We’ve been spoiled by four mythology episodes so far on Alphas, which makes this week’s standalone episode kind of a letdown. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it’s just not as good in comparison. Still, it does get kudos for continuing the loved ‘character of the week’ trend from last week.

In “Never Let Me Go,” Rosen’s team, now a part of DCIS, investigates several deaths at a small-town high school and learns a little bit about ‘tough love’.

Alphas (s01e05): Never Let Me Go

What makes Alphas so great is how they take an ‘ordinary’ procedural case, connect its cause to an Alpha, and then figure out a way to reference the story back to the core team of characters. Like this week, an episode that started as a standalone procedural, turned out to have big ramifications for Rachel. Yup, just like the last episode focusing on Gary, this week we get to delve more into Rachel.

We’ve seen how Rachel’s heightened senses make it difficult for her to interact in the world. She can’t even go on a date and be kissed without spazzing out from being overwhelmed. Meanwhile, her parents are pushing her to be ‘normal’. And all she wants is to feel cared about and not be just “a walking crime lab.” To put it mildly, Rachel’s in need of some tender love and care.

It makes this episode, in which a woman gives love and then takes it away, that much harsher. The woman’s power is to make people feel so much love from her that they go into withdrawals and die. It’s a sadistic revenge for those she feels are responsible for those who bullied her son and his suicide. So, basically, she’s exactly what Rachel does and doesn’t need right now.

Thankfully, Rachel finally got the the love she’s been craving when the team found her on the edge of death. Rosen sweetly tells her she’s like a daughter to him. And everyone tells her how much they love her. Hopefully, now Rachel has the confidence to overcome her feelings of inadequacy. “All you need is love…”