Posted by Dustin on 07.15.2014 at 7:09 pm

So on the latest episode of “Under The Dome” we got some major answers, and I think my speculation from the first episode of the season was partially right! Let’s dish on this episode . . .

In the latest episode we were introduced to the town barber Lyle (guest star Dwight Yokum) who is the latest townie to go nuts thanks to the dome. When red rain began pouring down, he thought that given they had bugs last week that this was a message from God. As pointed out, the bugs weren’t locusts, and the blood rain burned like extreme acid rain. However he was sure there was a new God in town, the dome. He lost it and kidnapped the science teacher, who had to be rescued from him.

The kids were all at the school supposed to be working on a project Rebecca the science teacher gave them. However they soon realized for some reason they had an internet signal to the outside world. Why? The rain’s interference? It was never explained, and it didn’t last long. Norrie noted that on twitter there is some strange woman who has formed an almost online dome cult. James soon learned the woman appears to be his mom. She sent him and him only a private message revealed that yes, she was alive, and that creepy Lyle could give the answers! We learned as kids the two dated . . . So she is alive, on the outside, and seems to know what is going on. Hmmmmmm.

When the signal went out, they used their obvious product placement Microsoft Surfaces to track it to where it was strongest. It was Angie’s locker where it was coming from. When egg/lake girl touched the locker and Angie’s bloody hand print, she just knew the combo. Unfortunately it was empty when they opened it. Norrie was suspicious of her, but Joe realized there was an explanation. They looked at a list of all the students who had that locker. One name stood out to egg/lake girl. They then looked in the yearbook for that individual and that year. She is the spitting image, not a day older, of one Melanie Cross in 1988! How can this be? I don’t know, especially since most schools change locker combinations yearly . . . Yeah that irked me. However it seemed like the temporary internet was a message from the dome, for both James and Melanie.

Barbie, James and Julia managed to rescue Rebecca from Lyle, and he was thrown in jail. Sam, Jr/James’ uncle, paid him a visit and said he was supposed to lay low, that was the deal they made. He was also supposed to make sure what they buried was never found . . . Yup, it sounds like they may have in fact killed on Melanie Cross to me and covered it up! If you subtract 25 from 2013 (the shows start year) you get 1988! Later, James/Jr. showed up to find out the truth about his mom. Lyle said that was a story to tell . . . I’m willing to bet she is involved in what was buried. It turns out Sam, Lyle and the mom Pauline were BFFs back in the day.

Finally we learned that Rebecca and Big Jim planned a census (because you know Chester’s Mill is so big it needs one) and what it was really for. Julia realized it was to gather information as to who was expendable when the time came and they had to get rid of people to stay alive. Julia was disgusted, but Barbie looked at it as a worst case scenario plan. She was disgusted with him too for siding with them. I really hate that they’ve suddenly thrown all these obstacles in Julia and Barbie’s path. Breaking them up like this is pissing me off, but not as much as having Barbie siding with Big Jim all of the sudden. In the last episode they noted how the town seems to be worshipping Big Jim, so I think the dome is now messing with Barbie’s head too. Then again, it could be his military training coming out.

Spoilers for the next three episodes below.

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BIG JIM AND REBECCA TAKE EXTREME MEASURES TO EXTEND RESOURCES IN CHESTER’S MILL, ON “UNDER THE DOME,” MONDAY, JULY 21

Dwight Yoakam Returns as Lyle, the Town Barber

“Revelation” – As conditions in Chester’s Mill worsen, Big Jim and Rebecca consider resorting to the extreme measure of population control, which drives a wedge between Barbie and Julia. Meanwhile, clues to Melanie’s past and her connection to the Dome are revealed, on UNDER THE DOME, Monday, July 21 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Dwight Yoakam returns as Lyle, the town barber.

JULIA TAKES HER PLACE AS LEADER OF CHESTER’S MILL, ON “UNDER THE DOME,” MONDAY, JULY 28

“Reconciliation” – Julia takes over as the leader of Chester’s Mill after the town becomes divided in the wake of Big Jim and Rebecca’s plans for population control. Meanwhile, Joe and Norrie help Melanie search for more clues about her identity at the Dome wall, on UNDER THE DOME, Monday, July 28 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

BARBIE AND SAM EXPLORE A MYSTERIOUS TUNNEL TO FIND WHERE IT LEADS, ON “UNDER THE DOME,” MONDAY, AUGUST 4

“In The Dark” – When Barbie and Sam set out to investigate a mysterious tunnel, a cave-in severs their path back to Chester’s Mill. Meanwhile, Julia and Big Jim face off in a struggle for power as a dust storm rages in the town, on UNDER THE DOME, Monday, August 4 (10:00 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.