“Origins” is episode seven of season two of Powers.
In the previous episode, “Requiem”, Heavy was caught, with the assistance of the FBI who then kept him for themselves. Walker and Pilgrim had discovered that Conrad Moody was likely the one responsible for the death of RetroGirl, and of Triphammer as well, and he was. Moody had had RetroGirl killed because she refused him, when he wanted her to stay signed up with Colossal Fun and she wanted to retire to be with Walker – a man who doesn’t take his wishes being thwarted very well – and then had Heavy kill Triphammer, in order to sell more action figures. Walker had thrown Moody out of a window of a rather tall building, and followed him too but was rescued by Calista. So, a plot element seems to have been wrapped up nicely (albeit without any proof). But has it? There are still connections that don’t seem to have been resolved.
This episode opens in France, October 14th 1918, the Battle of the Argonne Forest of all places. A officer, who seems to be a bit unpopular, is trying to get his men to attack a German bunker. One of his men essentially commits suicide by walking to the bunker, then there is a lot of violence and the bunker has been ripped apart as has all the men in it. All by the man who had walked towards it. The officer disappears into thin air.
In the present a woman goes into Senator Bailey’s office and finally discovers him. Rather messily dead, killed in “Shaking the Tree”. Cross is in the woods with his sons and making out that he doesn’t miss running Powers Division when he gets a phone call. Walker is in his apartment, looking at holidays from all appearances, when he suddenly gets a terrible pain in his head. So he goes to a doctor; this isn’t the first time. The doctor is puzzled by how Walker survived the building collapsing on him in “Hell Night” so unscathed. He can’t find anything wrong with Walker, although he does believe the latter when Walker says something is wrong. So the doctor suggests it might be PTSD. Then Walker gets a call.
Pilgrim meets her father outside the court where he is being tried. He warns her to stay away from him. Then she, too, gets a call. It’s all about Bailey’s murder. The FBI has left, having got what they want. Moody’s death is being considered a suicide. Walker and Pilgrim are back on the job and are being sent to investigate the murder. Pilgrim is a bit disillusioned with the whole police thing, especially as Walker basically murdered Moody. It seemed at the time that Heavy was the logical subject for Bailey’s murder, but now it doesn’t seem so likely. Bailey probably knew his killer, and he wasn’t killed in a manner that seemed like how Heavy killed people. Instead, it seems to resemble the abilities of another Power.Although that may be misdirection.
The reporter, Nicole, is looking into Bailey’s tape, to find out who the woman on it was when she hears about the murder. Patrick is watching the news story as well on his old black and white television. Then it goes back to France, 1918. The man from earlier is Patrick, and he’s approached by a nurse called Janice. Super Shock and RetroGirl in other words – she isn’t really a nurse. It seems that Powers are not that well known as yet, and Patrick is not happy about his powers. The disappearing officer is also there; presumably he’s a Power as well. As everyone looks a lot younger, it’s not clear if he’s already known. There are more clips from the past, from Patrick’s life and RetroGirl’s attempts to convince him to help. History seems like it might be a little bit different here, at least under the surface.
Martinez wants him, Zora and Calista to step forward to fill the Power vacuum. He thinks they need a coach, someone who knows what they are doing and can teach them. Calista has an idea. She suggests Walker, not surprisingly, as he does have experience.