Murder in Small Town X, Episode 1: The Game is Afoot!

Murder, Mayhem, and a small town in Maine. An early draft of Stephen King's new suspense novel? Nope, it's Fox's new reality/mystery show: Murder in Small Town X. And what a strange little show it is. It appears that the good folks at Fox are no longer content to merely break up relationships and break in recruits. This time the game will be a fair bit more sinister. Or at least its producers hope so. It seems that a serial killer is loose in the small town of Sunrise, Maine, and before anyone can even yell "Oh my God!" two of the town's surely angelic citizens have been killed Blair Witch style. It's a good thing Fox put up those warnings of violence beforehand, otherwise that might have been considered in poor taste.

After this fairly bloody introduction, we find ourselves observing those aforementioned angelic townspeople celebrating the town's founding. How quaint. At this point there has been no mention of players or rules, and Small Town still closely resembles a typical X-Files. This all changes, however, when we get our first glimpses of what will soon be identified as the players' training center in Portland, Maine. It is at this point that Lead Investigator/Host Gary Fredo informs the ten players that it will be their goal to solve the mystery and catch the killer. Still not very informative, but at least we have the foundations for some type of game.

Now the show begins its title sequence. With suitably dark imagery and a more than suitably ominous voice, the show's premise is "revealed" (still no word on rules, though), and the player's names and pictures are introduced. Unfortunately, this is the only introduction that the players receive. In the order that they appear there's Stacey, Alan, Angel, Shirley, Kristen, Brian, Lindsay, Andy, Jeff, and Katie (who I'm not sure actually appears in this episode). It also seems that these unknown players will be playing for a mere $250,000, hardly pocket money, but still not quite the amount that Survivor, Big Brother, or even The Mole dish out. Indeed, at this point the lack of player introductions should have clued me in that this is not your ordinary survival/reality show. But more on that later.

The help of a title card at the bottom of our screen we now find out that it is four days after the murders took place. (So much for the first 24 hours revealing the most about a homicide, eh.) It seems that the Sunrise killer has sent the players, still in Portland, a video of the killings (the same video that was seen at the very beginning of the show) but instead of just killing everyone in the house, it turns out that the killer somehow managed to temper their murderous rage long enough to have the matriarch of the household, Carmen Flint, read off a "manifesto." It is revealed that he/she has already "killed" both Nate and Abby Flint thus beginning his/her "life's work." The video then shows fifteen townspeople, and the killer identifies himself/herself as one of the fifteen. It seems that the killer wants to play a game.

With the suspects identified, and the video concluded, the players head off to the titular small town X. On the resulting bus ride we get our first insight into the players themselves. Kristen, a mortgage banker from Los Angeles, explains the importance of not getting scared, while Angel and Brian talk of the reality of the mystery situation. Katie says she won't go down without a fight, and Shirley tells us that the whole thing feels like the Twilight Zone. When the ten arrive in Sunrise, they are taken to a town meeting where the murderous events of the last week are being discussed. After G.D. Thibodeaux bum rushes Andy in the hall, the ten are led into the main meeting area. There we get our first good look at a number of the suspects (cleverly identified by Fox with a "suspect" icon by their name). Emerson Bowden, the mayor of Sunrise, tells the townspeople of the Flints' murder, and the resulting frenzy sees questions from both Frank Kovick and Drew Chambers, about the whereabouts of the still-missing Carmen Flint.

After the meeting, the ten are escorted to the Sunrise Cargo company, which will now serve as headquarters for the investigation. There Fredo introduces the ten to the names and faces of the fifteen suspects.

