Limitless - Hi, My Name Is Rebecca Harris... - Review: "Spectacular!"

Once more, Limitless set out to deliver an episode truly worthy of every praise. The plot thickens even further, the writing was amazing, the acting was top notch, everything fell in line in this episode. Best of all, this was Rebecca's episode in every meaning of the word. Jennifer Carpenter carried the episode, and sure, Jake McDorman was there for some beautiful scenes too, but this was Rebecca Harris's showcase and I loved every minute of it. I hope this show gets renewed so we can have another one of these episodes.

Previously on Limitless...Brian found out that Sands was the one who killed Rebecca's father. And Rebecca surprised him by showing up at his apartment demanding that he tells her everything he knows about Senator Morra. The episode doesn't quite pick off where the last one ended, but I think this suited the episode well. This opening sequence was the first sign that this episode was going to be a great one. Rebecca and Brian are leaving this trailer when all of a sudden, a sniper shoots at Rebecca. She stops the scene to narrate about her life, including some flashbacks to her childhood, which were excellent! And then she illuminates us about working with Brian, and we all know how challenging that can be. Back in the present, she handcuffs him to a chair. The quippy dialogue between a determined Rebecca and an ultimately scared Brian was very well realized. And the decision of Rebecca's to take NZT was jarring at first, but you can understand why she would feel like she has no other choice. She just wants the truth, and I can respect that. You can't help but want to tear up at Brian's reactions, though. It should be noted that Rebecca basically turns into Matt Murdock without the blindness while on NZT. Her senses are completely enhanced; it's awesome! This opening scene was one of the best in the show's history. I feel like I've been saying that about more than half of the episodes in this show, but it's true! And I will never get tired of the opening theme. Then, we get to the scene of Sands and this mystery woman. At one point they hold hands? That threw me off quite a bit. We don't exactly know their motivations and we don't have all the pieces of the puzzle yet. But we do know this "legion of doom" they're building could be a serious thereat. I did however enjoy, all throughout the episode in fact, that Sands is a man of his words and protected Brian because he did the same for him on many occasions.

I must say, I'm a big fan of Rebecca on NZT. I know, I shouldn't say that, because if she takes any more without the immunity shot it could be disastrous. But she used the NZT to remember things like a Ted Talk on figuring out someone's lying, and that was great. I also enjoyed all of the references to Sands, Agent of Morra (episode 16) in this. They remembered Houston and his book, which Brian aptly hid underneath a moderately sized rock. Like Brian, Rebecca also sees clones of herself. They don't have any distinguishable features though, like a colourful sweater or a leather jacket. However, she does start to see her dad show up. She asks Brian about this, and he reassures her that he sees people too. They figure out the person they're supposed to see, taking them back to that trailer in the beginning. This poor woman, you really feel for her, going through the side effects. She gave Brian and Rebecca the cigarette butt they will need to figure out who else wrote in Houston's book. But as they're leaving, that's when the sniper shoots at Rebecca. What we didn't know is Sands texted Brian telling him to duck. And now they're even; okay then. Another great scene is Rebecca lying on the ground when her dad shows up once more reminding her that she can filter out the pain from her gunshot wound. In an animation very similar to the one when Brian gave himself Synesthesia, Rebecca is able to build up a wall around her pain so she can no longer feel it. That must be what Eddie Morra does all the time now. It begs the question about humanity, and if you're really living if you are physically filtering out emotions and feelings from your life.

