The final three episodes of the first series of Wonderland. Leaving the ending of the series open to a second series was a little difficult, but there are definitely a few loose threads in this mystery that I've intentionally left over for Alice and Alex to unravel. Perhaps a second series would see Alice and Alex in a new location? It's quite clear that Black Rock City isn't a safe place, particularly for them. The final episode seems a little lengthy, but I feel it was necessary. A lot is revealed in the final episode, everything has built up to that moment, the answers that Alex seeks are given in that episode. So, effectively the first series of Wonderland is Alex seeking his answers and finding them. A second series could deal with the loose ends; antagonists still at large, Alex's mother still missing or even Alex attempting to fully regain his sanity (the original intention of the first series). A third series? Well, Alex and Alice could go anywhere. They could solve any number of mysteries from here on out. So, without further delay, here are the final three episodes of the first series of Wonderland.
Episode #11: THE WHITE QUEEN
Alex and Alice return to the factory hideout after a long day of hunting down leads to find Alex’s mother. The moment Alex enters the factory he is on edge, something is off. There is an uncomfortable stillness in the air. As if out of nowhere, Alex is taken by surprise and grabbed by one of the security guards from the asylum. Alice manages to evade the other guard. A clap sounds from above. Alice looks up to see Rosa stepping out of the shadow on an elevated platform, clapping with a smug grin on her face. She congratulates the pair for evading her for so long.
Alyssa sits on the rooftop of a church. She watches the sunset with a dreamy look in her eyes. She pulls a pocket watch out from her jacket and opens the lid. Inside is a picture of her late husband, Rory. “I miss you,” she says with a slightly shaky voice. But there is little time for reminiscing. An alarm sounds from Alyssa’s pocket. Alyssa pulls out her phone to see what the alarm is. Without a moment of hesitation Alyssa dives from the rooftop, using her grapple to soar between buildings.
Alice demands an explanation for Rosa’s actions. Rosa reminds Alice that she is the director of the asylum and that she makes the rules. Rosa reminds Alice of the warning of punishment she issued when Alice left to find Alex. But that wasn’t the explanation Alice wanted. Alice brings up the fire. Rosa gives a twisted smile, congratulating Alice again for being such a good detective. Rosa claims that she “had her reasons” for starting the fire that tore the Hart family apart. Alice is speechless; having not quite expected Rosa to so openly admit that she was the reason Alex’s father was dead. Before Alice can process this, Rosa orders the guards to kill her. Before they can take a step towards Alice, Alyssa swings in. In one graceful glide she kicks the guard holding Alex, causing him to drop Alex. Before Alex hits the floor Alyssa grabs him and continues her swing up on to the roof of the factory.
Alice watches Alyssa swing through the factory in awe. She is relieved to see Alex is now safe. For a moment, Alice accepts that she will die here. With a silent goodbye and good luck to Alice, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. But Alyssa has other plans. She drops back down, grabs Alice and swings her up on to the roof with Alex. Without stopping to explain, Alyssa hoists Alex up on to her back telling him to hang on tight and grabs Alice with her free arm. They zip off in to the distance.
On a distant skyscraper Alyssa explains who she is. Alex is shocked. All this time he spent looking for his mother and suddenly she turns up to save him from a terrible fate. Alyssa explains that she can’t stay with Alex and the she needs Alice to keep him safe. She states that whilst Rosa is still in charge of the asylum she will hunt Alex and herself relentlessly. Alyssa tells them that so long as herself and Alex are separated it means that at least if Alex is caught, Rosa will keep him alive whilst Alyssa is free. Before Alyssa departs she embraces Alex, promising him that one day they will be reunited and that he must stay safe with Alice. Then just like that, she’s gone.
Episode #12: THE HOUSE OF CARDS & THE RED QUEEN
Black Rock City is slowly becoming a more and more dangerous for Alex and Alice. So Alice has decided there’s only one place to lie low, much to Alex’s dismay. After a while travelling through the forest Alex and Alice reach the abandoned manor once again. There is stillness in the air, not even a slight breeze. Alex hesitantly pushes open the front door. The inside of the house appears to have been completely untouched since the day of the fire. Why wouldn’t it be? There’s been no one around to return it to a hospitable state. For a moment Alex stands in the doorway, filled with both sadness and terror. What kind of memories might be uncovered if he were to take another step. Alice places a reassuring hand on Alex’s shoulder.
For a while Alex and Alice wander around the house, not entirely sure what to look for. For the time being, they have no plans, no direction and nowhere to go. Alex had never felt so lost. Even in the asylum he had a strange, twisted sense of belonging. But now all he feels is a sense of emptiness. But what really bothers Alex is the lack of memories he seems to be uncovering. Not once since entering his old home had he remembered anything. Not even now, standing in his old bedroom.
