The Odyssey Episode Guide

Episode Guide by Damian O'Hara - version October 1, 1996

HTML formatting and minor changes by Loren Heisey - version May 10, 2022

Series notes

Jay Ziegler, an 11-year-old, lies in a coma after falling from a treehouse. While doctors, nurses and his mother keep vigil at his hospital bedside, Jay's mind descends into an eerie netherworld--one without adults. No parents, no teachers, no rules... NO ESCAPE!

Jay's dilemma pivots between two worlds, referred to as "Upworld (the real world), and "Downworld" (the world inside Jay's mind). As he struggles for survival in the Upworld, he is repeatedly drawn back into the Downworld by clues to the mysterious disappearance of his father in a boating accident. But first he must navigate a hostile world populated by warring tribal gangs of kids, and a shadowy teenage figure named Brad who is the key to the mystery and Jay's safe recovery.

Guide notes

Episode synopsis up to "Run for Your Life" are in-depth and if you haven't seen those episodes, they contain many large spoilers. Episodes following "Run For Your Life" have minimal spoilers, as they have not been seen on The Sci-Fi Channel at the time this guide was done.

Thanks to the kind people at CBC who helped me check some of the uncredited actors and cast names. Didn't manage to get character names for all the minor extras, but came pretty close! And, of course, thanks to Paul Vitols and Warren Easton for giving us such a great show!

Principle production credits

"The Odyssey" is produced by Water Street Pictures Ltd. in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), with the participation of Telefilm Canada and in association with B.C. Film.

Note: Some of the credits vary slightly by episode/season.

Paul Vitols wrote a series of posts telling the story of the creation of "The Odyssey" on his blog .

Cast

Note: Andrea Nemeth is only credited in the opening titles from season three. The credited order of Ashley Rogers and Tony Sampson is reversed for the season three titles, as Sampson plays a larger role in it than Rogers.

Season 1 Episodes

1 "THE FALL"

(pilot episode)

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Jorge Montesi

Guest Stars
James Sherry as Ryan
French Tickner as Doctor Cole
Marie Prissell as Nurse
Gregory Reed as Treefort Gangmember #1
Scott Johnston as Treefort Gangmember #2
Justin Wong as Treefort Gangmember #3
Jeremiah James as Treefort Gangmember #4

Upworld: Jay Ziegler is an 11 year old who wants to join the local treefort club. In order to join, Jay must give the club's leader, Keith, his dad's old telescope. Despite warnings from his friend, Donna, he goes to the treefort and gives the gang the telescope. But they refuse to let him join and lock him in a section of the fort. Donna arrives and distracts the gang. As Jay tries to escape, he pulls the rope on a loose pulley and plummets to the ground, hitting his head on a log.

Downworld: Jay suddenly appears in an elevator which is going down. When it reaches the bottom the doors open and he steps out. The doors close and the lift ascends again. He is in Downworld, a world populated entirely by children.

Upworld: Jay is rushed to hospital where doctors inform, Val, his mother, that he has slipped into a coma. Donna comes to explain the events to Val and return the telescope.

Downworld: Jay finds a group of kids listening to downworld's tax collectors. They want toys for Brad, the mysterious leader of this world. The main speaker is Flash, this world's counterpart of Keith. He presents a item which astounds the audience - Brad's telescope. But Jay recognizes it as his, and attempts to retrieve it. He exposes these collectors as frauds and runs off with the telescope, only to be pursued by them. In hiding, he meets Alpha, this world's Donna, who is a member of the book club, an organization which is responsible for collecting and marking of books. The other children find them and put Jay in a trolley over a large pool. The pool club leaders plan to "dunk" him. As Jay sinks in the pool...

... he emerges in a middle-world where he meets his mother. She begs him to return home, but he tells her he cannot - he must retrieve his "scope". He dives back down and...

...after a long wait emerges in the downworld pool to find Alpha and Flash waiting. He gets his telescope back from Flash who has left the pool club. Jay knows he has to take the telescope to a place called "home" but can't remember how to get there. His Odyssey begins...

Note: This episode was produced as a pilot in late 1991 which explains why some of the cast look much younger in it. Notice that Jay's striped t-shirt is not seen again, and is replaced by a white one (which never seems to get dirty through much of the first two seasons). Even when Jay changes his clothes in an episode, he has his jeans and t-shirt back in the next... This pilot episode is sometimes referred to as "The Jelly-Bean Odyssey".

2 "NO FAIR"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Brad Turner

Guest Stars
Terrence Kelly as Dr Rappaport
James Sherry as Ryan
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Nicole Parker as Barr
Meredith Bain Woodward as Nurse
Amos Hertzman as Rolf
Co-Stars
Jeffrey McLeod
Christopher Barrowclough

Upworld: Jay's coma worsens and he has a seizure. He is taken to intensive care. Val is faced with the prospect that her son may not recover.

