Extant Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Change Scenario (Season Premiere)

I have watched "Extant" since the beginning but at the end of season 1 I was left feeling less than enthusiastic. The show never reached it's true potential. Let's be honest though. I was only watching it for Halle Berry. That, and I hoped Robot Boy would go rogue and kill everyone else.

Season 2's reboot brings a number of positive changes:

Molly Woods is transformed from an astronaut struggling with family issues to an ass kicker trying to stop an alien invasion.
Robot Boy is back (although in a slightly larger body). Remember he sacrificed himself at the end of last season to save his family (but not before he uploaded his consciousness into the "cloud").
Molly's husband John (Goran Visnjic) is presumed dead. See, this is why you should never trust self driving cars. I liked Goran in other shows but he bored me to death in "Extant". There was also zero chemistry between John and Molly. It's a miracle they ever got married.
Last year, John's assistant Julie (Meryl Streep Jr) spent lots of time trying to snuggle up to him. Now she's turned to the dark side (having kidnapped Ethan and possibly played a hand in John's death).
Molly's friend Sam (Camryn Manheim) is gone. That's a shame since I always enjoy seeing her. Also MIA is Mr Yasumoto (Hatake from "Helix").
Several new characters arrive this season. J.D. Richter (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is a bounty hunter and possible love interest for Molly. We also meet General Tobias Shepherd (David Morrissey, the Governor on "The Walking Dead"). It's strange to see the guy with two eyeballs.
I did enjoy the tech last year. Looks like they're continuing with cool gadgets. Besides the self driving car, we get legs that run on the treadmill by themselves and some cool virtual reality (VR) therapy for Molly in the hospital. Feel free to sign me up for that.

Yep This Is A Lot Better Than Watching Porn

At the beginning of "Change Scenario" we find Molly in a mental hospital. We then flash back to six months earlier to get the specifics (John's death, Julie helping the government kidnap Ethan to turn him into a fighting machine, etc). We also see Alien Boy supposedly die from a brain hemorrhage. Molly doesnt buy it though. She thinks he's helping usher in an alien invasion. And in the last scene the alien (we affectionately refer to him as "Circles") is now a grown man. He's attending a speed dating event. I assume he's impregnating the women to make alien babies. Elsewhere, J.D. helps Molly break out of the hospital and they're off to save the world.

I'm Not That Easy To Kill Ya Know

Favorite Quotes:

J.D.: "You are crazy." Molly: "Maybe a little but crazy's all you've got. Drive fast."
Parole Board Member reading Molly's offenses: "Burning down your house." Molly: "Not the WHOLE house and I have learned my lesson about playing with matches. Board member: "Attacking a Miss Julie Gelineau with a shovel?" Molly: "She screwed my husband and then had the nerve to show up at his funeral. I think I should be committed if I didnt smack her."

Who Wants A Big Tight Hug?

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). A positive retooling of the previous "meh" series. Will I continue watching it on a weekly basis? I'm not sure yet. If "Circles" starts doing crazy stuff I might stop by again. Also I still want Robot Boy to go psycho on everyone.