I think this is the first episode where I've actually noticed the cinematography, and I mean that in a positive way. There's a few shots that really add to the tension being built here, weird angles and lighting and it just works.

Taking out two members of the main cast is also great, the kids aren't exactly the best actors, so getting to focus on the adults here works wonders, especially the scenes with June, Thorne, and the Little Green Men guy.

The setup also gives me Dr Wondertainment vibes (for any fellow SCP fans), both with the initial threat and the way the offices are set up, the rooms of pure green, black, and white add a certian atmosphere to this story.

That all said, I find the actual alien presence to be this episode's weakest part, it's another 'last of their kind, bent on wrecking the world to find more of them', I think you can maybe get away with that once a season, and Aeolian already beat them to the punch. Sure they're very different ways of going about that basic premise, but when you main crew meets too many lasts of their kind, it feels less special.

The resolution here is another 'power of love' type thing which has been done before and much better in my opinion. The alien prothetics look great, but don't give much ability to act, which means they can't sell the change of heart all that well, I do like the alien de-saturating as it dies though, it's a small thing but a neat touch.

Also it's a tiny thing, but the last shot is completely unneeded, there's a nice line from June about how Jorjie is home, which I think was a great moment to end the episode on given the alien wanted to be home too and she's what gave it that change of heart.... and they then have a shot of Jorjie with Gryphen saying "here she is" or something and then awkwardly cutting to credits? Just completely unneeded and makes the ending worse.

5️⃣⏹️ = MIDDLING!

Barking through time and space, one adventure at a time!

“THE GAME OF DEATH!”

What’s up with the future and all these weird hats and glasses people are wearing in place of using normal technology?

And we have yet another story about the dangers of video games and how they can be used to wipe the minds of children. This could’ve been fine if they hadn’t given us the silly scenes inside the game company with the Custodians (the smirk on that one guy’s face makes me want to punch him; also, he looks like Rivers Cuomo from Weezer).

Now that Forgettable Girl and Annoying Kid are sidelined for a bit and we focus on Villain Moher, Dull Professor, and Bad Starkey, things generally flow a bit better. Annoying Mother gets a chance to show that she is actually a pretty good mother when given the opportunity.

There’s also a pretty basic but interesting alien conquest plot here, along with a cool alien design.

The climax is slow but quite meaningful in many ways.

Gently profound, if a little uneven in places. The moment Thorne temporarily loses control, before the alien menace lets go had the right amount of tension. The inclusion of VR headsets and Zuckerberg style middlemen makes the show quite on the pulse for 2010. This is a proper show.