Dominion – “Something Borrowed” Retrospective. Chasing Shadows.

Don't let Claire's good looks fool you, she's got her best game face on.

Don’t let Claire’s sweet looks fool you, she’s got her best game face on.

Season 1, Episode 5

Airdate: Thursday, July 17, 2014, 9/8c on Syfy

Rating: ★★★★★

Everyone has secrets, and many of the characters in Syfy’s Dominion are no exception. In “Something Borrowed,” a majority of the episode reflects on the human characters, and often, their relationships with one another. Although there are not nearly enough scenes with the higher angels like Michael (Tom Wisdom) and Gabriel (Carl Beukes), “Something Borrowed” compensates with strong performances by its actors and fascinating plot points. The supporting cast, such as Sgt. Noma Walker (Kim Engelbrecht), and Principate William Whele (Luke Allen-Gale), all have excellent development in their respective story lines and backstory. Even though we’re five episodes into the season, it’s time to focus on others besides the Chosen One, Sgt. Alex Lannen (Christopher Egan). Also, the political intrigue and exploration into the series’ mythology grows when it appears that not all “8-balls”—humans possessed by violent lower angels—are the same. There is no short supply of twists and turns making “Something Borrowed,” in many ways, a game changer.

Hero Rising

In the beginning of the episode, there are two very contrasting moments. The first depicts Alex and Michael going through rounds of self-defense exercises. Michael pushes Alex to concentrate on fighting smarter, not just harder, but ever the stubborn one, Alex makes excuses for his lack of competency. It’s only when Michael mentions Bixby’s (Betsy Wilke) unfortunate end that it becomes apparent why Alex is struggling with his sparring. At this point, Michael makes a comment that not only reflects on better fighting tactics, but seems to be a metaphor for the series, “Watch the shadows, not the sun.” The play on words relating to dark and light is a subtle but indirect nod to the themes associated with Dominion. So many people in Vega’s elite class rely on a noble appearance to maintain their power but beneath the surface, they harbor their own dark deeds.

Senator Whele’s thoughts flash back to his worse memories.

The second highlight focuses on Senator Whele’s (Anthony Stewart Head) life prior to the apocalypse, and signifies the moment he turned his back on God. In the scene, it’s night and a family huddles in a closet to protect themselves from attack. At first, you cannot detect who the people are until the very end when a majority of them are slaughtered. Those remaining are a young boy crying for his mother, and a man who turns out to be a less than dapper looking Senator Whele; the boy is his son, William. It is at this moment the origin of Senator Whele’s hatred towards God and the angels takes root. It is a little cliché story wise, but offers a very valid reason. For a man who once televangelized the greatness of God, it’s easy to see how he feels abandoned and hopeless.

In stark contrast to Senator Whele’s backstory is that of William, who now secretly worships Gabriel—the leader of the very beings that murdered his family. Both Allen-Gale and Head deliver intense performances while providing an opportunity for viewers to get a closer look at William’s darker side, revealing he is truly his father’s son.

The Princess and the Principate

“Something Borrowed” takes its name from the impending marriage between Lady Claire Riesen (Roxanne Mckee) and William. Honestly, I never trusted Claire’s agreement to marry William so easily after learning of her father’s illness. Sure, she’s doing it for family and honor but there’s a catch. And in this case, Claire wants to use William as a way to stave off Senator Whele. It’s a brilliant move but she’s a horrible liar. Still, every now and then, I really enjoy William’s exchange of words with Claire. It’s a case of opposites attract; William may be a little bit creepy with his big smiles and faux innocence, but Claire’s goodie-goodie ways provide a nice counterbalance. If she can get past the friend zone, I think they would make a very dynamic couple.

Noma and Alex’s situation gets complicated.

That said, Alex and Noma’s story line hits an all-time high when they address their past together. Yes, Noma and Alex had a thing but she ended their relationship so he wouldn’t be kicked out of Archangel Corps. This newfound knowledge essentially makes Claire the rebound girl. I’m not against the idea of Noma and Alex. In fact, I think their history and working together in the military are great reasons to rekindle their romance. My main complaint in “Something Borrowed” is the lack of build-up to the news about Noma and Alex’s intimate connection. I feel like it was just thrown out there, not to mention this all happens during the night in the middle of an alleyway. Not quite the best timing. If there’s anything to gain from their scene, it’s the short but loaded conversation that hints there’s more to come between these two.

Alex: “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Noma: “The corps was the only family you had…I couldn’t let you lose it because of me. So, I told Finch that I would end it. And I did.”

Alex: “You thought the corps was more important to me than you?”

Noma: “You met Claire right after…so it all worked out.”

Meanwhile, Senator Reisen’s (Alan Dale) dirty little affair with Clementine (Amy Bailey), the 8-ball, causes some major fallout when Alex finds her. I particularly love this scene because it shows that not all humans possessed by lower angels end up evil, some just act out of fear. Then, there’s Alex, who uses his pain and anger against Clementine. For someone who is supposed to be the savior, he doesn’t behave honorably. The real twist happens when Clementine tells Alex, “I have a daughter.”

Bottom Line

This episode is a great counterpart to last week’s “The Flood,” where we learned angels have very human problems. “Something Borrowed” demonstrates that humans are no better than the demonic sort of angels they battle on a daily basis.

Writer, Alex Holmes, who also wrote “The Flood,” does a great job providing engaging dialogue and scenes. I really love how the theme of secrets remains at the heart of “Something Borrowed.” The idea is relevant to not just the human characters but the warring angels as well. It’s a great little examination piece into what makes some of the main characters tick, apart from some of the idiosyncrasies with timing and pacing.

Overall, another good set-up for what will definitely be an exciting season!

What did you think of the “Something Borrowed?” Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @conallen.

Tune in to Dominion on Thursdays at 9/8c, only on Syfy.

Follow the series on its official site at www.syfy.com/dominion, where you can also watch videos and clips of the episodes. Also, like the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DominionSyfy