Miracles - E13

Paul is Dead
First Aired: Friday December 26, 2003 (Canada)

The group is commissioned to check the validity of a television psychic. When he touches Paul, he has a prophetic vision. When this eventually comes true, Paul loses Mattie, Evelyn's child, and tries to enlist the help of Tommy to find him.

The episode begins with a devout religious man seeking the help of the organization. His wife has come to believe a television psychic who has told her about their dead child. When Paul, Evelyn, and Alva got to investigate, the man touches Paul and gives a prophetic vision. A day or two later, while watching after Mattie in a park, the vision comes true. Distracted by the occurences, Paul does not notice anything wrong until he turns to see Mattie is not there anymore. A police search ensues. Alva tries to get the help of the "psychic", but he reveals that there is nothing psychic about him, that he can only tell people what they want to hear. However, he did feel something when he touched Paul. Eventually, he relents and touches Paul, saying he sees a vision of Paul dead. Paul takes this and interprets it that he must kill himself in order to converse with Tommy, who he has been seeing recently and who was at the park. Alva at first advises against it, but does agrees and gets the help of an old medical acquittance. Lowering Paul's body temperature, he dies for four minutes and talks with Tommy, who reveals that Paul is the one keeping him from moving on. When Alva and the man revive Paul, he tells how Tommy mentioned something about a woman not wanting to let go. Paul and Alva go to Evelyn and the police to tell them to focus on women who had recently lost their own children. They may be looking to replace their loss. Following on this lead, the police do find the child. The episode ends with the psychic outing himself. Outside, in a dumpster, Paul's blood did indeed write something, but not what it was to start with. Instead of "God is now here", it now reads "God is nowhere".

So ends the run of this little series. It was a good episode to end on, I guess, but I would have liked a little more resolution. For some reason, I thought that the final scene of the show was with Paul talking to Poppi and the prophecy from previous episode would come true to reveal he was Paul's father. It is also curious that Paul's hemography message seems to have changed to what Tommy said was the wrong interpretation. This was a good acting episode as well and it was good to finally see Evelyn get some more of the dramatic work. Like I mentioned, I would have liked a little more resolution with the Darkness, but they probably didn't know this would be the final episode. I think I will have to go back at some point and listen to the commentary to see where this show might have gone if it continued.

Score: 9.0 / 10

Miracles - E12

The Letter
First Aired: Friday December 19, 2003 (Canada)

A friend of Paul's and a fellow orphan, Georgia has been getting a letter a year from Poppi from her deceased father. After the last one is given this year, the following day she receives another one in the mail. Paul investigates and finds out these letters are coming from a man on death row.

The episode begins with Paul having dinner with Poppi and other friends from the orphanage. The occasion is the birthday of Georgia, one of Paul's best childhood friends. At the end of the evening, Poppi hands her the last letter her father had written her. It turns out Poppi has been giving her one a year on her birthday. The day after receiving and reading this last one, she gets a new on one in the mail. Asking for Paul's helping, he and Evelyn track the letter back to a death row inmate. This impossible, however, because the man is illiterate and can't write. Investigating further, Paul finds out that he has been sending letter to the families of his victims. All believe that the person in the letter is the real person, though they did not know Dubeck was the one writing them. One of the correlating thing they mention is that the handwriting is the same. Georgia says that the handwriting of the letter and the previous ones don't match, leading her and Paul to find out Poppi forged the letters for years, ultimately breaking her trust. Dubeck's attorney brings the families together to remind them that a leniency hearing is coming up, which could lead to Dubeck staying alive and going into general population of the prison. Some of the families relent and Dubeck gets the leniency. The celebration is very short since he is killed by another inmate not long after. Putting things together, Paul figures out that it was one of the victims husbands, since he gave the inmate's wife a new car from where he works. In the end, Georgia reconciles with Poppi and they are shown having a cordial meal with Paul.

I think this was one of the better episode of the recent ones. I think it was an interesting concept and made one think that all of it was meant to happen so that Dubeck died sooner rather than later (due to appeals and such). It was interesting to see the back story on Paul being in the orphanage and the roles the people around him played. Skeet's performance was also better than it had been in previous episodes. My only complaint was that Alva was missing from the episode except for a few brief words, but it was good to see Poppi be featured, since I enjoy Alicia Coppola's acting.

