s "The Assault" opens, Lexa (Cliché) is told by her Dominion contact that while researching Adam Kane's (Shea) work, they have discovered that not only will all mutants die young when their genetic makeup becomes unstable, but they also all have a predetermined death date.
Amazingly, Jesse (March) has managed to exceed his date by two weeks. The Dominion's conclusion is that Adam performed a procedure on him that must have saved his life. Lexa is ordered to turn Jesse over to them so they can study him.
Knowing that the Dominion will end up killing Jesse if they get their hands on him, Lexa finds some of Adam's research and goes to meet her Dominion contact without telling the other Mutant Xers where she's going. Jesse quickly realizes something's not right about the way Lexa left, and he finds Adam's research. Brennan (Webster) and Shalimar (Pratt) race off to find Lexa, only to end up facing soldiers who are invincible against their powers. All they can do is watch as Lexa is captured and taken away. Facing the Dominion Council, Lexa discovers the Dominion's nefarious purpose and refuses to help them.
Meanwhile, the Mutant Xers decide they need to find Adam. By finding their mysterious mentor, they can learn what Adam did to stop Jesse's early death and whether the others have been given the cure as well. Beyond that, Jesse believes he will be able to trade the information for Lexa. While he searches for Adam's hiding place, Brennan and Shalimar take a moment for themselves.
After getting lead, the Mutant Xers race to find Adam. At the Dominion headquarters, Lexa is imprisoned. The Dominion has plans to use her as a guinea pig if they can't get their hands on Jesse. The man running the show is the mysterious Creator, and Mutant X find themselves on a collision course with him that will change their lives forever.
Everything changes
As the third season of Mutant X comes to a close, the action-packed sci-fi show once again uses its season finale to change everything we know about the universe and its characters. On many shows, the changes in cast, characters and villains might be a detriment. However, consistent writing and the appealing cast has kept the series on track.
"The Assault" is probably the best finale they've come up with yet. While it does involve literal explosions, the explosive secret that's revealed is powerful enough to rip apart everything these characters believe. And it's a very good secret. Beyond that, the coupling of Brennan and Shalimar goes to a place many fans will be happy about.
The episode does have the standard quick leaps over inconvenient logic. They've been hunting for Adam all season, and suddenly, because the script calls for it, Jesse's able to find him in a few hours. And, as usual, characters manage to break into high-security buildings without much effort or challenge. However, those are the kinds of things that fans have become used to with Mutant X. The only real problem with this particular episode is the short opening teaser that lifts an action scene from the middle of the episode for no reason, and then gets started with the story with the caption, "12 hours earlier." The teaser is completely unnecessary.
The actors are solid, as always, and it's good to see Shea back again after several guest shots this season. Karen Cliché— has done a very good job as Lexa at creating mystery about her mission and tension within the group. And beyond that, the chemistry does seem to be heating up with the Shalimar/Brennan and the Lexa/Jesse couples.
There's been a lot of mystery this season about Adam, Lexa and the Dominion. And hanging over the characters' heads has been the knowledge that they might die at any moment if their bodies become unstable. It's added some edginess that has worked well, and "The Assault" is a fine payoff for the season.
