Naomi – Fellowship of the Disc

By starrymag | March 29, 2022

By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

 

 

It’s Jennifer (Mouzam Makkar) and Greg’s (Barry Watson) 20th anniversary and Naomi (Kaci Walfall) is excited. She wants to recreate their honeymoon in Paris and is psyched to have her parents try out the French recipes she’s experimented with, but she realizes they’re less than thrilled. Greg and Jennifer are considering canceling the big party they have planned. Naomi asks if it’s because of her. They immediately say no but Naomi thinks they’re lying. Jennifer says that they just think that with all the recent developments it’s better for everyone to try and keep a low profile. Naomi really, really doesn’t want her parents’ anniversary to be ruined on her account, so she pleads with them to move forward with the party. They relent, but say they want to keep things low-key. When Jennifer and Greg leave the room with her super hearing Naomi hears they talk about the possibility of leaving Port Oswego.

 

Later at school Naomi tells Annabelle (Mary-Charles Jones) and Annabelle is horrified. She doesn’t want Naomi to leave. But Naomi admits it might be for the best considering what almost happened at S.T.A.R. labs. She adds that there are other threats reminding Annabelle that the Brutus that Zumbado (Cranston Johnson) told her about has it in for her, too. Naomi doesn’t want to leave, but she might not have a choice.

 

In Dee’s tattoo shop Naomi and Dee (Alexander Wraith) are sparring. Naomi’s getting good but Zumbado is less than impressed. His issue isn’t with Naomi – he just thinks she needs to focus on mastering her powers and not fighting like a human. Dee says she shouldn’t rely too much on her powers as she might not always have them, and they attract attention. Zumbado thinks they’ve already attracted attention and she needs to be ready. Naomi appreciates that concern but insists that Dee has been a great teacher.

 

Annabelle comes over to see Naomi to help with party prep. The conversation is lighthearted until Naomi realizes that there’s been an intruder. Annabelle wonders why they didn’t take any of the expensive items, but Naomi realizes the burglar stole the disk. The next day while doing volunteer work Naomi reveals she didn’t tell anyone about the disk. She doesn’t want to cause panic. They’re conversation about stealing it back is interrupted by Jacob (Aidan Gemme). He’s a longtime alien enthusiast and without all the context he assumes they just want to find out what caused the S.T.A.R. labs explosion. And he’s working on technology similar to what they had. The talk ends when Zumbado summons Naomi.

 

Naomi meets Zumbado in the woods and he wants to have a training session without Dee. Naomi reiterates that Dee has been great to her. Zumbado says that may be true but the skills he’s teaching her aren’t the only ones she needs to know. He wants Naomi to fly because flight is about strength. Naomi’s got issues with heights and doesn’t feel ready. Zumbado says if she lets him help her, she’ll be ready someday.

 

At the high school the Juniors have been assigned volunteer hours. Nathan (Daniel Puig) and Anthony have been assigned to Lourdes’s (Camila Moreno) family’s comic book shop. They assume since they’ve spent time together before she’ll sign their volunteer sheets without having to do anything. Lourdes says her dad signed them up because he wanted her to have help. So, no actual volunteer work – no class credit.

 

Naomi’s breaking into the wrecked S.T.A.R. labs and runs into Jacob, who is also breaking in. As far as Jacob knows Naomi’s just a fellow extra-terrestrial enthusiast. They do some looking around and then Jacob’s device starts picking up a weird energy signature. Naomi gets nervous and wants to leave. But he’s still curious and keeps looking. Unfortunately, he walks under a less than stable beam which almost crushes him when it falls. It doesn’t because Naomi uses her super strength to catch it.

 

The next day Jacob pops up at Naomi’s locker wanting to talk. He says she’s been avoiding him, and he’s got a million questions, which he asks very loudly. Naomi tells him to keep it down because she doesn’t want people knowing she’s an “E.T. fan.” But at Jacob’s insistence she explains it’s a recent development. He wants to know if Annabelle knows about her. Naomi says she knows but Annabelle can’t know that Jacob knows. So, when she asks them why they’re talking they lie and say it’s about Lord of the Rings. Annabelle is not convinced.