Downworld: Jay believes that his connection to home lies in the Tower, so he sets out with his companions to find it. The arrive at a location, between the Rock and Hard Place, where Jay finds a Brad poster and takes it down. But the area is being watched by Tower monitors. The trio hide out in a house where Jay draws a map of the area he remembers (treefort, river etc.) on the back of the poster. The monitors storm the house and capture Jay. He is brought to trial by Barr, charged with not belonging to a club and writing on a poster of the sacred Brad. Alpha, as his lawyer, attempts to sway the jury. Flash, who is on the jury is found with one of Alpha's books and the judge rules. Alpha and Jay are sentenced to be re-educated at the Friendship Mission.

3 "OUT OF THE WOODS"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Brad Turner

Guest Stars
Terrence Kelly as Doctor Rappaport
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Nicole Parker as Bar
Chris Wilding as Newt
Ginny Carter as Doctor Hendricks
Amos Hertzman as Rolf
Co-Stars
Andrew Seebaran
Shane Meier

Upworld: Jay's condition stabilizes. At school, his teacher suggests the class make Get Well cards for him. Keith sneaks one into the bag too. Val later reads this one to Jay in the hospital. It contains a picture of trees and hopes Jay gets "out of the woods" soon.

Downworld: As Jay and Alpha prepare for re-education at the mission, Flash gets some tower resistance fighters to help rescue the pair. They lead them (blindfolded) to a secret camp. Jay asks to exchange their "pedicab" for help rescuing their imprisoned leader, Newt. Some of the camp's plentiful supply of foods are laced with a sleeping drug and delivered to the mission. The troops take it inside and shortly they fall asleep. Jay and the resistance fighters are hidden inside the cart and proceed to release the prisoners. As they try to escape they are pursued by monitors and Jay must sacrifice the pedicab in order to continue his journey.

Note: This episode echoes the original Odyssey, when a wooden horse was presented as a gift to the people of Troy. The soldiers who were inside it got out at night when everyone was sleeping and took over the city.

4 "BY THE BOOK"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Graeme Campbell

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Terrence Kelly as Doctor Rappaport
Rochelle Greenwood as Hedda
Co-Stars
Andrea Wardrop
Andrea Pasquill as Library Club Members

Upworld: Though he is still in a coma, the hospital decides to transfer Jay to its Extended Care Ward for long-term care and attention. Upon seeing the ward, Val chooses into look to private care. The hospital doctor recommends an experimental center named "Driftwood". There Val meets Max Oswald, the head doctor, and watches the staff work with patients. Max explains Driftwood's techniques including sensory and atmosphere manipulation. But the center is very expensive and Val is forced to look for a way to pay for the treatment...

Downworld: The trio make their way to the library club where they can get a map to the tower. But Hedda, the Head Librarian won't allow boys to see the map or join the book club. Jay and Hedda have a "spelling bee" competition but Jay looses on his spelling of "consciousness". As Hedda celebrates her win, Jay and Flash find the key to a hidden room, containing the map and other surprises. Hedda has been burning books by order of Brad to ensure the kids stay loyal. This evidence, makes Jay more determined than ever to find the tower and confront its mysterious leader...

5 "CHECKPOINT EAGLE"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Bill Brayne

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Betty Phillips as Sylvia Ziegler
Jai West as Feelgood
Tyler Labine as Eagle
Co-Stars
Kendall Saunders
Tyler McBride

Upworld: Since family involvement is a priority at Driftwood, Jay's (paternal) grandmother helps Val with his physiotherapy, but she is unable to keep up the level of work involved. Max checks her and finds her blood pressure is too high for her to continue with Jay's treatment. Val is desperate to find replacements to help and, though reluctant at first, decides to let Alpha and Keith help in Jay's recovery.

Downworld: Jay, Alpha and Flash find the first of three checkpoints. But the gates are locked. Flash tries to find his own way through and leaves Alpha and Jay to scout for possibilities. In order to open the gates, they are forced to bring two enemies together - Feelgood (who likes playing and having fun) and Eagle (who works hard, trying to get things done). Flash finds Feelgood while Alpha and Jay find Eagle, and they attempt to reconcile them. Jay, as mediator points out that if work and play is balanced, then everyone will be happy. The compromise allows Jay and his companions to pass the first checkpoint and continue towards the tower.

6 "THE BELIEVERS"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Brad Turner

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Devon Sawa as Udo
Sheila Moore as "Mom" (Val's mother)
Jewel Staite as Labelia
Marie Stillen as Barbara

Upworld: Val is laid off work because she is spending more time helping with Jay's recovery. She decides to visit her mother in the country at the family farm. She shares some happy memories remembering the times Jay and Brad had there when he was growing up. At Driftwood, Donna and Keith continue to help. Donna reads for Jay from his favorite book of King Arthur stories.

Downworld: When the trio reach a cornfield, Flash, again, decides to look for a short-cut. Inside, he meets Labelia, a young girl who has been left to harvest to entire crop by herself. Jay and Alpha meet Udo and his followers. Udo believe that there are "Big People" nearby. He has found evidence of this; wellington boots, giant lunchboxes, "name tags" (car license plates!). Jay recognizes what the objects really are, leading Udo to realize that Jay has some connection to the big people. He has Jay, Alpha, Flash and Labelia arrested and put in a giant barn. Inside Jay finds an old red tractor. He remembers how to start it and uses it to escape from the barn (and the obsessive Udo!) Labelia also now has a machine which she can use to harvest the corn.

