WOW!! I don't know what else to say. I thought this episode would be a step back after our first encounter with Zack, but I was so wrong. In this episode, written by Patrick Harbinson, Max attends a genetic conference by a man named Tanaka in hopes of discovering a cure for her seizures. While there Max encounters her own personal 'antichrist', Lydecker. To come face to face with the person she has been running from for 10 years was frightening for Max and Jessica Alba portrayed this emotion very well. When she saw it was Lydecker sitting beside her, she looked like a scared kid. Not that I blame her. Her childhood was terrifying and to see the man responsible for that terrifying childhood sitting in the chair next to her had to be frightening experience. I would have walked out of the conference right away. Her training is what kept her there. Max admitted that as a child, she and the other Manticore kids were afraid of Lydecker even though they knew they could easily kill him. Lydecker used that fear, capitalized on it even and forced the kids to go beyond their physical limits. Well, Max was still afraid and rightly so, but in the end, Max stayed at the conference. She even managed to get some information out of Lydecker and it was her training that kept her there. Lydecker would probably have proud of her for sticking around and getting to know her enemy.

So we finally learned for sure that Lydecker still had of some of his 'kids'. We're not sure yet what he does with them, but I have a feeling he doesn't display them like Tanaka was displaying his creation 'Jude'. I'm curious why Lydecker doesn't send one of his 'kids' after the renegades. Is he afraid they will all turn on him? Whatever the reason, I can honestly say, Lydecker definitely creeps my out and John Savage does a really good job at portraying a man I love to hate. He kept talking about 'his kids' and how he had to guide them and provide a framework in which they could flourish. This project is obviously the center of his life. He doesn't seem to have anything else. He said he wished he could speak 'digitally' about what he was thinking. Like he's a machine or something. He is human, right? I mean I've never met someone who could be so cold and emotionless.

Both Max and Lydecker were at the conference for the same reason. They were looking for answers for the genetic anomalies of Manticore kids. I was surprised how much Max knew about genetics. I doubt they taught her that at Manticore, so I'm guessing she's read everything that she could get her hands on ever since she escaped Manticore. It makes sense she would want to know how she was created, especially since she has no idea what's going on in her 'freak show' body or if her bar code has an expiration date. Apparently, Tanaka had made breakthroughs in genetic research, breakthroughs that could mean the end to Max's seizures. Tanaka and his foundation took custody of a crack baby, whose mother was incarcerated, and modified the baby's genes so that he survive where other baby's would have died. Jude, not only survived, he thrived. He's a genius because of what Tanaka did for him. I think Max related on some level with Jude. She saw in him a genetically engineered individual, like herself, only Jude was happy. He was modified, but it was to save his and make him a healthier person. Max was modified to create the ultimate soldier.

Things got sticky at the conference when the May 22nd Movement showed up. I loved the reference to the Unabomber, very clever. When we learned that the group was anti-technology, I found myself relating this angle with other works by James Cameron, works such as 'Terminator' and even 'Titanic'. Both of these movies present the darker side to advancements in technology. In 'Terminator' we see a world where technology caused the virtual destruction of the human race. In 'Titanic', man create this immense, supposedly unsinkable ship, and the arrogance of these men who thought a ship was unsinkable cost many people their lives. It's an underlying theme that technology is not necessarily a good thing. It can be used for good causes, like in Jude's case. He would have never lived to see his first birthday if Tanaka hadn't stepped in. But then there's Max and the other kids at Manticore. They were designed to be killing machines, nothing more. Max is an example of the abuse of technology in it's extreme. Project Manticore weren't creating weapons they were creating humans and training them to be weapons. Max, at least, has surpassed what she was designed for. She is the ultimate weapon, but she feels compassion, something that I think is alien to Lydecker. Lydecker would consider compassion to be a weakness, but that's what makes her human and gives her strength. I think Lydecker's goal was to drive the humanity out of his 'kids'

Some highlights of this episode include the interaction between Original Cindy, Sketchy, and Herbal Thought. I also loved Max jumping off the building to save Logan. That was a sweet move. Did anyone else notice Logan pull on the rope so Max would fall on top of him? Definitely intentional, but I'm not sure if we supposed to see that or not. Logan and Max definitely care about each other, but only time will tell if something more develops. By the way, it's all good all the time.