Shadow Ridge

"*Welcome Porta Swango Juniors... To Camp Shadow Ridge. You have been chosen to visit Shadow Ridge because you are the leaders of tomorrow.*"
—Director Richard
**Shadow Ridge** is the fifth episode of the first season of The CW's superhero drama *Naomi*. It aired on February 22, 2022.

## Synopsis

**ARE WE THERE YET?** - With Naomi still shaken by her terrifying encounter with the bounty hunter, Dee continues training her on controlling her thoughts and emotions and, therefore, her powers. Meanwhile, as Naomi and Nathan rekindle their romance, the class sets off on an exciting week-long camping excursion.

## Plot

Naomi and Nathan go on their first date and spend some time getting to know each other; Nathan's favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip. Naomi's favorite place she lived was Tokyo, as she loved the people and food. It's also where she got her first Superman comic and learned to skateboard. As for Nathan, Germany was his favorite place to live. When his mom was on leave, they'd take trips all over Europe, France, Switzerland, and Spain. Naomi and Natan then head to the park, where they watch the *Matrix*.

Naomi has resumed her training with Dee. However, rather than boxing, she's meditating, which is all about embracing her thoughts, even the painful ones, which mostly consists of her run-in with the bounty hunter. Dee tells Naomi that the only two ways to deal with fear is through fighting it or facing it. Dee then congratulates Naomi for completing her first meditation practice. However, they both admittedly prefer boxing. Naomi had a lot of thoughts, which overwhelmed her. She's also been having dreams, where she's back on the soccer field with the bounty hunter, who's coming towards her, and she can't get away. And in her dream, Dee doesn't show up. Her encounter with the bounty hunter was the most frightening experience of her life, though Dee assures her it gets better.

Naomi and Annabelle look forward to the camping trip ahead at Shadow Ridge. For Naomi, this weekend is about fun and being a normal teenager, but Annabelle isn't certain it will be that easy. Moving on to a more teenage topic, Annabelle can't believe that Naomi kissed Nathan. Naomi then reveals that he wants to ride together on the way up. However, there's assigned seating, and Naomi and Annabelle are paired with Anthony.

The kids arrive at Camp Shadow Ridge, where they are welcomed by the director and counselors. And that night, they gather around a fire pit for s'mores under the stars and scary stories, as Counselor Mary tells the tale of Moonshine Jimmy. With the counselors distracted, Naomi passes Nathan a handwritten note to meet her at the old cup tree.

Commander Steel has called upon Jennifer and Greg to further assist with their alien investigation. Jennifer is the best at what she does, that being a linguist, and his team recovered an artifact with markings etched on it in an unknown language. They only recently discovered this artifact, which happens to be the rock that Jennifer and Greg found Naomi on.

As planned, Naomi and Nathan meet up in the woods, where she startles him after sneaking up through the darkness. Nathan has been thinking and wants to talk to Naomi about their relationship, which is going great, but this is also what worries him. He felt the same way when they first started dating last time, and then Naomi broke up with him suddenly, and he never understood why. Before she can answer, they are joined by Anthony, who stumbles through her woods and falls to his knees, claiming he saw Moonshine Jimmy.

The next day, Naomi joins Anthony in the Nurse's Cabin, where he has recovered from last night's ailment. They think it was allergies, but Anthony would beg to differ. Last night, he snuck out to get a look at Venus in the sky, but then he heard something or someone before seeing a light, also claiming that the rocks and trees were glowing blue. Whatever it was, made him feel dizzy. He got turned around and found Nathan and Naomi in the woods. He's not sure who was out there, but he is hoping Naomi will help him find out.

Naomi tells Nathan and Anabelle about her and Anthony's plan to go on a ghost hunt through the woods, and how Anthony overheard one of the nurses say that something like this has happened before. So, during one of the trust exercises, Naomi, Annabelle, Nathan, and Anthony inquire further about this alleged prior incident. Apparently, there was this researcher named Belinda who used the camp as a home base. Some claim what happens to her was allergies, while others speculate she had a mental break. She was always out in the forest alone. One counselor claims that it's a cover-up for Moonshine Jimmy, which is why no one goes to her cabin anymore, which is just outside of camp.

Dee pays Zumbado a visit at his dealership after learning that he too encountered the bounty hunter. Zumbado claims none of this would've happened if Dee stayed away from Naomi as they agreed, but Dee explains that she came to him despite initially making a deal with Zumbado, who tells Dee never to come back. However, Dee can't leave just yet, as the bounty hunter is still on their earth. Dee can sense him, and he needs Zumbado's help in stopping him for both of their sake.

