The foursome returns to their suburban life. Jim’s unhappy that his family seems to be further disconnected despite the fact that they survived a plane crash together (not so for their pilot). Stephanie continues to skyrocket up the corporate ladder, receiving funding to research a flowering plant she found in the Amazon. (Their “vacation” originated as a business trip for her.) And the kids return to high school.
All seems unchanged until…
Jim’s at work in the precinct talking to his cop buddy Yvonne by the vending machines when an arrested thug brought in for questioning grabs a gun from a cop’s holster and fires it. Jim dives for Yvonne and catches the bullet as they fall to the floor. The both rise and Yvonne immediately starts looking for the bullet as Jim heads outside to get some air, furtively clutching the crushed bullet.
He meets his best friend, George (Romany Malco, “Weeds”) who also happens to be the district attorney, on a rooftop where he tests his super strength by jumping off and trying to fly, limbs outstretched. He falls to the ground instead, shattering concrete in an alley. Pushing off, he bounds back to the roof to George’s delight.
Return to Stephanie, who promised her husband a date night, which, of course, she cancels to have drinks with her new research funder. But there’s traffic on the freeway, so Stephanie starts running and soon she’s whooshing by cars. She halts and finds herself in the middle lane with cars zooming past.
“I need you to shoot me,” Jim says to George at the local batting cages. Jim’s rented them out for $200, ensuring he’s the only one there as he attempts to see if he can catch a 140 mph fastball. George can’t fire the gun and then misfires, and Jim leaps for the bullet as George faints.
Just as Jim confides in George before speaking to his wife, Stephanie looks to reveal her power to her research assistant, Katie (Autumn Reeser, “The O.C.”). On a horse track, Katie holds a radar gun while Stephanie runs circles in the dirt. “You’re doing a mile every six seconds,” Katie says. “Oh, I thought I was faster than that,” Stephanie replies, barely short of breath.
Another day passes. Stephanie finds herself finally able to help JJ with his homework, which he clearly doesn’t understand, nor does he seemingly want to. And then there’s Daphne who can’t comprehend why girls are flirting with her boyfriend.
Back to Jim, who’s stolen a police walkie-talkie and has the urge to use his powers to fight crime. He’s hot on the trail of a police chase when he lands on a suspect’s car, dislodges the door and tosses it, and the driver, into a pile of trash. He’s soon to be the hero until he’s shot at point blank range in the back of the neck. He starts to bleed and calls George for help. He’s then in bed, with George and his wife, who now knows why, at his side.
They call a family meeting to tell the kids, but the kids haven’t shown any signs of powers until…
Daphne’s on the basketball court warming up for a game with her team, when she begins to hear their thoughts and then, appropriately, freaks out. Still no power for JJ, though, who’s bummed. Stephanie’s now showing signs of actually being home, and comforts them both.
Back to Daphne, hanging out with her boyfriend, who’s clearly cheating on her with Emily, Daphne’s best friend. Daphne realizes this when she’s on the couch with Lucas, and begins to hear his thoughts. She then, promptly, storms out crying.
In the meantime, baby brother JJ (good news!), is in a math test and suddenly sees answers to formulas. He scrambles to write them all down before they disappear. Looks like he found his power.
Jim’s healed now, and he’s back on the job chasing Yvonne’s criminals when he encounters the man who shot him. After stuffing Yvonne in the trunk of his car, this man proceeds to fight with Jim in a parking garage, disappearing into a slippery cloud and reappearing in another place. “You thought you were the only one,” the man proclaims to Jim. But before Jim has a chance to absorb the statement, Yvonne frees herself from the trunk and shoots-to-kill the man, in disbelief that Jim’s there.
In the penultimate scene, the dead man is flat on a table deep in the bowels of a building with Dr. Dayton King, Stephanie’s mentor. The doctor is hatching a plan to cover up the body, never letting anyone know who or what this creature is.
The pilot ends with Stephanie and Jim in a therapist’s office, talking about their familial problems, the least of which is their newfound powers. The doctor suggests twice a week appointments, and the couple agree.
Until…next time.
Thank you ABC for not allowing us to post the episode on our site. Here's the link: http://abc.go.com/watch/no-ordinary-family/SH5572605/VD5588500/pilot
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