Anyway, Brian tells Rebecca they need to go to a hospital, but Rebecca tells him to stitch her up. We've seen that before. They return to the CJC and they need to duck away from Naz. Together, they're able to comb through pages and pages of code (literal code) to get the exact figure of the person they're looking for. Brian suggests they go to Craft, but after an awkward date with Quentin, Rebecca nixes that idea. That was cute. Rebecca's idea is even better, though. James Tech, the MVP of the CJC. He helps them out (of course!). "Hey, it's not this guy's first rodeo." It certainly is not, Brian. So they get to the house of the guy, and he's already dead. Darn, Sands beat them to it. They're not gonna let that happen again, though. They go visit Houston, and Brian has the genius though of him actually suffering from Locked In syndrome. Any fans of House may recall that a patient had that, and it made for one of the best episodes of that show. So I was excited about this to say the least. They're able to make their own EEG and it works, great! This next scene with Boyle and Naz was also one of my favourites, albeit too short. Naz asks Boyle if she thinks Rebecca's on NZT, Boyle seems a bit shifty about the question. Naz brings up Casey, and Boyle is definitely squirming now. I really hope the finale will make him use the NZT in some way. Naz also brings up Rebecca's family's history of addiction. I love protective, mama bear Naz. Brian and Rebecca go to her apartment, where Rebecca has the plan to kidnap Sands's son. Much like Brian, I was freaking out about this concept. It did not sound like Rebecca at all, and I started to worry that NZT was indeed changing her. But we shouldn't jump to conclusions too early. Sands hears everything (and sees everything. Remember the hidden cameras? Those are back.) and races to the home of his son. The FBI and SWAT rushed him down, and at the front of this was Boyle. I was almost nervous we were going to have another Casey situation on our hands, but Sands lowered his weapon. We're fine. Or are we? Sands seems to believe that they don't have anything to hold him with. Brian and Rebecca reveal that Houston can and will testify to him killing Conrad Harris. But what about Piper Baird? Sands is not giving her up yet. But Brian's alright with this, as long as he remains arrested for Rebecca's dad. This is Brian and his motivations, through and through.

I want to give Jennifer and Jake every award I can think of for this last scene between them. Rebecca's thanking him, and then she wonders about Piper. Brian says it's fine. They both have to go talk to Naz when Brian drops that he "can't stay". Rebecca did not see this coming, and neither did I. Brian is giving up anything and everything to protect Rebecca. What a great person Brian is. If I wasn't crying before, I was certainly crying here. Even Rebecca got teary eyed too. Rebecca was starting to feel pain from her wound, so Brian told her to go see a doctor and he'll go talk to Naz by himself. He leaves, she sees her dad one last time. It is a painful scene between daughter and father. He tells her he is proud of her, and it's not her fault. Wow, it's a gripping and heartbreaking scene in all meanings of the word as he leaves and she comes off the NZT. And the after credits scene didn't help. Stavros is doing some cleaning when he comes across the trash can near Brian's 'old' desk. His name plate is in there. He picks it up, looks very nostalgic, and displays it on his cart prominently. Now we all need to fear for the future and ask many more questions. How did his name plate get in garbage? Who put it there? Is Rebecca going to take more NZT? What is going to happen to Brian now? How did he even manage to leave? Naz probably fired him, sure, but how did that conversation go down? Those pictures from Part One of the finale - is that Brian in his new job? Is he secretly working undercover for the CJC? Are they going to need him down the line? Will the CJC get access to the immunity shot themselves? What on earth will happen to Brian now!? All of these questions and more I hope will be answered in the finale. Well done, Limitless, you have graced us with another excellent piece of media.

Side Notes:

- The art style in the episode was fantastic. I guess it makes sense, what, with Rebecca's dad being a painter and what not. The etch-a-sketch work was really adorable, and the paint style during the scene with Houston was very pretty.
- Nice Badge! Gun! (episode 2) reference while Rebecca's lying on the ground and Brian helps her up. "Tag me in!" "Dope."
- Brian's popsicle was so cute! I can't believe he continued to use his phone after spilling some on it, though...
- Boyle is a terrible liar.
- Brian really told Rebecca everything. Even about him seeing her as Sloane way back when. That was interesting.
- The actor who played Rebecca's dad is great. I wouldn't mind seeing him again down the line.
- Brian's Ringo Starr impression. Wow. That was something.
- If this episode reminded you of White Collar too, it was warranted. Mark Goffman wrote the episode, and he worked on White Collar in the writing and producing departments.


What did YOU think of Hi, My Name Is Rebecca Harris...? What were your favourite parts of this episode? Is this the end of Jarrod Sands? Did you enjoy having Rebecca as the centrepiece of the show? Please leave a comment down below!

About the Author - Laura Markus

Laura Markus is a Media Studies student from Canada, infatuated with several TV shows. Past favourite include: House, Psych, Chuck, White Collar, Dexter, Arrested Development, Boy Meets World, Battle Creek, and Scrubs. Some of her current favourites are: Limitless, HTGAWM, Suits, Daredevil, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and probably 70 others. She also enjoys music from all genres, but her favourite band is Muse. She is a huge Potterhead, and loves books by John Green. She is currently reviewing Limitless for the 2015-2016 season. Feel free to connect with her on any of these social media sites.

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