‘Almost Paradise’ Recap: ‘Deus Ex-Wife Machina’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Lisa Brenner and Christian Kane as Claire Walker and Alex Walker in Episode 205 of ‘Almost Paradise’ – ‘Deus Ex-Wife Machina’. (Photo Courtesy of Chari Villegas/Amazon Freevee.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Almost Paradise’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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When it comes to storytelling, there are a great many elements that go into creating a memorable hero that is loved by the masses. For starters, they need to be genuinely good people that champion what’s right in the world and they cannot waiver from that core. Sure, they can stumble and be flawed human beings as we all are, but they must stand for what’s right. Plus, they need to be personable and accessible, and of course… they need to be relatable and realistic in nature. But above all… they also need to have a true villain in their lives. A monster that serves as the anthesis of everything our hero stands for and makes their life hell, and well… that blueprint for a hero… is likely reason Number 10,435 that we love the Amazon Freevee series, Almost Paradise.
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Because Alex Walker, is all of those things, and those elements combined with Christian Kane’s magnificent portrayal of the character, keep us glued to our seats when we tune in to watch this series. In fact, we love what Christian has done to bring him to life… that it’s allowed for us to overlook that one key element is actually missing from his journey. Specifically… the nemesis. Because to date, Alex has swiftly defeated all comers of injustice, even the jackass that betrayed him. But since Dean Devlin and his magnificent team of writers’ respect storytelling so much, it was only a matter of time before they found a true foil to square off against Mister Walker, and it just so happened that the next episode in this franchise brought that all-important aspect of heroism to fruition.

For ‘Deus Ex-Wife Machina’ (a brilliant title by the way, that also pays homage to screenwriting) brought forth the true Moriarty to this show’s Sherlock, and at first… it seemed as though it was going to be Alex’s ex-wife, Claire. For she stormed into this story and demanded that Alex sign the divorce paperwork that he had been avoiding, to make the end final. Something that had not happened yet, because there was quite the dispute over the ranch they owned. Since dissolution of the marriage would put that up for sale and Alex, had plans for that down the line. But alas, she was insistent, mainly because she was getting married to a new beau named Bob, and well… that put Alex in a difficult spot. Where it seemed future dreams were going to be sent off into the void… that is until… the real heavy showed up.

Because a ruthless gangster named Jace Vargas, who loved to waterboard and torture, had busted out of prison and since Alex was the man that put him away… he wanted revenge. Which led to a harrowing and scary sequence of events. Where Bob was kidnapped in a case of mistaken identity, and where Claire and Alex had to put aside their differences and figure out how to save him. Because Alex is noble and knows that a life saved is always the right thing to do. Which brought forth some lovely moments, the kind that saw what made the Walker marriage work and how they had grown apart, and their core was definitely their kindness and their honesty and of course… eventually… through the help of a singing henchman and through Alex’s ability to best Vargas, Bob was saved… Claire was thankful and Alex got to keep the ranch and finally dissolve the marriage hanging over his head.

Which meant, once again… Alex grew in this tale by closing another chapter in his life, and he did so with grace and dignity. Not to mention he dealt with the revelation that Claire was moving on with grace as well, and great heroism. But above all… Alex Walker finally has a nemesis. For Jace Vargas is clearly the man that hates Alex Walker with a passion and stands for everything he does not. For he is all about that chaos, and pain and suffering, and he doesn’t think like Alex does… he just acts on pure, motorized, instinct, and loves the rush that gives him. And undoubtedly, we will be seeing more of him later on and that’s great. Because it gives Alex regular challenges to deal with and a monster to foil via cases that we can deeply enjoy. Thanks in large part to how well the character is written and also thanks to the actor that plays him, veteran actor Dante Basco. Who absolutely nailed the landing as the heavy, and he might look shockingly familiar and with good reason.

Because you have in fact, seen him before in film as Rufio in Hook. But here… he is something new, something exciting and something that is the right kind of evil for this show. One that once again, impressed with its storytelling. Since it allowed for us to finally meet Claire Walker and complete that particular cycle of the story, since we’ve already met Evelyn, and of course… you simply cannot go wrong with the introduction of a hero’s nemesis. For that is always an exciting turning point, and his arrival did bring about some epic action and adventure, and some wonderful moments for certain. The kind that made sure to not let the subject matter get too heavy and let Kai and Ernesto kick butt and take names as well, and in the end, this is another episode that leaves us beyond eager for more of this show. To see when the threat that is Jace Vargas, returns, and to enjoy more of Alex Walker’s fresh start in life. Until next time.

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