MovieChat Forums > Roswell (1999) Discussion > Tess and her powers *spoilers*

Tess and her powers spoilers

posted 8 years ago by agilitygirl3
3 replies | jump to latest

I watched this show when it originally aired and have rewatched it numerous times since it was cancelled. But the one thing I can't seem to understand is what exactly are the parameters of Tess's powers. The only other person whose specific powers are shown is Isabel. But the limits of her power seems more obvious: it's harder for her to walk into someone's subconscious when they're awake; if the person is drugged, it's harder to communicate with them; people can tune her out if they don't want her rummaging around in their minds.

Michael's full power potential is never displayed. We know no rock stands a chance against him and that he can change his fingerprints. Then, of course, that he can kill people, but we don't know if it's only Michael that can do these things or all of the hybrids.

Max heals (though it's implied that Michael and Isabel can do it too). He gains the force field power in season two.

They all seem to be able to unlock doors and "change the molecular structure" of things (although, it's explained in the pilot that Max healed Liz by changing the molecular structure of the bullet and it doesn't seem like any of the other hybrids can heal, except maybe Tess when she heals Max's face after the skins kill Nasaedo, but that's the only time anyone else is shown to have that kind of ability). They also all seem to have some form of telekinesis.

The limit on Tess's powers, however, is never fully discussed. In the beginning, she makes people see/feel what she wants. I say feel because there was a quote in one of the episodes right after Max kisses her that implies she made him feel an urge to be with her. In the episode where the skins take over Roswell, her mind warp becomes deadly, somehow starting as a mind warp but escaping into real life and obliterating the skins that were holding the hybrids hostage. Later in season two, we find out the mind warp is how she got Alex to decode the alien book for her. But that seems beyond the capability of someone who basically doubles as an illusionist; that's heading into mind control territory.

I know it seems crazy to think about it but it's something I've thought about every time I rewatch the series, which happens more often during the summer, when nothing else is coming on.

Would/could/should have or would/could/should've... Not would/could/should of.

[–] chadwpalm75 8 years ago

I think Tess' abilities were greater because she had more time to hone them and she was trained under Nasedo. Remember it was Nesado that had to show Michael how to change his fingerprints. Max, Isabel and Michael were still pretty raw and didn't understand all the things they could do. Isabel's dream walking grew a bit as she was able to get Max to see Liz while he was awake all the way in NY. In the episode "Who Died and Made You King?" It is explained that Max could heal because he was the King and had the royal insignia in him. When Max died it went to Michael as he was second in command and Michael had the healing power (and maybe some of Max's other powers) for that short time he had the insignia in him. (He healed his own hand)

I don't know if Michael's unique ability was ever stated in the series or if he had one. Maybe he never discovered it because he was so immature.

[–] jtsjtssmokey-703-366973 8 years ago

In my opinion and have put this on here somewhere in the past, but Tess was more alien maybe because she was "raised" by Nasedo. She as far as my thinking went the first time saw her show up was she was already using her powers first on Isabel then really on Max, Micheal she did but it seemed to me that she did not think much of him.

I also think we never see all she can/could do despite the mind warp on Alex that we found out about later. She of course was able to kill the skins, the "I dont know" she said was nonsense to me. In New York, I think she also killed Rath and Valondra (how ever you spell it) and the whole wanting to go home to Roswell in that "helpless" act was just that, and act.

Weirdly, I did not mind the way the show went, and am one of the few that did not mind the 3rd season and Jessie. Even the whole Tess returning, and doing one thing right to save the rest including the child she was determined to have that in the end allowed the rest to leave town, though yes was rushed as had prepared for full season but told to shorten.

Oh ya, Micheal healed River Dog, was the second one to use that power, though did say after that it was a Max power.

I have written, pen to paper, horrid editing too, what took place after leaving, weirdly too, was hoping Ava would be in it, but she did not show up, hope to fig out if way to put it out there but does need editing and I am not great at typing either.

I also think that Liz will be the only one to have developed powers but may still be on another thread part of my thinking why.

I too have a few shows that will go back and rewatch, think that is the fun of owning the ones I find good. Here s to rewatching

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[–] HCxIapetus 8 years ago

Their powers... that's the one thing about the show I wanted to know more about. I appreciated the slow burn of them discovering them, but part of me wishes we could have learned more.

As the seasons went on, it was clear that they retconned a few things about their powers. Michael could heal, but not to the extent of Max's ability. So it might be safe to say that so could Isabel and Tess. However, later on in the series, it's never mentioned again until Max died and Michael gained the mark.

The extent of Tess' powers, and this is my theory, is that she was capable of illusions and mind control. We know the illusions (mind warping) were her strong suit. Mind control was the 'newer' ability she was good at but hadn't mastered or completely understood, as evident with Alex's death. If she had more control of her mind control ability, I think she could have been able to prevent Alex's death by not damaging his brain too much. Obviously that wasn't a concern of hers though.

The one thing that is baffling to me is how she was able to combust people. Was it a different power? Or was it an extension of her mind control power? It could have been either. Her illusions were an extension of mind control, but it wouldn't have been illogical if combustion were a separate ability. However it doesn't necessarily fit her theme, unless each of them were capable of the same abilities.

—Max's power theme was defensive; healing and his force shield.
—Michael's was--from what I could tell--offensive; heat generation capable of melting bone and exploding things (rocks).
—Isabel's was mental; dream walking, being a medium between minds. I wouldn't have been surprised if later in her life she went into telepathy.

So what exactly was Tess' theme? She had mind control and combustion; two abilities that don't seem to match, unless they are connected somehow. It's a shame the show couldn't or didn't explore that.

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