The Journal was the first episode of the second season. It is not that it is a bad episode (it is ok); it just after watching the whole first season this episode feels repetitive. It seems as though the writers felt like they had to reiterate the basic premise of the show. The big bad Danielle Atron is under pressure to provide results into the GC-161 research. Vince is under pressure to find the GC-161 kid. It is Alex's first day of 8th grade. Alex is still crushing on Scott but now Scott has a new girlfriend who's Alex's rival. Annie is still bossy. Vince and Dave go undercover at the school, again. They come face to face with Alex again. Alex's secret nearly gets revealed again. Vince's plan is comically foiled again. Annie and Alex have a fight again. They make up and have a bonding moment. Annie reminds Alex that She needs to be more discreet about using her powers in public lest her secret gets discovered.
14 out of 78 episodes in and the series already felt repetitive.
I don't have any specific gripes toward the episode itself. My gripes apply more in general to the series itself. The fact that they make the antagonists so stupid and inept that you never believe that Alex Mack is ever in any danger. The fact Nobody ever witnesses Alex using her powers in public despite the fact She is not even discreet about it. The fact that Vince never suspects Alex Mack is the GC-161 kid despite the fact He really should have figured it out by now. Vince must have selective amnesia.