Score: 8.4 / 10

Miracles - E11

The Ghost
First Aired: Friday December 12, 2003 (Canada)

There are strange things going on at a small insurance agency in New Jersey, so Paul and Alva go to investigate. What they find leads back to the death of a young man who is the son of the owner.

The episode begins with showing a man in an office where strange things start to happen, the culmination of which is the carving of the words "I'm Back" on his desk. Back in Boston, Paul goes to see Poppi after getting an MRI to make sure there are no problems with his head. Even though Poppi says Paul can come back to the congregation, Paul refuses and asks from Poppi's blessing to stay at his new job with Alva. Poppi can't give this. Evelyn, out with Mattie for the day, asks Alva to bring her and Paul's check to the park. After Alva confronts Paul about the MRI, he tells him they have a case in New Jersey. Upon arriving, they find out that the workers at the insurance agency have been noticing strange things. The boss of the agency hasn't noticed anything, or so he says. Still suspicious, Alva sends Paul to question the young woman. Paul finds out that she had dated the owners son who had died the previous year from Menengitis. Paul tries to question the man's wife, but she is offended by Paul's questions. Later that night, though, she calls Paul to discuss her son and how her husband never showed his grief. Paul goes to visit the man at the office and sees the furniture on the ceiling. The man tells Paul he believes his son has come back to see him. Paul is still unconvinced and after reviewing the security tapes, which the young woman provides, he hypothesis with Alva that he is doing everything himself. Arriving downtown at the office, it looks like the "ghost" is destorying the place. However, when Paul and Alva get into the manager's office, nothing is happening besides the man listening to music. They take the man to their motel room, show him the tapes, and tell him their belief. He becomes enraged and he starts acting out mentally. He comes to the realization that it was him, he contends with his grief, and goes back to his wife. Back in Boston, Poppi does finally give Paul his blessing.

I think this was a decent enough episode; nothing particularly compelling or that pushes the overall story further expect the little bit about the MRI and about Poppi near the beginning and the end. Paul and Alva just seemed to be going through the motions of the investigation with neither being really affected. I think what kept this episode afloat was the acting, since the story we a bit predicable. Overall, a bit of a let down.

Score: 7.1 / 10

Miracles - E10

Saint Debbie
First Aired: Friday December 5, 2003 (Canada)

A waitress' throat is slashed in a robbery attempt, but the wound disappears shortly afterwards. When the group investigates, the woman is further harmed and gets away. Something is not right, however.

The episode begins with a diner being robbed. During the robbery, the waitress tries to stop the masked man, but he slits her throat. Others than check on her, notice that the cut is no longer there, and she appears fine. Elsewhere, Alva is dreaming that Paul and Evelyn both leave the organization. When he comes into work the next day, disheveled from the dream, he is presented with Paul's spiritual mentor, Father Callero. It turns out that the Father has come to Paul and the organization with this possible miracle. Arriving in town, the three witness quite the ordeal with many people on main street near the diner. They meet the town's priest and mayor to discuss the possible miracle, which the mayor is proud about since it has brought buisness to the town. As the group encounters the woman leaving the diner, a crazed man throws a rattlesnake at her and runs away. The snake bite does nothing major to her and she is cleared from the hospital. Talking with the woman, Alva becomes close to her. He ultimately believes she is telling the truth and that what happened is real. Paul and Evelyn aren't convinced, so they investigate further, unveiling the real story about how the woman, the mayor and the "robber" set the whole thing up to make business for the town. The waitress wanted money so she and her mentally challenged brother could get him help and she could go to college. Alva confronts her with this but says he won't say anything. The woman's brother overhears and is still convinced she is a saint. He climbs a water tower and wants her to save him. She reveals to him, and all of the townspeople around there, that she made it all up. An older woman then pulls a gun on Alva, saying he was filling her head with the wrong ideas. The waitress steps in front of the gun and is shot instead. Miraculously, the bullet misses all vital organs. Thanks to Alva, the woman gets her money from the mayor on the condition she leaves town.