1. Leita Rose-Blodgett - Mail center operator/neighbor to the Flints
2. Emerson Bowden - Mayor
3. Drew Chambers - Club Owner
4. Prudence Connor - Garage Owner
5. Rev. Rusty Crandall - Pastor
6. Gen. Hayden DeBeck - Mind/Science leader
7. Dudley Duncan - Chief of police
8. Deanna Harris - Attorney
9. Frank Kovick - Reporter
10. William Lambert - Nate Flint's Partner
11. Sam Larabee - Diner Owner
12. Mary-Elizabeth Merchant - Abby Flint's Best Friend
13. G.D. Thibodeaux - Ferry boat captain
14. Jimmy Tinker - Abby Flint's Boyfriend
15. X-Ray - Cabbie

After the suspects are introduced, the group makes merry and toasts with bottled water. There is talk of "it" beginning tomorrow, but the producers have other ideas. Before the tacos are even fully digested, Dudley Duncan rushes in from the pier asking for help in excising Carmen Flint's dead body. While some of the players go to help Duncan, Alan and Andy notice well-dressed men sweeping (literally) the streets of Sunrise. Strange, indeed. Back on the pier, Thibodeaux, who apparently found the body, refuses to answer questions from Dudley. And the peaceful town of Sunrise continues to be anything but. Jeff pontificates off-screen about getting into the mind of the killer, but for now there is nothing to do but sleep.

The next day the game begins in earnest as the players have received a more ominous video than the last: one which features pictures taken of them with what looks like the same camera as was used to record the killings. Spooky. More importantly, the video came with a set of rules (and there was much rejoicing). The killer's game, as it is called in the show, features two parts. The first part, the red envelope, is a question about the investigations that when answered correctly will result in the clearing of one of the suspects form the list. The second, more ominous (and random) part is the black envelope. It will list off two locations, one of which will lead to a critical clue and one which will lead to the killer and the death of whichever player drew the short-straw. Now some of you might be asking, Why in the world would we work off of leads provided to us by the killer himself? Mr. Fredo explains that this is the only lead we have and as such it must be explored. Well, I don't know about that (after all they seem to come up with plenty of investigative tracks), but that's OK, I came into this expecting a game, so I can suspend my disbelief. With the killer's game now in place, we are privy to what I think is the final critical rule: Immunit-- I mean Lifeguard. The Lifeguard, it seems, cannot participate in the investigative tracks directly, but instead acts as a focal point at home base. Also, the Lifeguard cannot be killed when the black envelope comes into play, and while the group (minus the Lifeguard) votes on one of the Black Envelope participants, the Lifeguard is left with the somber duty of selecting the other participant. Seeing as the person that the Lifeguard selects has a 50/50 chance of dying, the Lifeguard itself can expect something less than a warm reception if the person that he or she selects is anything but dead. In this episode, the Lifeguard, decided randomly, is Andy. In future episodes the Lifeguard will be decided by the player that is killed.

At this point, the ten must "decide" on the investigative tracks which they are going to pursue. “Decide” is in quotes because of the rather minimal role which the players take in the proceedings. You see, Fredo pretty much just stops the tape of the murders at various spots and then asks the players what they see. In one instance, the players are asked to identify the box that Nate Flint was working on. When they identify it as a clock, the recovery of said clock is placed in Track 1. In short, Fredo holds their hands the entire time, and while this might be necessary for the progression of the mystery, it seems to be at the expense of the game play. After all, what reason does the team have to retain any sort of intelligence in the group when they know that the leads will be provided to them by their benevolent host? Thus I think that Small Town works much better as a mystery than it does as a game show. Nevertheless, the Tracks are soon decided upon.

Track 1: Flint House

1. Find clock Nate Flint was working on
2. Find evidence of a weapon
3. Investigate Abby Flint's missing car

Track 2: Leita Rose-Blodgett

• Talk to Leita Rose-Blodgett

Track 3: Thibodeaux

1. Get G.D. Thibodeaux's alibi
2. Find out Thibodeaux's relationship with Nate Flint.

And with the tracks now decided, Fredo offers one final warning: The players can be killed at any time if they are alone. This could add some interesting dynamics as the producers constantly try to split up teams, but I am concerned that this facet will be somewhat limited by the fact that one player is already offed every week. Oh well, it could still be cool.

