CONTINUUM: “Fast Times” (Episode 2, Season 1)

Can you imagine what life must be like for City Protective Services (CPS) Officer Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols) who was inadvertently transported back in time from the year 2077 to present day Vancouver? Not only is she separated from her home and family (husband Greg and son Sam) but she is seemingly stuck in a time that is completely foreign to her. Thankfully she has made contact with Alec Sadler (Eric Knudsen), the younger version of the man who created the suit that Kiera was wearing upon her “Quantum Leap” like trip back in time.

As last night’s episode, entitled “Fast Times” opened, we get a glimpse of what Kiera’s first day on the CPS force was like, getting an implant shot into the back of her neck (that had to pinch, right?) and then have a CMR (cellular memory recall) hardwired into her cortex through what can only be described as a high-tech contact lens implant. That “implant” (if you will) is the future’s way of allowing an officer to visually chronicle all of their movements, recording everything they see, hear and do into the CMR, which gets downloaded after a set period of time. Sure beats the endless paperwork that cops have to complete, right?

Then in present day, we essentially get to see Kiera on her “first day” with the local police department after the deadly shoot-out by the members of Liber8 as they rescue their captured comrade. Unfortunately one of the cops, who was at the station for the funeral, worked with the real Linda Williams (the identification that Kiera used in order to work with the local cops shortly after her arrival in 2012) and she is quickly hand-cuffed and interrogated by Carlos (Victor Webster). Soon enough, though, Kiera gets away from the cops, going in search of the Liber8. She also puts Alec to work, providing her with a credible cover story that will be convincing to the Vancouver police. As he works on that cover story, Betty (Jennifer Spence) [who works for the police department] is following his tracks online in an attempt to find out who “Linda” might be working with.

Meanwhile, the Liber8 are moving forward with their plans – except for one member named Kellog (Stephen Lobo from Arctic Air and Smallville), who seems determined to stay put in 2012, but why? And what do the Liber8 plan to do? It seems they are intent on getting back to their own time; and once Kiera finds out that truth, she plans on hopping a ride with them despite the fact she is intent on bringing them to justice too. But, as you can imagine, that (their trip back home) is easier said than done.

The terrorists take over a power plant to use the time-travel device they used to escape execution in 2077 to get back to their own time; but it doesn’t work, blowing out power to a certain portion of the city. So, they amp up their efforts by going after Simon Fraser (guest star John Innes), the recent cover story on “Wired Magazine” because of his work on a fusion power reactor that resembles a very futuristic rocket shuttle. Kiera is close on their trail at the power plant and then at the local university where Fraser’s fusion reactor is located. After a short showdown with their weapons, the Liber8 members and Kiera impose a temporary seize fire while the time-travel device is hooked up to the reactor; but their transport back to 2077 fails yet again.

After a well-placed call by Kiera to Carlos, leading him (and a team of cops) to her location at the university, they arrive shortly after the fusion power reactor explosion, ending up in a firefight with the terrorist and the only “prize” they get is re-capturing Kiera. But in the end, Betty finds out Kiera’s “true” identity (thanks to the cover story set up online by Alec): She is a special agent for the FBI. Given what happened at the university, the Captain (Brian Markinson) sets up a task force with Kiera and Carlos on the team so it would seem it really was her first day with the Vancouver police department after all.

What did we learn in this episode?:

• Julian (Richard Harmon) is Alec’s step brother;
• It seems Betty and Carlos had a relationship in the past, making their working environment, well, a bit tense;
• Kiera has a tendency to talk to herself when she is nervous;
• Kellog had a huge duffel bag full of money (where exactly did he get ALL that money) and was standing in a residential area staring at his old house (why, exactly?)
• A piece of the time-travel device was left behind during the failed fusion reactor trip home; the Liber8 know its missing but Kiera is the only one who knows where it is (in evidence at the Vancouver PD); and
• Kiera’s police uniform has some unbelievable capabilities.

“Fast Times” is the 2nd episode of the debut season of Continuum was written by Jeff King and directed by Jon Cassar. The next new episode of Continuum will air on the Canadian channel Showcase next Sunday, June 10 at 9 PM.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Were you intrigued by the implants that Kiera received in 2077 to perform her job as a CPS? What do you think Kellog is really up to? What will the newly appointed task force be able to do against the members of Liber8? Please share your thoughts about this episode in the comments section below.