Stalker Episode 17 Review: The End Of The Line?

If you've read my reviews previously, you know I have a love/hate relationship with "Stalker". But I have watched it since the beginning so I might as well begrudgingly stick it out till the end. "Stalker" is apparently on winter break after "Fun & Games". It is replaced next week by "CSI: Cyber" in it's time slot. I'm not sure if "winter break" translates to "this is the end of the show but we're not bothering to tell you". There are apparently three episodes left but will we ever see them? If this is the final episode, it's a good cliffhanger to end on.

As you will recall from last week, Amanda's head was bashed by Ray. She survived and is recuperating quickly. Beth visits her in the hospital and shares some of her past. She dated Ray as a teenager. He was very possessive and abusive. When she left for college he started dating her sister to make her jealous. Ray then set her family's house on fire in order to rescue them and be a hero (but everyone died instead). Ray was sent to a mental hospital and we know the story from there.

Ray attacks Carl Stevens and kidnaps Tracy (Beth/Michelle's best friend). Tracy apparently was staying with Carl after she returned to town. Ray then chloroforms Tracy and leaves her in the the trunk of a car.

Ray Is Definitely The Alpha Male

Gene (a PI working for Perry's father) tracks him down at the motel. Perry and Ray are in conflict over how to proceed. Perry doesnt want to hurt anyone. Ray of course wants to kill everyone. We've already seen him punch Perry several times.

Please, please, PLEASE let there be a season 2 of "Intruders"

Vicki Gregg arrives. She is temporarily taking over the TAU department given Beth's current situation. Vicki is played by the always fabulous Ms Mira Sorvino. That woman doesnt mess around. She calls in a favor from the NSA and tracks Gene's phone.

Before Gene can leave the motel with Perry, Ray shows up. He bashes Gene's head in. Man this guy really likes to beat people in the head... a LOT! When the TAU arrives, they find Gene's dead body in the tub. Ray takes Perry and Tracy to a junk yard. Perry manages to free Tracy but Ray catches her. Jack and Janice find her in a trunk. Luckily she is still alive. Tracy tells them she was a decoy to get the TAU away from Beth.

Ben Right Before A Bullet To the Belly

Ben and Beth head home but Ray is already there. He shoots Ben and takes Beth. Janice and Jack arrive a few minutes later. They try to revive Ben but its not looking good. He has no pulse. Next Beth wakes up in a trunk next to a dead Perry. Oh dear!

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). Will Ben survive? I'm really surprised they killed off Perry. He was the big bad at the beginning of the season. But I guess we dont need two of them since we have Crazy Ray.

I do wish Ray had kidnapped Janice instead of Tracy. I'd like to see her open a can of whoop ass on him. Now that would have been good television. She is a very underutilized character.

Put Janice & Ray In A Locked Room Together & See Who Survives

If the show returns for it's final episodes will you watch it? And would you watch a season 2? I have said since the beginning that the weakest part of the show is its cookie cutter "stalker of the week" format. Most were not hard to figure out. It's never the first person they question. I like the show best when it highlights the core characters and their relationships. They did an excellent job with this in "Fun & Games".