Why don't they keep track of people who cross over?
With all the danger of them impersonating their counterparts, it would be wise to be extremely paranoid and watch them all very carefully until they go back to their world...
All due respect, how carefully have you been watching? The security on Crossings is tighter than an Eskimo's nadsack, to steal a line from one of my favorite movies, Dog Soldiers. That's what makes the game Their Howard is playing by sending Our Howard back There in his place so dangerous!
shareThe security is tight yet a whole bunch of impersonators cross over without being a subject to close monitoring of their actions... doesn't make sense.
shareThey cross the border as a part of the embassy maintenance crew. To monitor them closely one needs to monitor closely the premises of the Embassy, which is problematic and could potentially lead to a diplomatic scandal.
However, I agree that this storyline could be written in a more elaborate way. We see these guys crossing the border, then going somewhere by car, getting out in a broad daylight etc. Instead of let's say going first into the Embassy, then leaving it in a trunk of a car etc.
Well, this would make this show more realistic but also could result in higher production costs. I personally usually let such things slide just for the sake of 'entertainment'.
Realistically, diplomatic relations would simply require that visas are only issued to persons not having a living counterpart on our side (or at least not a high ranking official one). That would be the safest way to insure non-intrusion.
shareIt seems like a pretty steady stream of people are flowing between both sides. While they are checking their papers, I'm not sure how they could watch them all. A few determined spies are always able to slip through any net.
shareYes, but why allow so many people to cross if they want to keep the portal secret or are worried about security? Sooner or later, someone will take a picture of a celebrity "counterpart" on two places at the same time (or take a picture of a dead person who appears alive and well) and alert the public about the existence of doppelgängers...
Secrets never stay secret if you involve too many people...
Which I think is part of the fabric of the story. They've been hiding this huge secret and it was bound to begin slipping out sooner or later. One thing they can count on though is that the idea of a parallel world is so insane that few people besides the people who work there would believe it.
share