Alex sits at the foot of the stairs in the front room. What was once sadness has now built up in to rage and frustration. Alice peers around the corner and breathes a sigh of relief, fearing for a moment that she had lost Alex. Alice tries to console Alex, but he has no patience for it. In a fit of rage Alex kicks the banister of the stairs. This causes a segment of the banister to fall off and crash to the floor with a loud bang, followed by a loud creak from the ceiling. Alex and Alice freeze in terror for a brief moment. Before either of them can react the ceiling caves in, along with the staircase that Alex is standing on, plunging him in to darkness.
Alex comes to and finds himself in the basement. The door to the stairs is blocked by debris. But before Alex can panic he is greeted by a familiar grin; The Cheshire Cat. Cheshire points out an entrance to a passage behind a shelf. Alex begins to make his way down the passage without the faintest idea of where it may lead. Along the way Cheshire questions Alex about what he has learned since escaping the asylum. Alex realises that he is no closer to figuring out how or why the fire started. The cat chuckles sinisterly, he tells Alex that the answers he seeks lie with The Red Queen, before vanishing.
The tunnel leads Alex out on to a beach. Nearby Alex spots a beach house. He heads over to the house and steps up on to the porch. Carved in to the door are three names; Rory Hart, Alyssa Hart and Alex Hart. Instantly Alex remembers the place as an old holiday home that his parents used to love staying in. Alex enters the house. He stands in the hall for a moment, waiting for a memory to appear before him. Before Alex can even try to remember anything he hears someone enter the house. He turns to see who it is, but he is greeted with a fist to the face, knocking him unconscious.
Episode #13: THE HOUSE OF CARDS & THE RED QUEEN PART II
Alice stands outside the manor, unable to enter due to the caved ceiling. An alien feeling washes over her; panic. She knows what she must do. Alice whips out her glasses and places them on her face. Through them she sees Alex’s perspective. He’s talking to a figment of his imagination; a rather disturbing cat. The cat leads Alex to find a secret passage. Alice continues to watch, hoping to track Alex to the other end of the passage.
Alex wakes up face down in the sand. His face feels incredibly sore. Before Alex has a chance to pick himself up, he is dragged to his feet and held in place. Alex looks up to see his captor; one of the asylum guards. Standing in front of Alex is another familiar face; Rosa. Not too far away Alex can see Dinah and the other asylum guard. One big corrupt gathering, it seems. Alex demands answers from Rosa, surprising even himself with his sudden outburst. Alex asks why his father was killed and why his mother had to go into hiding. Rosa smiles, seeing no reason not to tell Alex.
Rosa explains everything, her connection to Rory and Alyssa back when they were both alive. Rory had been the head of a pharmaceutical company with Alyssa working as the head of research and development. When Alex was born the pair turned their attention to the development of a new treatment named “Wonderland” to suppress Alex’s delusions and help him lead a normal life. The treatment would’ve helped many in the asylum too. So, in order to protect her “business” Rosa betrayed her friends. She sent the once sane Thom Jenniel to start the fire and kill anyone that didn’t succumb. However, Thom only managed to kill Rory and the guilt drove him mad. As for Alex, he escaped the fire with his mother’s help, who managed to escape. Rosa found Alex and imprisoned him, hoping to conceal the truth and to use Alex as bait for Alyssa.
Alex stares in complete disbelief. If it hadn’t been for him, had he been born with a sane mind none of this would have happened. Dinah revelled in reminding him of this. At that moment something inside Alex snaps. A strength not his own released, freeing Alex from his attacker’s grip. In one quick moment Alex reaches down, grabs a large piece of metal debris and swings it towards the head of the security guard.
Having seen everything, Alice gasps. The shock of learning about Rosa’s true motives subsides. The integrity of Alex’s mind hangs precariously in the balance. Alice knows she can’t allow him to kill another human being; the guilt would destroy Alex. Alice quickens her pace.
The two security guards lie unconscious. Dinah and Rosa stare in horror as Alex stands over them. Rosa claims that Alex truly is a monster, than he belongs in the asylum. Alex raises his weapon, ready to strike but before he can swing he hears Alice call out his name. As if snapping out of a dream Alex drops the debris and looks at what he’s done. Alice runs in between Alex and Rosa. Alice taps her glasses with a knowing look towards Rosa. Alice tells Rosa that she is going to take Alex, help him recover and if Rosa or any of her associates get in the way Alice will ensure the information she has learned will be used. Alice takes Alex away back in to the city.
Both Alex and Alice know that their journey is far from over. Black Rock City will no longer welcome them, they still need to find Alyssa and Alice knows just how tenacious Rosa can be. They haven’t heard the last from her...
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