Leslie Bohem continues the UFO narrative in the ‘Steven Spielberg presents’ mini-series, Taken. This episode marks the halfway point of the show, and first aired on 6 December, 2002.

The narrative moves into the 1980s.

Eric Crawford (Andy Powers) has cemented his role as the head of the government’s UFO program, based out at Groom Lake. He blackmailed government officials into giving him the position. He works closely with one of the site’s top scientists, Dr. Chet Wakeman (Matt Frewer), who seems to be as callous and cold as Crawford, and is not afraid to exploit human lives for his research.

Much like his father, he keeps secrets and lies to his wife, Julie (Emily Holmes) and daughter, Mary (Anysha Berthot) on the regular.

Working as an EMT, Jesse Keys (Desmond Harrington) is married to Amelia (Julie Ann Emery), and has a son of his own, Charlie (Devin Douglas Drewitz). He is becoming increasingly paranoid about his continued abductions (and Bob Wilde’s continued appearance as Carny, the abduction screen memory is always unnerving), and what the visitors may be up to. He agrees to seek out some help, but that plays him right into the hands of the military and Wakeman.

How will things play out for Jesse and his son, especially Charlie?

Jacob Clarke (Chad Donella) is a grown man, married to Carol (Sadie Lawrence). They, and their daughter, Lisa (Taylor Reid) are traveling home to be at his dying mother’s (Catherine Dent) side. He still has some of his abilities, and his brother, Tom (Ryan Hurst) has finally become a believer.

Crawford who has been keeping his eye on the family is curious about what may have changed his perspective, so he insinuates himself into sister Becky’s (Chad Morgan) life and begins an affair with her. She will be forced to confront her desires, her family, and herself in her relationship with Crawford, and what it will mean to all of them.

Some of the visual effects continue to not stand the test of time, but the story is good nonetheless, though this is arguably the dullest of the series so far. It continues to build on the abduction stories, and the idea of the visitors, without quite being able to explain what they are up to, and how can it, we don’t know what they’re up to (if they exist as portrayed in the series)?

Bohem continues to weave the trio of family narratives together, as well as working in the growing UFO lore. And while there aren’t enough UFO moments in the episode (there’s a great moment at the end, though as far as we know there’s no historical parallel for it), there are some disturbing moment, like when Jesse confronts himself in order to save his son.

The story continues in Charlie and Lisa.