Naomi, Annabelle, Nathan, and Anthony sneak out of their cabins during the late hours of the night to break into Belinda's old cabin. However, all they find inside are freshly baked cookies and an old camcorder. But then Nathan notices a blue bioluminescence print on the ground, but before they can investigate any further, Naomi rushes her friends to exit the cabin, as she can hear someone approaching. However, they are apprehended by Director Richard.

As punishment for sneaking out, Naomi, Annabelle, Nathan, and Anthony are put on chore duty. However, while the three of them clean, Anthony continues to look through what little evidence they have. Nathan and Annabelle are ready to give up on the hunt for Belinda, but Naomi and Anthony seek to learn the truth, which seems to put a strain on Naomi and Nathan's relationship. Hoping to break the tension, Annabelle reveals she saw an old charger in the cabin for the camcorder and volunteers to go get it, with Nathan offering to join her.

Jennifer and Greg return home and discuss their next move after the military found Naomi's rock. Jennifer fears that Commander Steel suspects something of them and this could all be a test. So, Greg suggests that she lie about the translations, but they still have the rock, and it won't take them long to realize it's not a material found on earth. Jennifer proposes they go on the run, which they've done before, but in doing so, it would look like they have something to hide and it would expose them. Whatever it takes, they're going to protect Naomi.

Annabelle and Nathan enter the science cabin and distract Counselor Susan with questions about bears, while Nathan steals the camcorder charger. Annabelle then asks Nathan about what's going on between him and Naomi. While things are going well, Nathan wishes she would simply talk to him more about certain things, like why she broke up with him the first time. As her best friend, Annabelle tells Nathan that Naomi doesn't do things lightly and that she chose Nathan for a reason.

Naomi and Anthony go over the information they have on Belinda, who was a naturalist. Anthony then shares with Naomi a schematic of Shadow Ridge. Apparently, they excavated the area below the main cabin three years ago, and it looks like they built some kind of room under it. Before going any further, Naomi takes the time to tell Anthony about her relationship with Nathan, which he's already aware of. He assures Naomi that it's not weird and that while he accepts her decision, she should know that Nathan's not the only thing out there.

Dee has learned of Jaeger, the bounty hunter's, last location, and he's wounded. However, he won't leave this earth without coming for Naomi again, and both he and Zumbado need to find out who sent him. It's then that Zumbado realizes that Dee isn't doing this for Naomi, rather himself. A Thanagarian war criminal would be high value to a bounty hunter, and Dee's kind aren't exactly known for showing mercy to deserters, but that's not who Dee is anymore. Zumbado questions why Dee is even still in Port Oswego. He could go anywhere he wants, but he doesn't reply, though neither does Zumbado when Dee asks the same of him, instead, he reveals that bounty hunter's carry a device, a record of their targets, and that's what they need from him. After they find it, Zumbado wants to kill him, but Dee has other plans in mind.

Naomi, Annabelle, Nathan, and Anthony gather around after having charged the camcorder and play a recording of Belinda in the woods, taking samples as she crosses paths with the blue glow, which causes her to feel strange, the closer she gets to it. She is then attacked by someone out of view of the camera, but who she recognizes. Belinda reveals that the glowing is some kind of substance. Probably a chemical used to mess with the ecosystem in the forest. As this unfolds, the lights in the cafeteria also begin to simultaneously flicker.

During another trust exercise, Naomi, Annabelle, Nathan, and Anthony discuss whether they will further investigate Belinda and whatever is going on in the woods. Anthony wants to go to the main cabin in search of proof, but everyone else fears just how dangerous this is and suggests calling the police when they get home.

Jennifer and Greg sneak into the secure lab to switch out the material test on Naomi's stone with a less alien substance. However, they are caught off guard when Lieutenant Ramirez is performing tests in the lab. Jennifer introduces herself as the linguist and distracts Ramirez with questions about the properties of the artifact whilst Greg swaps out the materials.

Naomi and Annabelle share a tent in the woods, where they discuss if they made the right decision to not further investigate Belinda's cover up. While Annabelle agrees that it's best if they all not investigate, as it is too dangerous, she believes it's a task solely up to Naomi, who has power, though her powers proved inefficient when she went up against the bounty hunter, leading Naomi to wonder what would've happened if Dee didn't show up. Annabelle remarks that fear is a new look on Naomi, and not just in regard to the bounty hunter, she is also talking about Nathan. While Naomi can't be real with him about everything, there are some things she can confide in him.