7 "A PLACE CALLED NOWHERE"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Don McBrearty

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
James Sherry as Ryan
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Sarah Chalk as Estate Agent
Gaelen Bleasdale as U.V. (Checkpoint Keeper)
Ace as Bentley

Downworld: A mysterious girl named Medea has a prophecy that someone called the "wrecker" will come to destroy downworld and that he will be called "J". She also predicts the number of his house. When Jay arrives, she tells him that in order to pass the second checkpoint, he must first enter "nowhere" to prove that he is worthy of continuing his journey. But, Medea plans to keep him trapped there forever. She tries to get him to buy a house and start a life in nowhere with her, but Jay correctly says "I'd rather go to the Tower", and Medea's plan fails.

Upworld: Keith elects to look after Jay's dog, Bentley when Val becomes unable to do so. Keith and Donna also arrange to have Bentley visit Jay at Driftwood.

Note: This episode is the first to feature recurring character of Medea.

8 "WANTED"

Written by Hart Hanson & Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by T.W. Peacocke

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
James Sherry as Ryan
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Brad Swaile as Commander Scud
Wezley Morris as Captain Luger

Downworld: Jay, Alpha and Flash arrive at a bridge, but are immediately surrounded. On one side lies Finger and his army of monitors, on the other lies freedom fighters, Skud and Luger. They attempt to enlist Flash to join them and use his strength to their advantage. Meanwhile Jay and Alpha find a secret ammunitions tent, with explosives the resistance plan to use to blow up the Tower. The two are tied up, but as Flash rescues them, a fire is started in the tent which destroys the resistance base. Still surrounded on either side of the bridge, the trio are forced to jump into the waters below. In a chilling final scene, Jay says "Thanks Keith", drawing a "Who's Keith?" reply from Flash.

Upworld: As part of Jay's therapy, Max suggests they return Jay to the place of the accident. The treefort has now been condemned by the local council. Keith tries to get the other treefort kids to come, but they don't show up.

Note: There is an interesting pattern of Flash's following different paths or aims to Jay and Alpha in this and the previous episodes. This episode has been called "The Crossing" in many TV listings guides, though "Wanted" is what appears on screen. This was also only one of two first season episodes which Paul Vitols and Warren Easton did not write alone.

9 "GALILEO & THE GYPSIES"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Don McBrearty

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
James Sherry as Ryan/Ratchet
Des Smiley as Mr.Prendergast
Kaj-Erik Eriksen as Galileo
Elizabeth Rosen as Gypsy
Co-Stars
Frankie Czinege & Christopher Bickford as Monitors

As Jay attempts to ascertain their distance from the tower, Flash tries to take the 'scope from him. It falls from Jay's hands and breaks on the ground. Suddenly, it begins to grow darker, until it is night. Downworld is in complete darkness. They try to pick up the pieces. Visibly, the darkness appears as an eclipse of the sun.

Upworld: When visiting Jay, Keith accidentally knocks the telescope off the locker and it breaks on the floor. Keith picks up the pieces, but is warned by Donna to have it back soon. She threatens to tell Val. Keith takes the telescope to Mr.Prendergast, an old man who knows about optical equipment. Together, they repair the telescope. But it is missing a vital piece - the lens...

Downworld: The gang find a group of gypsies - kids who have no affiliation to any clubs. They are camping in the hull of an old boat. Flash's tells Ratchet, one of his old pool club members, who is currently with the gypsies, that the telescope is responsible for the darkness. Monitors then arrive, seeking to take control of the camp, and to find a way to make it bright again. Jay takes the telescope to Galileo, who is able to repair it, but again, it is missing a vital piece...

Upworld: Alpha and Keith search on the floor of Jay's room and find the lens.

Downworld: Just as the monitors are about to take the telescope, Alpha finds the lens in her dress and Jay manages to insert it into the eyepiece. The light returns and the monitors leave. With the telescope, Galileo is able to see the Promised Land he has been searching for...a lighthouse.

Note: Frank Czinege plays a member of the "Midnight Society" in another canadian childrens' series, "Are You Afraid of The Dark?".

10 "IN THE DARK"

Written by Hart Hanson & Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by T.W. Peacocke

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Jeremy Radick as Fractal

Upworld: Max tries a new technique which involves immersing Jay in water and isolating his senses.

Downworld: As he continues to search for Jay, Finger leads his troops to a large underground cavern. Inside, kid-scientist Fractal is experimenting on a crystal with unknown powers. Everyone who touches it turns into a zombie. Jay, Alpha and Flash sneak into the cavern to investigate, but Jay is captured by Finger. He orders Fractal to turn Jay into a zombie. Fractal is reluctant but when Finger forces Jay to touch it - nothing happens. Finger then decides to blow-up the entrance, trapping those inside. Jay sees his mother in the crystal (looking through the sensor tank in upworld) and has to choose if he'll go home or save his friends. He chooses the latter, and Fractal manages to give them a clue which helps them escape moments before the cavern blows up.

