STITCHERS – “Paternis” – KYLE HARRIS, BRIAN MCNAMARA – (Freeform/Tony Rivetti)
The third season of Stitchers (Freeform, Mondays, 9/8C) has had its share of surprises – not the least of which was Cameron and Kristen finding out where her mother was being kept (not to mention that a big reason the Stitchers program exists is to find a way to save her).
This week’s episode, Paternis, delves into the pasts of the show’s main characters – Cameron, Kristen, Linus and Camille.
When Cameron’s (Kyle Harris, The Carrie Diaries) father (Brian McNamara, Army Wives) murders a prison guard, Maggie (Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Eureka) breaks protocol to gain access to the guard so that they can stitch into his memory and find out if it was self-defense.
STITCHERS – “Paternis” – KYLE HARRIS, EMMA ISHTA – (Freeform/Tony Rivetti)
The attempt on his father’s life takes Cameron back to memories of the day his dad was arrested.
Meanwhile, Camille (Allison Scagliotti (Warehouse 13) and Amanda (Anna Akana, Single by 30) hit a rough patch because of Camille’s cynicism and insecurity – leading to her remembering incidents from her childhood) – and Linus (Ritesh Rajan) is freaking out because Ivy (Sarah Davenport) hasn’t returned any of last several texts, leading him to recall how his father helped him through a tortured childhood as the smart kid who never had any friends.
It all leads to a couple of major twists and a moment of quiet resolve and dignity by Cameron – matched by some powerful reactions from Kristen (Emma Ishta, I Smile Back).
STITCHERS – “Paternis” – ALLISON SCAGLIOTTI, ANNA AKANA – (Freeform/Tony Rivetti)
Writer Brian L. Ross (Love By Chance, Who Killed JonBenet?) balances the pasts and present of the four characters with a deft touch, giving us insights into their strengths and weakness in the present – and director Rob J. Greelea (Grey’s Anatomy, Madame Secretary) does every twist and turn justice; playing into and against beats to give each new revelation maximum impact.
All four leads – Ishta, Harris, Rajan and Scagliotti – are excellent as they reach into their characters’ insecurities and vulnerabilities. Harris, especially, gets to impress as he handles a quiet cliffhanger at episode’s end.
In its third season, Stitchers continues to get stronger. Paternis is a solidly entertaining hour that will not disappoint the show’s fans.
Final Grade: A-