Dee has tracked Jaeger the bounty hunter down to an abandoned warehouse and makes him a one time offer: to stay on the plant until he heals in exchange for his life. Jaeger decline his offer, scoffing at the fact that all Thanagarians are the same. All arrogant warriors who travel around the universe, ravaging other planets under the guise of peacekeeping when all they bring is war. Zumbado joins them and asks the bounty hunter who sent him. When he refuses to talk, Zumbado knocks him to the ground and takes the device from his pocket.

Naomi is having trouble getting to sleep, as she can't get the bounty hunter out of her head. She then recalls Dee's advice to fight or face her fears. So, Naomi decides to face it and goes to investigate the main cabin, where after she uses her super strength to break the chain on the door before running into Anthony, who is also searching for proof. And so, they decide to investigate together. Naomi and Anthony head down into the basement, where they find several suitcases with the word "Dilustel" written on them. Inside, they find glowing blue rocks with similar writing on the suitcase as the disk. While Naomi is fine, Anthony appears to suffer from exposure to the Dilustel, so Naomi carries Anthony back upstairs, where they are confronted by Counselor Jeff, who is some kind of red-eyed alien. The story of Moonshine Jimmy was simply a cover to scare people away, but Naomi ruined that. Counselor Jeff rushes Naomi but she uses her powers to blast him to the ground, though he manages to make a quick escape.

The next day, the police have been called, but Anthony seems to have made a full recovery from his Dilustel exposure. Naomi wonders how much he remembers, which isn't much. He remembers finding the Dilustel before heading back upstairs. And that's all he can recall before waking up outside the cabin.

Jennifer and Greg share their findings with Commander Steel, claiming that the markings on the rock are similar to written languages created by the ancient people of Mesoamerica, meaning that the language on the artifact isn't alien. The material analysis also supports that conclusion, Commander Steel reveals before thanking Jennifer for her work.

Naomi and Annabelle prepare to leave Camp Shadow Ridge behind. Naomi looks over at Anthony before looking over at Nathan with a smile.

Zumbado stops by Dee's shop to ask about the bounty hunter, who Dee has turned over to Adam Blake, who will take Jaeger to the Phantom Zone. Zumbado found out who sent him, and it's no reason for Dee to be concerned. However, he tosses Dee the device and tells him that there's another name on the list that will be of interest to him, that being Qyeala.

Commander Steel has begun looking into Jennifer and Greg after catching them on surveillance going into the secure lab.

Nathan joins Naomi in the park for a picnic, where she reveals that she broke up with Nathan before because she was afraid of getting hurt. She kissed him because she thought they could just have all the fun parts, but they can't have that forever. While Naomi is still afraid, she's more afraid of not trying. And so, she is ready to try her hand in a real relationship with Nathan.

## Cast

* Cranston Johnson as Zumbado
* Alexander Wraith as Dee
* Mary-Charles Jones as Annabelle Peters
* Mouzam Makkar as Jennifer McDuffie
* Daniel Puig as Nathan
* Camila Moreno as Lourdes (credit only)
* Will Meyers as Anthony
* Aidan Gemme as Jacob (credit only)
* Barry Watson as Greg McDuffie

Co-Starring* Brian Brightman as Commander Steel
* Joanna Walchuk as Mrs. Varady
* Steve Alderfer as Camp Director Richard
* Brett Newton as Counselor Jeff
* Malone Thomas as Counselor Mary
* Melanie Jeffcoat as Counselor Susan
* Danny Hollis as Counselor Bob
* Jef Holbrook as Counselor Brent
* Nichele Lambert as Counselor Tina
* Denise Arribas as Belinda
* J.R. Adduci as Lieutenant Ramirez

## Trivia

* The episode title refers to Camp Shadow Ridge.
* This is the first episode not to feature every main cast member. The cast members absent are Camila Moreno and Aidan Gemme.
* This episode marks the first appearance of Dilustel, which in the DC Comics, is a highly durable, extra-dimensional metallic substance with a high melting point with a connection to the Quantum Field.
	+ For a better understanding of it outside of the Naomi-verse, see Dilustel.

## Gallery

### Videos

Naomi - Season 1 Episode 5 - Shadow Ridge Promo - The CWNaomi - Season 1 Episode 5 - Favorite Ice Cream Scene - The CWNaomi - Season 1 Episode 5 - Naomi Checks Anthony Scene - The CWNaomi - Season 1 Episode 5 - Ghost Stories Scene - The CW

## References

1. ↑ Naomi: Season One Ratings - TV Series Finale
2. ↑ Recently Added Episode Titles - Various Shows - 22nd December 2021 - SpoilerTV
3. ↑ Listings - The Futon Critic