This was an average episode. The acting was solid throughout, but I felt that Alva was too out-of-character in this episode. I know that that was meant to be the point, but it just seemed to odd to me. It wasn't like anything triggered it besides the dream. I guess it was just the feeling of loneliness. The last couple of episodes have been fun to watch in the sense that you got to see actors/actresses before they hit bigger. Andrea Roth as the waitress was fun to see because I now know here as Janet Gavin on Rescue Me. She did a very good guest role, though not as good as Maggie Grace was in the previous one.

Score: 7.6 / 10

Miracles - E09

Mother's Daughter
First Aired: Friday November 28, 2003

A young Amish woman seems to be afflicted by stigmata. Paul and Alva investigate and find out that two souls are vying for control of the one body.

The episode begins with a young Amish woman afflicted with a sickness. Her family rushes to help her but are startled to find her in bed bleeding from the wrists. Paul and Alva come to investigate and see that there actually aren't any wounds now, even though there is blood. The two accompany the family to their home. The elder of the family dissapproves of their intervention, but before much more can be said, they all can here Hanna laughing in her room. They all go to check on her and Hanna is acting very strangely. Paul converses with her and finds out that she is Lucinda Morgan Bryant now. He and Alva, with Evelyn's help, investigate further and find a Mogan family in New York City that had lost their daughter to suicide ten years previously. It was on the same day and time that Hanna's father drowned and she almost did too. Alva begins to hypothesis that they are witnessing a type of reincarnation. Paul ends up going to New York and, after confronting the family, is surprised when Hanna shows up at the door. For a brief moment, Hanna returns, but she seemingly passes away. As Alva and her real mother show up, she is now completely Lucinda. With this comes the urge to commit suicide again by jumping off the building. Her Amish mother, however, is able to talk her down. Hanna/Lucinda ends up staying with the Bryant's while her real mother returns to her Amish life.

This was a good episode thanks to the acting of Maggie Grace and of the interesting take on possession/reincarnation. Consistently, this shows has been able take old ideas and shape then in a new way. While Paul and Alva act well in this episode, it more or less hinged on Grace's acting and she did a great job. I don't know what was keeping me from elevating this to a higher level, but I still felt the story was a little disjointed somehow.

Score: 8.2 / 10

Miracles - E08

The Battle at Shadow Ridge
First Aired: Friday November 21, 2003 (Canada)

While investigating will-o-the-wisps in Virginia, Alva and Paul are tipped off about a strange occurrence in a neighboring town. Turns out that the Civil War is still happening.

The episode begins with two children taking a short cut through the woods and encountering an apparition of a Civil War soldier. The children run home to their mother to tell about the ghost they saw while, seemingly at the same time, the soldier returns to his camp to tell the same thing to his fellow soldiers. Elsewhere, Alva talks Paul into heading to Virginia to check out some swamp lights. They are tipped off by a police officer about the kids experience. Meeting and speaking with the children, the two decide to check out the spot themselves. While there, they encounter two young people who tell them there had been some strange occurrences at the nearby quickie store. They decide to pay the place a visit and witness some strange phenomenon. Alva believes that time is being revealed to itself in different intervals. Apparently, the one soldier who is witnessing this as well is Henry Tucker, in the company of the South who are about to take on a dangerous mission. After Paul is shot when during an ambush when the times coalesce into one, he is able to pick Henry out of some old pictures. It seems that Henry's spirit can't rest without knowing what happened to his wife and child. Paul and Alva find this out. They set up speakers, hoping the sound will punch through the time barrier so that Henry can hear Paul telling him what the fate of his family was. It works and the spirits of the soldiers are at peace.

This was a very interesting concept to use. The first twist is when you believe this might be a typical ghost story, but the ingenious method that Alva relates to Paul is very believable. It is a fresh take on "ghosts". It kind of made me wonder, were they really ghosts or was it just time bending? What would have happened if Henry died without knowing? Would his spirit have been trapped forever or had it been all along? This episode made me ask questions, but in a good way. I find it funny how the last episode how great acting but a flat storyline and then this one has a great storyline and decent acting.