Note: The first of many appearances by Jeremy Radick as Fractal. The second episode where Vitols and Easton shares the writing credit.

11 "THE BRAD EXCHANGE"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Rex Bromfield

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Vanessa King as Frances X
Co-Stars
Chris Dylan
Kyle Alisharan
Ken Angel
Brent Morrison
Peter Gordon-Firing
Elaina Costain
Craig Abercrombie as Brad Exchange Traders/Buyers/Officials

Downworld: The journey to the tower draws to a close as the trio meet Frances X, a trader at "The Brad Exchange". Items belonging to Brad are sold for high prices inside, but the merchandise must be official. Jay uses his two checkpoint passes to get inside, but unknown to him they are swapped on entry. Jay tries to buy the location of the secret third checkpoint from a dealer but is stopped by Medea. She challenges Jay's merchandise and calls for the "Scales of Brad". The checkpoint passes are revealed as fakes, but just as Medea prepares for Jay to be taken away, Frances X speaks out. SHE is Brad's third checkpoint keeper. She offers Jay the chance to proceed to the tower, alone. He refuses, saying if he can't go with Alpha and Flash, he'll find another way. Frances informs him, that THAT was his third test... had he tried to proceed alone, he would have failed. With their journey almost over, Jay, Alpha and Flash enter the third checkpoint and onto the Tower...

Upworld: Max experiments with some of Jay's possessions to see if he responds. But, oddly, he responds only to items that used to belong to his father...

12 "WELCOME TO THE TOWER"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Rex Bromfield

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Austin Basile as Brad (Trashcan)
Angela Costain as Melissa
Emily Perkins as Tower Council Member

Downworld: Inside the tower, they find only what Frances X had talked about; spoiled Tower kids who don't care about the outside world. They meet Trashcan who informs them that Brad is no longer in control of the tower. Macro now heads downworld. Jay demands to see Macro and eventually finds him with Medea and Fractal in a council chamber. Medea warns Macro to get rid of Jay, predicting the danger he will bring. The meeting is cut short, however, when it is revealed that Brad is missing. As Medea attempts to find him with her powers, Jay, Flash and Alpha are brought to one of the lower rooms. They examine a piece of crystal from the cavern to see what happens when Jay touches it. Inside the crystal they see...

Alpha sees herself (Donna) in the "other" world. Keith sees himself too. Jay identifies this other place as home.

Upworld: Donna sees strange faces looking back at her...

Downworld: Medea locks Jay and the others in the room, and goes off to look for Brad. The trio look for a way of climbing out of the room, but it's too high up. Suddenly the door opens - and Trashcan enters. Trashcan puts his finger to his lips, and removes his wig. It's BRAD!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Note: The only Odyssey episode which carries "To Be Continued..." The penultimate episodes in the other two seasons are cliffhanger-types too, but don't carry the notation.

13 "THE ONE CALLED BRAD"

(first season finale)

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Rex Bromfield

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Austin Basile as Brad
Angela Costain as Melissa
Co-Stars
Lucas Mooney
Terry Arrowsmith

Downworld: Jay is disappointed - he thought Brad would turn out to be his father - but this Brad is only 15. Brad reveals that he has visited upworld too. Jay gives Brad the telescope, telling him it belongs to him. Medea and the other tower kids eventually find Brad. Macro wants them to go on downworld's TV station and pass over power to him. They manage to stall and send out a message to the kids telling them that Macro has taken over the tower and imprisoned Brad. Brad leads Jay to the "Vest of Power"; a lifejacket...

Jay uses the jacket which takes him home for a short period. Inside his house, he climbs the stairs and finds a voice calling him... he sees a man... as he nears, he sees Max's face... and runs off. This isn't home.

Jay returns moments after departing. They trade the Vest for freedom from the tower. Brad bids farewell to Jay, Alpha and Flash as they continue, to Galileo's "Promised Land", to the lighthouse...

Note: Annoyingly, Jay's one reason to stay in downworld in "The Fall" is given to Brad in this episode and is rarely mentioned again after this episode.

Season 2 Episodes

14 "LANDS END"

(second season opener)

Written by Charles Lazer
Directed by Rene Bonniere

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Amber Warnat as Lila
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Aly Jiwani as Jam
Michael Kotrly as Monitor #1

Downworld: Set a short time after "The One Called Brad", Jay is downhearted at his lack of progress, and spends some time in the "bus-cafe". When he sees a pirate with a large tie, he's convinced it's his fathers and gets the courage to continue the search. Monitors come looking for him, but he manages to escape through the woods and into an underground passage. Reunited again with Flash and Alpha they make their way through what appears to be an underground ship/sub. At the surface, the find themselves miles from the cafe, near the lighthouse...

Note: The cast look significantly older in this season, produced many months after the first season finale. First of a number of appearances for Amber Warnat and her bus-cafe. The first episode by new creative producer, Charles Lazer, and the first not penned by Warren and Easton. This episode contains new opening titles with the same theme. This episode's director, Rene Bonniere is a veteran director of "Are You Afraid of The Dark".