 

Nathan and Anthony aren’t enjoying volunteering at the comic book shop. They’re confused about the sorting system and are just generally disappointed that it isn’t the cake walk they hoped for. After they complain Lourdes goes to get them water and they stumble onto a box of classic comics. When Lourdes returns, she is annoyed they’re going through her personal collection. Anthony can’t believe she’d sell it. Lourdes says the store isn’t doing well and her dad is still sick. Selling the comics is how she keeps them from going under. Upon hearing this the boys want to help, but Lourdes is now clearly upset and tells them they’ve completed their volunteer hours and should go.

 

Jacob and Naomi assemble a DIY alien tracker. They decide to go to the old storage unit to track an energy signature that could be the disk. She’s not comfortable telling him about Dee and Zumbado.

 

Speaking of them, they’re having a mentor custody battle. Naomi came to Dee and since he’s been working with her since beginning, he feels he knows what she needs. Zumbado says Dee’s approach could work if they had more time, but they don’t so they need to accelerate her powers’ emergence. Dee reminds him that two months ago she didn’t know she had powers. Zumbado says she needs to be pushed, but Dee doesn’t want her overwhelmed. They don’t come anywhere close to agreeing. Zumbado says that pushing Naomi is the only way for her to protect her loved ones and Dee should get that. Dee states she could wind up losing her loved ones, which would destroy her.

 

Jacob and Naomi go to a storage unit and Naomi uses her powers to break in. When they’re inside the unit they make a strange discovery. It’s filled with Naomi’s stuff – baby toys and clothes and a bag full of money. Inside it there’s a fake passport for Naomi.

 

Naomi goes home and confronts her parents. She wants to know what’s with the storage unit. They explain they’ve always had a plan for if Naomi’s ever exposed and it involves a life of fake names and a lot of running. They reluctantly explain they’re worried the military is onto them.  Naomi is upset. She hates that they’ve been living in fear because of her. Greg and Jennifer say they love her and want her safe.

 

Nathan and Anthony take the liberty of throwing a Lord of the Rings trivia party at the comic book shop. They thought it’d be a good way to help the store and to their credit there’s a decent turn out. But Lourdes is less than thrilled. She tells everyone to leave, and Nathan and Anthony are confused. Lourdes says that trivia nights about fantasy books isn’t their style. However, the boys point out the store’s current style is going out of business. They just wanted to do something nice for a friend. Lourdes says she doesn’t need pity and they’re not friends.

 

Annabelle and Naomi have a tense talk. Jacob told her everything and she’s feeling hurt that Naomi and Jacob were keeping a secret from her. Naomi apologizes but explains she just wanted to protect her. She explains that from traveling all the time she’s had a lot of friends, but Annabelle is her first best friend. Annabelle argues that they’re a team and even when it’s dangerous they’re in this together.

 

Dee meets Zumbado in a junkyard. He says they need to settle their differences once and for all. Zumbado says they shout fight, and the winner decides the best training strategy for Naomi. Dee believes that’s not productive; however, Zumbado disagrees and attacks Dee with his powers. Dee is angry that Zumbado is ignoring the rules of engagement. Zumbado says Naomi’s enemies will have no honor.

 

Against all odds Greg and Jennifer’s anniversary party happens. When Naomi and Jacob are talking about the disk Jacob offers a comparison for Naomi. In the Lord of the Rings Sam tries to sneak off, but Frodo refuses to allow it. He’s with him until the end and it’s his choice. This seems to be his way of telling Naomi not to shut out Annabelle.

 

At the comic book shop Lourdes is sweeping up and finds the money from trivia night. Nathan and Anthony thought she should have it. Later when she sees them at the party she apologizes for snapping at them and explains she’s used to doing everything alone. Nathan admits they should’ve talked to her first. They’ve got more ideas though and it looks like they’re gonna keep volunteering.

 

Elsewhere, Zumbado goes to see Dee and they talk about balance. Dee wishes for Naomi to have more time for everything, but he knows they’re running out of it. Zumbado begrudgingly admits that Dee can help Naomi stay in control. So, they agree that they’ll use the best parts of both of them to teach her.

 

Jennifer and Greg are hiding from the party. Then they decide to mingle. When they’re gone Naomi and Annabelle make up. Naomi apologizes again for shutting her out and admits it’s really Annabelle’s decision to be involved or not. Naomi says she just needs her. The making up is interrupted by Jacob sending them a 9-1-1 text. We cut away to outside and see army boots on the ground. The military has gone to S.T.A.R. Labs.

 

When Naomi and Annabelle talk to Jacob he’s a little freaked out. He says the alien they’re looking for is at the party. But who could it be?