#115 Independence Day – Primer

After Max and Isabel discover Michael’s foster father has been beating him, they offer him a place in their home.

Feeling isolated, Michael struggles with not having a real family like what he witnesses at the Evans. Michael goes to Maria for comfort, but is thrown out by Maria’s mom. Michael then considers leaving Roswell in search of his real family and Nasedo.

Once on the road, Michael realizes Max and Isabel are his real family, and returns to Roswell. Max’s father then helps Michael gain emancipation.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Valenti and Amy attempt to take their relationship a step further. Amy comes to realize that Sheriff Valenti only has time for his job.

In the end, we see Michael’s foster father shape shifting into someone else. We come to realize the fourth alien, Nasedo, had killed Michael’s foster father after he learned of the beating.

Jason Katims Commentary

“I love the themes of (Michael) being an actual alien, and him being an alienated teen.”

Transcribed by Lena

“Independence Day“. I have so many great things to say about this episode. I must be very fast. I love this episode. I have notes about this episode: I love Michael’s journey particularly the themes of him being actual alien and him being an alien 18 and the idea of using the metaphor of being an abused teenager with being an alien and I am very happy that we stayed away from seeing the scenes of violence and just making it be more emotional and feel it through Brendan Fehr’s performance. Another thing I thought was great were
the scenes between Majandra and Maria’s mom played by Diane Farr. The scenes were really believable. Diane Farr was wonderful coming in a guest role, also it was the first episode written by Toni Graphia, who came in joining the staff, and I thought that she did a wonderful job finding that sort of true emotion and the judge at the end of the show who granted Michael his emancipation was played by my father though I may not agree with his choice to give Michael emancipation it was great to have my father in an episode, those are the reasons why I love “Independence Day”.