15 "TO THE LIGHTHOUSE"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by T.W. Peacocke

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Garwin Sanford as Arthur
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Kristian Ayre as Grub
Aly Jiwani as Jam
Cathy Lohuaru as Pheb

Downworld: The trio find themselves at the top of a cliff-face overlooking the shore. They also find an abandoned boat and manage to get it afloat. On their way to the lighthouse, they are boarded by pirates. Pheb has a device to rate artifacts and according to her readings, Jay is "hot". The pirates stop Jay's boat and throw the keys overboard. Jay squeezes free and jumps into the water...

Upworld: Val is forced to go to a lawyer to have Brad declared legally dead. The insurance money will be enough to pay for Jay's treatment. But the lawyer, Arthur Bourne, asks her if she really believes her husband is dead...

Downworld: Jay sees a vision of his father in the water, who tells him to return. Jay calls out for Brad, but is suddenly rescued by the pirates. The lighthouse lamp begins shining and the pirates head for the shore. There, Jay, Flash and Alpha run to the lighthouse, but Medea and Fractal are following them. The lighthouse wall vanishes and a doorway appears. Jay uses Medea's "cubes of destiny" to find out if his father is inside the lighthouse - they reply "4 sure". A scuffle with the Vest of Power begins as the doorway starts to close. Flash is pulled inside the gateway, and the door vanishes...

Note: Kristian Ayre is now more commonly found in Nickelodeon's Space Cases, playing the character of Radu. First appearance for Garwin Sanford, who has appeared in lots of TV shows filmed in Canada, including the pilot for Sliders.

16 "SOMEPLACE LIKE HOME"

Written by Charles Lazer
Directed by Rene Bonniere

Guest Stars
Garwin Sanford as Arthur
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
James Sherry as Ryan

Upworld: Donna and Keith find out that Jay's late father's birthday is approaching and plan a surprise party. They begin decorating Jay's room.

Downworld: Suddenly a wooden door appears on the lighthouse. It is the door to Jay's house. Medea remembers it from Nowhere (ep 7). Inside, they find a spiraling staircase, leading them to the top and into Flash's nowhere. Flash is referred to here as Keith and feels "at home". Jay tries to convince him that it's not real, but Medea wants him to stay, trapping Jay there too. Finally Flash admits it's not real and the fantasy ends. The group emerge at the top of the lighthouse. The lighthouse lamp is made of the same crystal from the cavern. Inside it, they see...

Upworld: ...Donna and Keith decorating. Alpha sees Donna's leg- brace and is scared of this world.

Downworld: In a further attempt to rid downworld of Jay, Medea pushes him against the crystal and he disappears. He emerges at a birthday party in a version of his world - his father is there. Brad asks Jay to help him blow out the candles on the birthday cake and...

Upworld: ...Jay wakes up!

Downworld: Violent earthquakes rock the lighthouse. The remaining people run down the stairway and out of the building. Alpha calls for Jay, but he's gone...

Upworld: ...home.

Note: It probably comes across in the way I've written it, but the final scene HAS to be, THE greatest most-spine chilling moment in television. I was frozen for ages after I first saw this episode. Very powerful. Probably has to do with Jay waking after having been in the coma for such a long time.

17 "WHISPERS LIKE THUNDER"

Written by Hart Hanson
Directed by Stefan Scaini

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Austin Basile as Brad
Co-Star
Robin Collins

Downworld: Jay's disappearance has caused earthquakes and fires. Medea's prediction of "the wrecker" is coming true - but she misjudged him. It's when he LEAVES, he wrecks everything. Macro tries to calm everyone down, but they are all frightened.

Upworld: Val is delighted that Jay is awake, but the pleasure is short-lived as he again, drops into the coma.

Downworld: Jay returns to the lakeshore where he meets Flash. Together they "borrow" some scientist coats and gain access to the tower. There, Fractal uses a new invention to view a "big person" - Brad. He also leads Jay to where Brad (downworld version) is hiding. He's leaving, he's turning 16 - the first downworld kid ever to do so. Alpha gets to spend some time in the Tower and Macro wants Jay to be elected as leader, because the kids trust him. But they manage to escape and exit the tower, to continue the search for Jay's father. Meanwhile, the earthquakes have stopped and Medea must do everything in her power to keep Jay in downworld...

18 "THE HALL OF DARKNESS"

Written by Brad Wright
Directed by T.W. Peacocke

Guest Stars
Garwin Sanford as Arthur
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Devon Sawa as Udo
Amber Warnat as Lila
Simon Pidgeon as Hark
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Co-Stars
David Shumann
Kelly Sheridan
Cyrus Thiedeke as Udo's followers

Downworld: In an attempt to find food, the gang try out at a sports school. They are accepted, but it's a trap. Monitors are about to take them to the tower when Udo and his believers rescue them. He leads them (closely followed by Medea) to a school building. Jay manages to retrieve the gate's keys, but they must wait until morning (school hours) to enter the building. Flash sneaks in at night but hides when he hears someone else inside - Medea.