Score: 8.9 / 10

Miracles - E07

You are My Sunshine
First Aired: Friday November 14, 2003 (Canada)

When an old girlfriend has an accident in her rental home, Paul goes to help her recoup. Things aren't as they seem. Paul begins a decline into madness that is somehow tied with the house.

The episode begins with a woman in a home alone. She believes she hears something coming from the cellar, so she decides to investigate (why God?) and falls down the stairs after being scared of the door shutting. It appeared like her neck snapped. Back in Boston, Paul and Alva are not talking still after three weeks, even when Evelyn tries to help. Paul receives a call from a hospital because he is still the emergency contact for the woman, who turns out to be an ex-girlfriend. He volunteers to help her around the house because she had only harmed her leg (wow, that's it?). At the home, strange things begin to happen along with a man watching and smoking. The next day, Paul and the woman sleep together. Afterwards, Paul goes into the cellar to check the breakers, but starts to become different when he comes back up. When Evelyn calls to check up, he reems her out and she becomes concerned enough that her and Alva decide to come. Paul has steadily become more and more agitated with his ex-girlfriend, leaving for the night in a huff. When Alva and Evelyn show up, he returns, apparently normal. When the two decide not to stay in the guest room, Alva tells Evelyn in the car that something is not right with Paul. They investigate and find out that a woman had died their the previous year. Turns out her husband had apparently ran off with his lover years previously. Evelyn goes to the home after meeting Paul and ends up in the cellar with the ex-girlfriend as Paul waits for Alva to show. He does, and the two get into a fight. In the cellar, Evelyn finds a wall hiding a door where the bodies of the husband and lover. Alva is able to subdue Paul, but when his ex-girlfriend tries to scald Paul with water and misses, the house catches on fire. Paul returns to Alva's organization thinking they would want him to leave, but they ask him to stay nonetheless.

This was an above average episode; the thing that saves it from mediocrity for me was Skeet's acting of being out of his mind. He was amazing. I think the story was a bit jump/complex for the normality of the show. Wedged in between two fantastic episodes, this one was a little disappointing.

Score: 7.7 / 10

Miracles - E06

The Hand of God
First Aired: Monday March 31, 2003

Someone is killing people that say the phrase "God is Nowhere" in blood. When Paul finds that Alva has been keeping information on these people from him, he begins to track them down.

The episode begins with a teenage boy seemingly talking to himself before killing a woman. It turns out that the woman is one of the people that saw "God is Nowhere" and that she had dreamed about Paul Callen. The cops come looking for Paul after finding his name and picture drawn in her personal effects. This leads Paul to break into Keels office to see the full files on the hemography people. He finds out that all of the people Alva has interviewed had dreamed about Paul and his life years before. After telling Evelyn this, he goes to Denver to find the next woman. He gets there, is arrested by the cops alerted by Evelyn, and the boy girls the woman before Paul can contact her. Alva shows up and reveals to Paul about what made him begin his searching; he heard his mothers voice in some bird calls a year after she had died. He gives Paul the last known address of the last person. Getting their, Paul is able to stop the boy from killing the man. However, in the cop car, the boy tells Paul he had seen "God is Now Here" as he had as well as Tommy. He says God wanted him to kill the nine people who had seen the message wrong, because they will bring horrible things. In the police station, the boy then kills himself after taking an officiers gun. The episode ends with Paul not telling Alva the truth, but still will help the organization.

It is really sad that this was the last episode because it really starts to show the focus of what the main storyline is and man, is it ever a stunning revealation. Was it really God? If so, what could these people have possibly done if they lived? I am beginning to think that the Darkness is using Tommy, or a derivation thereof, to sway Paul. This was a very engaging story with a good uppercut blow at the end. Skeet's acting was amazing as well. Such a shame.

Score: 9.2 / 10

Miracles - E05

The Bone Scatterer
First Aired: Monday March 10, 2003

The group gets a mysterious phone call from Deer Park, MI where bizarre murders are happening. When the caller says they believe they are doing the killing, the groups decides to investigate.

