I had with the way they wrote Max and Liz's story: the breakups always felt like bullshit. Max breaks up with Liz because she was afraid of some weird alien shit. Liz breaks up with Max because he's "supposed to be with Tess" and meanwhile he's like, "um… no?" We had "it's too dangerous" when it was dangerous regardless. "We're just different" but not in ways that actually mattered.

Echo's breakup mattered. There were issues and they were not dealing with them. Both of them were sneaking around behind the other's back. Neither was being fully honest with the other.

The unwavering honesty was something that stood out to me in S1. Yes, Max was hiding the truth about Rosa's death. But when it came to the present they were almost laughably open with each other. Liz didn't lie about it when Max asked if she told Kyle the truth. When Max asked what she was doing in the lab, she told him the truth. Once Liz knew the truth about Rosa, she knew everything. It seemed like with that truth out there was nothing left to hide. And once they got together they were a team. Immediately. There's a reason that we had a joking headcanon in the Echo world that they had their first kiss and then they were a married couple.

I really think Max's death not only put that to a screeching halt...it also put them on this path to the breakup. Liz has abandonment issues, and Max made a choice, without her, that resulted in him leaving her alone. It wasn't openly discussed in the depth that it should have been this season, but I really do think it was issue #1. Liz loves Max and she was very happy being with him...but after he came back from the dead she didn't trust him to not leave her again. It was an issue simmering under the surface from Episode 7 until the finale. Liz channeled it all into worrying about his heart, but the underlying theme was a resounding "I can't go through that again". Which is deeper than just the worry over a physical health problem. And it pushed Max away from her.

He grew irritable with her. He started hiding things from her and lying to her. The season just ended and I have no idea if he ever told her anything about his memory flashes! He was obsessively trying to learn about his past and never once discussed it with Liz!?? Because he didn't want her to stop him from using the serum? This is a HUGELY personal thing to Max and you can see how much it means to him. He had tears in his eyes while telling Isobel about it. I mean, that puppy dog excitement, and yet, he hides it all whenever Liz is around.

I think it was around episode 8 that we started talking about how badly they needed to have a big fight. Us -- the Echo shippers -- the ones who WANT them to be together -- were BEGGING them to fight. I hate conflict!! But the lack of honestly and the aversions were just building and building and I just wanted it all out on the table.

They finally STARTED having that fight in episode 11, but then Rosa and Isobel interrupted. In retrospect, sweet alien!Jesus, I wish they could have finished then. Maybe they would have gotten the air clear between them. Maybe it would have put them on a path to healing their relationship before the finale. But they didn't, so the breakup happened. And the thing is… that ending. It just kind of haunts me. Liz waiting and hoping for a grand gesture that never comes. I mean, did Max even know WHEN she was leaving!?! He sure didn't seem to have it on his mind when they flashed to him in that scene. And their fight...was all about what Liz was doing and Max not taking care of his heart. They never once touched on what he was trying to learn about his past. I'm pretty certain that Liz left without knowing any of that.

And the thing is… I'm sort of skirting around the meat of the issue here. Because the biggest problem of all of this was Liz violating Max by studying his biology without consent.

I really hate saying that in writing, because, to me, it's kind of the most horrible part of all of this.

Max Evans has been referred to in jest in this fandom as the King of Consent. He was so careful with Liz, tiptoeing around her looking for explicit consent in Season 1 until her desire for him was made abundantly clear. He only ignored the need for consent twice: both times in the S1 finale. Healing Michael's hand and healing Rosa. But those things both happened after he killed Noah. After he was high on his own power. They were very clearly set up as out of character for him.

Liz didn't give him the same respect. Consent does not just apply to sexual situations and healing. It applies to studying too. It applies to Liz USING Max's biology without his permission. It also applies to administering the cure to Steph without her consent. Liz was very, very wrong here.

And the thing is… it sure didn't seem like the writers saw it that way. It also didn't seem like JEANINE saw it that way. There's been a little bit more balanced quotes from them in interviews this week since the finale ended as far as saying that both Max and Liz were wrong, but they sure focused on Liz being incredible and strong before the finale aired.