Upworld: Val thinks Donna should spend more time with other children - instead of always looking after Jay. Donna protests but Val is adamant and limits her time with Jay to a few days a week. Later, Val signs the insurance claim, stating that Brad is dead.

Downworld: The following day, inside the school, Jay finds a certificate for his father, but it reads "Incomplete, Udo believe this is part of his sign. Flash tells 07/07/0700". them that Medea stamped the certificate during the night. Jay tells Medea a piece of paper is not proof of anything. Alpha begs Jay not to go on with Udo but Jay is insistent on finding Brad. Alpha doesn't want the worlds to combine, she's scared of what she might become; so she remains behind with Medea who laughs commenting: "Jay and Udo : off chasing ghosts".

Upworld: Donna takes a final look at Jay, and closes the door...

Note: The mirror images from both worlds can be very effective in most episodes, this one is one of the finest examples of it, especially when Val is signing the claim form.

19 "THE PROPHECY"

Written by Dennis Foon
Directed by Stefan Scaini

Guest Stars
Robert Wisden as Brad
Devon Sawa as Udo
Simon Pidgeon as Hark
Jewel Staite as Labelia

Upworld: Keith and Donna check a library newsreel to find out about Jay's father, Brad. Newspaper reports claimed he drowned in a boating accident when Jay was seven.

Downworld: Udo tries to use Jay to bring the big people. He believe the 07/07/0700 is the 7th of July at 7am. He puts Jay into a coffin with a window of crystal. Shortly afterwards, Jay disappears. When Jay fails to return, Udo becomes desperate and decides to sacrifice Flash into a well to appease the adults . Jay emerges from the well and releases Flash. Flash suggests they get away from the "weirdos" and Jay eagerly agrees.

20 "THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH"

Written by Jim Makichuck
Directed by Rex Bromfield

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Garwin Sanford as Arthur
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Margot Finley as Baz
Simon Pidgeon as Hark
Eric Pawsen as Groan

Downworld: Jay and Flash find themselves in a circus show, run by Baz. She claims to receive orders from "the man". When Jay investigates, he finds only an arcade fortune teller, but the fortune are uncannily true... As they leave they are pursued by Finger and the monitors, so they try to escape in a maze or mirrors.

21 "BUT WHERE IS HERE?"

Written by Brad Wright
Directed by Steve DiMarco

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Andrea Nemetha as Medea
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Maria Herrera as Marta

Upworld: Keith buys some posters for Jay's room, including one of a famous TV star.

Downworld: In the mirror maze, Fractal uses a device to track Jay and Flash but they begin receiving messages from upworld instead. Jay and Flash get separated. Flash finds a mirror version of Keith who blames him for Jay's fall. Keith is disturbed by what he sees. Medea meets with Jay and shows him a mirror home - she tells him to take it, it's what he wants.

Upworld: Jay awakens and falls from his bed to the floor. As the doctors come in to help him back to bed, he sees Medea screaming through a mirror in his room. The doctor closes the door to his room and he sees Medea's face on a poster (It's really Sierra Jones, the TV personality). As downworld continues to be destroyed by his departure, Jay decides to return, and finds himself in Medea's room in the tower. He's back...for good!

22 "THE BIG PICTURE"

Written by Gary Fisher
Directed by Rene Bonniere

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Robert Wisden as Brad
Andrea Nemeth as Medea/Sierra Jones
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Jeremy Radick as Fractal

Upworld: Val protests at the drugs used to sedate Jay. Arthur informs her that she must take the insurance company to court as they are unwilling to pay Brad's policy.

Downworld: Fractal uses a new device to try to help Jay to forget about his father - it intensifies his memories and he has a flashback to the day his father drowned. Flash is a tower prisoner, but Alpha is in charge of the Tower Library. Flash confronts her and finds out why she is unwilling to help Jay. She doesn't want to end up like Donna. But, she's already uncovered the shocking truth - a picture of Medea and Brad. Macro learns that Medea is helping Jay and orders his capture, but Medea helps the reunited friends escape through a bookcase tunnel.

23 "TICK TOCK"

Written by Paul Vitols and Warren Easton
Directed by Rex Bromfield

Guest Stars
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Garwin Sanford as Arthur
Kristian Ayre as Grub
Susan Chapple as Judge
Cathy Lohuaru as Pheb
Arnie Walters as Mr.Haig
Aly Jiwani as Jam

Upworld: Val takes the insurance company to court and is forced to testify that she believes Brad is dead.

Downworld: Jay meets the pirates again. They've been taking their artifacts to a giant clock. At the base of the clock is a mould of a person's body, the position of Jay's body following the fall. Jay agrees to go inside the clock and immediately wakes in a middle-world where his father is alive. He confronts his father about the drowning but Brad becomes worried and runs away. Jay emerges from the clock, downhearted. Suddenly Brad emerges from the clock too, much to the surprise of the pirates, who are in awe of him. Incapable of handling the attention, Brad runs off.