So, the teams depart on their separate tracks. On Track 3, Alan and Lindsay go to meet Thibodeaux on his ferry, only to be rebuffed and told to meet him at the Sunset club later that night. On Track 1, the investigators discover that the basement of the Nate house has been flooded, upstairs the investigators begin to take pictures of the surroundings. On Track 2, Leita Rose Blodgett, in the company of Lillian Tinker, Jimmy Tinker's mother, tells the players that Nate didn't want Jimmy to go out with Abby anymore and that she saw a fight in the Nate's driveway because of it. Leita goes on to say that in the middle of this argument Jimmy picked up a tire iron, but Lillian is quick to defend her boy, and eventually Leita admits that Jimmy didn't actually hit anyone with the iron.

Back on Track 1, Prudence Connor appears, and is immediately ushered out of the house by Stacey and Kristen. There the two proceed to ask her what she is doing at the crime scene. Prudence, being one of Sunshine's amicable denizens, will have none of this questioning and when Stacey asks if she'd be willing to help the investigation Prudence merely shouts "two-way street" while she walks away. The two investigators in the basement fare better, though, discovering the clock floating in the now waist-high water. Kristen and Stacey, now upstairs, discover a web cam on the computer, and from here there is a montage of the players collecting evidence. A gun casing is found, and the computer is bagged. With this evidence in tow the Track 1 team heads back to base.

At headquarters, Andy receives the red and black envelopes of the killer's game. They aren't opened, though, as Track 3 has yet to be completed. Then we are shown a brief shot of the players' dinner, before Alan and Lindsay set off for the nightclub in which they promised to meet Thibodeaux to complete Track 3. This entire sequence is narrated by Alan and Lindsay during their retelling to the group after the fact, so we see the events "live" as Alan and Lindsay relay their thoughts on the situation. At the nightclub, the pair meets up with Drew Chambers, Mary-Elizabeth Merchant, Deanna Harris, and William Lambert before Thibodeaux arrives. Once Thibodeaux begins talking to Alan, though, he explains that he was not actually fired from Nate's aquaculture. Instead he says that he left amicably, and that Nate actually lent him the money to buy his ferry. This is all misunderstood by the town, he warns, because everyone thinks he was fired. He goes on to finger Lambert as a trouble maker, which results in a scuffle in the bar between the two men. Finally, while Thibodeaux is leaving, he tells the pair that he will talk to only one of them in two minutes outside. Alan immediately jumps at the idea, but Lindsay has other ideas. She feels that Alan's leaving puts them both at risk, and thus proceeds to freak out at the concept of being left alone. Alan, unconvinced by Lindsay's arguments, leaves her in the club anyway, and soon he is getting Thibodeaux's alibi. Thibodeaux tells Alan that he was at a VFW meeting with Prudence Connor on the night of the murders and that they bar hopped until about four in the morning, then went home. Truthful or not, Alan and Lindsay now have what they came for and thus return home.

The next day is evidence day at headquarters, as the players are led through the discoverys that they made the night before. Nate's clock, it turns out, held secret pictures of Nate and Prudence "gettin' it on" in the immortal words of Andy. The computer which Stacey and Kristen brought back contains a web video phone call from Abby Flint to Mary-Elizabeth Merchant, in which she babbles about Jimmy not loving her and in fact using her. She also states that Jimmy, presumably, said nothing happened. This to me is the most interesting as it is the most coherent of Abby's many ramblings. At this point, with the analysis of the received evidence complete, Fredo proceeds to open the red envelope. The question inside is: What did I wrap the bodies in? Kristen almost immediately responds shower curtains, and in her infinite wisdom almost manages to get the group to accept it. Shy Shirley, however, asks about the bed linens, at which point Kristen yells for the group to stop. After reexamining the murder video, the group decides that linens is in fact the answer. Linens, it turns out, is correct, but Shirley gets no credit. As a matter of fact, Kristen accepts no blame. It seems to me that her impetuousness nearly cost them a suspect elimination, but the rest of the group seems to ignore this. In the end, Chief of Police Dudley Duncan is cleared and the group is told that the black envelope will be opened at a later time.

