Wow! Irrational’s rose plot could easily fall into annoying traps that would make season two difficult to watch.
This episode was full of twists and turns, and even though it was the second kidnapping-themed episode in less than a week, it still held my interest.
This could have been disastrous, but instead, this story proves that Irrational is no ordinary show.
Irrational’s rose plot is familiar, but the execution is original
How many people have been kidnapped by the Avengers on TV?
The description of the season premiere sounds full of tired TV tropes.
I love kidnapping stories, as long as they’re done well. They’re high stakes and in some ways lend themselves better to drama.
The pain of not knowing if a loved one is alive or dead, or if you will ever see them again, is even worse than knowing someone killed them.
Still, Irrational’s rose plot has been repeated so many times that it doesn’t sound all that compelling.
I was scared of this story, but I’m so glad I was wrong!
‘Irrational”s rose plot avoids a critical mistake
Finding the culprit quickly helps make the story bearable
The worst thing “Irrational” can do is drag out the plot.
Yes, I’m talking about you, the finder, and your missing Lacey arc that seems like it’s going to last forever. One episode where a loved one is kidnapped is enough.
Not only does the plot of “Rose Without Reason” wrap up at the end of the hour, it moves very quickly.
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such a fast pace.
In the first commercial, the FBI captures a kidnapper, and by halftime, the game has completely changed, with Alec sacrificing his freedom so that the police can more easily track the kidnapper.
I was a little annoyed that Alec got tied up again so soon after the season finale, but it’s actually been a few months, so whatever.
Alec’s decision to surrender to the villain is a turning point in many ways.
Trying to figure out how Alec is going to get out of this situation is a lot more fun than having police swarming the city looking for Rose.
‘Irrational”s rose plot works because of show’s commitment to exploring mental health
Alec’s use of psychology against criminals is just one example
Irrational’s Rose Plot works because it’s a different type of series than most procedural dramas.
Alec’s job as a neuroscience professor is more than just a gimmick; the series takes neuroscience and mental health issues seriously and uses his work to bring these issues to the forefront.
The show focuses on Alec using his advanced knowledge to predict why criminals do what they do and convince them to surrender or plead guilty.
In that sense, Rose’s story is no different. Alec did the same thing earlier in the episode when he convinced another kidnapper to tell them what he knew.
The theme of this episode is “Triggered Behaviors”
The kidnapping plot makes more sense when viewed in context
The rose plot of Irrational worked in part because it was an exploration of a theme that Alec brought up in class.
His talk was about how people make poor decisions when they are emotionally charged, and he ended by encouraging students to slow down and think when they want to act on their feelings.
Then Rose is kidnapped by a man who is a perfect example of what Alec was talking about.
Not only is he the kind of villain no one wants to be associated with, but he’s also ready to murder two MI6 agents to get revenge, even though that doesn’t solve the problem of his wife’s death.
This recklessness and impulsiveness resulted in Harry’s murder and nearly ended the lives of Alec and Rose, so this scene shows the consequences of acting purely emotionally in real life.
There is also some debate as to whether Alec was using logic or emotion in this episode.
He had a premonition that something was wrong when Rose left him unreachable, but he insisted on participating in the investigation despite being unable to be objective, and as a result he took the risk that he might be killed.
So, in some ways, he also proved the point he was trying to make.
Irrational’s Rose Plot Brings Enough Danger to Make It Worth Watching
It’s fun but would be annoying if it lasted longer
When police procedurals tell these kinds of stories, we know the main character isn’t going to die.
Therefore, threats and violence are not always as scary as they are made out to be, which can make such events boring.
Irrational’s Rose plot runs that risk, both because it’s happened before and because Alec was kidnapped in a previous episode in the spring.
However, the danger is enough to make me wonder how Alec will get out of it all.
If the story dragged on longer, I probably wouldn’t be able to handle it, but a high-stakes story in a short amount of time works well.
Over to you, irrational fanatic!
Are you glad this rose conspiracy didn’t last too long? Do you think the premiere is must-see TV?
Hit the comments and let us know!
Irrational airs Tuesdays on NBC 10/9c and Wednesdays on Peacock