The part that confuses me though...like, a LOT, is that the narrative was pretty clear that what Liz was doing was Bad and Wrong. She looked guilty. She was lying and hiding things from Max. And the MORAL COMPASS OF THE SHOW, Mr. Kyle Valenti, repeatedly told her she was wrong. Kyle called her out on her ethical violations even as he was thanking her for saving Steph.

Genoryx was set up as being bad. Liz herself refused to go work for them in the flashbacks because they were morally sketchy. Although, maybe that's the draw now that she is all full of ethical violations. Sigh.

I'm gonna leave this topic now, but I'll encourage you to go read @latessitrice's meta on the subject here:

Okay...so to sum this up? The breakup was coming. We knew it was coming. But it still hurt my heart so much. I haven't seen anyone gif Jeanine's performance of the "I am in love with you. And I hate that right now." But the delivery of that line broke me.

That being said...do I see it being over? Let's give that a resounding FUCK, NO. I mean, sure, they fought. And it hurt. And Liz ran away. Without saying goodbye. And all of that SHATTERED ME.

But...they still love each other even if they both have a lot to work on individually. That’s part of what MADE it so hard.

I am actually stoked for season 3. Two Maxes? All of the delicious angst once Liz gets home. Liz not knowing there's two Maxes and meeting Jones first and not knowing who he is and being vulnerable to his mindfuckery? Or just his fuckery in general. Whatever. I am here for it.

I am here for Liz discovering that something about Genoryx is Not Right. I'm here for her living a normal life and getting drawn back into the madness. I'm here for Max getting more powerful and more alieny under Jones's guidance. And I am here for what I am certain will be an epic reunion once they are back together again.

As a last more positive comment...I’m stoked that we get to have both Max and Liz alive and facing interesting potential storylines this hiatus. All I wanted from this finale, in truth, was to leave the characters in a place that inspired me to want to write for them for the next year plus or however long this COVID-extended hiatus ends up being. And I am so excited for that.

Kyle: Well, what do you say we start speaking the most ancient language known to man?

— Geez, Kyle has the corniest pick-up line ever! 🤣

Kyle: So, what language is this? Tess: It's a lost language. Kyle: Then no one will mind if we don't find it.

— He has a great sense of humor, though! 🤣

Max: Michael, if Nasedo is doing anything to you, you can't trust it. Michael: Hey, I remembered it, ok? I had a flash.

—Maybe, but where did that flash come from? I call these flashes 'shenanigans' just like the dreams in this episode, and I am blaming it all on Tess. 🤔

Max: I said nothing happened. We'll talk to Isabel in the morning.

— What's there to talk about if nothing happened?! Michael doesn't question this. 😏

— This conversation between Isabel and Michael is truly terrifying. It mirrors perfectly the conversations between young couples (not aliens) when confronted with unwanted pregnancies. Social commentary at its finest! Anyway, I always found little bit silly for Isabel to think she could get pregnant in a dream…

Tess: It's time. You understand, don't you? Max: Tell me. Tell me what I'm feeling.

— If you don't know how you feel, it's not some alien stranger that's going to tell you. I mean, why would anyone trust a stranger like that? 🙄

Max: How many other victims will there be after tonight? Alex?

— These were the times I truly believed that the show was prophetic. In reality, it's a lot more 'chaotic writing'. This was an unhappy accident that turned out to be true… #RIP #AlexWhitman

— Even if that memory is genuine, there's a big difference between realizing that the little girl in the pod grew up to be Tess and understanding the reason why they were put in the pods to begin with…

Michael: Hey. What the hell did you do to him? To all of us?

— It's called a 'mindwarp'. #RoswellSpeak

Max: Michael, stop it. She's not Nasedo. Isabel: Then who is she, Max? Max: She's one of us.

— Michael's brain is pretty scrambled by those dreams. He usually takes Maria's humor in stride, but he's so freaked out that nothing she says sounds funny to him.

Alex: The word glacial comes to mind.