24 "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE"

Written by Charles Lazer
Directed by Rene Bonniere

Guest Stars
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Garwin Sanford as Arthur
William Sasso as Droog
Adam Mills as Flack
Garin Josey as Bogus

Downworld: Macro, desperate to capture Jay sends Finger and some monitors after them. He turns the chase into a game show called "Run for You Life". The pursuit culminates in a group of participants surrounding Brad, Alpha, Jay and Brad. But, no sooner have they found him than Brad disappears. They manage to scare off the gameshow contestants, tie Macro up and steal his clothes, before heading to where Brad came from... the wall.

25 "WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?"

Written by Hart Hanson
Directed by Stefan Scaini

Guest Stars
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Garwin Sanford as Arthur/Iceface (downworld)
Andrea Nemeth as Medea/Sierra Jones
Jesse Moss as The Fat Man
Jaqueline Dandeneau as The Coffee Woman

Downworld: Posing as adults and with the help of the Fat Man, Medea, Alpha, Jay and Flash go through the wall to the "adult" side. They track Brad to the docks, where Jay finds him in a warehouse, kidnapped by a man named Iceface, who ensures adults stay on their side of the wall.

Upworld: Sierra helps organize a benefit for Driftwood, and Arthur asks Val to go with him as his date.

Note: I can't spoil it since it hasn't aired on Sci-Fi yet, but this episode contains the greatest shock of all... This episode could be considered, the first of a two-parter.

26 "YOU DECIDE"

(second season finale)

Written by Charles Lazer
Directed by Rene Bonniere

Guest Stars
Dwight Koss as Max
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Garwin Sanford as Arthur
Andrea Nemeth as Medea
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Maria Herrera as Marta

Upworld: Jay is awake, and look who's beside him...!

Downworld: Jay's not there and yet, the earthquakes have stopped...

Season 3 Episodes

27 "NO WAY OUT"

(third season opener)

Written by Charles Lazer
Directed by Rene Bonniere

Guest Stars
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Jeremy Radick as Fractal/Nathan
Jay Brazeau as Seymour "Sy" Walsh
Frankie Czinege as Quark
Amber Warnat as Lila
Jai West as Spook
Jacqueline Dandeneau as The Coffee Woman
Geoff Gustafson as Monitor
Co-Stars
Trevor Roald
Todd Shymko
Todd Shillington

THREE MONTHS LATER...

Upworld: Jay has come out of the coma, and is trying to readjust and live a normal life. But Val recommends counseling...

Downworld: Finger, the new downworld leader, pits Jay and Flash in a fight for survival...

Note: Jai West appeared in "Checkpoint Eagle" as Feelgood. This episode contains new opening titles and a new theme from composer, Fred Mollin. The opening titles also feature a voiceover from Jay: "The doctors said I was in a coma - maybe I was, but there is a world beyond consciousness that they knew nothing about..."

28 "DART TO THE HEART"

Written by Brad Wright
Directed by Rene Bonniere

Guest Stars
Jay Brazeau as Seymour "Sy" Walsh
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Amber Warnat as Lila
Margot Finley as Baz/Nikki
Tony Acworth as Messenger
Geoff Gustafson as Monitor

Upworld: Jay meets Nikki, his first girlfriend. He tells her about his experiences in the coma - but later finds she's been visiting Sy too...

Downworld: Finger hires Baz (from "The Greatest Show on Earth") to kill Jay. When her first attempt fails, he plans the ultimate death-trap.

29 "LEARNING CURVE"

Written by Dennis Foon
Directed by Allan King

Guest Stars
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Jeremy Radick as Fractal/Nathan
Amber Warnet as Lila/Keith's Girlfriend
Margot Finley as Nikki
Terry King as Computer Skills Teacher
Elan Ross Gibson as English Teacher

Upworld: Jay's is performing poorly academically. He considers quitting school.

Downworld: Fractal invents a helmet to allow kids to go through the wall and return with adult machinery. Jay and Flash compete for the chance to test it.

30 "NIGHT LIFE"

Written by Leila Basen
Directed by Stacey Curtis

Guest Stars
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Ryan Reynolds as Macro/Lee (Student Council President)
Laura Harris
Nicole Penny
Xantha Radley as Vampires/Donna's friends

Upworld: Jay goes to his first party and tries to get Sierra's attention. Donna tries to make new friends.

Downworld: Jay fears Alpha may be caught up in a club of blood-sucking vampires.

31 "CRY JUSTICE"

Written by Charles Lazer
Directed by T.W. Peacocke

Guest Stars
Jay Brazeau as Seymour "Sy" Walsh
Andrew Airlie as Steve
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Jorge Vargas as Savage
Myles Ferguson as Bricks
David Wight as Hubble

Upworld: Val has a new boyfriend, Steve, and Jay makes his feelings about him very clear.

Downworld: Macro orders that all copies of "The Fax", a newsletter Alpha produces be stopped and the Bladers circulating them be eliminated.