While Alva and Paul are playing chess, Evelyn gets a call from someone in Deer Park, MI claiming they are the one killing people when they fall asleep. Through tabloid "research", the group decides that it might be beneficial to check it out. The group talks to the local sheriff at the school and find a note on their car when they exit, asked to meet the people in the library. The boy turns out to be Travis, the sheriffs son, and he says that every time he falls asleep, someone he knows dies. The story begins to reveal that Travis is abused by his father and the father had also abused the mother. This lead to her miscarriage of Travis' fraternal twin in utero. When a death happens while Paul is watching Travis, the group starts to think that Travis' friend in the woods is actually the spirit of Jeremy, his brother who was buried by the sheriff in the woods. While being detained, Paul instigates the sheriff, who "accidentally" knocks Travis out. This allows Jeremy to come and he finally kills his father. The episode ends with Travis going to live with his aunt.

This was the first average episode of the show, in my opinion. It was a semi-interesting story, but nothing that was overall gripping. Marquette as Travis did some very good acting and I can see how he went on to other shows/movies. The end also seemed to wrap up a bit too easy. Wouldn't they be suspected of what happen to the sheriff? Was there no questioning at all because it looked too impossible to be human? It just left me with some questions that didn't get answered.

Score: 7.3 / 10

Miracles - E04

Little Miss Lost
First Aired: Monday March 3, 2003

Paul searches for his father and notices a little girl on a bus before it explodes. When he sees her again before an arena collapses, he knows something is wrong. Turns out she is linked all the way back to the 1940s through tragedies.

The episode begins with Paul at City Hall trying to find information on his parents. When he gets off the bus on the way home, he notices a strange looking little girl right before the bus drives away only to explode. While recovering from injuries he sustained from the blast, Paul notices the little girl again on the television during a pre-game broadcast at an arena. Seeing the little girl in the morgue unclaimed, he dismisses that he may have seen her on television until he hears that the arena has collapsed. Flying to San Antonio, in the morgue he sees the body of the same little girl after finding out it was cremated in Boston. He reveals all of this to Evelyn and Alva. Alva tells him that it is most likely related to the "Miss Lost", an urban myth from around the world about a little girl whose body is always found in major disasters that is never claimed. He connects it with a tragic circus tent fire from 1944 and suggests they investigate it anew in Connecticut. Through their research, they track down the surviving mother who failed to claim her because if she did, her family would know she was alive as well. It turns out she was on the run from her husband, who either was emotionally or physically abusive to the wife and may be to the child as well. Allowing the woman to claim the body of the little girl, all turns out right. At the end of the episode, however, Tommy visits Paul to tell him that the Darkness is real and that it wants everything.

This was an interesting little story, more mystery than anything. It was a little less good in cohesion then the previous episodes, but the writing and acting makes up for some of the problems. I think it was really curious how much Alva was pushing for Paul to possibly meet his father. Is it general concern or does he know something more? It was good to see Tommy again and get a sense of what may be coming for Paul.

Score: 8.3 / 10

Miracles - E03

The Patient
First Aired: Monday February 10, 2003

A doctor, working with severely disabled patients of a disease, has had a breakthrough when one is patients is able to communicate using a computer. However, things are not what they seem with the man, so Paul and Alva investigate.

Alva and Paul attend a scientific forum headed by a brilliant neurosurgeon, who is working on a cure for a disease that leaves its patients unable move or even breathe. The previous night, one of the patients, Sherwood, began to communicate at length with the doctor about a better treatment. During the lecture, Alva asks questions relating to the paranormal while Paul hides in the back. It is here that he meets Rayna, the doctors daughter. As things become weirder with Sherwood, Rayna contacts Paul and asks him to investigate a bit into what is going on. Around the same time, the doctor contacts Paul and asks him to meet him at the hospital. Sherwood had requested that Paul join them and he reveals that he knows a lot more about Paul than meets the eye. Sherwood instigates both the doctor and Paul to the point where the doctor knocks Paul out. At Sherwood's suggestion for the truth, the doctor then goes to "cure" certain people in the hospital. Alva and Evelyn show up in time to revive Paul. He and Evelyn go to find the doctor while Alva tries to expel the demon in Sherwood. Both are successful and in the waning moments, it is revealed that Rayna had died two years previously from the very disease the doctor is trying to cure. Despite the demons intrusions, the doctors treatments are beginning to work.