So now its politics time, with a 50/50 shot at elimination on the line we get to see the Survivor dynamics of Small Town swing into effect. Lindsay immediately sets out to begin a female alliance, making reference to the way in which Jeff looks down upon the women of the group. Kristen immediately chimes in her agreement, but a private interview with Stacey indicates that she's not buying. Meanwhile, the men decide that with nine votes, only five are necessary to decide the outcome (good math, guys!) and thus determine that Katie (the mystery player) is the swing vote. With politics time concluded, we now proceed to the vote. Players are asked to take in a picture of the person they are going to send and say a few words about why they are voting for that player. Although only a few of the players are shown voting, it is evident that Shirley and Jeff are the two players on the potential chopping block. Once again we see that this show is focusing more on the mystery than the melodrama that is the vote on other reality shows. With little fanfare, Fredo turns over the picture of Shirley to the group, and we are left wondering about the exact details of the vote. Next, Andy must take center stage as he selects the other member of the black envelope gang. After about two seconds of thought Andy selects Kristen. While this choice is understandable to me, Kristen is incredulous and gives Andy a look that could do far worse then kill. Before leaving the two are asked to give their final words, and to make a choice on the next lifeguard. In that video, Shirley says that she hopes for death because she would rather be face to face with a killer than with the backstabbers all around her. Meanwhile, Kristen laments to anyone who will listen how much she despises Andy, and before leaving threatens Andy with some nice wordplay on the word grass.

For the finale of the show, both Kristen and Shirley enter separate cabs to separate destinations which are designated by the maps which were randomly distributed to them by Andy earlier. At the end of the program, Fox gives a disclaimer indicating that the killer and clue locations were predetermined, presumably so that we don't wonder about the legitimacy of the operation. Not that anyone would manipulate reality TV for their own nefarious ends... never. And so after a brief talk with X-Ray, her cabbie, Shirley embarks upon an exploration of the chicken ranch. Meanwhile Kristen is delivered to Dog Island by random cabbie #1 who we'll rule out of importance....for now. After much exploration in the dark, and with full Blair Witch cameras rigged to their bodies, both women approach the destinations indicated to them. Soon, Kristen discovers a bloody X on the wreck of a ship, but Shirley finds only a bloody cross. If it is not evident to the viewer who drew this week's short straw, a lunging night vision camera soon plunges at Shirley in the darkness. While I'm sure no bodily harm actually came to her, I can empathize with the fright of that situation. It is in the final act's suspense where I believe the show truly succeeds.

Back at headquarters, an off screen voice hopes that whoever returns will be ready to rejoin the group. Upon Kristen's successful return there is indeed much rejoicing, but it is obvious that the act of getting sent out on a black envelope mission has somewhat soured the atmosphere. The show concludes with Kristen declaring that Andy had a vendetta upon her, and otherwise there is no reason that she should have gone. (cough...shower curtains…cough) As if in response, Andy is then shown stating that tomorrow is another day, and that strange things are sure to be coming their way.

I hope so, for Small Town is most definitely a trip well worth taking. The game itself, filled with randomness and chance, is somewhat lacking, but the producers are doing the correct thing in playing that down. If the mystery continues to be interesting, Small Town will succeed, as it appears that a lot of thought has gone into its production. If not, then Small Town will remain a Survivor wannabe with far less politics and charm. Only time will tell, though, and until then Small Town definitely provides enough spice to make existence extra nice. (My apologies to the Simpsons.)

Richard Hoeg is an Economics major at Hillsdale Colege and very thankful that he won't have to propose to his girlfriend on an imac in the Outback with Jeff Probst breathing down his neck.

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