32 "KING FOR A DAY"

Written by Ian Weir
Directed by Alex Pappas

Guest Stars
Chad Todhunter as Thor
Melissa Barker Sauer as Leeda/Shoplifter
Peter Hanlon as the Shopkeeper
Stephen Denham as Follower/Shoplifter

Upworld: Jay, Keith and Donna become caught up in a group of teenagers who begin harassing a shopkeeper.

Downworld: Jay, carrying a strange globe (from the shop) is proclaimed by a group searching for their homeland, as the "Pathfinder". They are looking for a frozen land, and hope Jay will lead them there.

33 "THE CAULDRON"

Written by Leila Basen
Directed by Richard Leiterman

Guest Stars
Jay Brazeau as Seymour "Sy" Walsh
Mark Hildreth as Finger/Mick
Ryan Reynolds as Macro
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Jai West as Spook
Myles Ferguson as Bricks
Brent Morrisonoor as Medea's Lawyer
Hagan Beggs as Doorman #1
Ted Bauman as Doorman #2

Upworld: Jay tries to get Sierra to go on a date with him, much to the concern of her current boyfriend, Mick.

Downworld: Alpha, Jay and Flash begin making Tower Passes to help out the other kids. Finger charges Medea with the crime of being a witch when she refuses to take an oath of loyalty to him and the tower.

34 "STYX AND STONES"

Written by Deborah Nathan
Directed by Rene Bonniere

Guest Stars
Mark Hildreth as Finger/Mick
Jeremy Radick as Fractal/Nathan
Jorge Vargas as Savage
Jane McGregor as Linda
Andrea Libman as the Digger
Wayne Daley as Boy

Upworld: Jay desperately wants to impress Sierra on their date, but he doesn't have much money. Downworld: Medea is forced to predict the future from a prison cell, but every prediction is directed at Finger. Jay and Flash find tunnels under the tower and plan to help her escape.

35 "TUG OF WAR"

Written by Gregory Kennedy
Directed by Alex Chapple

Guest Stars
Andrew Airlie as Steve
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Jeremy Radick as Fractal/Nathan
Jorge Vargas as Savage
Frankie Czinege as Quark
Elisabeth Rosen as Styrene
Chad Todhunter as Thor
Samantha McKenna as Bun Head

Upworld: Jay feels increasingly isolated at home and plans to run away. Steve promises Jay that he will look for Brad, despite Jay's claim brad doesn't want to be found.

Downworld: Fractal's new invention erases all Alpha's work and kills one of her assistants. Jay decides to fight back.

36 "TANGLED WEB"

Written by Ian Weir
Directed by Alex Pappas

Guest Stars
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Elisabeth Rosen as Styrene
Frankie Czinege as Quark
Chad Todhunter as Thor

Upworld: Jay continues to see Sierra, despite warnings from Keith and Donna.

Downworld: Finger plans to stop the revolution by turning Jay's army against each other.

37 "NO HOLDS BARRED"

Written by Charles Lazer
Directed by E. Jane Thompson

Guest Stars
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Andrew Airlie as Steve
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Amber Warnat as Lila
Elisabeth Rosen as Styrene
Jorge Vargas as Savage
Frankie Czinege as Quark
Chad Todhunter as Thor

Upworld: Brad is alive - Jay finally comes face-to-face with his father. Downworld: Jay prepares to take control of the tower, but Finger is desperate to stop him.

Note: Each of the final three episodes were cut when they aired on Nickelodeon UK at 6.00pm. The reasons were due to "extreme violence with knives and swords". Of the running time of 22 mins, this episode was 21 minutes on Nickelodeon UK.

38 "THE PLAGUE"

Written by Nancy Merritt Bell and James Tichenor
Directed by Alex Pappas

Guest Stars
Robert Wisden as Brad Ziegler
Mark Hildreth as Finger
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Amber Warnat as Lila
Jorge Vargas as Savage
John Kirkconnell as Shuffle
Geoff Gustafson
Stuart Morgan as Monitors

Upworld: Jay meets with his father, and tries to persuade him to come home, for good.

Downworld: As an election campaign gets underway, Finger develops a plague which freezes the kids into being unable to vote.

Note: Cuts were also made to this episode in the UK. Running time: 20 instead of 22 mins.

39 "TIME BOMB"

(final episode)

Written by Charles Lazer and Leila Basen
Directed by Steve DiMarco

Guest Stars
Jay Brazeau as Seymour "Sy" Walsh
Andrew Airlie as Steve
Mark Hildreth as Finger/Mick
Jeremy Radick as Fractal
Jane McGregor as Linda
Andrea Libman as the Digger

Upworld: Jay prepares to tell Val the truth - her husband is alive.

Downworld: Furious at the Tower takeover, Finger plants a bomb in the one place that will spell disaster for downworld...

Note: The heaviest cutting, especially with a "stabbing" scene in the first ten minutes, this episode aired 19 minutes of a total 22 on Nick UK. Interestingly, RTE Network Two (Ireland) aired the entire series uncut, at an earlier time, 5.00pm, but the reason was mainly due to it not being a predominantly kids channel. They also aired uncut on CBC in Canada.

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