This was another very good episode. The only thing I found curious was they had two episodes back to back with a severely disabled character being a central character, albeit in different ways. It certainly was very interesting to see Paul interact with Mr. Friendly, since he says that everyone knows who Paul is where he comes from. This was very foreboding and I liked it a lot. I have not been disappointed with the interesting story lines so far and look forward to what is in store for Paul next.

Score: 8.8 / 10

Miracles - E02

The Friendly Skies
First Aired: Monday February 3, 2003

Paul has now come to Alva Keel to see what him and his organization does. Though he doesn't seem to be interested at first, he joins Alva and Evelyn on an investigation into a plane that went missing for 64 seconds.

In this second episode, Paul Callan is still hesitant to join Alva Keel's cause, especially after he feels Alva has been following him. However, he does decide to join Alva and Evelyn as they investigate a problem at Logan Airport. It seems that a flight went missing as it was coming in to land. The people now have strange issues. One little girl saw her whole life laid out for her. A couple who never met before are now lovey-dovey with each other. A woman was burned to death in the bathroom. A woman who can't walk or speak suddenly can. A steward begins to babble about a possible way to destroy the world. As the group investigates further, it seems like the people are slowly reverting back to normal. By the end of the night, the various anomalies correct themselves, though Paul is particularly effect by the handicapped woman. Allowed not to see her husband, Paul swipes the video recording to give to the man after so he can see and hear his wife express her gratitude.

This was a really good episode with an interesting plot. It was a bit of a guessing game up until you realized the woman that burned had been thinking about it. While I mentioned that I liked the acting of the principle cast in the first episode, this one was really a stand out because of the guest stars as the passengers. The little girl and the handicap women were of particular interest. It was a sad ending until you figured out that Paul and Evy had managed to smuggle the tape out for the husband. A good follow up to the pilot episode.

Score: 9.1 / 10

Miracles - E01

The Ferguson Syndrome

First Aired: Monday January 27, 2003

Paul Callen is a priest who investigates miracles. When he decides to take a leave due to a question of faith, he investigates a young boy. Tommy's powers push Paul to the edge.

In this first episode of the show Miracles, we are introduced to Paul Callen, an orphan who became a catholic priest. He currently works special assignments to prove or disprove miracles. He begins to question his faith, since he has never seen anything to reassure his faith. While working in the desert, his old confidant Father 'Poppi' Calero calls him with a request to check out a young boy not far from him. Paul assents and meets with Tommy Ferguson. It turns out that Tommy can heal people, but for every heal he does, he becomes sicker himself. As Tommy's father continues to push him, his mother tries to take him away. Paul sees this and pursues them during a rain storm. Not paying attention to the road, Paul goes onto some train tracks and is hit by a train. Seeing this, Tommy's mom goes for help. Tommy ends up going to check on Paul. As Tommy tries to help, Paul sees written in blood the words "God is now here" as well as a dark figure looming behind Tommy. Despite Paul's pleas not too, Tommy uses his power to save Paul and he dies in the process. Reporting his findings that a true miracle had happened, the monsignor sees no scientific proof and Paul quits in a huff. Seeing Poppi on the way out, he becomes flustered when Poppi claims he never called Paul. Later, Paul sits contemplating the events in a diner and is confronted by Alva Keel, a freelance miracle investigator who had seen 16 other people who had seen blood writing before. Theirs, though, all said "God is nowhere." Alva says something big is coming and gives Paul his card as an invitation to come visit him. The episode ends when Alva's assistant answers the door for Paul and he enters their office.

This was a very good beginning for the show, though nothing is really revealed about Alva's organization. I really like how the show felt more like a mini-movie in tone and cinematography then an pilot episode. I really like the characters of Paul and Alva. Paul is a priest, but he has to question his faith because he is very unsure. I also like Alva, though little of him is shown here, because of his demeanor that he wants to know what is going on. I am hoping that the following episodes continue to same acting and cinematography as this one.

Score: 8.6 / 10