A new Homeland department head applies pressure, labor camp brawls, and a wall-scaling that would make ‘Game of Thrones’ proud, ‘Colony’ Season 2, Episode 3 moves to bring our isolated stories back under one roof. But does it do so successfully?

The premiere of this season gave us a taste of our main characters’ lives pre-invasion. Episode 2 showed our characters fragment apart, creating four different storylines that would only intersect for a scene or two. Now, we’re finally moving back to more centralized storylines as characters reunite.

Our pre-title card opener shows us that the relatively silent insurgency is still very much alive. As desperate citizens of the LA block look to enlist as Redhats, guerillas wreak havoc that ends in the deaths of men simply looking to feed their family. A rebel stands over a wounded would-be recruit. He raises his gun.

“You collaborate, you die,” he says before shooting one last time.

I guess that’s what happens when you show up to enlist dressed like you’re going to a lawn party. This was a great way to remind us that the rebellion still breathes, but the elusive leader Broussard is nowhere to be seen.

Fly on the Wall

In the wake of the attacks, the new head of Homeland Dan Bennett is under the thumb of his superiors. This is felt through the entire department as he demands that Jennifer start coming up with some actual results. While a background of online matchmaking seemed to fly with Phyllis at the head, Jennifer’s got a lot to prove in the eyes of her new department head.

Jennifer is one of the better examples of a survivor on Colony as she handles situations with only self-preservation in mind. This may be because she’s alone in this new world, but it’s nice to see a character who isn’t bogged down with marital or paternal ties like our protagonists so often are.

Cornered, Jennifer strong-arms Katie into helping her locate Broussard. Though Katie’s days of rebellion don’t seem totally behind her, it’s true that she doesn’t know where he is. But knowing she must give up something for the sake of her family, she reveals the bug within the Homeland office, the bee-like drone that hears all from its hidden nest.

Katie, for the first time all series, is starting to act like a provider instead of a wildcard. She’s the one commonality in all these storylines and most of her decisions have been against the needs of her family. In this episode, she even acknowledges this flaw. She’s found a bible study of sorts that brings her solace in the wake of her family’s displacement. Having a bond of sorts with the leader of the study group, she confides in him, “I think I put my ideals ahead of my family.”

There’s one quick way she can begin to set her family straight; kick that babysitter, Lindsey to the curb. The more curbs, the better.

The Greatest Day, or so They Say

The alien worshipping cult that’s plaguing the Green Zone is working up to be the antagonists of Season 2’s story arc. With the Hosts hidden in the skies, it’s these cult members that are building a following that’s even entwined Maddie. Again, something that Katie pushed her into through her actions. But I’m not bitter.

Lindsey is taking every opportunity to feed Katie’s daughter, Gracie, the beliefs of the Greatest Day. Katie watches on as the babysitter drills Gracie with flashcards of the doctrine, simply spectating as her own daughter becomes ever tempted by this cult.

Just when I thought that I couldn’t take it anymore, she finally does something about it. While not directly calling Lindsey on her obstruction within her home life, she introduces Gracie to the major religions that existed before the arrival of the Hosts.

While this was done in a very silly way, Katie spreading out religious tomes in front of her daughter like they were choosing a bedtime story, I do respect it. Instead of forcing Gracie into a religion, she’s giving her a choice. Not only does it allow her daughter to not feel coerced, it’s silently battling the effects of the Greatest Day. Good stuff!

Cool Hand Bram

As Charlie has reunited with his father, the eldest Bowman son couldn’t be further estranged. The hardships of the labor camp are starting to be seen. He’s beaten and robbed, forced to work barefoot. In an attempt to recoup his losses and prove himself, he’s beaten down yet again. When it seems he’s at his lowest, he’s rescued by none other than the fallen proxy, Snyder.

Snyder feeds him, offers him new shoes, and in typical Snyder fashion, propositions him to be his spy.

Snyder, like Jennifer is a survivor in this new world. He’s fallen from his once-regal status but don’t count him out just yet. He’s going to run this labor camp like a well-oiled machine so he can begin his climb once again. To do so, he’ll need Bram’s eyes and ears in the camp. With vague promise (Snyder’s trademark), he assures Bram he’ll get him out if he can feed him information. Bram, wearing the effects of the camp on his shoulders agrees.

The Bram/Snyder storyline is getting the least amount of attention right now but it’s far more interesting happening back in the LA bloc. It’ll be fun to see it flesh out a bit further in coming episodes.

The Climb

The high points of this season have definitely been found in Santa Monica. Will has finally reunited with his son and he did so with the help of his old partner, Devon. Not only have they brought Charlie back from the brink of uncivilized survival, the duo makes a great team in the way they operate. But I guess all good things must come to an end.

Without a transit pass to safely return to LA, the trio relies on a coyote to get them across the wall. Like Sicario-gone-Silicon Valley, the coyote uses a drone to attach a rope to the wall. They begin to climb without trouble but if Jurassic Park has taught me anything, let it be this. you can never climb a wall without trouble. You can never climb a wall without trouble.

The alien drones catch them in the act and vaporize many of the absconders, including my season-favorite, Devon.

Just when the alien drone hones in on Will and Charlie, it’s sensors go blue, docile. It studies them for a second as Will comforts his son, then flies away. Deus Ex Machina, almost quite literally. It would seem someone in the skies is looking out for Will…

In my last recap, I stated that it looked like they were setting up Devon to be a regular cast member. Unless they pull some sci-fi teleportation beam, I don’t see that happening. She was a great addition while she was here. The first episode established some animosity between Will and herself. It would seem there’s not going to be a resolution to that.

Home Again, Home Again

Back in Katie’s rather uninteresting story, we find her experiencing guilt for her participation in the rebellion and the pain that it’s caused her family.

She tries to give herself up in place of Broussard but Jennifer denies her. She’s worth much more as a potential spy than a quick token to cash in. When it looks like Katie is going to turn her daughter over to her now-brainwashed sister, Will and Charlie come bursting through the door. The Bowmans are reunited, minus one.

All Said and Done

Episode 3 was an exciting one but not without those eye-rolling moments that happen all too often in Colony.

As a protagonist you want to root for, Katie has a long way to go. Thankfully, she’s heading in the right direction. Let’s see if she’s able to keep up that momentum and become a character who actually seems to care about her family.

The multiple storylines are getting a bit weary. Thankfully, they’ve brought two most cumbersome together in this episode. With Bram in the labor camp and Maddie in the Greatest Day, we now can watch as the Bowman family unit works as one front to overcome these obstacles. With Bram forming a pact with Snyder and Will having a guardian alien, I’m really looking forward to what’s to come.

I gotta say, I’m irked that Devon was killed off as quickly and unceremoniously as she was. In just three episodes, I found her more intriguing than most other characters. To take the time to establish a mysterious past that caused a rift between her and Will now seems like a waste. Who knows, Colony is the kind of show where people can reappear at any time. And speaking of, where the hell is Carl Weathers?

That’s all I’ve got for this week. Please, let me know in the comments below what you thought of Colony Season 2 Episode 3!

You can catch Colony on USA Thursdays at 10/9c. You can also catch the first season on Netflix.