Monsters hide in heads instead of under beds on The Passage

Shauna Babcock’s tragic backstory is revealed and we learn more about the strange mental connection Doctor Tim Fanning has with the other virals on this week’s episode of The Passage.

The title of this week’s episode of The Passage, “This Should Have Never Happened to You” could easily apply to several characters on the show but I think in this case it most aptly fits Shauna Babcock.

Last week, Shauna murdered Simmons. The doctors at Project NOAH are of mixed minds on whether or not she was aware of what she was doing or if she was simply acting on primal instinct. Evidence points to Shauna exacting revenge on Simmons for his constant harassment and the fact she didn’t attack Grey who had gotten near her only seconds before Simmons did.

Clark believes Shauna is a liability and votes to euthanize her but ending her life won’t be so simple, not when Shauna is actively trying to make him understand her actions by forcing him to see her memories through a trick similar to the one we’ve seen Fanning use.

THE PASSAGE: Brianne Howey in the “That Never Should Have Happened To You” episode of THE PASSAGE airing Monday, Jan. 28 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. © 2019 FOX Broadcasting. Cr: Erika Doss / FOX.

Six years ago, pre-viral Shauna was living in Las Vegas and saving up money to go to a makeup school in Los Angeles. She wanted to be a professional special effects artist.

Shauna managed to save up over three thousand dollars when her mother’s abusive husband, Danny, stole it from her. Not only was Danny a thief, but he was also a rapist, sexually abusing Shauna from the time she was only eight years old until she was sixteen. To make matters even worse, her mother knew about it and she even blamed Shauna for not saying no to him.

I’m not saying I condone murder but if there was ever a circumstance that warrants it… let’s just say I can’t blame Shauna too much for her violent reaction. The poor girl has been preyed upon by predatory men for her entire life so it’s not much of a surprise someone like Simmons triggered a reaction.

Back in the present, Shauna is prepared for euthanization. I wondered why they would use a slow and torturous method versus a lethal injection before I realized they really can’t use an injection since they made her universally immune.

But apparently Shauna’s plan to make Clark sympathize with her and therefore rethink her death sentence works, since after her final memory, revealing who she killed to get on death row and why, is revealed, he puts an end to the euthanization.

THE PASSAGE: L-R: Saniyya Sidney and Mark-Paul Gosselaar in the “That Never Should Have Happened To You” episode of THE PASSAGE airing Monday, Jan. 28 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. © 2019 FOX Broadcasting. Cr: Erika Doss / FOX.

Don’t Panic

Post-capture, Brad has been training Amy for their inevitable arrival at the Project NOAH facility. The key is to pay attention to your surroundings and not to panic. He promises to get her out.

Amy has a meltdown in her room, so Nichole meets with her to offer words of comfort. Funny how she skims right over the whole “this little girl has been forcibly hunted and dragged here against her will” bit to assuage her fears with false promises.

Brad is allowed back in Amy’s room, but not before a stand-off with Nichole, Jonas, and Clark. Clark really needs to work on his bedside manner. I don’t think the guy could be anymore of a jerk if he tried. Especially since he doesn’t seem to show any understanding or kindness towards Brad despite being fully aware of what happened to his daughter.

THE PASSAGE: Brianne Howey in the “That Never Should Have Happened To You” episode of THE PASSAGE airing Monday, Jan. 28 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. © 2019 FOX Broadcasting. Cr: Erika Doss / FOX.

There is nothing Brad can do to get Amy out of the facility before the injection unless he wants to risk getting shot in front of her. Once the vaccine is implemented, not only is Amy officially tagged by the doctors (she’s got a fancy new chip in her neck) but Tim Fanning now has access to her mind. “What are you going to do to her?” Grey asks him. Cue an ominous gulp.

During room checks, Brad runs into Anthony. Remember, Brad was one of the agents who recruited Anthony. He apologizes for being on the wrong side of things before. In turn, Anthony warns Brad about Fanning. Count that as warning number two about Fanning since Grey also manages to do so.

Brad being the man of action that he is, decides to investigate the enigma that is Tim Fanning once and for all. When he gets into the holding area for the ex-cons-turned-virals, he sees first hand what has become of the inmates he recruited for Project NOAH.

Odds & Ends

• I love that Lila isn’t playing the predictable worried, stagnant wife trope and actively doing things to assist Brad and investigate further.
• Lacey is alive! I thought for sure she was a goner, I’m happy to see that isn’t the case and she’s sticking with Lila.
• I liked the addition of Brad using a flashlight glare to obscure his face from the security cameras, it was savvy and made sense as Brad is a former agent himself.
• Jonas’s refusal to call the virals “vampires” because vampires don’t exist is interesting. I mean I don’t know doc, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck…
• Fanning didn’t used to be able to speak in these dreams but ever since Babcock arrived that’s changed. I wonder why that is? I’m guessing he is somehow drawing power from all of the virals.
• No wonder Brad can’t find any monsters under Amy’s bed, they’re hiding in everyone’s head.