— This always makes me sad, because Isabel is just having this attitude due to being freaked out by the dreams. She didn't have any epiphany on how good Alex is or how great a relationship with him would be. Poor Alex... 😢

Maria: Ok. You should have more of these tortured sleepless nights.

— They were not sleepless, Maria… Tortured, yes. 🥴

Isabel: Alex and I are together now. Michael: Maria and I are going steady. Maria: Must be something in the water.

— It's better that neither Maria nor Alex know the truth, although that's inevitable…

Max: He won't listen to you. Liz: You know, he might. He trusted me once. Maria: Did you listen to him when he warned you about Max?

— Touché! 🎯 Except, Max was the good guy, and Kyle was wrong about him... and jealous.

Max: Michael's been doing this all his life, you know. Always thinking he knows better than us, but always just getting us into more trouble.

— That's true, but then again, if it wasn't for Michael's chaotic behavior, you'd still be completely unaware of anything regarding your origins. It's a double-edged sword, really.

Max: I don't even know if that's what we are. I mean, that's what we've pretended to be for so long, but…

— Just going by the information in Season 1, the pod squad absolutely fits the definition of ‘family’.

Liz: You are who you choose to be. Just like, just like you're with who you choose to be with.

— Wise words! 👏 If only Liz could follow her own advice... 🤔

Liz: Oh. What was it like… um, you know, kissing her?

— Oh, Liz… You don't really want to know that. That morbid curiosity will be the death of you…

Max: It was upsetting. It made me feel things about myself I didn't like.

— It's called 'mindwarp'. Ugh, forget it! If you need any more proof than a person can be telling the truth and still not being taken seriously, Max's words tell the whole story.

Liz: Oh my God, what is she doing with Kyle? Max: Whatever it is, it can't be good.

— OK, first things first. There are alien heads all over that locker room. Nice touch!

Liz: But the thing is, these feelings are strong… dangerous, undeniable. It's like I have no choice. It's like… chemical.

— Powerless against youthful yearnings. We've all been there. And yes, it is chemical!

— To be in such a vulnerable position and still have Max giving her that smoldering look… It's reminiscent of the Pilot where he reverses the connection and, all at once, she knows his innermost secret thoughts and emotions. It's probably a universal fantasy that one could be so vulnerable with someone and still be accepted and desired.

— Maria always has to ruin everything, 🤣, but still, how bad does Liz have it when she's fantasizing about Max in the middle of her shift?

Maria: Liz, you did not look normal. Liz: I didn't feel normal, Maria. I… it was the most amazing, incredible…

— No words can describe the awesomeness of what just happened! 😍💞 #Dreamers

Maria: You guys didn't go, 'like beyond?' Liz: No, no no! Maria: I was gonna say you were only out for 5 minutes.

— I mean: the more the merrier, but 5 minutes is all it takes, Maria! 🤣

Maria: I have never seen her like this. Alex: So this was like the kiss of the millennium? Maria: Alex, if they actually do it, she'll probably explode. Alex: Or maybe she'll explode if they don't do it.

— Alex has it right, of course! 🤣🔥

— Geez, Michael bragging to Max about his 'experiences' is truly cringy, and I'm amazed Max doesn't see right through him.

— Their little bro slug is hilarious, though! 🤣

— This was Jan Oxenberg’s one and only contribution to Roswell, and let me tell you, what a magnificent contribution it was! This is easily the best episode of this show! David Semel directed a few episodes and this was a glorious pairing! 🤌 10/10

— May I also compliment the director of photography? This shot is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen! 😍 🤌

— Alex and Maria are not taking their eyes off their best friend… Are they waiting for an ‘explosion’? 🤣

— What is Max doing here? I mean, seriously, what is he doing?! On another note, I just gotta say those black holes are a little creepy…

Max: I was just returning her pencil.

— That's the best euphemism ever! 🤣

— Here's the picture: Maria is worried, Alex is amused; Liz has no regrets, and Max doesn't wither, he just doesn't like to be in the public eye. 🤣

"Eraser room? 6th period?"