A drug dealer is shot three times in his home: once in each knee, and then in the head. His extremely advanced alarm system was cracked and not a single clue left behind for the police to track a suspect. Who are they going to call? Why, everyone's favorite TV psychic, that's who! Allison Dubois is on the job, and "Medium" might be a little more smug these days since it has been renewed by NBC for a fifth season!

"Being Joey Carmichael" is the title for the recent episode, and it is a play on the movie "Being John Malkovich," where an ordinary man finds a secret door into the life of another man and takes it over. Allison begins having dreams about a young boy who beats a bully brutally. Then after Scanlon brings the drug dealer murder to her, she becomes convinced that the boy in her dream is the murderer. She witnesses the killer, Joey Carmichael, stalking his prey and finds out exactly where to find him. However, Scanlon and Allison are surprised to find that the man in question was shot in the brain years ago and miraculously survived. He cannot use his hands anymore, and he lost a great deal of mental capacity due to the accident. Clearly, this man could not have shot anyone, let alone be the smooth confident killer Allison witnessed within her vision.

The answer to the problem is simple: Joey has an identical twin brother Teddy who has a history of violent crimes, often in the defense of the gentle hearted Joey. Teddy protected him from childhood, but he got into a great deal of trouble stealing money from the dead drug dealer. Allison watches as Joey is shot in the head in front of Teddy, and then Teddy is executed soon after, removing him as a suspect as well! With no one left to finger, Allison's frustration grows until she realizes that Teddy's ghost never passed over. He possessed Joey to do his dirty work and then left reassuring messages for his brother so Joey never has to know the truth. It is an act both compassionate and highly manipulative. Teddy's desire for vengeance may just outlast his love for his brother and ruin both their lives in the process.

In the Dubois household, Joe is working late every night and Allison is left taking care of their three daughters alone. Her vision about his sexy business partner Meghan coming on to him did in fact turn out to be true, but Joe very firmly refuted the pass. He continues to be cold and insistent with Meghan, threatening to leave their budding business if she makes him uncomfortable. Meghan pleads and promises convincingly, but just when Joe begins to feel at ease again, she sends him an expensive cashmere robe. What, it can't be a friendship $2,000 robe?

In the end, Joe confesses to Allison and shows her the robe, and she confesses to him she already saw it all in a vision. She wants to know why Joe didn't tell her before, a valid if somewhat naïve question. Obviously, he did not want to jeopardize his business relationship with a woman who could bring their family out of debt. He sold Meghan his breakthrough of an idea, and there is a great deal riding on the success of this enterprise. Joe is desperate not to lose this, especially since it makes him so happy. But Allison's security in their marriage is more important, and he promises to break off the partnership with Meghan.

It was a pleasant surprise that "Medium" did not go with the will-the-faithful-husband-cheat storyline but disappointing that it went the crazy-stalking-woman story plot instead. Someone obviously was watching Fatal Attraction before writing this episode. It does not seem very believable that Meghan, an intelligent and successful young woman, would go from coldly ambitious to pushy sex kitten. She gave up her life for this job as well, and she really seemed to believe in Joe's idea before she got to know him. Is it possible she hid her insanity behind a mask of shrewd business know-how? Possibly. Is it really all that interesting? Not particularly.

The case was an interesting one, and the episode was tightly written, but the Meghan/Joe/Allison storyline just gives a whole feel of "been there, done that." Their marriage and family has been tested enough for one season. The season finale is next week, and Allison takes on a haunted-house, Megan's intentions are revealed, and the new district attorney race is in full swing. Vote for Devalos! Go, Devalos, go!

Story by Chelsea 'Dee' Doyle
Starpulse contributing writer